“Sexy Boy” by Air

"Sexy Boy" was the first single from Moon Safari, the debut album by the French duo Air, and in 1998 it helped carry French dance music into Britain and America, reaching 13 on the UK singles chart. Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoît Dunckel wrote, produced and recorded it themselves, piling on analog synths, Moog, Rhodes, organ, talkbox, bass and electric guitar, with Marlon B on drums and Stéphane Briat mixing.

Funny thing is, it nearly got left off. Godin has said it stuck out with its verse and chorus and its upbeat push, too much of a pop song for a record that mostly drifts, and then it turned into the album's biggest track. That sighing, feminine voice floating over it is actually Dunckel, run through a Leslie and other electronic treatment, possibly with Godin layered in.

Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia.