Song · Daft Punk
“Instant Crush” by Daft Punk featuring Julian Casablancas
From the album Random Access Memories (2013) Featuring Julian Casablancas
“Instant Crush” by Daft Punk featuring Julian Casablancas appears on 8 radio countdowns from 7 stations between 2013 and 2025. It was first released in 2013 on the album Random Access Memories. Its best result is #2 on the Impact 89FM Top 89 Songs of 2013. In the combined RockLists rankings it is the #67 alternative song of 2013.
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"Instant Crush" is the moment on Random Access Memories, Daft Punk's 2013 album, where the French duo hand the microphone to Julian Casablancas of the Strokes. The link went back to 2010, when the duo were deep in the Tron: Legacy soundtrack and Warren Fu, a friend on both sides, brought Casablancas into their orbit at the studio. Fans of his band, they played him an instrumental demo meant for their next record; he liked it, signed on to sing, and ended up stitching two separate Daft Punk demos together, one for the verse and one for the chorus.
Casablancas sings lead, plays guitar alongside Paul Jackson, Jr. and co-produced, with Nathan East on bass and John "JR" Robinson on drums beneath the duo's own guitars and synths. Part disco, part alternative rock, it went out as a single in November 2013, and Rolling Stone ranked it 58th among the year's 100 best songs.
Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia.
RockLists rankings
Alternative & Modern Rock
Indie & Adult Alternative
All Rock Formats
Year-end countdowns
| Year | # | Station | Countdown | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 12 | WBER Rochester, NY | WBER Listener Countdown 2013 | 135 |
| 2013 | 2 | Impact 89FM Lansing, MI | Impact 89FM Top 89 Songs of 2013 | 89 |
| 2013 | 74 | WFUV New York, NY | WFUV Top 90 Songs of 2013 | 90 |
| 2013 | 58 | Triple J Australia (national) | Triple J Hottest 100 of 2013 | 100 |
| 2014 | 90 | 102.7 WEQX Southern Vermont and the Capital District of New York (Albany) | WEQX Top 102.7 of 2014 | 103 |
| 2014 | 46 | Studio Brussel Flanders, Belgium | Studio Brussel De Eindafrekening 2014 | 50 |
All-time and decade countdowns
| Year | # | Station | Countdown | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 920 | The Colorado Sound | The Colorado Sound Top 1055 Songs of the 21st Century | 1055 |
| 2025 | 584 | The Colorado Sound | The Colorado Sound Top 800 Mood Booster Songs | 800 |
Also listed as: Instant Crush (feat. Julian Casablancas).
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