Daryl Hall and Chromeo: Not That Odd Of A Team Up

As we all know, the lineup for Bonnaroo 2010 was announced yesterday band by band through the festival’s website, MySpace, and Twitter. The big acts such as The Flaming Lips, Weezer, and Kings of Leon weren’t a big surprise especially since Wayne Coyne told everyone about playing some trippy Pink Floyd music.

However, out of all the special guests and pairings, everyone seems to be singling out the team between Daryl Hall, one half of blue-eyed soul popsters, Hall and Oates, and the electrofunk duo, Chromeo.

Hall and Oates became one of the most popular duos in the 1970s and 1980s with all the songs everyone undeniably still loves to sing such as “Rich Girl,” “Sara Smile,” “I Can’t Go For That,” and “You make My Dreams Come True” which had a resurgence in popularity thanks to its use in the indie acclaimed film, (500) Days of Summer. Their popularity first rose mainly because they were bringing soul, blues, and R&B into mainstream pop.

In fact, Hall and Oates’ music continues to be some the most sampled material if not a huge influence on most pop songwriters in the game today. Hall once noted that the late King of Pop, Micheal Jackson even “hoped I didn’t mind that he copied that groove (from “I Can’t Go for That”)” for “Billie Jean.” An interpolation of “Method of Modern Love” was also used in the Wu-Tang Clan Song, “Method Man (Song)”and Amerie’s “Take Control” contained a sample of “You make My Dreams.”

Now, if you listen closely to Chromeo’s “Momma’s Boy,” the melodies and the synthesized keys dangerously echo the “rock and soul” of Hall and Oates. That’s because Chromeo, themselves, even told MTV Hall and Oates was the main influence on their music. Dave 1 proclaimed that Daryl Hall “pretty much wrote half our songs” in excitement when Hall invited them to be part of the internet show, “Live From Daryl’s House.”

Chromeo is another great duo from the current generation who brings melts two genres together. Just as Hall and Oates brought the soul into pop, Dave 1 and P-Thugg bring the elements of old school funk into the new millenium where electronica is fully embraced. So when Chromeo actually got a chance to have a jam session with Daryl Hall, its not a surprise that it was so much of a success that they are performing at Bonnaroo together. Although most Hall and Oates may not be under the age of 30, the performance should be a great event where the past and the present come together only to make some great dance tunes for festival goers.

You can watch the fun times Dave 1, P-Thugg and Daryl Hall have when they recorded Hall and Oates songs, “Adult Education” and “No Can Do” and Chromeo songs, “Tenderoni’ and “Waiting 4 U” here back in August. Although performed in an intimate setting, (Hall’s house!), the live set at Bonnaroo should also be a entertaining watch. After all, according to Hall’s website, Chromeo is “Hall & Oates riding on 22′s, busting shots in the air with Quincy Jones driving.”