David Guetta, Morrocan-Jewish Producer to the Stars
Crossposted from Haaretz
It is just as well that David Guetta, the child of a Moroccan-Jewish restaurateur in France, chose not to take over the family business. Thanks to that fateful decision Guetta turned into one of the most sought-after producers in the world. His main contribution is to the pop sound that currently dominates pop and hip hop songs interspersed with dance and club beat productions.
The 2009 song, “I Gotta Feeling” that Guetta produced for the Black Eyed Peas was the first to break through and instill dance in the American mainstream. The song became the most frequently downloaded clip in the United States up until then, and turned into the prototype for dozens of clips that followed. From that moment on, pop stars, primarily of the urban genre, who hoped to match the accomplishment, have stood in line to arrange a production with Guetta. Kelly Rowland, Rihanna, Kid Cudi, Kelis and the rapper Flo Rida have all appeared in Guetta clips over the past two years. He himself does not stay behind the scenes, but stands out front and stars in the clips alongside the artists, usually as the DJ getting the masses to move while flailing his arms with his mane of hair flying in all directions.
A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.
At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse..
Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO