David Guetta, Morrocan-Jewish Producer to the Stars
Image by Ricky Gest
Crossposted from Haaretz
Image by Ricky Gest
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.
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning journalism this Passover.
In this age of misinformation, our work is needed like never before. We report on the news that matters most to American Jews, driven by truth, not ideology.
At a time when newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall. That means for the first time in our 126-year history, Forward journalism is free to everyone, everywhere. With an ongoing war, rising antisemitism, and a flood of disinformation that may affect the upcoming election, we believe that free and open access to Jewish journalism is imperative.
Readers like you make it all possible. Right now, we’re in the middle of our Passover Pledge Drive and we still need 300 people to step up and make a gift to sustain our trustworthy, independent journalism.
Make a gift of any size and become a Forward member today. You’ll support our mission to tell the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
Join our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
Only 300 more gifts needed by April 30
