Daft Punk on why they cover their faces
  • 288 points CriterionBoi

    It was nice of their kidnappers to let them do an interview

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  • 184 points Cookielad14

    I love the idea of being present throughout all of it, playing the gigs, touring, making the albums, doing press etc. but then just being able to live a normal life, going to the supermarket and not being hounded. Genius.

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    8 points EzrasTalons

    People still knew what they looked like though

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    117 points Paddy_Tanninger

    I guarantee you 99% of people who enjoy Daft Punk music would not recognize the guys on the street.

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    18 points Xixii

    I’d guess most people wouldn’t recognise either of them walking down the street out of costume, which is the point.

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    4 points Dr-McLuvin

    It’s funny because all it takes is one person to recognize you. Like I’ve seen plenty of famous people in public where literally no one in the room has any idea they are famous.

    People like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Gordon Ramsay, Hulk Hogan, Aaron Rodgers, Jim Gaffigan, Rob Lowe. I’ve seen all of these people go unnoticed in public.

    But once the person is recognized, it’s all over. They get hounded.

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    1 points ScarletVaguard

    It has to be a herd mentality thing. Like nobody wants to be the one to bother them first. Because there is no fucking way Arnold is going around unnoticed lmao

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    1 points Dr-McLuvin

    Ya that’s def part of it. But a lot of the time it’s just people don’t recognize people in real life that they would easily from TV or the movies. Partly because you’re just not expecting it so your brain doesn’t even register it. In a place where you might expect to see famous people just walking around, I suspect they get noticed more often- like LA, NYC, Vegas etc.

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    3 points Double-decker_trams

    ..Really? How many people? People who are not from France you're saying?

    Because.. like. I would absolutely recognize David Guetta walking on the street. But I have never listened to his music. I've listened to a lot of Daft Punk - and although I've definitely googled them to see their faces - I wouldn't recognize them. Because I don't just randomly see their faces every now and then.

    You're telling me you would? Would you had recognized when they were younger? Would you recognize them now? Pic when they were younger and nowadays: https://imgur.com/yHO8JhX

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    0 points EzrasTalons

    Well pople as in me, my friends. The house music scene was a huge part of the culture where I'm from. I would know what at least one of them (Thomas) looked like when they were younger (25–6 ish years ago) due to being in the same room as him for multiple hours. I believe I saw his last DJ set in the UK at least. But regardless of that We just grew up with them ingrained in our collective passions from maybe mid 90s so whatever I guess. I'm can't speak for the masses of course

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    1 points EzrasTalons

    We were collecting Roule and Crydamoure records since the mid and late 90s. I own many of them.

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  • 969 points Illustrious-Pool-760

    Daft Punk turned anonymity into artistry proof that protecting your identity can let the music truly shine.

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    218 points Gullible-Care-5064

    Yeah exactly. It shows how stepping back from the spotlight can make the art feel bigger than the person.

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    45 points Katops

    Yeah I mean look at that whole thing about that Minecraft YouTuber, Dream. He was way bigger while his face wasn’t out there. Once he showed himself to the world, he got so much negativity from it. Loss in subscribers, viewership (I’m assuming), etc.

    If he looked differently, it might’ve been a different story too though. A public face means anybody from anywhere in the world, with any sort of opinion can and will comment on your appearance regardless of the way they look themselves. Being anonymous (appearance-wise) means your work drives your image. People like you for your personality and content more.

    Idk how stupid this sounds but that’s how I pretty much feel about it.

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    58 points SlipperyWidget

    Wasnt that mostly due to the whole cheating in a speedrun thing that bit him in the ass

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    3 points Least_Percentage_325

    Yes.

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    9 points lemungan

    Babish got worse too

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    3 points isleepbad

    Is that cooking with Babish?

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    2 points isleepbad

    What did people say that made him lose subscribers? I had a quick Google on him and he looks quite normal

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    3 points RllyGayPrayingMantis

    the minecraft youtuber era was hella crazy, they had gay fanfic written everywhere and honestly dream was in an awkward spot because prior to his reveal there were leaks of his childhood photos from classmates that looks chubby, it was all over the internet, so I see the reveal as a response to the fans/haters crying about the chubbiness, and he didn't realize the fans just want to live in the fantasy of wondering about his face while writing another fanfic, not actually wanting to see it.

    The jawline and constant mogging that spawned the trollface comparison didn't help as well.

    Also the speedrun cheating allegations weren't too old at that time. And the thing about internet is that people never really talk shit about the face of people they like, but when it started to become trendy to hate on them, you'll be sure they'll mock his face all day long.

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    3 points psyclopsus

    Maynard James Keenan agrees

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    1 points Violoner

    And Damon Albarn

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    2 points MrYummy05

    and The Residents

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    1 points Paddy_Tanninger

    That was basically how Michael Jackson was until we started to learn about his life in the 2000s

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    72 points cncomg

    But they did a hell of a job creating an identity that is recognizable to many. The whole mysterious anonymous robot thing is very intriguing. But like you said, just insane talent that was probably going to get recognized one way or another.

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    12 points Voice-Of-Doom

    It’s perfect because they can walk around and nobody recognizes them.

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    5 points Purp1eC0bras

    One more time…

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    4 points Wart_Time_L32

    Around the world... Around the world

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    3 points mc_bee

    Daft punk are secretly twin sprits that got out of the Tron grid. That's what I'll keep telling myself.

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    5 points ILoveBigCoffeeCups

    I will argue that blue man group, KiSS, Lordi, GWAR have pioneered this before. They obviously sell this as theatrical show. Even Dolly Parton wears a wig since the beginning so she is not recognised when she is not wearing it.

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    2 points logosfabula

    Plot twist: they have three eyes and four noses.

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    2 points CosechaCrecido

    Gorillaz as well. I only associate the cartoons with the music.

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    5 points greenrangerguy

    Sia also did this too. She didn't used to cover her face, but when she did people started to pay attention.

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    18 points Skullcrusher

    "no one cared who I was until I put on the mask"

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    3 points dYWe57WGuP

    Yes. That's why.

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    1 points Modnet90

    They plagiarized so many songs without attribution I was shocked and disappointed

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  • 197 points moonstar_gazer

    Did they ever show their faces?

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    207 points Onetool91

    Yeah, in the early days. You can Google it

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    -203 points [deleted]

    [deleted]

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    21 points count_snagula

    I see physical beauty is the only thing you pay attention to. Such a shame, there is more to experience from a person than just their looks.

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    19 points FeatureOk548

    Are you kidding? They look like normal guys. Probably a bit above average tbh. Or at least good enough that I believe them, no reason to hide their face other than the reason they shared

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    13 points Frosty_Dimension5646

    Another reason: idiots like u/MidnightDreem

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    3 points ardotschgi

    Did you actually look them up? They were very handsome!

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    7 points Trippy_Terrapin

    You're like 250lbs+ based on those Michelin man fingers. Chill

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    5 points piper33245

    Yeah, bro has a pic of size 42 jeans on his profile.

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    7 points Trippy_Terrapin

    💀

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    64 points jtrades69

    so many times also before they started wearing the helmets

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    19 points bran_the_man93

    Nobody cared who we were before we put on the mask

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    75 points MunBRO

    They both have over the past couple of years since they split/retired Daft Punk. One of them tours solo now no mask

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    1 points simmerbrently

    Who's the one touring now? Is it Daft, or is it Punk?

    /S

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    -114 points spdelope

    Hopefully they aren’t using the daft punk name at all

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    14 points GeneralBlumpkin

    No that's actually just their faces. Horrible congenital condition

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    7 points Theobviouschild11

    That came out of the womb with bags on their heads

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  • 179 points ChiehDragon

    Its a real shame that studio fire happened and turned them into robots before we got to see their faces.

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    -68 points BurdTurglary

    Tragic, fr fr on gosh 🤕

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  • 24 points Neochronic87

    This is exactly what I'd do if I was "famous" as I would absolutely HATE not being able to go out and do normal things . I'd never ever want to be famous.. good thing I have no talents lol

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  • 13 points RevolutionarySeven7

    the most french comment ive ever heard from a fellow frenchman

    in other words, don't focus on us, focus on our music!

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    1 points Sensitive_Wear7112

    It’s the Streisand effect. the more they try to not distract from their music is proportional to how much they distract from their music. I know less about their music but the fact that they’re the guys that wear the funny helmets.

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    -11 points random_fucktuation

    deunt fauxceuxz oeun ouez, fauxceuz oeun eau meuxzeuc!

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    1 points Moabingyu

    bad bot

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  • 11 points ---N0MAD---

    They wanted to be known for what they could do, not for their outward appearance.

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  • 5 points Educational_Bed1895

    It’s wild how they turned anonymity into part of the art itself. By hiding their faces, the focus stays on the music and the concept, not the celebrity. Way ahead of its time.

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  • 16 points hard2resist

    They hid their faces to make the music larger-than-life mystery turned into iconic artistry.

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  • 31 points Loose-Version-7009

    Once, I made the mistake looking up a singer I had been listening to. The expectation because of the deep voice versus the twink I saw was such a shock, I couldn't listen to his music for years. I have no idea why it was so shocking to me but now, I know not to do this.

    Same as listening to lyrics and actually looking them up. Sometimes the idea you have of what they sounded like was better.

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    21 points MunBRO

    I remember the first time I got Rick rolled and saw what Rick Astley actually looks like too 😂

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    9 points cosmicr

    I'm so old I remember when never gonna give you up came out.

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    2 points Real_Run_4758

    First time i was rickrolled i was like “he’s white?!”

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    1 points Cartina

    When the whole rickroll thing started back then, the original premise of sharing the video was that his voice didn't match his appearance and that was the thing people found amusing. Then the rest is history.

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    6 points AppropriateScience71

    Nah - I thought it started on 4chan as a pure bait-and-switch troll/prank. There were a few pre-cursors over there, but this is the one that stuck.

    The bait-and-switch is immediately understandable by everyone who clicks on it an immediately rolls their eyes whereas the voice mismatch is way too subtle for more folks.

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    1 points DoorHalfwayShut

    What "should" he look like based on his voice?

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    1 points Xixii

    I assumed he looked like Billy Ocean.

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    1 points DoorHalfwayShut

    That feels like it fits more for sure. I was also thinking some sort of black but didn't want to say since sometimes people get nutty about that stuff.

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    9 points soop_nazi

    I was CONVINCED Sam Smith was a sexy black man

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    7 points Creative-East-1196

    This is totally about George Ezra isn’t it?

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    1 points Loose-Version-7009

    It was L'Arc-en-Ciel.

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    4 points Alwaysforscuba

    Tay Zonday?

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    2 points skr_replicator

    Once I had a similar experience (wouldn't call it a mistake, though): when I heard Aesop Rock for the first time, I instantly fell in love with his voice and lyrics. And for some reason, his voice sounded... ...black... ...to me? I can't put my finger on how. It's definitely not just the fact it was rap. I know any genre can be done with any race. But the voice just sounded like it had some kind of "black" timbre to it or something. Then I found out he was white, a bit of a surprise, but I don't mind. It's still just as good to listen to as always.

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    2 points Kaboose456

    When I first saw what Sawyer Hill looked like after hearing Firestarters, it shocked the daylights out of me

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    0 points LepperMessiah56

    This is why people say not to meet your hero’s/idols. I love Jim Carrey as an actor, but in real life we would have very little in common. Never met the guy but he is awesome in my book

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    -2 points BurdTurglary

    Daaamn! 💀 Hozier?

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  • 8 points MichelNickel

    Fun fact : in fact they were interviewing the janitor and his uncle

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  • 3 points Mr_Shoogle

    Art of Noise did this back in the 80s. They all wore masks in their album and press photos, it was surreal and awesome... But I think The Residents have done it longer than everyone.

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  • 3 points djereezy

    I dig it.

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  • 3 points jeromezooce

    Smart guys tbh. I mean they did that genuinely on purpose to protect themselves . It demands confidence and projection

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  • 2 points BandoTheHawk

    its best to remain mysterious. also like Batman if they ever want to pass the torch to someone else, they can. the best actors don't do lots of interviews, kind of the same concept. let peoples imagination do the work for you.

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  • 2 points appletinicyclone

    I miss them

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  • 4 points LeGoose

    Release the unredacted daft punk files!

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    0 points Jawilla936

    Can’t because people might get hurt lol

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  • 7 points Acrobatic-March-4433

    I would worry about impersonators, especially on social media. There are just too many gullible people out there. Somebody who didn't even look that much like Bradley Cooper (IMO) was trying to pass himself off as him just to get preferential treatment and free stuff at a film festival not too long ago.

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    47 points ankercrank

    Their act definitely predates social media.

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    1 points Patriark

    Other artists have done the same in later years where social media was part of it. Burial hid his identity for many years. Not as big as Daft Punk obviously, but same concept. He just did not want the press. Also it is a strange plan to try to impersonate someone that noone knows who is or how they looks like.

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    -1 points Conscious_String_195

    I don’t think that, at the time of this appearance at least, that they cared about their marketability or someone impersonating them.

    W/AI use, it doesn’t really mean anything anymore anyway if you can see their face to know if legit or not.

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    -4 points Acrobatic-March-4433

    But they were still around when social media became big.

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    4 points OddRedittor5443

    But they started before the internet was mainstream, so it wasn’t a concern for them

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    -1 points Acrobatic-March-4433

    And I'm saying it would concern me afterwards when anyone could see how popular it was becoming.

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    1 points OddRedittor5443

    Through their entire career I don’t think they’ve had any issues with impersonation. They always announced their public appearances and held them at established event centres

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    -1 points Acrobatic-March-4433

    Actually, somebody impersonated one of the Daft Punk members earlier this year. They even tricked a former Kraftwerk member into collaborating with them. But yeah... LOL. Downvote me some more.

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    1 points OddRedittor5443

    Given they officially ended their career in 2021, this was on Flür (the Kraftwerk employee) for not going through management to confirm it was actually Daft Punk. It would be different if he, for instance, scammed unknowing fans for autographs

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    1 points Acrobatic-March-4433

    That doesn't change my point about there being gullible people out there who believe whatever they hope to believe.

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    1 points cheradenine66

    Are you saying that you can see a decade into the future?

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    1 points Acrobatic-March-4433

    I'm saying the moment social media became big and 50 different accounts claiming to be one celebrity started popping up, they should have thought, "Aw shit (well, merde, I guess), that could happen to us!"

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    1 points cheradenine66

    This interview was made when Facebook was still open to US Ivy League students only, so they probably haven't even heard of it yet.

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    1 points Acrobatic-March-4433

    They kept their faces concealed (for the most part) even after social media became available to everyone and allowed anonymous users to impersonate celebrities.

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    1 points cheradenine66

    Well, they're not going to stop, years into the act, just because some dipshit can impersonate them. Why would they even care? They have teams of lawyers for minor things like that.

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    6 points thesagaconts

    I went to high school with an MLB all star. He was top of his game when MySpace came out. There were so many MySpace accounts with his name and face. He told me to find the one with his high school ex girlfriend on it. He kept her in his top ten so people could tell the difference. What a wild time.

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  • 1 points Nice_Commission3770

    Video killed the radio star.

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  • 1 points Sys7em_Restore

    Robot

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  • 1 points smile-a-while

    TIL that at least half of Daft Punk is very french

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    2 points Jean-Eustache

    Both are French

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  • 1 points KibboKid

    Have they been taken hostage by terrorists

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  • 1 points loves_eating_asses

    My guy shops at Harbor Freight and wants to talk shit

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  • 1 points RobZagnut2

    Milli Vanilli making a comeback?

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  • 1 points erikvfx

    Burger, nuggets, nuggets, burger

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  • 1 points carrigroe

    RDJ..."hold my spliff"

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  • 1 points iShadePaint

    Ans there are people who actually try to dox them like they did Sleep Token, dickheads

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  • 1 points thatstwatshesays

    All I want is money, fuck the fame, I’m a simple man

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  • 1 points Sedert1882

    Very smart young people!

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  • 1 points Lobster15s

    Same philosophy as MF DOOM. Let the artistry shine and separate the celebrity from the art.

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  • 1 points mrbrucel33

    The most correct philosophy to have.

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  • 1 points MsSaintz

    Like Wilson from Home Improvement

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  • 1 points ready2xxxperiment

    Are these the hoods cops put on people who spit at them?

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    1 points FearanddopingII

    No. It's usually a mask not a hood, well the ones I've seen

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  • -6 points [deleted]

    [deleted]

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    1 points BaeIz

    Ok?

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    0 points subaqueousReach

    *their

    -Masked Grammar Nazi

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    -1 points Horse_Cop

    I don't have a problem with these two covering their faces but I definitely have a problem with invasive species covering non-native environments

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    -2 points shupshow

    Hahahahaaa dude you can’t be serious? This is the funniest thing I’ve ever read on Reddit babbahahahahah

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  • 0 points Tekn0z

    So they are like Bucket head

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  • -5 points Phil_Coffins_666

    What's with the whole "I'm the star (victim) in an isis video" headwear? There weren't any balaclavas? Had to go with the kidnapping victim bags?

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    4 points milk_lust

    Lol I’m pretty sure they are pillow cases. Idk though, maybe they forgot to bring their space helmets and had to make do.

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  • 0 points AbbreviationsWide331

    Yo is that sjokz?!

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  • 0 points Blue_The_Snep

    even daft punk got redacted

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  • 0 points Ziffle123

    Silly

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  • -5 points MarketCrache

    They're ugly. It would ruin their cache.

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  • -5 points Druitp

    Also we dont want creeps stalking our homes and making our kids unsafe

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  • -77 points Accomplished-Sir5161

    And so they should hide their faces. Their music is an affront to humanity.

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    17 points SekhmetTheWise

    Says he with empty hand and heart.

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    -14 points Nervous-Pay9254

    Sir, I beg of you, that sir is accomplished. I say good day.

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    13 points K-Ryaning

    HAHAHAHAH WHAT?! Yo it's fair and understandable for you to say "I don't enjoy it" but to claim their music is bad is just flatout incorrect. They've literally been KNIGHTED for their contributions to music 🤣

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    7 points brothersp0rt

    Edgy AF bro!

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    4 points bageltoastar

    bro hates music

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    2 points RevolutionarySeven7

    that's like saying kittens are demon spawns

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    3 points trivetsandcolanders

    Let’s hear your music then.

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  • -6 points Candid_Frosting2548

    then they became what they said no to.. meaning lost behind famous faces

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  • -15 points ClankerCore

    I’m going to take a guess here at who the drummer is or rather who the drummer isn’t…

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