Chromeo's Don't Sleep: A Guide To The Band's Energy

Chromeo's Don't Sleep is a catchy, funky tune featuring French Montana and Stefflon Don. The song is about a boy singing to a girl he loves, urging her not to 'sleep on the opportunity to be with him. The opulent music video, directed by Allie Avital, stars Robin Givens as a successful, yet disaffected woman, and satirizes the age of dissatisfaction.

The song's video features Robin Givens as a wealthy, dissatisfied woman

The music video for Chromeo's "Don't Sleep" is a luxurious and opulent affair, featuring Robin Givens as a wealthy, dissatisfied woman. In the video, Givens' character is shown gliding through her extravagant home, with servants attending to her every need. She is handed fruit, fanned, and pampered by muscular servants, yet despite all this luxury, she remains unhappy. Director Allie Avital describes the video as "a 2018 satire for the age of dissatisfaction; the age of overstimulation and Tinder".

Givens' character, the "sad king", embodies this idea. Despite having it all, she is lonely and disaffected. The more she is pampered and entertained, the more her existential void grows. This sense of dissatisfaction is heightened by the song's chorus, "But you've been sleepin' on me/ Don't sleep, don't sleep on me", as the woman continues to ignore the advances of the boys of Chromeo, slamming the door on them.

The video's opulent setting and lavish details serve to emphasise the sense of excess and overstimulation that characterises modern life. The servants' bulging biceps, sponge baths, and lap dances are all part of the over-the-top pampering that ultimately fails to fulfil the woman. This contrast between her luxurious surroundings and her inner unhappiness is a powerful statement on the modern condition, where even those with immense wealth and privilege can feel a sense of emptiness and dissatisfaction.

The casting of Robin Givens as the wealthy, dissatisfied woman is an interesting choice. Known for her roles in films such as "Head of State" and "Boomerang", Givens brings a layer of complexity to the character. Her performance captures the ennui and restlessness of someone who, despite having all the trappings of success, is still searching for something more.

Overall, the music video for "Don't Sleep" is a thought-provoking and visually stunning accompaniment to the song. By featuring Robin Givens as a wealthy, yet unhappy woman, the video explores themes of dissatisfaction, overstimulation, and the modern condition in a powerful and memorable way.

The song is from Chromeo's album 'Head Over Heels'

"Don't Sleep" is a song by Chromeo, featuring French Montana and Stefflon Don. It is the second track on their 2018 album, "Head Over Heels". The song is about a boy trying to convince a girl that she should be with him, rather than wasting her time with someone else. The chorus rings out:

> "But you've been sleepin' on me/ Don't sleep, don't sleep on me, Don't sleep on me (Don't sleep) on me/ Yeah, you've been sleepin' on me/ Don't sleep, don't sleep on me/ Don't sleep, don't sleep on me/ Don't sleep, don't sleep on me/ Yeah, you've been sleepin' on me".

The song is a plea, but also advice, with the singer telling the girl that she is wasting an opportunity by not dating him. The opulent music video for "Don't Sleep", directed by Allie Avital, features a successful woman gliding through her extravagant home, being pampered and entertained, yet still feeling dissatisfied. The more she is given, the more disaffected she becomes. Avital described the video as:

> "a 2018 satire for the age of dissatisfaction; the age of overstimulation and Tinder".

"Don't Sleep" was released in 2018, and the album "Head Over Heels" was nominated for a Grammy for Best Engineered Album.

Chromeo performed for NPR's Tiny Desk series in October 2018

Chromeo, the self-proclaimed "Funklordz", performed for NPR's Tiny Desk concert series in October 2018. The electro-funk duo of David "Dave 1" Macklovitch and Patrick "P-Thugg" Gemayel played with a live band for the first time, having usually performed with backing tracks. The band included keyboardist Eugene "Man-Man" Roberts and percussionists Rashid Williams and Aaron Draper, who have previously played with artists like John Legend, Adele, and The Roots.

The performance included three songs from Chromeo's fifth album, *Head Over Heels*: Count Me In, "Don't Sleep", and "Must've Been". They also played "Jealous (I Ain't With It)" from their 2014 album *White Women*.

The performance was an enjoyable one to watch, with Dave 1 and P-Thugg playing off each other. Their signature sounds, including P-Thugg's Talk Box, which transforms his vocals into robotic sounds, are undeniably infectious. The breakdown at the end of the song "Don't Sleep" was a fitting tribute to NPR's hometown, Washington, D.C.

The song "Don't Sleep", featuring French Montana and Stefflon Don, is about a boy telling a girl not to 'sleep on' the opportunity to date him, framing it as both a romantic plea and advice.

The song is a collaboration with French Montana and Stefflon Don

"Don't Sleep" is a collaboration between the Canadian electro-funk duo Chromeo and artists French Montana and Stefflon Don. The song is Track 2 on Chromeo's album "Head Over Heels", which was released in 2018 and earned the duo their first Grammy Award nomination in 2018 for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical.

French Montana is a Moroccan rapper, and Stefflon Don is an English singer and rapper. The song "Don't Sleep" combines different musical genres, including electro-funk, rap, and soul, with Chromeo's pre-chorus highlighting the theme of romantic disappointment with the lyrics "I can't tell you who to love". The official lyric video for the song features American actress Robin Givens as the female protagonist, a woman in constant need of affection despite being surrounded by men in her mansion.

The collaboration brings together diverse artistic styles, showcasing Chromeo's signature electro-funk sound alongside French Montana's rap verses and Stefflon Don's vocal contribution. The result is a dynamic and rhythmic track that blends the unique flavours of each artist.

The song's lyrics, performed from the perspective of a boy to a girl he loves, revolve around the idea of not ""sleeping on" an opportunity and taking a chance on him before it passes. The chorus, featuring both Chromeo and P-Thugg, emphasises this sentiment with the repetition of "Don't sleep, don't sleep on me". The song serves as both a romantic plea and a form of advice, urging the addressee not to miss out on a clear opportunity.

The song's video features shirtless dancing butlers

The song 'Don't Sleep' by Chromeo features a luxurious music video with French Montana and Stefflon Don. The video depicts a successful woman living a life of opulence, being pampered and entertained by her servants. The chorus "But you've been sleepin' on me/ Don't sleep, don't sleep on me" is reflected in the visuals as the leading lady is seen ignoring calls from the boys of Chromeo. The video takes on a deeper meaning, as director Allie Avital explains: "It's lonely at the top... 'Don't Sleep' is a 2018 satire for the age of dissatisfaction; the age of overstimulation and Tinder". The visuals of the video reinforce this interpretation, with the leading lady, played by Robin Givens, growing increasingly disaffected despite being surrounded by luxury and entertainment, including shirtless dancing butlers.

The shirtless dancing butlers are just one aspect of the lavish lifestyle portrayed in the video. The successful woman is shown gliding through her extravagant home, with servants attending to her every need. She is seen being handed fruit and fanned by her servants, emphasising her wealth and privilege. The juxtaposition of her luxurious surroundings and the emptiness she feels creates a sense of dissonance, reflecting the song's message of dissatisfaction and the dangers of sleeping on" an opportunity.

The dancing butlers, with their bulging biceps, are part of the over-the-top entertainment that fails to fulfil the woman. Despite the lavish surroundings and attention, she is unable to find satisfaction or meaning. The shirtless butlers, along with sponge baths and lap dances, become symbolic of the excess and indulgence that ultimately leave her feeling empty. Their dancing becomes a metaphor for the superficial nature of her lifestyle, highlighting the hollowness of her existence.

The visual of the shirtless dancing butlers adds a layer of depth to the video, contributing to the overall message of the song. Their presence underscores the idea that material possessions and physical pleasures can only provide temporary satisfaction. By focusing on the futility of the woman's pursuits, the video emphasises the importance of genuine connections and meaningful opportunities, as opposed to the shallow distractions that are all too prevalent in the modern age.

The opulent setting and the presence of shirtless dancing butlers serve as a critique of modern society's obsession with wealth, status, and instant gratification. By showcasing the inner turmoil of the successful woman, the video encourages viewers to reflect on their own pursuits and priorities. It prompts a reconsideration of what truly brings fulfilment and happiness, suggesting that true satisfaction lies not in material possessions or fleeting pleasures but in authentic connections and meaningful opportunities that should not be slept on.

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