Calvin Harris: The King of Electronic Dance Music

This article is a collaborative effort, crafted and edited by a team of dedicated professionals.

Contributors: Andranick Tanguiane, Fred Lerdahl,

Contents

Calvin Harris is one of the most successful electronic dance music artists of all time. He has had numerous number one hits on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart and is widely considered to be the king of EDM.

Introduction

Calvin Harris is a Scottish DJ, record producer, and songwriter. He is known for his work in the electronic dance music genre. Harris has released five studio albums and has had numerous hit singles, including “We Found Love”, “This Is What You Came For”, “Feels”, and “One Kiss”. He has also worked with other artists such as Rihanna, Ellie Goulding, Katy Perry, and Pharrell Williams.

Harris began his career in the early 2000s, when he released his first album I Created Disco. He rose to prominence in 2007 with the release of his second album, Ready for the Weekend. The album’s lead single, “Acceptable in the 80s”, charted in several countries worldwide. In 2009, Harris collaborated with British singer Lily Allen on the song “Florrie”. The song peaked at number eight on the UK Singles Chart. Later that year, he released his third studio album 18 Months, which garnered international success. The album’s lead single “Bounce” peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart and became Harris’s first Billboard Hot 100 entry as a lead artist.

In 2014, Harris released his fourth studio album Motion; its lead single “Under Control”, which he co-wrote and co-produced with Alesso and Hurts, was a commercial success worldwide. In 2017, he released his fifth studio album Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1; its lead single “Slide” topped the UK Singles Chart while also becoming his eighth overall top ten entry in that country. In 2018, he collaborated with Dua Lipa on the song “One Kiss”, which topped the charts in several countries including Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

Harris’ Beginnings

Calvin Harris was born on January 17, 1984, in Dumfries, Scotland. His first taste of music came from seeing his dad play the drums in a local band. When he was just 13 years old, Harris started making his own music using a Basic programming language. From there, he began to learn different types of electronic music and production.

His first album

In 2007, Harris released his first studio album, I Created Disco. The album contained up-tempo electroclash tracks that were influenced by music from the 1980s. The tracks on the album were widely praised by critics and Harris signed a worldwide record deal with EMI shortly after its release. I Created Disco was a commercial success and peaked at number eight on the UK Albums Chart.

His first singles

Calvin Harris released his first singles “Acceptable in the 80s” and “The Girls” in 2007, both of which went on to become top-ten hits in the UK. His debut album, I Created Disco, was released in June of that year and reached number eight on the UK Albums Chart. It was preceded by the top-ten single “Ready for the Weekend”, which peaked at number three in the UK.

Harris’ Success

Calvin Harris has been dominating the electronic dance music scene for a while now. He has had numerous number one hits, both in the UK and the US. He is one of the richest DJs in the world, and his net worth is estimated to be around $300 million. But how did he achieve all this success?

His second album

Calvin Harris’ second album, “Ready for the Weekend,” was released in 2009 and was an instant success. The album debuted at number one on the UK charts and produced four top ten singles, including the lead single “I’m Not Alone,” which reached number one. “Ready for the Weekend” was also a success in the United States, reaching number nine on the Billboard 200.

His second singles

“Bounce” featuring Kelis was Harris’ second single from the album. The song peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart and number one on the UK Dance Chart. In October 2011, NME placed it at number 167 on its list “150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years”.

“Feel So Close” was released as the third single from the album in August 2011. It reached number two on the UK Singles Chart, matching the peak of its predecessor, “Bounce”. In October 2011, NME placed it at number 123 on its list “150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years”.

The fourth single from the album, “Let’s Go”, featuring Ne-Yo, was released in March 2012. It peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart.

The fifth and final single from 18 Months, “Sweet Nothing”, featuring Florence Welch of Florence and the Machine, was released in October 2012 and peaked at number one on the UK Singles Chart, giving Harris his eighth consecutive top ten hit in the United Kingdom.

Harris’ Collaborations

Calvin Harris is a Scottish DJ, record producer, and singer-songwriter. He is known for his electronic dance music and has collaborated with many other artists such as Rihanna, Ellie Goulding, and Florence Welch. He has been nominated for several Grammy Awards and has won three Brit Awards.

His third album

In 2012, Harris released his third studio album, “18 Months”. The album charted at number two in the UK and number one in Ireland. The first single from the album, “Bounce”, featuring Kelis, peaked at number two in the UK and number one in Ireland. The second single, “Feel So Close”, also peaked at number two in the UK and number one in Ireland. The third single, “Let’s Go”, featuring Ne-Yo, reached number three in the UK and number seven in Ireland. The fourth single from the album, “Sweet Nothing”, featuring Florence Welch of Florence + the Machine, reached number one in the UK andnumber two in Ireland.

His third singles

In March 2007, Harris released his third single, “The Girls”, which peaked at number five on the UK Singles Chart. The song was Harris’ first solo single to be released in the United States, where it reached number 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In May 2007, Harris released his fourth single, “Merrymaking at My Place”, which reached number two in the UK.

Harris’ Awards

Calvin Harris has been awarded numerous times throughout his career in the music industry. He has been named the “Best Male Artist” three times by the Brit Awards, and has received 18 Grammy Award nominations. In 2013, he was ranked number one on DJ Magazine’s Top 100 DJs list, and he has held that position for three consecutive years.

His fourth album

Harris’ fourth album, Motion, was released in October 2014. The album’s first single, “Under Control”, was a collaboration with Alesso and Hurts. The second single, “Blame”, featured John Newman and topped the UK chart in October 2014. The album debuted at number two on the UK Albums Chart. In March 2015, Harris was announced as one of the headliners for the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

His fourth singles

In 2012, Harris released his fourth single, “Feel So Close”, which peaked at number two in the UK and number 12 in the US. The song was Harris’ first release to reach the top 10 in the US. In May 2012, Harris was featured on Rihanna’s single “Where Have You Been”, which reached number one in the UK and number five in the US.

Conclusion

Calvin Harris is one of the most popular and successful DJs in the world. He has headlined some of the biggest festivals, released hit songs and albums, and has won numerous awards. His music is loved by fans all over the world and he is considered to be the king of electronic dance music. If you are a fan of Calvin Harris, then you will definitely enjoy reading this article.

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