Coachella Pick Proves Jamiroquai Bigger Than ‘Napoleon Dynamite’

By DONNA BALANCIA

Arguably one of the most surprising selections to the Coachella 2018 lineup is a group that many in the U.S. know little about: Jamiroquai. But the music is familiar to many pop culture fans.

Jamiroquai performs at Coachella 2018 - Photo courtesy of Jamiroquai
Jamiroquai performs at Coachella 2018 – Photo courtesy of Jamiroquai

Jamiroquai: ‘Disco Guy With The Hats’

To the rest of the world, Jamiroquai is the disco band with “the hat guy,” a funk-disco group that captured the hearts of dance club enthusiasts across the U.K. and the rest of the planet.  Somehow the group and the fun frontman, J.K., just never caught on here.

But the band will play the Friday slots on April 13 and 20 during the two-weekend Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, known simply as Coachella. 

 

‘Napoleon Dynamite’ Dance Scene

But Jamiroquai is more popular than one might think. Anyone who has seen the 2004 movie Napoleon Dynamite is extremely familiar with the band. Jamiroquai’s song, “Canned Heat” provides the backdrop for the victorious stage dance performed by the beleaguered protagonist of the film, Napoleon Dynamite, played by actor Jon Heder.

J.K. The Jamiroquai Frontman

Check out J.K., the man behind the catchy megahit “Canned Heat” made popular by the film Napoleon Dynamite at the 28:38 mark:

Disco on the Comeback

But this is a band whose time has come as the disco genre is making a comeback.  Check out the behind-the-scenes video of “Love Foolosophy” by Jamiroquai, featuring frontman J.K., with Heidi Klum released last month