Electronic and Pop Music today was most likely in some way shape or form influenced from the very unique band by the name of Kraftwerk. Kraftwerk is German for power plant; they are from Düsseldorf, Germany. Ralf Hutter and Florian Schneider formed the band in 1970. Kraftwerk moved the world with electronic instrumentation and their futuristic sound. The sound they created was not yet discovered and was ahead of its time. The image of Kraftwerk was different. They wore suites and had short haircuts. They were a German band that created electronic music, but after time added lyrics which changed the genre of there music. Unlike other bands they spoke in their native languages, which set them apart from the other pop and rock bands in Germany and the United States. Kraftwerk released the album that changed pop music as a whole at the time. The Autobahn was Kraftwerk’s first world wide released album in 1974. this album was said to be one of the first synthesizer pop records. In 1977 they released Trans-Europe Express. This album landed on the first top ten electronic music tracks in the United States. Kraftwerk’s “The Model” was released as a part of “The Man-Machine” in 1982. Prior to that” Computer World” was released in 1981,and was electronic music’s most hailed and copied offerings. Kraftwerk was one of he most influential bands in many genres. Kraftwerk’s distinct and unorthodox sound was revolutionary, and has had a long lasting effect across many genres of modern music and will proceed to do so for years to come. From listening to The Autobahn I recognized some of the instrumentation and melodies. Growing up my mother and step-father would listen to some old school hip-hop and I remember it like it was yesterday. The vocals to the hip-hop song had sampled the Kraftwerk’s Trans- Europe Express. Kraftwerk has a large effect on my life and I didn’t even know who they were before this course.
Good Post Mr. Johnson,
ReplyDeleteI think we can all agree on the huge influence of Kraftwerk, they definitely left on unmistakable mark on electronic music and like you, I enjoy their German vocals. Overall I think you did a pretty good job of summing up Kraftwerk’s early music and describing some of their trademark attributes. . Most of all I like how you personalized your writing by using an anecdote from your own life. Often it is tiring hearing or reading the same regurgitated facts and material. To hear an actual story that is unique to someone, even if it is brief, is refreshing.