Their sound is rigorously electronic and their tracks deal with such diverse subjects as: Russian cosmonauts, rubbish compactors and mobile phone ringtones. Musical antecedents and influences include Kraftwerk, Giorgio Moroder, Syd Barrett and Brian Eno.
Komputer's debut album, The World of Tomorrow came out in 1998, as an electro reaction against Oasis’ glorification of The Beatles, substituting Kraftwerk as heroes. Their second album, Market Led was released in 2002, a glitchy slice of mittel-european electronica.
Synthetik, the third album, is a return to the more traditional electro sound of the first album, with the incorporation of a more experimental and contemporary electronica approach.
Valentina
Komputer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Grew up to join the space programme
The first female cosmonaut
In '63 her craft was launched
Valentina Tereshkova
Valentina Tereshkova
Orbiting three days and nights
Fifty times around the world
All alone this russian girl
Valentina Tereshkova
Valentina Tereshkova
Valentina Tereshkova
5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1
She was born in '37
Twice awarded the order of Lenin
The first woman hero of the modern age
But for Valentina there's no grand parade
Valentina Tereshkova
Valentina Tereshkova
Valentina Tereshkova
Valentina Tereshkova
5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1
The song Valentina by Komputer pays tribute to Valentina Tereshkova, the first woman to travel to space. The lyrics describe her journey from birth in 1937 to joining the space program and ultimately becoming the first female cosmonaut to orbit the Earth in 1963 in the Vostok 6 spacecraft. The line "The first female cosmonaut" describes the trailblazing nature of Tereshkova's achievement, and the repetition of her name in the chorus emphasizes her importance and significance.
The lyrics also touch on the paradox of Tereshkova's legacy - while she achieved an incredible feat that earned her multiple accolades, including twice being awarded the order of Lenin, she did not receive the same level of recognition or public celebration as male astronauts. The line "But for Valentina there's no grand parade" highlights this disparity and nods to the gender inequality that persisted in the space program and beyond.
Overall, Valentina is a celebration of progress and achievement, but also a reminder of the work that remains to be done to achieve true gender equality.
Line by Line Meaning
She was born in '37
Valentina Tereshkova was born in 1937.
Grew up to join the space programme
As she grew up, she joined the space program.
The first female cosmonaut
Valentina was the first female astronaut or cosmonaut to go to space.
In '63 her craft was launched
In the year 1963, her spacecraft was launched.
Valentina Tereshkova
This line is the chorus of the song and just repeats her name.
In Vostok 6 she made her flight
Valentina made her spaceflight in the Vostok-6 spacecraft.
Orbiting three days and nights
During her flight, she orbited the Earth for three days and nights.
Fifty times around the world
In those three days, Valentina orbited the Earth 50 times.
All alone this russian girl
Valentina was alone in space throughout her flight, as the first woman ever to go to space.
Twice awarded the order of Lenin
Valentina was twice recognized with the Order of Lenin, one of the highest honors in Russia at the time.
The first woman hero of the modern age
Valentina was the first woman recognized as a hero of the modern age, for her achievement in space.
But for Valentina there's no grand parade
Despite her achievements, there was no grand parade or celebration to honor Valentina.
5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1
This countdown is a reference to the launch of a rocket, which is a common symbol of space travel.
Contributed by Dylan D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.