Ralf Hütter (born 1946, Krefeld, Germany) and Florian Schneider (born 1947, Düsseldorf, Germany) met while they were studying improvised music in Düsseldorf, Germany. In 1967 Ralf Hütter (organ), Florian Schneider (violin, flute), Basil Hammoudi (vocals), Butch Hauf (bass) and Fred Monics (drums) formed the group Organisation, released the album Tone Float and split shortly thereafter. The album features repetitive percussion and bass drum patterns embellished with guitar, flute, violin and organ.
After disbanding Organisation, Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider adopted the name Kraftwerk. Early Kraftwerk line-ups from 1970–1974 fluctuated, as Hütter and Schneider worked with around a half-dozen other musicians, most notably Andreas Hohmann (drums; 1970), Houschäng Néjadepour (guitar; 1970), Charly Weiss (drums; 1970/71), Eberhard Kranemann (cello, bass, hawaii-guitar; 1970/71), Klaus Röder (electric guitar, electronic violin; 1974), Michael Rother (guitar; 1970-71) and Klaus Dinger (drums; 1970-71). For a short period in 1970/71 Ralf Hütter left the band to complete his degree in architecture. There were some sessions/concerts with the line-up "Schneider, Kranemann, Weiss", "Schneider, Hohmann, Kranemann, Rother, Dinger" and "Schneider, Rother, Dinger" in that time. In 1971 Rother and Dinger left Kraftwerk to form the band Neu!.
Their first three albums were more free-form experimental rock without the pop hooks or the more disciplined strong structure of its later work. Their debut album, Kraftwerk, released in 1970, and Kraftwerk 2, released in 1972, were mostly exploratory jam music, played on a variety of traditional instruments including guitar, bass, drums, electric organ, flute and violin. Post-production modifications to these recordings were then used to distort the sound of the instruments, particularly audio-tape manipulation and multiple dubbings of one instrument on the same track. Connie Plank co-produced the first four Kraftwerk albums. Emil Schult has also collaborated on many releases, contributing both lyrics and graphics.
Live performances from 1972–73 were made as a duo, using a simple beat-box-type electronic drum machine, with preset rhythms taken from an electric organ. These shows were mainly in Germany, with occasional shows in France. In 1973, Wolfgang Flür (electronic percussion) joined the group.
With Ralf und Florian, released in 1973, the band began to move closer to its classic sound, relying more heavily on synthesisers and drum machines. Although almost entirely instrumental, the album marks Kraftwerk's first use of the vocoder, which would, in time, become one of its musical signatures.
In 1974, they issued the fourth studio album, Autobahn. This critically acclaimed album marked Kraftwerk's breakthrough and established them as purveyors of electronic music. The title track is intended to capture the feeling of driving on the Autobahn: from travelling through the landscape, the high-speed concentration on the fast lane, to tuning the car radio and the monotony of a long trip. An edited version of "Autobahn" song reached #25 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and #11 in the UK.
In 1975, Karl Bartos (electronic percussion, live vibraphone, live keyboards) joined the band. The Hütter-Schneider-Bartos-Flür formation is now regarded as the classic line-up of Kraftwerk, which remained in place until the late 80s.
In 1975, Kraftwerk released the concept album Radio-Activity (German version: Radio-Aktivität). The hyphenated album title displays Kraftwerk's typical deadpan humour, being a pun on the twin themes of the songs, half being about radioactivity and the other half about activity on the radio. The title track "Radioactivity" was released as a single, and became a hit in France after it was used as the theme to a popular music show. This was the first Kraftwerk album to be entirely self-produced by Hütter & Schneider in their Kling Klang studio, and the first one to be performed by the classic line-up of Kraftwerk.
In 1977, Kraftwerk released the highly influential album, Trans-Europe Express. Critics have described the album as having two specific themes: celebration of Europe and the disparities between reality and image. Musically, the songs on this album differ from the group's earlier Krautrock style with a focus on electronic mechanized rhythms, minimalism, and occasional manipulated vocals. Two singles supported the album: "Trans-Europe Express" and "Showroom Dummies".
By the time of 1978's The Man-Machine (German version: Die Mensch-Maschine), Kraftwerk had created their own unmistakable brand of "robot pop". NME said of The Man-Machine: 'It is the only completely successful visual/aural fusion rock has produced so far". Kraftwerk spent three years building their own Kling Klang studios in the late 70s, complete with, inevitably, scores of computers. The single "The Model", gave the band a surprise hit when it topped the UK charts in 1982.
In 1981 Kraftwerk released their eight studio album, Computer World (German version: Computerwelt). This album combined the use of the sequencer to create the sound now known as electro, inspiring the first producers in Detroit in creating techno, as well as innumerable other artists including Gary Numan, Depeche Mode, and New Order, among many others. This album had the theme of computers taking over the world in the future. It was a commercial success, spawning the singles "Pocket Calculator", "Computer World" and "Computer Love". For this album, the band embarked on the massive Computer World world tour.
The EP Tour De France was issued in 1983. This song was featured in the film Breakdance and became the theme for the cycling event of the same name in that year. In 1986, the ninth studio album Electric Café was released. The album received mixed reviews. Two singles were issued from the album: "Musique Non-Stop" and "The Telephone Call".
In 1987 Wolfgang Flür departed and it was replaced by Fritz Hilpert. In 1991, Kraftwerk's best known songs were collected together and re-recorded on the compilation The Mix.
The single Expo 2000 released in December 1999 came as a surprise for Kraftwerk fans. A brand new song, although low key, sparked hopes of a new album. A video was released for this track, showing the band playing in wireframe suits, but no public appearances or interviews until 2003.
In 2003 the band released Tour de France Soundtracks, its first album of new material since 1986's Electric Café. The album was recorded for the 100th anniversary of the first Tour de France bicycle race, although it missed its original release date during the actual Tour. A completely new recording was made for the "Tour De France" track, based on the original 1983 arrangement.
In June 2005, Kraftwerk released Minimum-Maximum, their first official live album. It features two CDs and tracks recorded on their world tour during 2004, including concerts in Warsaw, Moscow, Berlin, London, Budapest, Tallinn, Riga, Tokyo and San Francisco. The band also released a live DVD.
Florian Schneider officially left the band in January 2009, though news of his departure was reported as early as April 2008. His place was taken over by Stefan Pfaffe.
In 2009, the band issued The Catalogue (German version: Der Katalog), a box-set comprising eight albums by Kraftwerk that were released from 1974 to 2003. All albums were digitally remastered, with most of the cover art redesigned, including rare photographs in the liner notes that were not part of each album's original release.
Following the release of The Catalogue and Florian Schneider's departure, Kraftwerk began a series of live tours, in which they would perform the entirety of the eight albums included in that box set. These performances featured surround sound and live video in 3D with provided glasses. During these tours, in 2012, Falk Grieffenhagen replaced Stefan Pfaffe as live video operator. In 2017, Kraftwerk released 3-D The Catalogue (German version: 3-D Der Katalog), containing the live performance versions of the tracks on The Catalogue, available with visuals on Blu-ray. It won a Grammy Award that year for Best Electronic/Dance Album.
Kraftwerk's influence has been incalculable. Hundreds of artists today in nearly every electronic music subgenre bear witness to their work. They are also reclusive, rarely giving interviews and making no media appearances. To this day Kraftwerk continues to tour precisely crafted sets of their classic songs with 3-D visuals.
Official site: http://www.kraftwerk.com
Nachrichten
Kraftwerk Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fünfzig Atomkraftwerke sollen in der Bundesrepublik
während den nächsten zehn Jahren errichtet werden.
Jedes Einzelne kann eine Millionenstadt mit Strom versorgen
1985 sollen in der Bundesrepublik ... der Strom ...
Der Norddeutsche Rundfunk sendet Nachrichten
Weltweit sind nun schon 355 Atomreaktoren in Betrieb oder im Bau
Jahrtausendwende bereits mehr als 2000 sein
Hier ist der Bayerische Rundfunk mit den Nachrichten
Keine andere Technologie der Nachkriegszeit
Auch nicht die Raumfahrt, nicht ...
... Keine anderen technischen ...
Hier ist Radio Bremen, wir bringen die Nachrichten
Die Vorräte an leicht spaltbarem Uran,
Der als Brennstoff fur die Reaktoren gebraucht wird
Sind zumindestens so begrenzt wie die Ölreserven
Die derzeit bekannten Uranvorkommen reichen gerade aus,
Die schon im Betrieb oder im Bau befindlichen Reaktoren
Für eine Betriebszeit von 40 Jahren zu versorgen
The lyrics of Kraftwerk's song "Nachrichten" talk about the proliferation of nuclear power plants in West Germany during the 1980s. The news reports played by different radio stations discuss the increasing number of nuclear power plants that are set to be constructed in the region in the next decade. The first news report talks about how fifty nuclear power plants are expected to be built in the country, with one power plant having the potential to provide electricity to a million people. The next news report addresses how there are already 355 nuclear reactors in operation or in the process of being built around the world, with the goal of having 2000 by the year 2000.
The third news report discusses how there is no other technology in the post-war era that has seen as much expansion as nuclear power plants. Finally, the last news report talks about the limited supply of uranium, which is required to fuel nuclear reactors. Although uranium is as limited as oil reserves, the known uranium deposits will only be enough to power the already existing or under construction power plants for forty years. Overall, the lyrics of "Nachrichten" express concern about the development of nuclear power plants, their potential consequences, and their limited sustainability.
Line by Line Meaning
Hier ist der Westdeutsche Rundfunk mit Nachrichten
The West German Radio Station is broadcasting news
Fünfzig Atomkraftwerke sollen in der Bundesrepublik während den nächsten zehn Jahren errichtet werden.
Fifty nuclear power plants are planned to be built in West Germany over the next decade
Jedes Einzelne kann eine Millionenstadt mit Strom versorgen
Each nuclear power plant can provide electricity to a city with a population of one million
1985 sollen in der Bundesrepublik ... der Strom ...
By 1985, a significant amount of electricity in West Germany will come from nuclear power plants
Der Norddeutsche Rundfunk sendet Nachrichten
The North German Radio Station is broadcasting news
Weltweit sind nun schon 355 Atomreaktoren in Betrieb oder im Bau
There are already 355 nuclear reactors in operation or under construction worldwide
Nach dem Planziel der Atombefürworter sollen es um die Jahrtausendwende bereits mehr als 2000 sein
According to nuclear proponents' plans, there will be more than 2,000 nuclear reactors by the turn of the millennium
Hier ist der Bayerische Rundfunk mit den Nachrichten
The Bavarian Radio Station is broadcasting news
Keine andere Technologie der Nachkriegszeit. Auch nicht die Raumfahrt, nicht ... Keine anderen technischen...
No technology since World War II, not even space travel or any other technology, has had such a significant impact as nuclear power
Hier ist Radio Bremen, wir bringen die Nachrichten
Radio Bremen is broadcasting news
Die Vorräte an leicht spaltbarem Uran, der als Brennstoff fur die Reaktoren gebraucht wird, sind zumindestens so begrenzt wie die Ölreserven
The reserves of easily fissionable uranium, which is used as fuel for reactors, are at least as limited as oil reserves
Die derzeit bekannten Uranvorkommen reichen gerade aus, die schon im Betrieb oder im Bau befindlichen Reaktoren für eine Betriebszeit von 40 Jahren zu versorgen
The currently known uranium deposits are just enough to provide the already operating or under construction reactors with fuel for 40 years
Contributed by Nathan N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@retrovideoquest
The only thing I don't like about this song is that it's so short...! I used to listen to shortwave radio (way before the Internet!) and those sounds are soooo familiar, those rythmical interferences, the relaxing monotone, unintellegible voices of broadcasters from far away countries, and of course, the melodic "intros" indicating the top of the hour starting a program. Voice of America, BBC World Service, Radio Canada... Priceless memories, impossible to explain to the Internet generation...
@OprichnikStyle
used to? i started listening a few years ago lol
@Dronemf11
Best Kraftwerk song
@Vim281
@retrovideoquest I'm 14 and I have a SW radio, I love SW. I heard the world on my radio on top of a mountain.
@MultiANDRE1963
What is really amazing in this song is that are several radio stations being receive in a Radio VAcum Tube I supose.
@luizaugusto935
Ralf, Florian & Karl.
@riccardomicallo3693
that's the real german tv news theme
@foxwolfblood2
it is a song, it is a weird song but its a song, oh yea and i like this kind of music too. opinions suck don't they?
@ALANLACORTEBRITO
GOOD , GUT
@gazmirgalanxhi3114
Good as onions.