Kraftwerk's Autobahn: Understanding the Pioneers of Electronic Music

Prepare your popcorn! Embark on an in-depth exploration of Autobahn, one of the most seminal electronic music albums ever created. This profound 1974 classic not only served as a forerunner to techno music, but also represented one of the most significant artistic contributions to the musical landscape of that decade.🚀
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#Kraftwerk #Autobahn #synthesizer

[@Doctormix]

🚀Ready to elevate your music production skills? Get my 'Music Producer Gold Guide' now at 25% off for a limited time only! 👉 GoldGuide.uk

[@gameboypocket9038]

Your "Fun Fun Fun"-Theory is very wrong, "Fahren" = "Driving" in Germany, so your little Beach Boy Reference ist just a happy little accident :)

[@gameboypocket9038]

As you thought about, what they sing about on Autobahn, here is a little translation: We are driving on the Autobahn In front of us is a wide valley The sun is shining with glittering rays The driving strip is a grey track White stripes, green edge We are switching the radio on From the speaker it sounds: We are driving on the Autobahn Obviously it rhymes in German, haha

[@InSurrealtime]

Phase shifter has a very hypnotic effect. I use it all the time.

[@gps4l184]

@@gameboypocket9038 Exactly and the part Dr Mix asked for Die Fahrbahn ist ein graues band, weise strife, grüner rand (20:58)

[@MojoSpoon]

@20.58: "Die Fahrbahn ist ein graues Band, weisse Streifen, grüner Rand" and means: "The roadway is a gray band, white stripes, green border"

[@josephramone5805]

Without doubt or argument, this is THE ALBUM that brought electronic music into the mainstream conscience. I remember very clearly that I was getting my haircut by a Brazilian "stylist" when I first heard this album circa 1974-5. It was during the Disco era and his salon in NYC had a very Euro vibe, mostly decorated in chic black and white decor. He would spin vinyl, and most of it obscure. When this record came on, I was transfixed. This "new" robotic music that the guy was playing was my doorway into Larry Fast and his Synergy experiments, as well as other electronic artists. Long live Kraftwerk!!

[@WilliamCharlesShaver]

Switched on Bach? Released in 1968.

[@artuskoenich8377]

20:56 the lyrics are: "fahr'n, fahr'n, fahr'n, die Fahrbahn ist ein graues Band. Weiße Streifen, grüner Rand." which translates to "drive, drive, drive, the road is a grey band, white stripes, a green roadside" Love your analyses ❤

[@PascalBlondiau]

I was waiting for someone to correct that ;-) Nice analysis, though, as always with much enthusiasm in it.

[@karlp8484]

When you drive along an autobahn, it's almost mesmerising. And I think the trees on both sides (Germany is extremely forested) , are somehow evoked in the later stages. But the speed on autobahns are very high and that's even projected at certain points in the music.

[@ewetoo]

vielen dank

[@dannynysus]

No distinction is made between the present simple and present continuous tenses in German, so "(wir) fahren" can mean both "(we) drive" and "(we are) driving"

[@srh2301]

"Fun fact": There was a german Beach boys cover band in the eighties which did a cover version of "Fun Fun Fun" which actually utilizes the similar sounding and uses "Fahrn Fahrn Fahrn" in the chorus: kzbin.info/www/bejne/al7Xg6mwoN2ljZY

[@hschieck]

In 1974 I was 5 years old and whenever "Autobahn" was on the radio I was like glued to the speaker. In consequence, "Autobahn" was my very first music cassette. Significantly, I didn't have a stereo at the time, but an old "Blaupunkt" car radio with a cassette slot built into a wooden box by my dad. The cassette has survived all the years and is still safely sitting in my cupboard.

[@j.maxell3030]

Después de escuchar el Synthetizer Man/ Freedom Day de Jarre 1972 nada de Kraftwerk sorprendía o llamaba la atención...😉 En Autobahn los Kraftwerk se van alejando de su Krautrock & Rock Prog. y entrando mas al rubro de la Música Electrónica (Post Concreta, Experimental, Soundtrack & Moog) que se desarrolla desde los 60s y finales del 50s Kingsley, Dissevelt, Scott, Derbyshire, Hodgson, Cecil, Garson, Prilly... Moroder, Jarre, Lacksman, Tangerine Dreams, YMO, Schulze, Vangelis, Tonet, Gizzi, Pinhas, Martin W. & Ian Craig...(entre otros) toman la misma base electrónica para el desarrollo de sus modelos y lineas electrónicas siendo Moroder el Top 1 con su modelo EDM (NRG & Synthpop) desde 1977 influyendo incluso a los 4 Robots del Krautrock. Habría que decirle a Doctor Mix que escuche música electronica anterior a 1974 antes de creer que Autobhan es algo avanzado o revolucionario 😅

[@flufycat2748]

My dad build also speaker for me.!

[@hschieck]

@@flufycat2748 The speakers to my car radio where the old car speakes built into cigar boxes. Definitely not high end, but better than nothing. Those were the days ...

[@flufycat2748]

Why you was 5 years În '74??.. Like me?? 😄

[@hschieck]

@@flufycat2748 Class of '69 - at least we enjoyed the 80th at its fullest. 😁

[@RobVaderful]

I remember me and a my friend listen thet LP over and over again when we where 12...we where blown away.

[@soepil]

Great! This record was not recorded in Kling-Klang Studio, but in legendary late producer Conny Plank's studio. He was a master of echo and production and is all over the record. The Minimoog was certainly present at this time and also the Farfisa Professional Piano. Klaus Röder is on guitar and violin.

[@MonsieurC64]

Thanks for mentioning Conny Plank. He played a big part in their early albums.

[@j.maxell3030]

En Autobahn los Kraftwerk se van alejando de su Krautrock & Rock Prog. y entrando mas al rubro de la Música Electrónica Post Concreta, Experimental, Soundtrack & Moog (influencia que toma Conny Plank en su Rock Prg. & Krautrock) que se desarrolla desde los 60s y finales del 50s: Kingsley, Dissevelt, Scott, Derbyshire, Hodgson, Cecil, Garson, Prilly... Moroder, Jarre, Lacksman, Tangerine Dreams, YMO, Schulze, Vangelis, Tonet, Gizzi, Pinhas, Martin W. & Ian Craig...(entre otros) toman la misma base electrónica para el desarrollo de sus modelos y lineas electrónicas siendo Moroder el Top 1 con su modelo EDM (NRG & Synthpop) desde 1977 influyendo incluso a los 4 Robots del Krautrock. Habría que decirle a Doctor Mix que escuche música electronica anterior a 1974 antes de creer que Autobhan es algo avanzado o revolucionario 😅

[@bluebull399]

Can you just imagine being alive in the 70's and hearing this for the first time. Amazing.

[@galier2]

Yes, I can. I have good memory.

[@unclemick-synths]

​@@galier2 me too

[@Kouros-t6d]

I was there and sincerely did not impress me too much ..there were LOTS of better music back then.....basically some kids nowadays listen to electronic music thinkin that is something new (ignorance) but it's as new or as old like rock..funk...disco....prog...hard-rock/heavy-metal....new wave...soul...hip hop....fusion...electronic etc....every modern genre was invented in the 70's (or in the 70's it was developed at its max)

[@davidchristensen6908]

Yes I can I was there.

[@Cl4rendon]

Yes i can - We perceived it different than today though.

[@X22GJP]

TUBULAR BELLS TUBULAR BELLS II - perhaps the greatest ever sequel to an album ever made. Loved the Autobahn analysis Claudio, very insightful and makes you really appreciate the nuances and complex simplicities!

[@jayceeloop]

Tubular Bells II manages to go above the original and beyond! Love it lots

[@TechnoBillyD]

Totally Agree

[@NavelOrangeGazer]

Oldfield is criminally underrated.

[@michael1234252]

Tubular Bells is one great album and kickstarted Richard Branson's Virgin record label as well as his Virgin brand. That album also kickstarted Mike Oldfield's career.

[@ZZZer00]

One of my all time favourites

[@nicomeier8098]

When I Autobahn came out I was 8 years old. I was in Germany with my German grandfather, grandmother and their son, my uncle, who introduced me to the music of Kraftwerk. Got me hooked for life, I got all their original albums and all vinyl remastered ones as well as the CD's. Still play it regularly, I so love their music. BTW I also love driving on the German Autobahn.......remember that until quite recently the German Autobahns were mainly made of large reinforced concrete slabs, so driving on them would produce a "thumb...thumb" noise from your tyres hitting the small gaps between those slabs - now listen to the transition at 18:27.

[@Keyswiz71]

I'm the same age as you and remember hearing Autobahn for the first time in the 70's; my mind was blown!

[@DoctorNemmo]

I just saw Kraftwerk a week ago in Santiago! Full of young people enjoying the music and singijg aloud the songs ! Ralf Hutter is still there singing for all of us. Autobahn was one of the tracks they played live. Great band, great trajectory, great video !

[@ReyArteb]

8-9 year old me would listen to this 8 track over and over (thanks mom and dad for being HIP!) this song is an emotional journey.

[@n84434]

You and me both. We were on a road trip to Mackinac Island in 1975 and stopped to eat at a diner. I walked in and heard this coming from a small Jute box and was hooked!! I was 9 at the time. 👍🏻

[@KRAFTWERK2K6]

The last album they recorded and mixed at the Conny Plank studio :) It was even Conny's idea to add sounds that sounded like cars passing by. This man was quintessential for shaping the Sound of Kraftwerk in their early years and the mixes of the first 3-4 Albums (Kraftwerk, Kraftwerk 2, Ralf & Florian and Autobahn) are AMAZING. I think there's even a quadrophonic Mix of Autobahn. There is an incredible spacial feeling in Conny's mixes which i love so much. Also fun fact, the sound of the Car starting at the beginning is a foley sound that was also often heard in the german Audio Drama series "Die Drei ???" based on the original series about the 3 detectives by Alfred Hitchcock.

[@j.maxell3030]

En Autobahn los Kraftwerk se van alejando de su Krautrock & Rock Prog. y entrando mas al rubro de la Música Electrónica (Post Concreta, Experimental, Soundtrack & Moog) que se desarrolla desde los 60s y finales del 50s Kingsley, Dissevelt, Scott, Derbyshire, Hodgson, Cecil, Garson, Prilly... Moroder, Jarre, Lacksman, Tangerine Dreams, YMO, Schulze, Vangelis, Tonet, Gizzi, Pinhas, Martin W. & Ian Craig...(entre otros) toman la misma base electrónica para el desarrollo de sus modelos y lineas electrónicas siendo Moroder el Top 1 con su modelo EDM (NRG & Synthpop) desde 1977 influyendo incluso a los 4 Robots del Krautrock y su productor Conny Plank. Habría que decirle a Doctor Mix que escuche música electronica anterior a 1974 antes de creer que Autobhan es algo avanzado o revolucionario 😅

[@lowandodor1150]

LoveLoveLove his companionship with Moebius & Roedelius and their CLUSTER & HARMONIA records.

[@roberthollander4522]

in 2003 we traveled as part of a high school charity band across Europe which worked with Make-A-Wish, granting wishes in each town they performed. One night we rode in a bus from the Hague (Scheveningen) to Frankfort. I went to sleep that night, on the Autobahn, listening to Autobahn. It was surreal. And something I ALWAYS wanted to do. Once in a lifetime! GREAT VIDEO Claudio!! I'm listening through the whole album now, every song just as good as the first time I heard them.

[@tim_buck_too9126]

This was THE song that began a 50 year journey of discovery and enjoyment of "electronic" music for me. It takes me way back to being 12 years old again. It sounds as fresh as the day it was released. The whole album is a joy to listen to.

[@mcweb1036]

I am from Germany Düsseldorf and i love Krafterk. Nice Video 😊 you speak good germen ;))

[@fumocamel]

i'm over 50 years old now, and i start to listen kraftwerk when i was 14 yo, but everytime i listen kraftwerk i discover new things, they are my master, the light to follow

[@terberg1961]

Nobody analyses like Dr. Mix! Excellent as always.

[@FunkyDisco79]

Not excellent at all. Lots of error in this video.

[@richardervins]

No. Sorry to say. But there are a lot of mistakes in this. Not just the mistake with „fun“ being „ fahr‘n“ (short for „driving“ in German). I know two members of Kraftwerk personally. I know how they worked at the time. And there is just too much speculation and not enough knowledge of how Autobahn was produced in this „essay“. ❤

[@zheltovsky]

Oh yes please, Tubular Bells or any of the early albums of Mike Oldfiel, they are so amazing ! So much to tell about composition, melodies, harmonies, ... These are real masterpieces !

[@j.maxell3030]

En Autobahn los Kraftwerk se van alejando de su Krautrock & Rock Prog. y entrando mas al rubro de la Música Electrónica (Post Concreta, Experimental, Soundtrack & Moog) que se desarrolla desde los 60s y finales del 50s Kingsley, Dissevelt, Scott, Derbyshire, Hodgson, Cecil, Garson, Prilly... Moroder, Jarre, Lacksman, Tangerine Dreams, YMO, Schulze, Vangelis, Tonet, Gizzi, Pinhas, Martin W. & Ian Craig...(entre otros) toman la misma base electrónica para el desarrollo de sus modelos y lineas electrónicas siendo Moroder el Top 1 con su modelo EDM (NRG & Synthpop) desde 1977 influyendo incluso a los 4 Robots del Krautrock. Habría que decirle a Doctor Mix que escuche música electronica anterior a 1974 antes de creer que Autobhan es algo avanzado o revolucionario 😅

[@Peter_S_]

I remember the feeling of elation when I realized I had owned both a late 1960s white Bug and a black 1961 Mercedes 220, and there they were on the cover of Autobahn !!

[@greatheightsu]

I could listen to you break down records like this for hours. Gives me a new appreciation for it.

[@etk1138]

It's amazing how something as simple as a delay on the bass can make it so special and iconic. The title track is just sensational. Also Kometenmelodie 2 from the album is one of my fave Kraftwerk tracks

[@jamesmay3941]

I bought the Kometenmelodie single in the 80s not knowing at the time it was from this album (I have most of them now, I think). Hearing that movement on this vid took me straight back. 👌

[@lowandodor1150]

Ohhh Kometenmelodie is swee heat!

[@lowandodor1150]

A little more like Cluster and Harmonia perhaps or. well, just wonderfully blissful electronic exploration!

[@matthouben4242]

Between the album "Autobahn" and "The Man Machine", Kraftwerk released : " Radio-Activity"

[@garrytoole]

Saw these guys in dusseldorf in 1977 was 10 unreal been a fan of electronic music ever since thanks guys

[@Dj_Shroom]

I'm in love with the passing cars sounds

[@giddyaunt9953]

I love the idea that they are quoting the Beach Boys with "Fahren" in place of "Fun" but I did hear that a member of Kraftwerk had denied that they had that in mind. So maybe, maybe not

[@Doctormix]

Yes, I always remember the story but I see how this could be speculation. Thanks for the comment! C

[@Emlizardo]

Anybody whose read interviews with those guys knows they were great comedians and tricksters, hardly ever giving a straight answer to any question.

[@harrycooper5231]

Heard this on late night FM in 74, never heard anything like it. Bought the album the next day, and became a lifelong Kraftwerk fan. RIP FS.

[@fernandosantos3576]

Claudio, I just love the way you deconstruct these masterpieces. Thank you.

[@Lichfeldian--Suttonian]

The use of the synthesizers to create those whizzing Doppler effected car sounds whizzing by without the use of digital sampling is just magic!

[@hinzster]

Though a lot of the music sounds sequenced, Autobahn was made before they started using their (custom-made) sequencer. To think that they were so precise as musicians that they actually sounded like machines is mind-blowing. And you can't only hear influences of classical music, but actually classic *electronic* music, like eg. Karlheinz Stockhausen.

[@j.maxell3030]

En Autobahn los Kraftwerk se van alejando de su Krautrock & Rock Prog. (Conny Plank) y entrando mas al rubro de la Música Electrónica (Post Concreta, Experimental, Soundtrack & Moog) que se desarrolla desde los 60s y finales del 50s Kingsley, Dissevelt, Scott, Derbyshire, Hodgson, Cecil, Garson, Prilly... Moroder, Jarre, Lacksman, Tangerine Dreams, YMO, Schulze, Vangelis, Tonet, Gizzi, Pinhas, Martin W. & Ian Craig...(entre otros) toman la misma base electrónica para el desarrollo de sus modelos y lineas electrónicas siendo Moroder el Top 1 con su modelo EDM (NRG & Synthpop) desde 1977 influyendo incluso a los 4 Robots del Krautrock. Habría que decirle a Doctor Mix que escuche música electronica anterior a 1974 antes de creer que Autobhan es algo avanzado o revolucionario 😅

[@tomhekker]

I love how Kraftwerk gets almost 100% electrically created sounds to sound human. It’s really what sets them apart from everyone else.

[@j.maxell3030]

El que le dió 120% humanidad a la Electrónica fue Moroder...no el Krautrock & Ruido Dusseldorft de Conny Plank (Kraftwerk). En Autobahn los Kraftwerk se van alejando de su Krautrock & Rock Prog. y entrando mas al rubro de la Música Electrónica (Post Concreta, Experimental, Soundtrack & Moog) que se desarrolla desde los 60s y finales del 50s Kingsley, Dissevelt, Scott, Derbyshire, Hodgson, Cecil, Garson, Prilly... Moroder, Jarre, Lacksman, Tangerine Dreams, YMO, Schulze, Vangelis, Tonet, Gizzi, Pinhas, Martin W. & Ian Craig...(entre otros) toman la misma base electrónica para el desarrollo de sus modelos y lineas electrónicas siendo Moroder el Top 1 con su modelo EDM (NRG & Synthpop) desde 1977 influyendo incluso a los 4 Robots del Krautrock. Habría que decirle a Doctor Mix que escuche música electronica anterior a 1974 antes de creer que Autobhan es algo avanzado o revolucionario 😅

[@miloshp7399]

Human? Please verify that you're not a robot.

[@fortheloveofnoise]

​@@miloshp7399We are all just in the universal machine.

[@willybones3890]

First time I heard Kraftwerk I was 14. It was 1978 and I fell in love. I was pretty much the only one in my friend group that liked them...I still have eclectic tastes in music to this day.

[@DetroitMicroSound]

Kraftwerk played the theater in my picture, here in Detroit (Eastown Theatre, then called Showcase Theater) for the first time in the midwest United States, in 1975. ....The rest is TECHNO HISTORY. ❤

[@Cold-1]

"Fahrn auf der Autobahn" translates to "Drive on the Highway". It has nothing to do with "fun"!

[@jochenreich683]

So siehtz aus😃🚙🛻🚛🚐🚗

[@compfox]

Ja, aber wenn es schon so eine Koinzidenz gibt, warum sie nicht mitnehmen?

[@jochenreich683]

@@compfox stimmt👍

[@unduloid]

"Fahr'n" sounds like "fun," but it's just a coincidence.

[@madyogi6164]

Not, if you can't grab the Beach boys context...

[@Imaginnnn]

I'd love you to analyse Klaus Schulze. A true moog legend. Krautrock is awesome and so is your analysis of Autobahn. Thank you.

[@MdeGreat]

Wunderbar, sehr schön

[@RachelsSweetie]

I love how you unpack this. It's like being in Beethoven appreciation class back in my university days.

[@azynkron]

What they did several times, on Trans Europe Express as well, was to capture the rythm of the surface. In this case the concrete slabs (or rather the small gaps). They did the same with the train tracks.

[@just1synth]

I grew up in this and your enthusiasm for this just makes me smile so much

[@lucianogemme8759]

I knew them with their second album, Radioactivity, when i was at middle school. It was lve at first sight:) And last year I saw one of their concert (at Milan), including Autobahn and its 3D vintage computer graphic video behind them

[@psynchrobalcarce]

You are incredible my distant friend, I am 47 years old and I have grown up listening to bands like Kraftwerk, Human League, Pet shop boys, Chemical Brothers, Erasure, Depeche mode, Yazoo, Camouflage, New order, Information Society, Mike oldfield, Kasabian, Daft Punk, Portishied, Alan Parsons, Jean Michael Jarre, Vangelis, kitaro... in my country, Argentina, electronic music had a bit of a boom many years ago with Sergio Koval, in short, you made a concrete and waste-free analysis of a masterpiece from the techno museum, to reveal That Not Everything is as simple as it seems, synthesizers robotized guys like Florian, but thanks to them, keyboards came to life. Excellent analysis!!! (My favorite is Radioactivity)

[@peter-utrblk]

Very nice video, as always!!! Autobahn is like an audio journey through the german state of Nordrhein Westfalen. You can hear birds, steel mills and rivers. All what you can hear when your window is open on the Autobahn. Greets from Düsseldorf

[@JockGit64]

Love Düsseldorf, spent 3 years there while in the British Army in the 80's. Very fond memories of the place. Was my intention to stay there when I left the Army but I met a girl, left the Army, and got married in the UK, oddly enough she was born in Düsseldorf when her Dad was in the Army. One day I will go back for a visit.

[@philipgilligan_art]

Used to travel to Dortmund and Paderborn as a teenager visiting military relatives, many times in a car several times hitchiking in trucks…… nighttime on the B1 was magical

[@НЕКРОМУНГЕР]

HITLER KAPUT!!!

[@rainerwaansinn]

That was the case 50 years ago. Try driving on the AUTOBAHN today 😞 Greets form Germany

[@rainerwaansinn]

I am thrilled by the dedication with which you present this masterpiece. Thank you! I was 24 years old at the time (1974) and had already covered quite a few kilometers on the highway. Driver jobs financed my living.

[@noisetheorem]

This and The Box by Orbital (the full 28 minute version) are my favorite long-form electronic music tracks. Just amazing!

[@roygalaasen]

Aaaaaaahhhhhh The Box is insane! You listen to part one, slowly building up to part 2 and it totally blows up! Pure genius. That is also a true Gold nugget, though of the 90’s. Edit: you mentioning 28 minutes, which made me have to research a bit, and there is this single where there are more parts continuing where part 2 ends, totalling 28 minutes. Sadly I never had the single though the part that did not make the album are great as well. It is different, and you may not like, but give this album a listen. It is brilliant as well. kzbin.info/aero/OLAK5uy_mixmsfhHN1xgSZtgviqq2SW63bQkLIe7c

[@j.maxell3030]

En Autobahn los Kraftwerk se van alejando de su Krautrock & Rock Prog. y entrando mas al rubro de la Música Electrónica (Post Concreta, Experimental, Soundtrack & Moog) que se desarrolla desde los 60s y finales del 50s Kingsley, Dissevelt, Scott, Derbyshire, Hodgson, Cecil, Garson, Prilly... Moroder, Jarre, Lacksman, Tangerine Dreams, YMO, Schulze, Vangelis, Tonet, Gizzi, Pinhas, Martin W. & Ian Craig...(entre otros) toman la misma base electrónica para el desarrollo de sus modelos y lineas electrónicas siendo Moroder el Top 1 con su modelo EDM (NRG & Synthpop) desde 1977 influyendo incluso a los 4 Robots del Krautrock. Habría que decirle a Doctor Mix que escuche música electronica anterior a 1974 antes de creer que Autobhan es algo avanzado o revolucionario 😅

[@DavidSmith-ne1zp]

This channel is SO MUCH FUN! Doctor Mix’s enthusiasm is very contagious. - always gives me a fresh case of synth fever. As a new synth enthusiast, I am learning and appreciating so much. Cheers!

[@j.maxell3030]

En 1974 esto no era diferente...ya estaba hecho y en proceso de evolucion y desarrollo. En Autobahn los Kraftwerk se van alejando de su Krautrock & Rock Prog. y entrando mas al rubro de la Música Electrónica (Post Concreta, Experimental, Soundtrack & Moog) que se desarrolla desde los 60s y finales del 50s Kingsley, Dissevelt, Scott, Derbyshire, Hodgson, Cecil, Garson, Prilly... Moroder, Jarre, Lacksman, Tangerine Dreams, YMO, Schulze, Vangelis, Tonet, Gizzi, Pinhas, Martin W. & Ian Craig...(entre otros) toman la misma base electrónica para el desarrollo de sus modelos y lineas electrónicas siendo Moroder el Top 1 con su modelo EDM (NRG & Synthpop) desde 1977 influyendo incluso a los 4 Robots del Krautrock. Habría que decirle a Doctor Mix que escuche música electronica anterior a 1974 antes de creer que Autobhan es algo avanzado o revolucionario 😅

[@e1gr3co]

14:00 the rythm is the concrete blocks of the autobahn under tyres :)

[@tzmtzt]

i have to say i love your breakdowns My favorite album is Trans europe express, that chugging rhythm gets me every time (and hall of mirrors)

[@paradisdesang7669]

J'ai découvert l'album à sa sortie, je ne l'avais pas entendu de cette facon après cette déconstruction. Merci cette vidéo est superbe.

[@dhpbear2]

30:22 - This is my favorite track - I love when it breaks into an explosion of treble notes!

[@PM-fs2eg]

You're the Rick Beato of electronic music. I just love love love your channel....so very informative and I learn so much. I also learn to appreciate music even more. Thank you for doing what you do!🥰 Kraftwerk..? I'd call their genre "krauttronica" 🙂

[@bdoehner]

“The Rick Beato of Electronic Music!” Good description for this channel. Absolutely agree with it too

[@placeboantwerp4312]

When I bought my first old Saab this was *the* *tape* I had to play on my way back in the car. Great review, the Godfathers of all things techno.

[@80ssynthfan48]

To me the bit from 18:27 to 18:44 feels like entering and driving through a tunnel, and 18:45 when the bass comes back is when the tunnel ends and you come back out on to the road.

[@dariodzimbeg]

Kraftwerk series... I love 'em and I'm hooked. Do more! And yes, TUBULAR BELLS!

[@SaroDogTraining]

I remember, the first electronic music that was popular and even got airplay on the raidio was Jean Micheal Jarre's Oxygen inthe 70s. After that, I got to know Vangelis, Tangerine Dream, Klaus schulze and so on.

[@wiseoldfool]

Real music!

[@illegalLettuce]

I been watching your videos for while now and finally subscribed after this Kraftwerk vid! I dig how animated you are, and how well you explain the various subjects in your videos and also your skills at dialing in a sound so quickly on synths and how you play. You are a very gifted funny dude! THANK YOU for posting this vid

[@markkilley2683]

Great album, great melodies, regardless of how it was made. Music like this opens your mind.

[@peterarmstrong3298]

Autobahn was the first record i ever bought. I have very fond memories of playing this on my primitive record player.

[@MrPrax28]

Man, I just loved your analysis 👏..and about a group that changed music concept forever...thank you Claudio!

[@guitargeek80]

My older brother bought this album when it came out in 1974. I played it over and over with my headphones on...nothing else I had heard up to then was like it. Thanks for the memories...

[@mmeewezen]

I have heard this album probably at least a hundred times, but... just like the last one you did on JM Jarre, next time I will hear it with so much more interest because of these fantastic videos! Thank you doctor Mix, I greatly appreciate this and can't wait for more :)

[@j.maxell3030]

Jarre - Synthetizer Man / Freedom Day 1972 ya le daba escuela a los 4 robots del Krautrock de como hacer verdadera música electrónica a corte Synthpop

[@josgulikers3104]

I remember buying the album in 1974 as a 16 year old kid; I still have it in my record cabinet. I also remember that my mother liked it, and we listened to a live version when she was 90.

[@MyOtherNick]

One correction, claudio: they don't sing " fun, fun, fun auf der autobahn". Instead the lyrics state " fahren fahren fahren auf der autobahn". It is a sentence in German and fahren means to drive or driving... which makes more sense....

[@personanongratis]

Kraftwerk said it works both ways, if the listener wants to!

[@radducku]

Tubular Bells. Also (why not?) Radioactivity, Computer World, Zoolook, Klaus Schulze Trancefer, Audentity, Timewind..I really love this kind of videos! Thank you Dr. Mix!

[@BLCKVD]

This song truly goes straight into my heart… It gives me same lovely feeling as does Eric Prydz music (which makes sense as Eric Prydz is inspired by Kraftwerk) and I was inspired by Eric and I have been producing Kraftwerk/Eric Prydz style music quite long time now ❤️‍🔥

[@kraftwerklover69]

I consider the full 22 minute track a piece of art. Thank you for making this video.

[@Asmuk]

These are some of your best pieces. Educative, meaningful content. Thank you.

[@matthewoldnew281]

Well... i love the way DR. celebrates Albums with Details... I feel his joy...

[@pasixty6510]

I love every minute of this album, and you did a great job, celebrating it. Thank you for that! 27:10 reminds me of ‚on the run‘ by Pink Floyd. Might be a coincidence, might be a tribute to PF from the Kraftwerk guys, who knows… The Album ‚Dark side of the Moon‘ was released in 1973. Listen to that piece of innovative/progressive music.

[@maurinoana]

Hi Claudio!!! A little late, but I want to wish you a great new year!! Your review of the Autobahn is simply masterful!! For me, one of the most important albums in the History of Music. It was, oddly enough, the song that made me immediately like Kraftwerk. The simplicity with which you evaluate sounds makes everything easier. Thank you for this excellent post.

[@Smily_23]

Hey, i'm from germany and i can translate you what the say in section 3, where the voices singing is changin.. German: Die Fahrbahn ist ein graues Band, weiße Streifen, grüner Rand. English: the roadway is a gray band, white stripes green border. As simple as genius it is! 😊 Love your Videos, your deconstructions! Take care! 😘

[@compfox]

Band = ribbon

[@winesynths]

Back in the days, when I had my old Mercedes, this sentence was written on the dashboard! 😎

[@hermannrudi9688]

​@@compfox "Rand" here means edge or border. So you have a gray highway and green grass beside it.

[@stellaVista]

I really love the way you "geek out" to the music. Besides all the intellectual impulses, it´s the beautiful music that goes right into your head and heart. And you really manage to convey that joy and enthusiasm. Since you wished to know what the lyrics are and because they are so often mis-heard. This is probably the best translation: Wir fahr´n, fahr´n, fahr´n auf der Autobahn We´re drivin', drivin', drivin' on the freeway. Vor uns liegt ein weites Tal. Die Sonne scheint mit Glitzerstrahl. A wide valley lies before us. The sun is shining with glittering beam. Die Fahrbahn ist ein graues Band, weisser Streifen, grüner Rand. The tarmac is a grey line, white stripe, green edge. Jetzt schalten wir das Radio an. Aus dem Lautsprecher klingt es dann: Wir fahr'n, fahr'n, fahr'n auf der Autobahn. Now we switch the radio on. Then it sounds from the speaker: We´re drivin', drivin', drivin' on the freeway. I made a funky remix/mash-up which you might enjoy: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z53GmH9rq62Np5I

[@peterream9437]

Simple is the key to success ❤ Isn't that we're all taught at somepoint , when creating something complex . Florain was a genius... Just like you Claudio explaining musical stuff...❤

[@MonsieurC64]

No offense to Florian's memory, but I think Ralf was the real genius of the band. He's the one who came up with most of their melodies, and most concepts for the albums.

[@jpaul2559]

in 1974 I was 21 and I wanted so badly to have a synthesizer, but not $$ . I was listening to Kraftwerk this album and my favorite Transe Europe Express. Tubular Bell! yessssss. Thank you Claudio for your excellent videos, I always have the impression that you are with me in the studio, with your simple explanation, I remind you that I speak French :-) so LOV Meci Proff.

[@djbuebby_official]

Kraftwerk is very important for the electronic music because, Kraftwerk is the origin of electronic music. Without Kraftwerk, there would be no Techno or House. Without Kraftwerk, we would still be listening to Rock n Roll today. Nice Video 🔥🔥🔥

[@gwivongalois6169]

Ok, let's just ignore ~30 years of electronic music before Kraftwerk. The are very important, but they are also standing on the shoulder of giants.

[@djbuebby_official]

@@gwivongalois6169 Before Kraftwerk, there were also excellent electronic productions. However, Kraftwerk played a significant role in commercializing electronic music. As a result, electronic music became relevant to the commercial music industry.

[@lee_drifting]

same with a lot of hip hop records. they were sampled a lot on old electro funk and miami bass beats

[@djbuebby_official]

@@lee_drifting Yes this is correct, great hip-hop acts such as Africa Bambata made their sounds blossom again in the late 80s and early 90s by sampling!

[@thetaylors2036]

Brought back a lot of memories. This was my father's favorite album... Love it

[@Reverb_game]

Amazing! Kraftwerk are most iconic band in electromusic! Thank you for this!

[@JohnMoser66]

The second electronic music album I bought at age 16 in 1982! It began my 40 year journey with synths. Great video!! 👏🏻

[@seculi7757]

Do something Yello in the future please. Eventhough i like everything really.

[@damouze]

Yello has my vote too!

[@peter-utrblk]

Same here

[@speeedskater]

Fell in love with this album babysitting fir my cousins about 1978, was like nothing I ever knew of, saw kraftwerk in Detroit few years ago, just WOW

[@SynthFelix]

You must sleep very happy in the nights. ❤

[@MetaverseAdventures]

I hit that like button when you asked and the thank you felt personal. No...thank you Dr. Mix!!!!

[@julioricardo2415]

SIMPLE Vs COMPLEX Superficial Vs Deep Kraftwerk Vs Kraftwek .... Like a mantra, exactly Excelent video indeed

[@arturslotwinski]

And actually the swinging delay was probably inspired by the little gaps between the concrete elements which the German freeways are made of - especially the older ones.... While driving one can feel this characteristic constant rhythm.... I love Your videos BTW! :) Thumbs up as always! :D

[@loboheeler]

Concrete roadway sections (slabs) can buckle with temperature changes, and cause a ticking sound that varies with speed. Those are seldom seen anymore on US highways, and replaced with asphalt. Not sure about the Autobahn.

[@kd8bxp]

This was my road trip song, the long version of the song. But Having never been on the Autobahn I have no idea what it is really like, but I always imaged this music embodied the spirit. You have the opening of the song, getting ready to get on a clear open Autobahn, with no other cars around to distract, moving and getting more and more intense as you encounter traffic, to evening having faster traffic fly by you, in your little VW Bug. With the end of the song slowing down and a cooling period, with a feeling of being lucky to have survived the Autobahn. I want to experience the Autobahn at least once in my lifetime - with this song blasting out of the car stereo of course.

[@Sockieknowshockey]

What a journey! I remember being 12 or 13 and hearing the radio version of Autobahn. Can you imagine pop radio stations playing something so different today? Thank you for exposing your young listeners to this record. It’s sad that the Art component of music has been lost in pop music today.

[@j.maxell3030]

En 1974 esto no era diferente...ya estaba hecho y en proceso de evolucion y desarrollo. En Autobahn los Kraftwerk se van alejando de su Krautrock & Rock Prog. y entrando mas al rubro de la Música Electrónica (Post Concreta, Experimental, Soundtrack & Moog) que se desarrolla desde los 60s y finales del 50s Kingsley, Dissevelt, Scott, Derbyshire, Hodgson, Cecil, Garson, Prilly... Moroder, Jarre, Lacksman, Tangerine Dreams, YMO, Schulze, Vangelis, Tonet, Gizzi, Pinhas, Martin W. & Ian Craig...(entre otros) toman la misma base electrónica para el desarrollo de sus modelos y lineas electrónicas siendo Moroder el Top 1 con su modelo EDM (NRG & Synthpop) desde 1977 influyendo incluso a los 4 Robots del Krautrock. Habría que decirle a Doctor Mix que escuche música electronica anterior a 1974 antes de creer que Autobhan es algo avanzado o revolucionario 😅

[@gingerladyaubern]

Bought the 2009 remix CD last week, and haven't stopped playing it in the car...fantastic!! When one thinks of electronic sounds over the decades i.e. BBC Radiophonic Workshop, Barry Gray, Kraftwerk, Jean Michel Jarre, Vangelis, Georgio Moroder etc, thank goodness they made a fantastic contribution to music. Great video too :)

[@olivermarschalek5310]

Kraftwerk is like Bauhaus for music. And they loved the art of the Bauhaus.

[@jooei2810]

This dude just plays Kraftwerk album with us and just chills, awesome!

[@alex_hook]

7:28 actually it wasnt, ralf noted later that he was saying fahren (drive) but fun makes sense, as driving on the autobahn was fun

[@NeQoUX]

It's just a road trip soundscape, perfectly orchestrated. Nothing more, nothing less. Honest feelings recorded in music

[@felix-barth1279]

Love that album. Last year I payed 50 € to own an original copy of it 😅

[@Doctormix]

woahhh

[@s.wilson5675]

In mid 80's, I heard Tour De France, my first intro to Kraftwerk.... And it's still up there in my all time favs! TUBULAR BELLS Claudio please. Your breakdowns rock!

[@jamesedinger4956]

Kraftwerk was able to paint vivid sound images using mostly primary colors...the art is in the simplicity.

[@j.maxell3030]

Kraftwerk dibujaba sobre lienzos ya marcados por otros...😊 En Autobahn los Kraftwerk se van alejando de su Krautrock & Rock Prog. y entrando mas al rubro de la Música Electrónica (Post Concreta, Experimental, Soundtrack & Moog) que se desarrolla desde los 60s y finales del 50s Kingsley, Dissevelt, Scott, Derbyshire, Hodgson, Cecil, Garson, Prilly... Moroder, Jarre, Lacksman, Tangerine Dreams, YMO, Schulze, Vangelis, Tonet, Gizzi, Pinhas, Martin W. & Ian Craig...(entre otros) toman la misma base electrónica para el desarrollo de sus modelos y lineas electrónicas siendo Moroder el Top 1 con su modelo EDM (NRG & Synthpop) desde 1977 influyendo incluso a los 4 Robots del Krautrock. Habría que decirle a Doctor Mix que escuche música electronica anterior a 1974 antes de creer que Autobhan es algo avanzado o revolucionario 😅

[@Yemsky]

I remember taking a bus from Northern Germany to Turkey (2500km) in the late 70s and all of the Autoput in Yugoslavia was this album.

[@damouze]

He is basically singing: "the lane is a gray band / white stripes / green borders" There are a couple of other couplets in German as well. The first couplet is "A broad valley lies ahead of us / Glittering beams of sunlight shine on us". The last one is "and now we put on the radio / and out of the loud speaker comes / Autobahn". I remember when I first heard "Autobahn". My dad played the record for me and I was mesmerized. It was the early 80s, but after Nova's "Aurora" had come out. I had heard the latter song and asked my dad what kind of instrument that was and all he said was "synthesizer". A couple of days later he sat me down on the couch and he put on "Autobahn". Ah good times... I have some requests: MIKE OLDFIELD - TUBULAR BELLS (You asked for it) Nova - Aurora Yello - Pinball Cha-Cha (actually, anything by Yello).

[@roastwrangler]

Got goosebumps as soon as I heard the first bars. Grazie maestro!

[@erbro]

You are probably too young for this record. Try to listen to it again, but now imagine being a child, half asleep in the back of a huge Mercedes, driving for 90 minutes from your grandmother's house to your home. Your father driving, your mother smoking a cigarette next to him. And now, and this is essential... highways were in concrete then. There were tar joints between the concrete slabs which made the toodook sound when first your front tires, then your rear tires hit them. And while you were half asleep, the sodium lights passed overhead, very dreamy stuff.

[@WEBB-TECH]

He's genuinely enjoying that. That fact makes me proper buzz. Love it.

[@Torrente70]

wir fahr'n is not we fun

[@Al69BfR]

But it‘s still homophone to the English fun. And it‘s also not fun when you get into a traffic jam. 😉

[@mann-vom-mond]

Wir fahr'n = we drive

[@gcoudert]

It is indeed what they sing but I do think that they intentionally exploited the phonetic similarity between 'fahren' and 'fun'. Great track and album.

[@nicolasblume1046]

​​@@Al69BfR no, it is NOT homophone! "Fahr'n" is spoken with a longer vowel

[@Al69BfR]

@@nicolasblume1046 Close enough for me. If you don‘t tell anyone I won‘t either. 😉

[@BlueManIan]

I never thought about Autobahn being meditative but you're absolutely right! Just gently rocking in a seat to the song is a soothing vibe.