Why Kraftwerk are more influential than the Beatles

[@JoshuaPhilgarlic]

In the early 80s our music teacher invited us to present our favourite record under the condition to deliver some facts about the album and the artist. One of my friends brought Kraftwerk's 'Computerwelt'. I was totally excited about those strange sounds and a lifelong addiction to electronic music began. Eventually I got my own synthesizers and today I'm a professional studio technician and mixing engineer. All of this because of a schoolmate who presented a Kraftwerk album 40 years ago 🥳!

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

Wow, that's an incredible journey and a testament to the power of music to inspire us. Thanks for sharing!

[@fotis1964]

Wow great story. I first listened to The Model and then We are the robots. I was stunned. I still listen to them and in my opinion they sound like they made the songs in 2023. Or maybe 3023?

[@Necatuss]

That's awesome! I'm glad it worked out for you that way and you where able to make a career of it!

[@bertenqvist7324]

This sounds very familiar... Our music teacher allowed us sometimes to bring our favorites during the class.

[@tupG]

In the very early 80s we were given the assignment to present and discuss a piece of music of our own choosing. To everyones astonishment I brought equinox from Jean Michelle Jarre along which generated quite a discussion.

[@robot9991]

I can still vividly remember my first exposure to Kraftwerk. When I was 14, I visited a friend of mine who was of German descent. Well I went to his house, and his father called him to dinner (I wasn't invited - lOl). So my friend said: "Here, check this out while you wait for me to finish dinner." He put Autobahn on his turntable and insisted that I use headphones. I remember every bit of the scene of his room, the turntable, the album cover and sleve, and of course, the music that changed me forever. I love Kraftwerk becuase they made something new, cool, and different. They showed me the future before it happened, and I'm thankful. Thank you for the video, nicely done!

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

Thanks for sharin this special memory and sorry you weren't invited for dinner...

[@OrgaNik_Music]

I have a vivid memory of sitting on the back seat of my father's car and hearing Radioactivity playing on the radio. There was no going back.

[@europainvicta3907]

Kraftwerk, although commercially successful were perhaps the least interesting German group of last century, Faust, Can, Neu! were all far more experimental and avant guarde.

[@poindextertunes]

I don’t think most European households would invite their child’s friend to eat dinner with them. Thats a uniquely American thing to do. Food probably wasn’t seasoned anyways lmao

[@ThomasGeist]

Kraftwerk Computerwelt Tour, June 12 1981, 8:00 pm, Munich, Germany. Stage black, only audio: “Hier ist der Bayerische Rundfunk mit Nachrichten - beim Gongschlag ist es zwanzig Uhr” (“Here is Bavarian Broadcast with news - at the gong it is 8:00 pm”). A gong sounds, the curtain opens and Computerwelt (Computer World) started. Legend!

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

Thank you for sharing. We appreciate you taking the time to share your experiences with our community.

[@varsobalan9864]

Literally 20 hour

[@NFLed]

When I was 17 or 18 years old near 1980 in Los Angeles my parents purchased my first car, very economical with no air conditioning. I turned on its mono (non-stereo) radio to station KROQ which was playing Kraftwerk: "I'm the operator with my pocket calculator, bleep bloop." I was overjoyed because not only was it a great song but it made me believe that the radio was stereo as the sounds were popping out all over the place. The radio was still mono but the sound was so unique and electronic that it seemed to jump out and hit me.

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

Thank you for sharing your story. We appreciate you taking the time to share your experiences with our community.

[@mushroomjesus2068]

@@NFLed I have a kroq sticker on my longboard 😂 wish I knew the golden years of the station but my family loved it

[@NFLed]

@@mushroomjesus2068 KROQ was great 1979-1984 or so with plenty of experimental stuff until they went for a bit more of a pop sound; it was still very good 1984-1991 which was when I moved to another city.

[@HarborLockRoad]

I remember i had a friend who was a total metalhead, went on vacation, heard kraftwerk and came back totally changed, tried to get the rest of us to listen too, but, we didnt get it... Then.

[@sketchypeoplepdx]

I'm a metal head at heart and too had a friend that was into Kraftwerk. Kraftwerk hit me like a lightning bolt. Kraftwerk was so weird to me then and I couldn't turn em off. I was dumbfounded and in awe of songs like 'Pocket Calculator'. I was laughing at its simplicity and goofiness. But as I've aged, Pocket Calculator (and other songs) are so complex and perfect. Kraftwerk are masters.

[@DetroitMicroSound]

Kraftwerk played Detroit at the theater in my picture, then called Showcase Theater, in 1975. Kraftwerk had a major impact on what would soon be, Detroit Techno. Without Kraftwerk, Detroit Techno may have become something completely different, to what the entire world now knows... I was born in 1972. Thanks to very early exposure to Kraftwerk and a few others, I began making music with electronics at age 12. I have never stopped. Thanks Kraftwerk. ❤

[@wesleysnipes2212]

Maybe without kraftverk it would become less repetitive and more inventive !

[@plutostube]

@@wesleysnipes2212then it is clear you don’t get techno

[@beesting6135]

They started electro music

[@DetroitMicroSound]

In order to really even be groovy, repetition is a prerequisite.@@wesleysnipes2212

[@v.a.993]

Kraftwerk was on a US tour in '75, because the band also performed in Chicago that same year. There is an upload of a Chicago radio station interview from 1975 with Ralf on KZbin.

[@bobdobalina838]

They were certainly more influential on me. So influential that upon hearing them in the states, I emigrated to Germany in the early 90s and had the time of my life raving throughout the 90s. Thank you so much Kraftwerk for everything. Rest in peace Flo.

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

Thank you for sharing your story. We appreciate you taking the time to share your experiences with our community.

[@marcinczerniawski7423]

Being a 90s kid myself I can't possibly fathom how mind-altering and amazing the experience of raving in Germany in the 90s must've been. But at least I can try to imagine that feeling

[@poindextertunes]

that sounds like living on an alien planet 😂

[@tangerine825]

Kraftwerk...Jean Michel Jarre...Klaus Schulze...Vangelis...Tangerine Dream...Mike Oldfield...Legends Of Electronic Music !

[@nickhanlon9331]

Liam Howlett as well.

[@biffphuddle6581]

If you listen to most of the new music on the radio today, Kraftwerk's techno pop's influence is what you hear, not the Beatles complex harmonies.

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

It's truly fascinating how musical influences evolve over time, shaping today's sounds.

[@perfectallycromulent]

pretty sure super popular acts like taylor swift, beyonce, and ariana grande are still super popular for their vocals

[@Khayyam-vg9fw]

Yes, at the moment, but The Beatles are established in the collective consciousness, and aspects of their influence are likely to be felt for some time to come, including the evolution of popular music genres in the future that are more complex texturally and harmonically.

[@PainterVierax]

@@perfectallycromulent but this is not due to the Beatles, more about afro-american music like blues and soul, latin music genres, folk songs and academic singing.

[@kevinslaney486]

yeh, but most of the music onm the radio today is terrible.

[@Vingul]

They're both huge favourites of mine but that's rather hard to measure.

[@DepecheModeTalkTalk]

As a Depeche Mode big fan, I think both are equally influential. And David Bowie, Roxy Music and Brian Eno. Is impossible to understand, the Synthpop music of last seventies and early eighties without all these referents.

[@neilhumphrey4197]

Just like to say that the bands like dm yazzo were inspired by john Foxx omd etc who were in inspired by kraftwerk

[@blastofo]

Kraftwerk were definitely influential, but I wouldn’t say they made music that people loved listening to and connected to on an emotional level. Some of their songs like Pocket Calculator are cringey. Bands like New Order and Devo took the synth led approach but retained the energy and emotion of punk and pop music. Kraftwerks music is alienating. Thats why they’re mostly a footnote in music history. They get more lip service than spotify plays.

[@richardjones7984]

That is correct. The synth sounds came from experimental instrumental music. We can't forget the influence of Bach, Beethoven and Mozart either. Jimmy Hendrix lived in Haydn's London flat - he was a fan of Haydn.

[@HarunHAHN]

Kraftwerk is the father of electronic music, they have my great respect 🙏

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

Thank you for your kind words!

[@markkilley2683]

It's highly likely they in turn were influenced by someone else. Such as the BBC Radiophonic workshop?

[@HarunHAHN]

@@markkilley2683 thank you for your reply, I started to research about BBC radiophonic workshop.

[@musomaster9027]

I think Benjamin Franklin is the father of electronic music because without Benjamin Franklin we would not have electricity.

[@AdamTheC]

Fascinating video, and I'm impressed that you borught up the Beatles' influence on other musical acts writing their songs. And it's worth rethinking the canon every now and then. However, "Speeding up/slowing down" tracks isn't a good description of the Beatles' studio experimentation particularly the tap looops on "Tomorrow Never Knows" which was McCartney bringing Stockhausen to pop. At it leaves out that the Beatles' experimentation included bringing rock together with other genres of music, for example Raga. Another thing this video did miss, but this is something most people don't realise: 50s rock'n'roll wasn't terribly guitar-based. It started out using primarily horns and piano as lead instruments. Even after Elvis Presley appeared, Rockabilly's popularity with the public was pretty inconsistent. One sign of this was the fact that the second best-selling rock and roll artist of the 50s wasn't Buddy Holly or Chuck Berry. It was Fats Domino. After the Beatles came along, guitar became synonymous with rock music. (Even if it required critics arbitrarily defining soul music as something separate from rock despite coming from the same family tree...but that's another discussion.)

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

Thanks for watching. We appreciate you sharing your perspective with us and the community.

[@thatsentertainment5602]

Kraftwerk and the Beatles influence on music is unquestionable as is James Brown.

[@Bucketroo]

I put together an Electro retrospective playlist, and the first two tracks on it are Kraftwerk's "Numbers" and "Computer World 2", which are the first time the signature Electro beat is heard. "Trans Europe Express" is all over Afrika Bambaataa's "Planet Rock", but the beat of that song is Electro from "Numbers". Some notable mainstream hits with the Electro beat include "Baby Got Back" (Sir Mixalot), "What's On Your Mind" (Information Society), "19" (Paul Hardcastle), "Freak-A-Zoid" (Midnight Star), "Peter Piper" (RUN DMC), "Supersonic" (J.J. Fad), and "Whoomp (There It Is)" (Tag Team).

[@RazorEdge2006]

There was an electro track that came a year before that: "Riot in Lagos" (1980) by Ryuichi Sakamoto (RIP).

[@marioserna3564]

​@@RazorEdge2006Y escucha Participation Mystique que es la primera melodía Techno de los 80's. Saludos.

[@miloshp7399]

Beatles went way beyond their musical genre(rock). They touched hearts millions of people with their lyrics and poetry. They reached people worldwide even in small villages. I learned "Yesterday" in elementary school in Bosnia. Karftwerk worked more within genre and influenced other musicians.

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

Thank you for your balanced input! You're right that both of them had a massive influence in their own ways.

[@Contessa6363]

Over rated

[@mep49]

Even the Beatles were influenced by other lesser spoken about artists though! Famously with Sgt Peppers being very heavily inspired by Freak Out by Zappa and The Mothers.

[@poindextertunes]

bro Rap music has been adopted the world over 😂 who do you think influenced that? lmao definitely not a boy bands magical poetry 🤣

[@wabisabi6875]

Despite the preponderance of talk about Kraftwerk's unique rhythm sounds, I have always found their ability to compose hauntingly delicate and fragile melodies to be the factor that sets them apart from their many camp followers.

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

It's great to hear your perspective, and we're thankful you shared it with us and the community.

[@DarkSideofSynth]

So, so true. If it were all about the rhythm, we would hardly know about them. Their musicality plays a big role.

[@RoyalSkateCrew]

Karl Bartos says exactly this

[@Elemental7844]

​@@DWHistoryandCulture Today the pet shop boys released a single called Feel, in homage to Kraftwerk. The song has the sound of Tour de France and the clip makes an allusion to the Autobahn.

[@SPAZZOID100]

@@DarkSideofSynthif not for their rhythm sensibilities, they would not have inspired new genres like electro & techno.

[@DJQUANTUM101]

I always love the electronic music since i heard Depeche Mode Violator, when i was 11 years old. After that my life changed forever. So i considered Karaftwerk is the greatest band.

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

Thanks for sharing your personal experiences!

[@louisgarrison6909]

The first song I ever heard by Kraftwerk was Trans-Europe Express. It was played on a monstrous sound system in a large park in Brooklyn, New York. The sound was broken down into speaker elements that were designed to transmit only signals that the speakers were designed to project. Upon hearing the way that those signals were divided and sent to each speaker and the sound entered my body, I was hooked! I became a fan, buying their albums and enjoying every minute of listening to them.

[@erik_griswold]

I love the fact that the incredibly useful audio/video app VLC uses a Kraftwerk traffic cone as its logo in tribute.

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

Thanks for sharing.

[@MrBoombastic_]

They do not. It's a coincidence.

[@sisyphuscranerigging7792]

@@MrBoombastic_ If you look at both side-by-side it's hard to think of it as a crazy Traffic Cone coincidence. It's like the fact that although all the evidence says otherwise, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds is indeed about LSD because.... it has to be, just listen to it! I go with NO coincidence. But do you by chance have a little titbit of evidence about the coincidental nature of the traffic cones? Interesting subject, thank you.

[@Candywarhol]

It still feels like a strange comparison. Despite respecting both bands, I feel that there is a distinct preference for one or the other AND the artists whom they subsequently inspired.

[@dsfadfdag6534]

I just want to say this for everybody in the comments dissing Kraftwerk - as a beatles fan myself, I feel like they have the same amount of influence in different areas. Just because you haven't heard of them doesn't mean they don't exist and haven't had far-reaching effects on other things. That's an ignorant way to be (and if you're like that then I don't like yo-)

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

Thanks for commenting! We appreciate you sharing your perspective with us and the community.

[@richardjones7984]

Sheep suits you.

[@jonathanpoole5316]

Didn't the Beatles pioneer sampling and looping on "Tomorrow Never Knows" in 1966 before anyone else thought of the technique? Musically they were light years ahead I still can't believe that they cut it in 1966.

[@EricOehler01]

There was definite precedent with Musique concrete artists for that, though, like Pierre Schaffer and Karlheinz Stockhausen using tape loops back through the 40’s. Interestingly Stockhausen also influenced Kraftwerk as well.

[@TheExtremenarcissist]

Tomorrow Never Knows was a very influential recording, it’s true. The Beatles employed techniques developed by contemporary classical composers such as Stockhausen. Their innovation was to recontextualise the use of tape loops in a rock n roll recording. Digital sampling technology didn’t appear until the early 80s.

[@davidbeadle1421]

The Beatles used tape loops and samples because of Stockhausen and the music concrete. The Mellotron that they used was essentially a sample but with tape loops.

[@mushroomjesus2068]

Nope! That credit goes to Lee Scratch Perry ! They visited his little guy in Jamaica

[@poindextertunes]

Stahp bro 😂 What you’re talking about is not even sampling lmao You boy band fanatics are wild

[@krasteff]

This comparison is so ridiculous. So very influential that Germany needed Moroder in order to join eurodisco, New Order and Italo disco in order to join Eurodance. Every electronic genre in Germany post-Kraftwerk actually came from abroad.

[@upstatenoizepollution62366]

Absolutely fantastic video piece !! I have loved Kraftwerk since my introduction to them in 1983. watching this video is absolutely stunning to me ! thank you so much for posting this❤

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

We love to hear that! Thanks for your appreciation! 💕

[@r.hill.2369]

The parallels between Kraftwerk and Devo, from humble beginnings to worldwide stardom and the influence they have had in electronic music, can never be overstated.

[@raggeragnar]

In 1976 , a few years after Kraftverk broke big , Jean-Michel Jarré emerged into that electro pop scene aswell. Those two , together with Mike Oldfield , has fascinated me ever since. Completely doing their own thing , all three of them. What’s not to like ?

[@hahahello7519]

Thank you for this great video! Never knew that Florian's father designed the Köln/Bonn airport :D I will definitely take part on the "Sound of Düsseldorf" city tour :D

[@yokelectronic]

Kraftwerk were the first band that influenced-touched me. I was only twelve years old. In 1979 my friends brother (a new romantic) came into his bedroom and ask if we'd heard of kraftwerk. We said no, he put on the Man Machine album and robots was the first ever track I heard... I instantly lent forward to get a better look. I was hooked from the first 4 tones of the track. I'm now 55 and still listen to them. However I feel that kraftwerk passed on the baton to... The Chemical Brothers.

[@chrisclermont456]

Kraftwerk took my hometown of Detroit by storm in the late 70s. We had Kraftwerk, Motown, Parliament-Funkadelic, Mitch Ryder, Prince, Rick James, the Police, the MC5, Iggy Pop, Gordon Lightfoot, Ska, reggae, New Wave, Disco, and punk rock. Detroit has always been a heavy R&B center plus the home of many classic rock bands like Marshall Crenshaw, Grand Funk Railroad, and J Giels Band. Detroit had many indie rock bands releasing 45s!! All of this fused into Detroit Techno. It was a brilliant time to be here!! 😊😊

[@Quetzietse]

If you ask someone who are the most influental bands and they don't mention the Beatles, they don't know what they are talking about. But if you ask someone and they mention Kraftwerk, they *really* know what they are talking about.

[@fabiodeoliveiraribeiro1602]

In 1982 a friend lent me three Kraftwerk records (Radio Activit, Trans-Europe Express and Computer Word). Well...to this day I love the music on those records. When I found out that Kraftwerk had a website I sent a message to the group thanking them.

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

Thank you for sharing your story. We appreciate you taking the time to share your experiences with our community. Did you hear back from them?

[@ChiakiShirakawa]

I remember my son loved playing "Minecraft". I wanted to extend his curiosity more, but I couldn't afford it. If I had more financial and mental leeway, there would have been many things I could have enjoyed with my son, but it was difficult. It can be read in German literary works that it is difficult to get out of a poor environment. "Minecraft" is like a simulation of building one's own country, and it has a different dimension of reality than the abstract call for peace through the Beatles' music. I remember that the building architecture of the stage of the Korean movie "Parasite" is German. Its basement is amazing. I think my son's longing for a detached house was more urgent than the children around him.

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

Thank you for sharing your story. We appreciate you taking the time to share your experiences with our community. Even though we can't entirely comprehend the role of Kraftwerk in this context.

[@wadioraves]

I also wonder on how architecture influences our children’s sense of themselves. Would love to talk more about it in this thread. I think there is a relationship between these things and Kraftwerk, who broadened the horizons of a generation and helped inspire new musical genres that have spread around the world.

[@diderichlangmannen]

I was born in 1967 in Germany. I never was into the Beatles, Stones, Elvis etc. . Rock started for me with Krautrock and Pink Floyd. But I grew up with Kraftwerk, Schulze, Tangerine Dream, Popol Vuh, Amon Düül, Can, Ash Ra Temple and later JMJ, Kitaro, etc etc.. Electronic music is the music of my life and the only band in my life is Pink Floyd (with Roger Waters!). I need the cosmic aspect in music that is so much bigger than the human mind or ego.

[@propagafun4368]

The Beatles and Kraftwerk, both are my heroes alongside The Beach Boys and Yellow Magic Orchestra.

[@fotis1964]

I am surprised you mentioned YMO. Le femme Chinoise is ringtone in my chell.

[@gloriahudson9408]

And I love Tong Poo!

[@chrismacdonald102]

First heard Kraftwerk from the movie Breakin, been listening ever since. RIP Florian Schneider

[@anonUK]

If you play pop guitar music, the Beatles are still part of the foundations of what you do. If you play synths, or make computer music, then so are Kraftwerk.

[@StrawberryFields4Ev3r]

Beatles are Rock.

[@cascade3769]

Pink Floyd were very electro before Kraftwerk though.

[@henrycook6376]

Saw them in concert at Metro in Chicago in the late 90s! Whoo- hooo! Proud of that!

[@bt60613]

Here too. And then on a return tour 2014-ish?

[@jonathaneffemey944]

Thanks very much for posting.

[@genxunclekey]

I first heard them on a Los Angeles punk radio show in late 70's to 80. They also fit the early punk ethos of new, different, artistic and DIY. This was before everyone thought of punk as only being hardcore

[@damirhlobik6488]

I can't be objective because I'm a big fan of Kragtwerk, but most pop groups from the early 80s wouldn't exist if it weren't for Lraftwerk. You forgot to mention Yello, who, under the influence of Kraftwerk, created the ultimate electronic pop.

[@scotmark]

Oh yeah!

[@bt60613]

@damirhlobik6488 THIS! Yello also had a huge influence on many bands. Their music continues to show up in movie soundtracks, samples and media commercials, as does Tom Tom Club.

[@LeandroZen]

hug from Brazil beautiful work I also have songs inspired by Kraftwerk, everyone has!

[@Ashfaq1999]

Great Video. Both Groups Are Legends.

[@reese1259]

Everyday I think about how lucky I am to have seen them in Orlando in 2022! I really hope that I can see them again

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

Indeed, you were really lucky! So happy for you and we cross our fingers that you will be able to see them again soon.

[@spartannl8227]

What a great short documentary! And Kraftwerk? They introduced me to electronic music in the early 80s (I was still a bit too young in the 70s 😊) and I still am a HUGE fan to this very day!

[@johnbeekman1396]

15:08 In fact, this Bowie song, V-2 Schneider, is literally named after Florian.

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

You're right! Thanks for that addition 😊

[@LADY_JEMIMA_FORTESCUE]

in UK kraftwerk were very respected pioneers & influenced a lot of new bands.

[@Simonewhitesim-1music]

I still get excited listening and learning about them. I met them in 2005 Made me love the music more.

[@mountainsmusicbeer5532]

I saw Kraftwerk this past summer at Fuji Rock. Their show this summer was one of the greatest shows I've ever seen. Pure joy.

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

Sounds great 😍 They really put on a show!

[@sketchypeoplepdx]

When I saw them live in 2015 in Portland, OR - it was a concert bucket list of mine. I got into Kraftwerk in the 90s and absolutely love them. This video was great. The book 'Kraftwerk: Future Music from Germany' by Uwe Schutte echoes the theme from this vid and is worth a read. Kraftwerk's reach of technology and innovative music is very underrated. See ya on the T.E.E.

[@minnietheminx]

Saw Kraftwerk live last night after being a fan for over 40 years, they blew my mind with the music and the visuals. Such amazing pioneers. RIP Florian

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

Thank you very much for sharing your personal experience with us. Sending you all the best

[@kendavid891]

I have them on dvd,cd,been my favorite electronic band since 1977,they didn't know where to categorize them, so late in 70s I heard them on a NY station!

[@thegamingfoxystrashcan]

my dad showed me Kraftwerk when i was younger and i have listened to them ever since

[@andywellsglobaldomination]

My first exposure to Krautrock came in the early 70s... when the Huntsville, Alabama community station (pre-NPR) played German language content at night for the Operation Paperclip families. Saturday nights were Krautrock!

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

That's an interesting story, thanks for sharing it! 😊

[@yaantsudnbesdai972]

I've always been a fan of 'electronic music' from as far back as I can remember; however, my musical tastes (lots of synth-based genres...but many other non-synth genres as well...and gaining an appreciation for many many musical genres and artists from many years ago...to the present date)...and knowledge has increased exponentially over time... It actually wasn't until maybe 20 years ago that I heard of Kraftwerk for the first time ever; I've long since had pretty much added all of their songs into various personalized Spotify playlists...and I have long realized that they have had as great or greater an impact on all electronic music than any other artists ever. I haven't researched it thoroughly, nor do I fully understand...how these Germans pioneered, engineered, invented the music that they did...nor exactly what types of 'machines' or synthesizers they used: Probably primarily older analog synths. They seem to be as brilliant as any artists who have ever lived at inventing and pioneering pure electronic music, percussion, and sound effects, etc...which you might expect from "very scientific-minded Germans."

[@christopheradderley45]

Kraftwerk are the perfect band ❤️🖤 Thankyou, goodnight

[@Why_Rock]

I highly recommend the group "Kreidler." Directly inspired by Kraftwerk, but do their own experimental material. They are brilliant. Each album is quite different with them so be sure to take a look at their catalog.

[@RichV20]

0:30 Just had a flashback to 2016 with that shot. That was the exact same street where I got lost with a confusing roundabout near the bridge as an American driving through Europe.

[@lundsweden]

There is no comparison, the Beatles were a great band, but Kraftwerk have been much more influential, on hiphop (Afrika Bambaataa's Planet Rock) on synthpop, techno. Their music was more of the 21st century than the 20th. Having said that, it is a myth that they made their own instruments. They just used Minimoogs and other electronic instruments (even toys). The diy drum kit shown in the video is just a simple switch- the drumsticks had a wire running to the drum machine. When the stick touched the pad, the circuit closed triggering the sound. This was just an old organ style preset machine, but they just modified it, they didn't make it. Other instruments that tbey used, that I know of of were the Casio VL-1, Stylophone, Vako Orchestron, Yamaha DX7, Linndrum, Roland Tr-808, Synclavier, Kawai K5000, Emu Proteus and no doubt more.

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

Thanks for sharing your insights with us and with the community!

[@MAXERNEST]

As a child growing up in the 60`s we were listening to the Beatles , and all the great British Beat groups ,my uncle is a guitarist and he used to play tunes from the Shadows like Apache and other hits, it was an exciting time as music tech and amplification were being developed at a fast pace, i remember seeing Kraftwerk on Tomorrows World , in the mid 70`s ,new better electronics were being made that went into the synths like the Minimoog , i saw Kraftwerk in 1981 and 1991 live , they will be one of my Fav groups forever.

[@pull_up_the_roots]

I've loved Kraftwerk since a friend introduced me to their music at 16. They've been tremendously influential to so many musicians over the years that I can't imagine much of today's music without their pioneering contributions.

[@bt60613]

There are few other records that evoke memories of a specific, ecstatic, communal time of my life than the opening strains of “Tour de France”. Certainly not the first exposure but definitely the most influential.

[@dubab.249]

Kraftwerk My first mental drug,70-80, and I was only 9 years old. The melody and rhythm they carried into another dimension. 🙏💝 🇭🇷

[@APMTenants]

When I was in third grade, I found two Kraftwerk cassettes that had belonged to my step father’s ex wife: trans Europe express and computer world. I tried to play it for my friends because I thought it sounded like the future. No one liked it. I was in my mid 20s before I met anyone who knew their music.

[@dubab.249]

@@APMTenants I know, few people heard of them then, and they looked at me strangely, but I continued Boing boom tscak t t t t t 🙏💝🇭🇷

[@gothicshark]

Kraftwerk and Wendy Carlos are why we have any Electronic music, and yes more popular in club music, as it's easy to dance to a synth. The Beetles uplifted Rock music, and most of the genres of Rock, Punk, and Metal can trace their history to a song on Sargent Peppers or the White Album. Some of my favorite music draws from both.

[@mainiac4pats]

Kraftwerk was loved by adults that I knew who were fans of heavy rock, the disco-ites, the British and American pop lovers and more. Then later Soft Cell, Blondie, and even later hip hop artists. I honestly didn’t know anyone who was actively involved with music that didn’t know of Autobahn by Kraftwerk. They blew the doors off of music and created their own “master genre” which so many “sub-genres” came from. Give it up for Kraftwerk. Even Greg Hawkes in the Cars, the pinnacle of keyboard players from late 70’s/early 80’s rock n roll band, he made it work. His work speaks for itself, Berklee College of Music and eventually the Cars, no man in his bands genre so elegantly slid the keyboards and synths into rock n roll mainstream airwaves. You can draw a line straight from Kraftwerk to Greg Hawkes IMO for what it’s worth. Kudos to Kraftwerk for inspiring him to bring us the greatest mesh of rock n roll with what Kraftwerk had done. I am speechless

[@charliepea]

Without Kraftwerk, I wonder how our music will sound today. EDM is like the largest music genre to date and most artists these days use digital sounds to produce music. We would disregard our favourite edm artists and see them as another guy walking by the streets. These guys truly shaped the future.

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

That' interesting to imagine! They truly did 😊

[@qwertyzxaszc6323]

In an interview with Rick Baker who was producing and co-wrote Planet Rock said the young rappers originally did not like the track. They did not know what to do with it. They were expecting to rap over something more traditional. Little did they know they were making hip hop history.

[@Lorensr1]

I’ve been lucky enough to see Kraftwerk in the USA twice. Seeing Kraftwerk live in the USA is a bit like spotting a unicorn- it’s unlikely to happen, you’ll question your own senses and, no one will believe you. They have another date in my hometown Chicago in March. I’ll almost certainly go. I tell people I know, you need to see them. I don’t care what genre of music one likes, you’ll like this- danceable, funky, catchy, pretty, amazing visual presentation and I personally have no background in electronics, synthesizers, sequencers, etc., so I have no idea how they are making their music. It’s a magic trick. They were so ahead of their time, their music sounds very contemporary. I’d like to point out, Computerworld perfectly described the internet decades before it existed. The comparison of the Beatles and Kraftwerk is a reflection of the differences between post-WWII England and Germany. While Americans and British were rocking around the clock, Germany was looking forward to a better future and a modern Germany. Krautrock, a term I hate, was the result; many bands and musicians doing something new and different.

[@MichaelTheoret]

What I remember most concerning music is Krafwerk . I remember hearing a few Songs on a Canadian Radio Station in the mid 70s and I was hooked on electronic music right then and there . I remember how much I enjoyed music from Jean Michel Jarre who used several iterations of I believe Moog and even Hammond Organs . Also Artists/Groups such as Abba, Blonde and Heart used sythesizers and I enjoyed These Artists' music as well . I would say that my favourite Genre is Techno as well as many Sub-genres such as Progressive House , Dub-step, and Industrial ,such as the music that the Group Eisenfunk composes.

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

Thank you for sharing your story. We appreciate you taking the time to share your experiences with our community.

[@gregoryjclark81]

If one does not love and celebrate the entire discography of either music groups, then I suppose you know not what you do. The Beatles were the absolute reason I picked up the guitar at the precocious age of 12 and continue to pick daily 31 years later. Kraftwerk was a primary reason I studied German for my language requirement for my BA of History. I must state comparing The Beatles and Kraftwerk does make for good content, it is a bit of 'apple to oranges' in my opinion. They had different objectives, aims, and goals altogether. Would one want to compare, say, 'Hey Jude' with "Radioactivity', for instance? They are both at the top of musical groups EVER however one examines it. I thoroughly enjoyed this video--great work!

[@magnificentTVchannel]

Love them both. But as Bartos said... "In his remarkable new autobiography The Sound Of The Machine, Karl describes how he needed to be a musician from the moment he first heard The Beatles’ A Hard Day’s Night. He feels there was a connection in the two bands’ image. “It was never ‘John Lennon And The Beatles’ or ‘Paul McCartney And The Beatles’,” Bartos points out. “The Beatles were always ‘The Fab Four’, a proper band. Kraftwerk had that equality, too, in how we looked. We were the perfect band, as we had no one star dominating our appearance. People like that equality.”

[@ccroy2001]

I can remember in the 1980's in Phoenix, Arizona the local TV news had an "out-tro" (little piece of music at the end of the broadcast. I thought "I've heard that before" It was a little piece of Pocket Calculator!

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

Great Easteregg! 🥰

[@knickkification]

Nice one Adrian

[@matsfrommusic]

Everything Kraftwerk did was new. I don't think people really understand and appreciate the many levels of their inventions. The part that really blows my mind is that for every album they repeat this cycle, and good to keep in mind is that each instrument not only sounded different but was often made in a completely new way as well. As a comparison, Ringo did come up with A LOT of different and interesting drum patterns, but he didn't also have to reinvent the sounds for each album and song, ie each drum sound sounded roughly the same. I'm saying this _only_ to point out just how incredible Kraftwerk actually was. For every new album they had a completely new set up of drum sounds, as well as new drum patterns for the songs as well. You will find hi-hat patterns or kick drum patterns on Kraftwerk albums that you won't find anywhere else prior, it's completely original. And I'm just talking about the drums so far. It's quite incredible what they managed to achieve.

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

Interesting point! Thank you for sharing this 😊

[@cardboardmusic]

I love your comments, and the video as a whole. I started listening to Kraftwerk as a teenager in the early 70s (onwards), so I don't have to be convinced about the band. I imagine your comparisons are just a bit fun, however, I think you don't really reflect the importance of the Beatles as a whole. The way they dressed, was influential, India and Indian music became fashionable, their record sleeves were very copied (and still are), and more. Yes, if you refer to Bowie, HipHop, the electronic music scene etc, then fair enough. But what about then looking at the whole thing through the eyes of the rock world - Oasis, Blur, Tears for Fears, Pulp, Bowie (again - 'Oh You Pretty Thing'), The Chemical Brothers ( Setting Sun = Tomorrow Never Knows), and about every single band that ever wrote a song! Lastly, I'm also pretty sure the Kraftwerk themselves would be a bit embarrassed by these whose best. They loved rock, just listen to Autobahn and the quote from the Beach Boys😉. In my humble opinion, I'd say it's even Stevens.

[@r.w.bottorff7735]

Super cool video! These guys inspired me to make my own instruments. Definitely more influential imho

[@alw7329]

Everybody knows The Beatles and Kraftwerk - well, now I heard of them...

[@EricOehler01]

20 years ago this wouldn't have even been something one would say. But it's interesting that over the years it's become less and less of a controversial proposition. As the pop-culture popularity of guitar-based rock has waned, and the popularity of electronic music and hip hop increased, the influence of Kraftwerk on subsequent artists has increased significantly. I'd definitely assert that among artists born after the 70's, the music of Kraftwerk and its derivatives is more directly influential than the Beatles. Older artists and rock artists would be in the Beatles camp no question, but with the rise of hiphop as a cultural force and Kraftwerk's direct influence on that, their modern reach actually seems to be growing.

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

Thanks for watching. It's great to hear your perspective, and we're thankful you shared it with us and the community.

[@niallmcdonagh1093]

I was obsessed with Kraftwerk from Computer World onwards. I NEVER met a single person for decades who knew anything other than The Model. I'm now 63 and the internet finally confirms that I wasn't alone....just one in an army of non vocal devotees.

[@keepitshortnsweet]

I'm no Beatles fan but I would argue that they introduced mainstream listeners to musique concrète. More to the point, John's relationship with Yoko led to his introduction to John Cage and that changed everything for the Beatles and the world. Had this not come from such a globally popular group as the Beatles, Kraftwerk may very well have had a very uphill battle with their unique sound and approach to music.

[@nicennice]

As a fan of both bands, I've always said that Kraftwerk were as musically important as The Beatles. But the huge impact of The Beatles was cultural. They created a global teenage pop culture that changed the world.

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

Thanks for watching. We appreciate you taking the time to share your experiences with our community.

[@Mialamorena1]

This was an incredibly fun watch. Numbers was so popular in dance clubs when I was in college. German people are so unique that Kraftwerk could only have been standout pioneers.❤❤❤

[@JHAK2410]

Kraftwerk, of course. Greetings from Düsseldorf

[@marioserna3564]

En mi humilde y subjetiva opinión, los dos grupos son muy distintos, pero que si contribuyeron en la música tanto Rock como electrónica.

[@sirfizz6518]

This title ain't just a summary of the subject matter; it's a thesis statement and a molten hot take!

[@anthonygrodecki7968]

I love kraftwerk and the beetles they are from different times and different types of music. For me they cannot be compared, for both are original there for impossible to do so.

[@americanpancakelive]

Both are influential but just remember this The Beatles and The Beachboys used electronica before Kraftwerk. Manfred Man and The Beatles were using the mellotron 3 years before Kraftwerk were even around. Kraftwerk also said that The Beachboys influenced them when they made Aurtobahn.

[@SPAZZOID100]

So what? It was still rock music. Kraftwerk’s use of electronics WAS who they were. Not some tertiary use of synths.

[@americanpancakelive]

@@SPAZZOID100 no trying to make a point or argue- just disseminating some info

[@krasteff]

@@SPAZZOID100 "So what" you say? Well, that means without The Beatles and Pink Floyd there wouldn't have been Kraftwerk. Very simple, isn't it?

[@benisrael2948]

I've been listening to Kraftwerk for a long time and they have been sampled many times I really enjoy their music my favorite is home computer and my favorite video is Musique Non-Stop.

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

We're glad you enjoyed it. Make sure to follow us for the latest uploads!

[@baroquer]

One of the most important bands of my life DANKE KRAFTWERK!

[@quantumparadox4503]

Absolutely, I say that as a DJ who played for 25 years.

[@lightandmagik840]

I did that city tour in 2010, probably before those organised trips even existed. I can't remember the name of the BBC documentary, but Wolfgang mentioned all those spots. Even Kraftwerk's favourite ice cream parlour 😉

[@alfredoduarte3746]

What about Yellow Magic Orchestra?

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

Thank you for watching. In this short video, we focused on Kraftwerk and The Beatles but we might make a video about the Yellow Magic Orchestra in the future.

[@CoreyChambersLA]

"More influential than the Beatles" is a strong statement - a bit too strong. Beatles are 30 times more influential than Kraftwerk. No comparison. Thumbs down for the misinformation and clickbait title.

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

Thanks for watching and for the feedback!

[@M.EngelhART]

Look At Our Life Of Today. Is It The More Old-Fashioned Or The More High-Tech Man Machine World? You Know The Answer And This Is One Of Not Only A Few Reasons Why "Kraftwerk" Is The Solution. Look At The Music: Who Sounds More Modern Like Today`s Stuff? Who Builded Their Own Instruments? Who Were The Nerds Like You Can See Many Of Them Today? Who Influenced The Black Music So Giantly? Who Were Sampled All Over The Planet? Who Had This Concept Of The World We Live In Today Etc.???

[@SPAZZOID100]

Really?

[@marksmith3685]

We are forgetting Gary Numan, Down in the Park I think influenced by Kometenmelodie 1

[@MrJeepsters]

CAN a eu aussi une énorme influence sur les groupes . The Fall, Joy Division, A certain Ratio, Happy Mondays ont été influencé.

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

Thanks for taking the time to comment. We kindly ask our viewers on this channel to engage with topics in English so that both DW and the community have the chance to respond. For further information, please refer to DW's netiquette policy: p.dw.com/p/MF1G Thanks for watching!

[@roelandrutgers]

Quite right about CAN! But why not reply in English? I'm not English either but if I didn't speak basic level English I would use Google translate. 'Shaking my head'.

[@MrJeepsters]

@@roelandrutgers KRAFTWERK had a big influence on British synth pop. A few years ago, I saw documentary called "Synth britannia"*, never translate in french. There was an interview of Andy Mc Cluxley from OMD. He told he saw a concert (when he was younger) of KRAFTXERK in Liverpool and came out sunned. He decided buy synthesizer. Peter hook, from New Order, Joy Division, told they listen to Kraftwerk before going on stage. Every british "techno pop"have been influenced by KRAFTWERK. The kind of influence is clearly technologic, the beatles influence is more melodic. When you listen to british synth bands and kraftwerk, you notice immediately the difference of level (sound quality), you see the influence too.

[@50caliber29]

I never got the whole Beatles thing. I'm not saying they were a bad band, they certainly weren't & anyone who loves them, all strength to you. To me they just sounded like many other pop bands around at the time & then egos got in the way. They wrote their own music but owe a lot of their success to George Martin & it could be argued the Beatles would not have succeeded & without him they would not have had the success they did Kraftwerk were just unique & apart from their first two albums which were produced by Hutter, Schneider & Plank, they produced their own work as well as writing it. I started listening to them after a reference to them made by Andy McClusky of OMD & when I heard the beat intro of Numbers my mind was blown. Kraftwerk embraced & moulded, manipulated & transformed this new tech into some of the most beautiful music created on any instrument (traditional or syhth based). They made some of the best beat sequences ever, the most catchy, complex & beautiful melodies ever created. Beatles have their place but Kraftwerk were pioneers, adventurers, visionaries & artists in the true sense of the word.

[@darcy_taylor3103]

Poland Loves Kraftwerk ;-)

[@miguel213]

I love the ethos behind Kraftwerk's early music. Their pioneering DIY take on the artform is not something most artists embrace, and to me, that is the presence of the punk rock spirit. The reason they are timeless is that they didn't follow a set path. You listen to the majority of what they play on the radio nowadays, and you'll hear their legacy. Personally, I love finding their, and the experimental nature of Krautrock's, direct influence in less commercial circles. Listen to the band Osees, or Slift from France. RIP Florian.

[@DWHistoryandCulture]

It's great to hear your perspective, and we're thankful you shared it with us and the community.

[@theboxintheloft4736]

"We create out of the German language,the mother language, which is very mechanical we use as the basic structure of our music Also the machines, from the industries of Germany." Ralph Hütter, Creem Magazine (1975)

[@Michel-r6m]

Just listen to both 👍