Vincent Cunningham

It went to number five on the American album chart. And it was kind of like a lot of great bands or great tracks. It was kind of considered a novelty record, right? Like these Germans singing about the Autobahn.

It went to number five on the American album chart. And it was kind of like a lot of great bands or great tracks. It was kind of considered a novelty record, right? Like these Germans singing about the Autobahn.

And there was this idea that, like, these artsy Germans from Dusseldorf were making the music of the future. And the funniest thing about that joke is it turned out to be true, more or less. Although, if you wanted to make a parody of German music, you probably couldn't do much better than this track, Trans Europe Express, 1977. Rendezvous Heidi, it's severe, lyrics about trains.

And there was this idea that, like, these artsy Germans from Dusseldorf were making the music of the future. And the funniest thing about that joke is it turned out to be true, more or less. Although, if you wanted to make a parody of German music, you probably couldn't do much better than this track, Trans Europe Express, 1977. Rendezvous Heidi, it's severe, lyrics about trains.

And there was this idea that, like, these artsy Germans from Dusseldorf were making the music of the future. And the funniest thing about that joke is it turned out to be true, more or less. Although, if you wanted to make a parody of German music, you probably couldn't do much better than this track, Trans Europe Express, 1977. Rendezvous Heidi, it's severe, lyrics about trains.

But the funny thing about this is a few years later, Trans Europe Express was reborn as a track called Planet Rock by Afrika Bambaataa and Soul Sonic Force.

But the funny thing about this is a few years later, Trans Europe Express was reborn as a track called Planet Rock by Afrika Bambaataa and Soul Sonic Force.

But the funny thing about this is a few years later, Trans Europe Express was reborn as a track called Planet Rock by Afrika Bambaataa and Soul Sonic Force.

Yeah. And part of what I like about this history is it kind of flips the history of rock and roll, right? You have this rock and roll history of these beloved old black blues musicians and these upstart white bands are ripping them off. And here the role of the beloved black older blues musician is played by the members of Kraftwerk.

Yeah. And part of what I like about this history is it kind of flips the history of rock and roll, right? You have this rock and roll history of these beloved old black blues musicians and these upstart white bands are ripping them off. And here the role of the beloved black older blues musician is played by the members of Kraftwerk.

Yeah. And part of what I like about this history is it kind of flips the history of rock and roll, right? You have this rock and roll history of these beloved old black blues musicians and these upstart white bands are ripping them off. And here the role of the beloved black older blues musician is played by the members of Kraftwerk.

And, you know, it's funny how quickly that sound, that Kraftwerk-y sound comes to be associated with other things. It comes to be associated with break dancers and stuff.

And, you know, it's funny how quickly that sound, that Kraftwerk-y sound comes to be associated with other things. It comes to be associated with break dancers and stuff.

And, you know, it's funny how quickly that sound, that Kraftwerk-y sound comes to be associated with other things. It comes to be associated with break dancers and stuff.

Did you ever bust out a little bit of cardboard and do some moves, David? Less frequently than you would have thought. I can barely spin on my feet. It wouldn't have worked well. So in 1981, Kraftwerk, you know, synthesizers are not so new anymore. And Kraftwerk makes basically a concept album about a different emerging technology, the personal computer. also turned out to be important.

Did you ever bust out a little bit of cardboard and do some moves, David? Less frequently than you would have thought. I can barely spin on my feet. It wouldn't have worked well. So in 1981, Kraftwerk, you know, synthesizers are not so new anymore. And Kraftwerk makes basically a concept album about a different emerging technology, the personal computer. also turned out to be important.

Did you ever bust out a little bit of cardboard and do some moves, David? Less frequently than you would have thought. I can barely spin on my feet. It wouldn't have worked well. So in 1981, Kraftwerk, you know, synthesizers are not so new anymore. And Kraftwerk makes basically a concept album about a different emerging technology, the personal computer. also turned out to be important.

I heard that. They called it Computer World, and one of the best tracks is Numbers. You know, the vocals kind of sound like they're coming from a speakin' spell. But in fact, I believe they're coming from a device called the Language Translator, which was made by the same company, Texas Instruments, that made the speakin' spell. They were experimenting with all this stuff.

I heard that. They called it Computer World, and one of the best tracks is Numbers. You know, the vocals kind of sound like they're coming from a speakin' spell. But in fact, I believe they're coming from a device called the Language Translator, which was made by the same company, Texas Instruments, that made the speakin' spell. They were experimenting with all this stuff.

I heard that. They called it Computer World, and one of the best tracks is Numbers. You know, the vocals kind of sound like they're coming from a speakin' spell. But in fact, I believe they're coming from a device called the Language Translator, which was made by the same company, Texas Instruments, that made the speakin' spell. They were experimenting with all this stuff.