Kraftwerk's Trans-Europe Express

In the 1970s, the Düsseldorf, Germany band Kraftwerk used emerging electronic technology to create commentaries about contemporary European life. Kraftwerk’s 1974 album Autobahn possessed a title song which captured Germany’s motorways as being serene and even sunny. In the words of Rolling Stone writer Pat Blashill from October 22, 2002, Autobahn showed Kraftwerk being more than able to “kick out perfect pop on par with anything by the Beach Boys.” 1977’s Trans-Europe Express further extended Kraftwerk’s theme of traveling through Europe: this time by the near-obsolete Trans-Europ Express (TEE).

Europe Endless

The album’s first song, “Europe Endless,” presents itself as being as majestic and gliding as some of Europe’s greatest historical monuments. Singer Ralf Hütter describes the various “parks, hotels, and palaces” and “postcard views” a traveler views as he or she transverses Europe.

However, Hütter does not elaborate much further. His reticence in describing Europe in more florid terms can be interpreted as letting the listener take in the sights for his or her own enjoyment. Hütter’s restraint makes this song perfect companion to listen to while traveling through Europe.

Trans-Europe Express

The album’s title song is notable on many different levels. Hütter retains his distance from his material, dispassionately invoking images of leaving Paris via the TEE. The TEE itself was a transportation system which was becoming obsolete by 1977. However, later in the song Hütter invokes a meeting with Iggy Pop and David Bowie, two of the biggest pop stars in the late 1970s. The lyrics effectively tie old Europe to then-new personalities and trends.

The song also possesses some of the funkiest-sounding beats ever made by an electronic pop band, and has always been a massive filler of dance floors. Kraftwerk’s use of electronic beats gives the song an icy distance from its subject; the album overall portrays Europe as being changed by modernity, and being somehow remote despite technology. The music video for this song even maintains a certain distance from its subject.

Conclusion

Kraftwerk’s Trans-Europe Express continues to be a pioneering electronic music artifact. Kraftwerk provided commentary about 1970s Europe by juxtaposing images of modern Europe against the soon-to-be obsolete Trans-Europ Express. In addition, the album contains some of the most imitated, iconic electronic dance beats committed to vinyl. The melody to the song “Trans-Europe Express” would later be sampled to great effect by Afrika Bambaataa for his 1982 hit “Planet Rock.”

For more information about Kraftwerk, visit Kraftwerk’s Website.

The Real TEE

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