By 1981, Kraftwerk had firmly established themselves as being the premier innovators in electronic music. 1977’s Trans-Europe Express contained hypnotic songs effectively connecting old Europe with 1970s Europe. 1978’s follow-up, The Man Machine, was meant to firmly establish the group’s “robotic” public image but was a disjointed follow-up. Kraftwerk reconvened for their 1981 effort, Computer World, and made some of the most transcendent music of their career. The album displays Kraftwerk’s increasing use of funkier, R&B influenced beats while providing commentary upon our computer-obsessed times.
Computer World
The album starts with its titular song which, upon first listen, seems throwaway and simply invokes the name of several government agencies (the FBI, Interpol, Deutsche Bank, etc.). The lyrics then invoke “money” and “people” before launching into the soaring chorus of “Computer World.” This song is meant to connect agencies and mediums which can be controlled by artificial means (i.e. computers).
The song “Pocket Calculator,” while being an excellent pop song, contains a childish, somewhat repetitive conceit about using a simple pocket calculator. Once again, themes with Kraftwerk are always deeper than they initially appear; this song uses an almost nursery-rhyme construction to discuss the ease of complex tasks aided by computers/electronics. Of course, the song is extremely danceable, and remains a live favorite.
“Numbers” is perhaps the funkiest song Kraftwerk has ever made. While the lyrics are simply repetitions of numbers in several languages, the beats are absolutely spellbinding. This song also continues to be a live favorite of fans; Kraftwerk often opened their 1981 shows with this song, surrounded by sequencers and other musical technologies.
Computer Love
Perhaps the most eerily predictive song on Computer World is “Computer Love.” The song’s narrator discusses looking for a “rendezvous” via the computer. In 1981, Internet dating was a thing of the future, and wouldn’t reach a pitch of popularity for at least 20 more years. Once again, Kraftwerk’s music is very simple, but mesmerizing and eminently capable of filling dance floors.
The album continues its theme through the last two songs, “Home Computer” and “It’s More Fun to Compute.” “Home Computer” is notable in that it discusses using a computer to communicate at home, being able to “beam myself into the future.” Like “Computer Love,” this song predicts the upcoming popularity of the Internet, which did not yet exist to millions as it does today.
Conclusion
Kraftwerk’s Computer World is notable for possessing more commercially viable “pop” songs while providing commentary on the increasing popularity and accessibility of home electronics. Many Kraftwerk devotees consider Computer World to be the most consistent album of the group’s career. The songs on Computer World, most notably “Pocket Calculator” and “Numbers,” remain huge dance floor fillers to this day, and still sound very contemporary played in clubs. This album, unlike many electro albums from 1981, sounds remarkably undated.
For more information about Kraftwerk, visit Kraftwerk’s Web site.
Emily Carney - Emily Carney is a freelance writer based in the Tampa Bay area in Florida. Emily received a Bachelor of Science in Exceptional Student ...
