Kraftwerk auf Deutsch

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I have the English language versions of all the Kraftwerk albums after Autobahn (actually the French version of "Tour de France") and I'm wondering -- is there something to be gained from hearing these records sung in German? Which versions do you own? How many languages did they release records in? Was Autobahn ever released in an English-language version?

― Mark, Tuesday, 25 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Neue antworten gefallen.

― Mark, Tuesday, 25 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I am now going to state that I AM SHOCKED SHOCKED SHOCKED to hear that Autobahn has ANY lyrics (other than "Fun fun fun" which of course isn't really that at all). I think it's only in German though.

― Alex in SF, Tuesday, 25 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

It's "Fahren" (driving) not "Fun"! But you knew that.

― Mark, Tuesday, 25 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Ok... Help me out here...

I'm English but living in Vienna (and don't speak much German)

I was talking to a friend about Kraftwerk while listening to Autobahn, and talking about the differences between the English and German vocals and mentioned the lyrics of Autobahn "The fun, fun, fun of the Autobahn" and he just fell about laughing, obviously because he never thought of the lyrics like that...

So.. how many of you non-German speakers thought they were singing "Fun, fun ,fun" (or something like it)

Please say i'm not the only one...

― Baxter Wingnut, Tuesday, 25 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

They're printed on the sleeve, or I might have thought that too. It's certainly a reference to the Beach Boys, anyway.

― Mark, Tuesday, 25 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I completely thought it was "fun fun fun on the Autobahn"

― A Nairn, Tuesday, 25 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

We're learning something here today.

― Mark, Tuesday, 25 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Das Model is 10 times better auf Deustch...korrrrrekt!!

― Jez, Tuesday, 25 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Mark, I've wondered the same thing before - I'd love to get the German versions, but I usually find myself wanting to buy records I don't already have (although "are they really the same records?" blah etc.).

― Clarke B., Tuesday, 25 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

So.. how many of you non-German speakers thought they were singing "Fun, fun ,fun" (or something like it)

I thought that too... what a fool I am, I am even German studying.

― DV, Tuesday, 25 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

but in a way it really is Fun, Fun, Fun! Kraftwerk were huge fans of The Beach Boys so the Fahren, Fahren, Fahren lyrics match the Beach Boys template! (I too found an idea of 'the German version' of Autobahn album to be hilarious.)

― Paul, Tuesday, 25 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

sorry Mark, didn't notice you'd already out-ed them

― Paul, Tuesday, 25 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

If anything, the albums work better in English, because their relatively limited command of the language really lent to the idea of Kraftwerk as robots, compared to their native German. Radio- Activity is the same everywhere; they released Showroom Dummies in French as Les Mannequins, Pocket Calculator was recut in Japanese as Dentaku, Sex Object was recorded in Spanish, Tour De France exists in German and French versions, and apparently when they gigged in Poland they sang songs in Polish as well.

― Damian, Wednesday, 26 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Yeah? For me it's the opposite - listening to Kraftwerk in German is far more creepy and otherworldly, more so because I speak some German but I'm pretty rusty - so I can understand the lyrics if I pay attention, but it's like decoding a data transmission from outer space. When I hear 'em in English, it sounds more stilted, but in a jokey kind of way, less, er, 'mysterious' I guess.

― geeta, Wednesday, 26 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

So.. how many of you non-German speakers thought they were singing "Fun, fun ,fun" (or something like it)

i studied deutsch for 5 years and i thought they were saying "fun fun fun".

― queenoftheharpies, Wednesday, 26 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

What about David Bowie's 'Helden' - originally recorded in German, and later translated to become what we know and love as 'Heroes'. (aparrently)

― Andrew, Wednesday, 26 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

one month passes...

it'd never have struck me they were saying "fun." though maybe that's due to being northern and not suffering an impulse to pronounce an 'a' when i see a 'u'.

― matthew james, Thursday, 1 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Fun rhymes better with Autobahn though.

― Vinnie, Thursday, 1 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

No, it doesn't.

― Colin Meeder, Friday, 2 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

wir sind schaufensterpuppen!

― bob snoom, Friday, 2 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

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