First Blog Response
I began looking for information with a general Google.com search because I have never heard this song before. I typed in “Computer Love”. Many results of this search mentioned Zapp and Rodgers, but upon further investigation on Amazon.com, this song bared no resemblance to the song from class. Under that same search there was also another artist listed called Kraftwerk. I went to the first website listed (
groups.imeem.com/co32JokY/ music/Y-tuvs4C/kraftwerk_computer_love/ - 134k -). This site played a brief portion of the song in class. It was slightly different because it was the unmixed version. The only information that this site provided was that the group is considered an 80’s New wave alternative group. I found the lyrics at (http://www.lyricsdownload.com/kraftwerk-computerlove-lyrics.html). To obtain more information I changed the Google.com search to the name of the artist. This first website that appeared was the groups official website (www.kraftwerk.com), which I found difficult to navigate and providing little text. Then I went to the Kraftwerk page on Wikipedia.com. Kraftwerk (German for “power plant”) is a band based in Germany. The song is from the album “Computer World” (Computerwelt) in 1981 and was one of their first commercial pop singles. The remixed version was on their album “The Mix”, released in 1991 (Grove Music Online). Furthermore, according to this source the band Coldplay borrowed melodic elements of Computer Love from the song “Talk” in 2005. I confirmed this on http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/coldplay%20track%20influenced%20by%20kraftwerk . This short interview excerpt showed how Kraftwerk is a big influence to Coldplay. There are many other bands that have sample Kraftwerk but not this particular song. I attempted to use the Wired.com website for additional articles but the articles only mentioned Kraftwerk in passing.
Finally, I went to the Purchase College online library catalogue to look for related articles and books. I did not find anything of value. My next step was to go to the specialized databases that this college is subscribed to. I went to the music databases and found grovemusiconline.com, which is an online version of The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians (2nd edition). This website lead me to biography which mentioned that the album was mainly about the growing global village. They were also a major influence on dance music of the late 80’s and 90’s (Grove Dictionary).
I think that this song is highlighting the need to have connections with other people and using the computer to achieve this. It also shows a dependence on technology for everyday life.
This song is relevant to the Computers and Culture course most obviously because it is based on computers. Kraftwerk integrates electronic instruments, special software, synthesizers and custom technology in to all aspects of their musical pieces. Kraftwerk is an inventive, experimental band that, is entirely based in technology, “Kraftwerk was one of the first pop-oriented acts to record using pure electronic (or electronically processed) instruments and sounds exclusively” (Wikipedia). Because of their innovative ideas, avant-garde style, and a profound impact on music and technology Kraftwerk is worth talking about in this class. I personally believe that there is a parallel between Kraftwerk and people today. Kraftwerk depends on electronics and technology for their music as most people in their everyday lives. We use the computer to communicate and create just as Kraftwerk has done with this song.
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