Kraftwerk “Numbers” Impact on EDM
The “Krafty Imaginings” of Kraftwerk are undeniably the most influential and groundbreaking music there is to modern Electronic Dance Music ever! Songs like Kraftwerk “Numbers”, “The Robots”, and “Man Machine” all received huge support for their innovative sounds. They were founding innovators of electronic music from the 1970s on. That means they have been doing Electronic Music for 50 years. Kraftwerk was formed in 1970 in Dusseldorf, Germany, by Ralf Hutter and Florian Schneider. That’s the year Schneider acquired his first synthesizer.
The first time I read about when they started making electronic music, my jaw dropped. That was the year I was born! Kraftwerk was so far ahead of the times they literally had no map or blueprint to follow in creating the sound they made. There were no influences they could draw on! That hasn’t stopped them from influencing monumental changes to dance music and music as a whole. Take a look at them performing their quirky sound live in 1970 to a group of German “Krautrock” lovers!
Who Are Kraftwerk
In an online biography of the band, it states, “Kraftwerk developed a self-described “robot pop” style that combined electronic music with pop melodies, sparse arrangements, and repetitive rhythms, while adopting a stylized image including matching suits.” Their early shows were filled with turtleneck wearing, hipster, techno-geeks that had become obsessed with their ingenious sound, but over the years their fanbase has widened to include electronic music lovers from all walks of life.
They have received a Lifetime Achievement Grammy for their work and have been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in the early influence category. Some of their standout albums were, “Autobahn” (1974), “Trans-Europe Express” (1977), “Man Machine” (1978), and “Computer World” (1981). For today’s review we’re are going to pull from “Computer World” and look at my all-time favorite song of theirs, “Numbers”. “Numbers” was the third song they released from “Computer World”. Oddly enough, when they recorded “Computer World” they did not own a computer!
Kraftwerk Numbers
It is not unfair to say that, “Numbers” is one of the best Breakbeat or Electro songs of all time! It uses a strong Electro beat driven by sharp percussion with an infectious melody and vocal stylings that count in a variety of languages. Kraftwerk has tried to create a sound that is rhythmic that leaned heavily on the syncopated rhythms developed by black American Jazz. Founding member, Ralph Hutter, once told a friend of his, “Our music is good if blacks and whites can dance to it at the same time.â€
Kraftwerk tried to meld European electronic music with black American rhythms, forging an aesthetic that was cerebral but dancefloor friendly. John Morrison of The Wire, also quotes former Kraftwerk percussionist Karl Bartos on the band’s debt to black music: “We were all fans of American music: soul, the Tamla/Motown thing, and of course, James Brown. We always tried to make an American rhythm feel, with a European approach to harmony and melody.†This emphasis on an infectious groove for the rhythm is nowhere more apparent than in the song, “Numbers.” Here, take a listen to them perform “Numbers” live.
“Numbers” can also be purchased on the album “Computer World” on Discogs:
https://www.discogs.com/release/23300-Kraftwerk-Computer-World
Detroit Loves Numbers
Kraftwerk’s “Numbers” had an especially strong impact on the fate of Electronic Dance Music. It was largely accepted by even black crowds as a dance masterpiece. Nowhere was its impact greater than the city of Detroit which had a special love affair with the song. In Detroit the song received major radio play and was widely played by record jocks at clubs and house parties throughout the 80s. It is noted by legendary Detroit Techno DJs like Juan Atkins, Derrick May, and Kevin Saunderson as one of the tracks that inspired them early on in the creation of Techno as a unique genre of dance music.
They said they used it as a blueprint to influence the creation of their sound and sought to mimic its groove and sharp electronic sound in their own music production of Techno. It was so popular in Detroit it was even used in the Soul Train-like dance show, The New Dance Show, in the late 1980s. Here, take a look at “Numbers” working its magic on the show in the dance line!
Influenced By Numbers
“Numbers” has had a monumental impact on Electronic Dance Music! It has been sampled, remade, and has heavily influenced entire genres of EDM as producers sought to mimic its winning combination of sounds and structure and its fundamentally groundbreaking sound. Early on producers saw the value of grabbing elements from it. It has been sampled in 170 songs over the years.
It was a popular song with Breakdance crews and Boogie aficionados already, but that didn’t stop Afrika Bambaataa & The Soulsonic Force from grabbing multiple elements in his 1983 mega-hit, “Planet Rock.”, which became a well known song in its own right. The downside for Afrika Bambaataa was that the song became big enough for Kraftwerk to sue him for copywrite infringement for the unlicensed use of the samples, which Kraftwerk won in court. I actually loved “Numbers” when I was a Breakdancer at age 13 and popped and locked many times to it!
Songs That Sample Numbers
Later, Rave music producers continued to pick up on the sound and used it in a host of tunes from the late 80s and early 90s. About half of the songs in EDM that have sampled it were released between 1988 and 1992. It seemed to be everywhere as producers looked for inspiration to the new Rave sound. Perhaps the biggest song that sampled it and and sampled it well was Westbam’s “Monkey Say, Monkey Do”, which became a Rave anthem and even turned on more people to “Numbers” It samples beats and melody. Here, take a listen:
Here is the link to purchase the vinyl of “Monkey Say, Monkey Do” on Discogs:
https://www.discogs.com/release/36695-WestBam-Disco-Deutschland-Monkey-Say-Monkey-Do
“Numbers” continued to be heavily sampled throughout the 1990s, and it showed up in songs after 2000 as well. The drums and some of the vocals were even sampled in an Aphex Twin song in 2014. Most of the songs that sample “Numbers” are breakbeat driven songs of a House tempo, but not all of them. The song were are going to listen to samples multiple elements and was released in 2009. It is a Drum-N-Bass song that’s pretty banging. The song is by Cycheouts Ghosts and is called “Disorda”. Here. take a listen:
The song never made it to vinyl but the CD can be purchased on Discogs using this link:
https://www.discogs.com/release/1859703-Cycheouts-Ghost-Prapa%C3%B1ca-%E6%88%AF%E8%AB%96
Covers Of Numbers
As I mentioned earlier, sampling “Numbers” is not the only impact it has on EDM. The song has been completely remade as well. The band Basskraft made an entire tribute album of Kraftwerk songs in the late 1990s, including “Numbers” in 1998. Honestly, it is hard to improve on perfection, but Basskraft does a good job and messes with the vocals and gives the song a bit of a darker feel. Take a listen and you decide if you like their version or the original more!
Here is the link to purchase the Basskraft remake of “Numbers” on CD at Discogs:
https://www.discogs.com/master/480601-Basskraft-A-Bass-Tribute-To-Kraftwerk
Other Influence
The cascade effect of the popularity of Kraftwerk as a whole and “Numbers” in particular cannot be overstressed. Entire movements in Electronic Dance Music can directly trace back to “Numbers” Detroit once again had a pervasive love of the song which can be heard in Detroit Electro in bands like Aux 88, amongst others. “Numbers” set a standard by which any Electro songs can be gauged.
DJs still play it in sets today. I’ve played it a good number of times either by itself or laid over the top of another Breaks song. Many Breaks are clearly influenced by it as well. This example below is actually a song I love that I lay “Numbers” over. It feels like it owes some of what it is to what “Numbers” was! Take a listen and imagine “Numbers” over the top of it with the different number sequences in each song complimenting each other!
The vinyl is available to purchase several ways on Discogs. Here is the single sided official release by BT:
https://www.discogs.com/release/17450-BT-Fibonacci-Sequence
As more new DJs learning the craft today discover the roots of the music they love, “Numbers” will continue to have its impact felt. It is a timeless classic! We hope you have enjoyed this episode on Edge of EDM. Explore the site and read through the other articles for more great information! Be sure to Subscribe to our blog to receive updates on new articles, interviews and mixes available on our site! Click on the link below to Subscribe.
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This is absolutely amazing history Chris!! Really cool to see the progression of their sound story and all the samples used. So dope! Staple in EDM for sure.
Nice one. Kraftwerk definitely changed how I thought of electronic music and just like you, was blown away when learning what I was hearing was released in the 1970s..
Thanks for the write-up!