Was ist das?
(Translation: What is it?)
This is my response to Mary’s chosen theme for MONDAY’S MUSIC MOVES ME (aka #4M)
as well as her month-long ROCKTOBER MUSIC FEST at Jingle Jangle Jungle.
KRAUTROCK JA JA JA! Was ist das? #RMF2020 #4M #MusicMonday #dogladysden #rockchickbliss Share on X
So seriously, what exactly is Krautrock? Sounds pretty derogatory, doesn’t it? In fact, “Kraut” is a racist slur that I grew up hearing as a young German-born child, attending Canadian primary school in the early 1960s.
However, when you add the suffix rock, it is an affectionate term for a specific style of German music. Wikipedia explains it in-depth:
Krautrock (also called kosmische Musik, German for cosmic music) is a broad genre of experimental rock that developed in West Germany in the late 1960s and early 1970s among artists who blended elements of psychedelic rock, electronic music, and various avant-garde influences.These artists largely avoided the blues influences and song structure found in traditional Anglo-American rock music, instead utilizing hypnotic rhythms, tape-music techniques, and early synthesizers.
The British press originally adopted the term “Krautrock” as a humorous umbrella-label for the diverse German scene, though many so-labeled artists disliked the term.
Here are some prime examples:
LONESOME CROW, the debut album by Scorpions, my favourite Krauts who rock (they hail from Hanover, which is only a couple of hours away from where I was born), is considered a classic in this genre.
Since then, their music has become more mainstream, with a mixture of hard rock, metal and power ballads:
Their live shows are always amazing!
For Jingle Jangle Jungle’s complete Rocktober Music Fest series, click HERE►
To see what the other 4M participants are offering, click HERE►
(To join the blog hop, add your link. Must be a music post specific to the theme.)
Are you familiar with Krautrock or any of the bands mentioned?
Like, dislike, indifferent?
ROCK ON!
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Dog Mom and (retired) Canine Innkeeper in suburban Toronto, Canada, known as The Doglady. Former corporate workaholic. Writer, photographer, digital creator. Animal lover, music fanatic, inveterate traveller. Eternal hippie/rockchick. History, literature and cinema buff. Hockey and soccer fan. Dedicated night owl. German/Canadian binational, multilingual. Let me entertain you!
31 thoughts on “KRAUTROCK JA JA JA! #RMF2020 #4M”
Totally awesome girlfriend. You have definitely ROCKED THE HOUSE for sure! I haven’t heard these tunes, but I’m open to new music around the clock! Have a great weekend! HUGS
yo girlfriend, I got a message that you replied to a message of mine, but I cannot find it! HELP! A LOT of Rock here girlfriend. Personally, I could never get into Rock and neither did my kids. My kids like my era actually 70’s to some of the 90’s, but hey to each their own, right? ROCK ON GIRLFRIEND! Woo Hoo! Thanks for playin’ along and hope to see ya next Monday too. hugs, Dolly
Hi Marie, I don’t recall any messages, but I did leave a comment on your #4M post. Maybe that was it? You also commented on my post earlier, but thanks for coming by again. 🙂 Yes, we all have unique musical tastes. I’m an old “Rockchick” from way back. 😉 Cheers!
Late to rock with you but enjoyed your krautrock mewsic. I didn’t know Scorpion was in this genre. It is a genre, right? Have a great evening, Debbie! BTW, I put up a BoTB on Monday if you’re interested. Don’t feel obligated, just wanted to mentioned this to you. 😉
Hi Cathy, no worries! I’m not online all that much, either. Sorry, I missed your BOTB, but I have my hands full these days. Our new rescue dog is consuming most of my time at the moment. Scorpions’ first album was definitely Krautrock (that is indeed a genre), but they became more mainstream after that and are still going strong 50 years later! Thanks for coming by. ☺
Hi Debbie!
Sorry to be so slow to respond. I had 2 doctor appointments on Monday, and they just kind of monopolized the rest of my week. So here I am playing catch up on all the posts. I L<3VE your selection for the theme! Can’t go wrong with the Scorpions 🙂 Thank you so much for joining in not only RocktoberMusicFest, but also Monday’s Music Moves Me! It’s good to see you posting again!
No worries, Mary, we all have other stuff going on. 🙂 I hope your health is improving day by day. I’m glad you enjoyed the post. Thanks for hosting!
Yes, I remember the Scorpions well. Some good tunes there!
Thanks for visiting our Mewsic Monday post
Purrs xx
Athena and Marie
I’m glad you enjoyed the post. Thanks for coming by!
Scorpions huh? I’m not that familiar with them my friend, so I listened to them all and you certainly rocked the house today my friend. Great job. Thanks for playin’ along with us and I hope all is healthy and good with you. As I say stay healthy, well, and safe… most of all don’t forget that mask! ROCK ON my friend! hugs
Thanks for coming by and listening to the music, Marie. 🙂 Scorpions were huge in the 80s, and I’m sure you’ve heard their biggest hit. It gets played to death on classic rock radio:
I got into Scorpions around 2005 or so after a guy who worked for me introduced their music to me. I somehow missed them back in the eighties. I was listening to different kinds of music I guess.
Now I’m craving sauerkraut. My wife doesn’t like it (I don’t even know if she’s actually tried it). Once I got a jar of it to put on hot dogs. She wouldn’t even try it.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
Scorpions have a diverse discography, from metal to ballads. Sauerkraut is an acquired taste, I guess. 😀 My Italian husband doesn’t like it either, and I’m sure he’s never tried it. I love it, especially with bratwurst and mashed potatoes. Thanks for coming by, Lee.
This is quite entertaining and educational. There have not been many German singers or bands to make it big in the Southeast, where I live. We do love us some John Kay, though.
I did have to go listen to The Scorpions sing their song with Tarja Turunen.
Well, to me, John Kay is the KING of German rockers! ? (Actually ALL rockers, in general.) That said, Scorpions are an amazing band, still going strong 50 years later. Klaus Meine is no slouch in the vocals department, and Tarja is exquisite. Thanks for reminding me of this!
I had heard of Krautrock before, and of course remember “Autobahn” by Kraftwerk. It’s an interesting genre…
I can see why some German bands didn’t like the name It took me a while to shake the racist connotations as well. ?
Always liked the Scorps. My latest “Krautrock” on the M10 is Acres Wild with Mirrorball Stars… I’m Goin’ MadSounds late sixties-ish to me (Which means I like it!).
Acres Wild was a German metal band that no longer exists. I looked this one up and apparently, the Acres Wild you’re referring to is a pop group from Norway. Interesting sound and yes, it does have a ’60s vibe. ?
I THOUGHT they were from Norway, but the link I looked them up on last week took me, well you know where. Shoulda listened to myself. Pastel Waves in 2016 wasn’t that long ago…
It’s naturally confusing when different bands have the same name. This is the original German metal band:
Well, that makes the comments on the site about them being metal make sense… (Laughing at myself umpteenth time today)
Yeah, the Norwegian band isn’t anywhere near metal. ?
I have purchased albums by both Kraftwerk (Autobahn, which is so much more than the single) and Scorpions (their later stuff). I have never heard of Krautrock or the other four bands in the sampler. My son, who took two years of German in high school and used to play online games with German youths when he was in high school (I suspect he still might), may well have heard of this genre. I think I would enjoy this music – although maybe not an entire concert. I did enjoy reading about it, though!
Hi Alana, yes, Kraftwerk is an interesting band, for sure. Scorpions are still going strong, 50 years later and their live shows are amazing! Your son was probably exposed to this genre by his German buddies. Thanks for coming by!
CAtching UP from vacation. Great music once again
Welcome back! Music was so good back then. 🙂
Big fan of the Scorpions. So very nice.
Yes, indeed and they always put on an amazing live show. Thanks for coming by!
I’ve not heard of this group before. I’m not recognizing any of the music either. I was of age during that time.
Have a fabulous day and week, Debbie. ♥
Hi Sandee, you probably heard some Scorpions music on the radio over the years. They became more commercial as time went on. Thanks for stopping by, and enjoy the rest of your week.