"Autobahn" is a 1975 song by German electronic band Kraftwerk, being the second and last single from their studio album of the same name. The song was composed by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider of the band, with Emil Schult collaborating on the lyrics. It is co-produced by Conny Plank, and was the band's first track to use sung lyrics. Recorded in 1974, the song is designed to capture the feel of driving on a motorway. "Autobahn" is Kraftwerk's biggest hit on main US charts, reaching No 25 on Billboard Hot 100.
Lyrics
The lyrics of the song are in German, the main refrain being "Wir fahren fahren fahren auf der Autobahn". The chorus was often mistaken for the English phrase "Fun fun fun on the Autobahn" and thought to be a reference to the 1964 Beach Boys' song "Fun, Fun, Fun" to which band member Wolfgang Flür later commented: The band has never released "Autobahn" in any language other than German. Ralf Hütter has said that The Beach Boys were an influence on the band, but described the song as a "sound painting", reflecting the band's experiences on tour.
Composition
The instrumentation used on the song's 1974 recording was highly innovative at the time and is notable for the significant influence it had on many subsequent genres of electronic popular and dance music. Notable aspects of the arrangement included:
Electronic percussion pads, played by Wolfgang Flür.
Use of a classic 'Moog bass' sound to play the bass line, playing an octave riff with added analogue echo.
Liberal use of phasing on synths to play the chords.
Use of the so-called 'motorik' 4/4 drum beat in the song's final section.
The arrangement also included acoustic elements such as guitar and flute. The band have continued to perform the song live regularly throughout their career. Live arrangements have evolved continuously as the band have adapted the instrumentation and equipment they use on stage.
Release
A version of the song lasting over 22 minutes was recorded as the title track of the albumAutobahn. This was edited to a more modest 3 minute and 28 seconds running time and released as a single, giving the band an unexpected Top 40 hit in the USA, and other countries, the first of their career. A differently edited version, at 3 minutes and 5 seconds duration, was released in the UK, reaching #11, and was later included on the UK compilation LP Exceller 8. The song also reached #12 in Canada and number 12 in the Netherlands.
Charts
Covers and other versions
Kraftwerk themselves re-released the song as a digitally re-recorded and re-written version on the 1991 compilation The Mix.
