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In the US, the term EDM is also used mostly to refer to the BS played at big festivals. But no matter how you define the terms, Kraftwerk is not dance music. T

In the US, the term EDM is also used mostly to refer to the BS played at big festivals. But no matter how you define the terms, Kraftwerk is not dance music. They are awesome, and pioneers of electronic music. Just not dance music.

TheOtherHobbes 7y ago
That's really not true. People were definitely dancing to Kraftwerk in clubs in the late 70s and 80s. I know because I was one of them. Those albums are only "not dance music" because they don't have the stereotypical disco cliches of the era. But they were very popular for dancing. And they were absolutely influenced by disco, because the band spent a lot of time in disco clubs after recording sessions. By the time you get to Numbers on Computer Love the techno/disco influence is a lot more obvious, and it's a real stretch not to call that track core EDM. And the remixes on The Mix are straight-down-the-line early EDM. Kraftwerk are unusual for creating a unique style that blended elements of disco/techno with proto-synth pop, classical music, and a weirdly ironic modernist Schlager. Most EDM is more either more formulaic or it lacks the strong melodies and inspired feel for structure and form that makes Kraftwerk stand out. They put it all together, made it work, added the kind of branding and imagery that's usually labelled "iconic", and eventually updated it with video to turn it into a kind of conceptual art project - which is why they've spent as much time performing in big galleries as at festivals.
- mindslight 7y ago
  > Most EDM is more either more formulaic or it lacks the strong melodies and inspired feel for structure and form that makes Kraftwerk stand out Those qualities that make Kraftwerk stand out are what sets them apart from the genre of EDM! From a pre-2010 USian perspective, coldtea's comment is on point. But looking up the term, apparently it does now refer to more than just one genre. But that itself feels like a forced result of commercialization - Wikipedia: By the early 2010s, the term "electronic dance music" and the initialism "EDM" was being pushed by the American music industry. Unfortunately it's also exclusionary to electronic music that isn't primarily intended for dancing, which is why you're arguing over whether people were dancing to Kraftwerk.
- paulsutter 7y ago
  I include a video of people (heroically) trying to dance to Numbers in my first post above, as evidence that Kraftwerk is not dance music. You're welcome to upload your own video, dancing to Numbers. We'd love to see it. I mean that sincerely.

TheOtherHobbes 7y ago

That's really not true. People were definitely dancing to Kraftwerk in clubs in the late 70s and 80s. I know because I was one of them. Those albums are only "not dance music" because they don't have the stereotypical disco cliches of the era. But they were very popular for dancing. And they were absolutely influenced by disco, because the band spent a lot of time in disco clubs after recording sessions. By the time you get to Numbers on Computer Love the techno/disco influence is a lot more obvious, and it's a real stretch not to call that track core EDM. And the remixes on The Mix are straight-down-the-line early EDM. Kraftwerk are unusual for creating a unique style that blended elements of disco/techno with proto-synth pop, classical music, and a weirdly ironic modernist Schlager. Most EDM is more either more formulaic or it lacks the strong melodies and inspired feel for structure and form that makes Kraftwerk stand out. They put it all together, made it work, added the kind of branding and imagery that's usually labelled "iconic", and eventually updated it with video to turn it into a kind of conceptual art project - which is why they've spent as much time performing in big galleries as at festivals.

mindslight 7y ago
> Most EDM is more either more formulaic or it lacks the strong melodies and inspired feel for structure and form that makes Kraftwerk stand out Those qualities that make Kraftwerk stand out are what sets them apart from the genre of EDM! From a pre-2010 USian perspective, coldtea's comment is on point. But looking up the term, apparently it does now refer to more than just one genre. But that itself feels like a forced result of commercialization - Wikipedia: By the early 2010s, the term "electronic dance music" and the initialism "EDM" was being pushed by the American music industry. Unfortunately it's also exclusionary to electronic music that isn't primarily intended for dancing, which is why you're arguing over whether people were dancing to Kraftwerk.
paulsutter 7y ago
I include a video of people (heroically) trying to dance to Numbers in my first post above, as evidence that Kraftwerk is not dance music. You're welcome to upload your own video, dancing to Numbers. We'd love to see it. I mean that sincerely.