camera
let me recreate the world for you.
there is no beginning and no end.
the camera is gonna be your best friend.
let me show you what i can do.
people turn into objects and in the end,
the camera is gonna be your best friend.
i'll take a picture of the world.
i'll take a picture of the world.
you become the camera becomes you.
celebrate a new pseudoevent:
the camera is gonna be your best friend.
the more it tells, the less you know.
it takes so long to comprehend:
the camera is gonna be your best friend.
i'll take a picture of the world.
i'll take a picture of the world.
camera obscura
(la la la, ...)
i'll take a picture of the world.
i'll take a picture of the world.
(la la la, ...)
look at me: i'm the message
in sound and vision, here and now.
listen to me: i'm the message
in sound and vision here and now.
look at me: i'm the message
in sound and vision, here and now.
listen to me: i'm the message
in sound and vision here and now.
in sound and vision
in sound and vision
schau mich an: ich bin die Botschaft1
in Bild und Ton, hier und jetzt.
hoer mir zu: ich bin die Botschaft
in Bild und Ton, hier und jetzt.
look at me: i'm the message
in sound and vision, here and now.
listen to me: i'm the message
in sound and vision here and now.
in sound and vision
in sound and vision
in sound and vision
in sound and vision
in Bild und Ton
in Bild und Ton
in sound and vision
in sound and vision
in sound and vision
in sound and vision
1: this appears to be a direct translation of the english text to german.
we want 15 minutes of fame
stars ain't what they used to be:
they are average people like you and me.
stars ain't what they used to be:
they are average people like you and me.
celebrities. celebrities.
celebrities. celebrities.
we want 15 minutes of fame.
we want 15 minutes of fame.
it's like a new religion in a paranoid world:
all you need is another It Girl2.
new religion in a paranoid world:
all you need is another It Girl.
celebrities. celebrities.
we want 15 minutes of fame.
we want 15 minutes of fame.
we want 15 minutes of fame.
we want 15 minutes of fame.
all kind of things are given for free,
just as long as they call you “celebrity.”
all kind of things are given for free,
just as long as they call you.
we want 15 minutes of fame.
we want 15 minutes of fame.
we want 15 minutes of fame.
we want 15 minutes of fame.
and what's your claim to fame?
celebrities. celebrities.
celebrities. celebrities.
2: from wikipedia article on Clara Bow: “In 1927, Clara made [the film] It, a vehicle for her sex-appeal. Consequently, Bow was dubbed “The It Girl” — “It” being a euphemism for sex-appeal, as defined by the British novelist Elinor Glyn. This image was enhanced by various off-screen love affairs publicized by the tabloid press.”
the image of the world we see
turns into another reality.
can you feel it?
do you believe it?
the image of the world we see
turns into another reality.
can you feel it?
do you believe it?
can you feel it?
can you feel it?
can you feel it?
can you feel it?
can you feel it?
can you feel it?
electronic apeman
electronic apeman
electronic apeman
oooh
electronic apeman, don't let go!
you've got to learn to become human. go, man, go!
we expect the future to be like a wave:
we think it's gonna carry us away.
we wake up right now in the electronic dawn,
and the future happens to us while we're doin' other things.
hello! hello!
electronic apeman, don't let go!
you've got to learn to become human. go, man, go!
we expect the future to be like a wave:
we think it's gonna carry us away.
we wake up right now in the electronic dawn,
and the future happens to us while we're doin' other things.
hello! hello!
electronic apeman, don't let go!
you've got to learn to become human. go, man, go!
there is a big black rectangle looming against the brightening sky.
and as we reach out to touch it, we just don't know and wonder why.3
hello! hello!
electronic apeman, don't let go!
you've got to learn to become human. go, man, go!
hello! hello!
go, man, go!
—
(in round)
electronic apeman, don't let go!
learn to become human. go, man, go!
3: reference to 2001: A Space Odyssey. thanks to Dr Emu and Gustavo for pointing this out.
we've had a good time: easy living like on a summer day.
we got along fine, even though we haven't had a lot to say.
it's been alright, but, much to my regret,
i know that if i remain by your side, i might as well be dead.
so glad we made it!
time will never change it!
but, finally, i have to get on with my life4.
life is a game that one plays according to the rules.
forget my name5: maybe it will help you—feeling cruel.
i have to move out. got to carry on.
don't you know that only time will tell if i'm right or wrong?
so glad we made it!
time will never change it!
but, finally, i have to get on with my life.
i feel a rush in my blood while i listen to the sound of music.
who you are and what you want to be6, it doesn't matter much to me.
so glad we made it!
time will never change it!
but, finally, i have to get on with my life.
finally, i have to get on with my life.
finally, i have to get on with my life.
finally, i have to get on with my life.
finally, i have to get on with my life.
4: this could describe Bartos's departure from Kraftwerk about ten years prior (he has alluded that much of the text, at least, was written many years prior to the release of the album).
5: Bartos's name and image were (argubly) removed—after his departure—from some material on which he worked during his time with Kraftwerk.
6: Kraftwerk are known to refer to themselves as “musical workers.” e.g., from an interview with ralf huetter, the scottsman, march 2004, “We are musical workers. We have no other occupation.”
cyberspace is the place
for a game on a wireframe.
put on your data glove7 and enter the scene
on the other side of the screen.
matrix of logic across the colorless void8.
matrix of logic across the colorless void.
matrix of logic across the colorless void.
cyberspace is the place
for a game on a wireframe.
put on your data glove and enter the scene
on the other side of the screen.
cyberspace ist das Medium
fuer die Reise in ein Elektrouniversum
zieh den Datenhandschuh an und begib dich dann
auf das Koordinatenfeld in einer kuenstlichen Welt
matrix of logic across the colorless void.
matrix of logic across the colorless void.
matrix of logic across the colorless void.
matrix of logic across the colorless void.
7: Kraftwerk apparently collaborated with Doepfer Musikelektronik to develop a Nintendo Power-Glove MIDI interface around or slightly after the time Bartos departed.
8: “colorless void” == “big black rectangle” (?)
instant coffee. commercial break.
marmelade. rollerblades.
spiderman. graphic cam.
frozen pie. x-ray eyes.
communication. meditation.
photographs. rubber gloves.
copyrights. satelites.
technology. democracy.
we are all connected, anyway.
comic strips. potato chips.
remote control. superbowl.
b. b. king. anything.
electric chair. country fair.
dj culture. back to nature.
tv stars. hotel bars.
tax bracket. straightjacket.
plastic back. internet.
we are all connected, anyway.
blue. green. yellow. red.
my new life in my head:
the day the world turned ultraviolet.
labels i've got to get,
neighbours i've never met:
the day the world turned ultraviolet.
ultraviolet. ultraviolet.
the day the world turned ultraviolet.
the day the world turned ultraviolet.
exalted by commercials
which say that cars add to sex-appeal
or that banks help you with your life
i have to return some videotapes.10
i have to return some videotapes.
i have to return some videotapes.
ultraviolet. ultraviolet.
ultraviolet. ultraviolet.
i have to return some videotapes.
i have to return some videotapes.
i have to return some videotapes.
i have to return some videotapes.
i have to return some videotapes.
i have to return some videotapes.
ultraviolet. ultraviolet.
10: from wikipedia article on American Psycho: “Secondly, there is Bateman's urge to “return some videos”—an excuse he frequently uses when asked by jealous young women what he was doing last night or what he is going to do tonight. In the novel this phrase is used as a euphemism for what he really does mostly at night: torturing and killing people.”
every second you can see
24 pictures of reality11.
11: i.e., cinematic film.
(communication lyrics are copyright 2003 karl bartos / home records.)