I think this is better than the 2003 version that appeared on the album. Probably because Kraftwerk was still using hardware synths including analog synths available at the time...2003 was the heyday of soft synths and they weren't as good quality as what came before and afterward.
I love this, and so does composer Paul Hindemith (RIP). Listen to the first movement of his Flute Sonate from 1936. The first measures are used note for note, in the same key. It makes sense, because Florian Schneider is a trained flautist. Both are masterpieces!
No song has ever captured the awe and wonder of bicycle riding in wide open spaces as well as this song has. Only a biker could write such a grand homage to the sport.
This track is perfect! If you are a bicyclist, you understand the crazy passion for that piece of carbon alloy on wheels. When my bike got stolen, I cried like a baby.🥺 I love horses too but that is a whole different song/kettle of fish.😉
Kraftwerk should be required listening for every electronic musician. There's no better way to remind yourself that timeless songs are timeless because of the songwriting, not because they have some insanely complicated, technically difficult sound.
Yes you’re correct. The Song “planet rock” which is considered a hip hop classic by the Soul Sonic Force doesn’t exist without kraftwerk. Even the rap group “2 live crew” used a sample by Kraftwerk in their song “Dick almighty”
Fantastic beat in this one, goes without saying... but everything about this track, from the harmonies, to the sound effects, to the creepy breathing, is straight dope! One of the best parts about Kraftwerk's tunes is that they arrange them in such a way that it doesn't get repetitive.
I took this to my French class in 1988 and the class went insane. The class rooms along the entire hall literally left the rooms to see what was going on. Then,... the teacher came out and did this Float and moonwalk that was so perfect the students cheered soooo loud it caused the principal, vice principal, coaches and security to come and see why 5 class rooms gathered at once. I FELT EPIC... I was the kid who "did that thing in class". I lived that Legendary life for awhile. ..
Kraftwork one of the pioneers of synthesize music. We use to have school talent shows back in the 80's break dancing to their music. Numbers was the #1 jam !!!
go and live through the 80s and you might get it. there was much more fusion, sound clash, influences thrown in back then. it was true art. add an mc to this and what is it if it aint hip hop?
I was 14 when this came out. Never heard anything like it and it blew me away. So rigid yet graceful at the same time. It's still incredible 40 years on.
This was the programme theme tune used in UK by Channel4 which used to cover Le Tour for many years - I think it got dropped when ITV4 took over the coverage. Top tune, still 👌🏻
Fathers of Tecno music, with Jean Michel Jarre and a couple more. Damn, how good this is... 80´s was the best time for music. So deep, so different, so damn good.
I had to look it up for myself, here are the lyrics: [Verse 1] FRENCH-Francais TRANSLATION - ENGLISH-Englais L'enfer du Nord Paris-Roubaix (Tour de France, Tour de France) The hell of the North: Paris - Roubaix La Cote d'Azur et Saint-Tropez (Tour de France, Tour de France). The Cote d'Azur and Saint Tropez Les Alpes et les Pyrénées (Tour de France, Tour de France) The Alps and the Pyrenees Dernière étape : Champs-Élysées (Tour de France, Tour de France). Last stage Champs-Elysees [Verse 2] Galibier et Tourmalet (Tour de France, Tour de France). Galibier and Tourmalet En danseuse jusqu'au sommet (Tour de France, Tour de France). Dancing even on the top Pédaler en grand braquet (Tour de France, Tour de France) Bicycling at high gear Sprint final à l'arrivée (Tour de France, Tour de France) Final sprint at the finish [Verse 3] Crevaison sur les pavés (Tour de France, Tour de France) Flat tire on the paving-stones Le vélo vite réparé (Tour de France, Tour de France) The bicycle is repaired quickly Le peloton est regroupé (Tour de France, Tour de France) The peloton is regrouped Camarades et amitié (Tour de France, Tour de France) Comrades and friendship It's interesting to me when he says in the second to the last line: "The peloton is regrouped" Now, where have we heard that word a lot lately and what does it mean? In French, "peloton" literally means "ball," but it is most often used with the meaning "group." It's frequently used in the bicycling context, so the Peloton equals the main field or group of cyclists in a race. “Tour de France” was released as a single in 1983. The members of Kraftwerk at this time (most notably Ralf Hütter) were dedicated cycling enthusiasts and this song was intended as a homage to the sport’s most famous event. Shortly after the release of this song, Hütter was hospitalized following a serious cycling accident. This track was also notable for its distinctive drum beats, and the usage of bicycle sound effects as percussion. Its beats have been heavily sampled and mimicked by several generations of electro, techno and Miami bass artists.
The first song I started popping and breaking to, aww so many awesome memories, I still pop to this at my last day of my 42yrs old, Cause Tomorrow The 11th of March, I turn 43yrs old Shaaaauuuuuuuuu!
RIP FLORIAN SCHNEIDER!!!# ❤️🎼🙏🏾❤️🎼🙏🏾❤️🎼🙏🏾❤️ Hella gap was bridged from these brothers right here. Every ol school hiphop DJ I knew had TEE-NUMBERS-TOUR DE FRANCE- MAN MACHINE and a few other Kraftwerk greats!!!!
W44F I agree on the fact that the young generation (Y generation) hasn't and will never know what their parents knew at their times... musically, I mean.
Me too even thought I was born in the crapy generation of music of the 21st century.But my father and mother showed me the music back then the music is awesome so I agree with you the 20th century was better when it lasted.
In all these years of knowing the cover art (around 27 years), I only recently found out the men on the bikes are Kraftwerk, lol! Love this version of the track.
Ralf Hutter, the main songwriter was deep into cycling at this time, he regularly cycled 100km a day. The others weren't into it, so for the photo shoot they were not happy. The drawing is taken from an actual photo.
i Dance this song in 1983 i was a skinny kid (i have 49 years old) Herbie Hanckok "rockit",Giorgio Moroder "chase" & Gary Numans "cars" was anthems in breakdance dancing.
Wow! So loved listening to Kraftwerk! But then again, so much for listening and liking this kind of music, back in the days in the 1980's! Awesome great music then!😊👍👌🎼🎶🎵🎹🎧💿❤
Coming back to this RU-vid video of it,I've just noticed something. I'm sure the original version came out a year sooner and that it pitched up a short distance outside the Top 20 in the UK charts in the school/college/uni summer holiday period in both 1983 and 1984,in some kind of tandem with the event.
.75 speed is closer to what I'm hearing on this vinyl my dad has. It actually has the German version on one side and French on the other. I play it at 33 speed on my phonograph. Its lovely. The vinyl was bought in 1984 while he was in Berlin.
*** HEARD THIS ON JEREMY VINE'S RADIO 2 SHOW THE OTHER DAY.HAD TO LOOK IT UP ***CAN'T STOP PLAYING IT **** TOOK ME BACK 30 YEARS...............................................................
Kraftwerk Tour de France Die Hölle von Nord-Paris - Roubaix The hell of Northern Paris - Roubaix Die Côte d'Azur und Saint Tropez The Cote d'Azur and Saint Tropez Die Alpen und die Pyrenäen The Alps and the Pyrenees Letzte Etappe der Champs-Elysees Last stage Champs-Elysees Galibier und Tourmalet Galibier and Tourmalet Sogar oben tanzen Dancing even on the top Radfahren im hohen Gang Bicycling at high gear Letzter Sprint im Ziel Final sprint at the finish Reifenpanne auf den Pflastersteinen Flat tire on the paving-stones Das Fahrrad ist schnell repariert The bicycle is repaired quickly Das Peloton ist umgruppiert The peloton is regrouped Kameraden und Freundschaft Comrades and friendship Songwriter: Fritz Hilpert / Ralf Huetter
This the second the original is called the red label edit which was played on the radio but hard to find. It is an extended version of the radio edit . I found it on RU-vid .
ConnectionSpiritual Originally, they called it "Tour de France (Long Version)" for the first track, then "Tour de France" and finally "Tour de France (Remix)". It actually depends on the version of the release you've got, but the titles don't change, or the tracks are different. For my part, I've got this version. Thank you for your comment! ^^
***** actually it is the long version ,but it was also by labels they went by. This is actually considered the yellow label edit ,but was released under the Warner brothers label in the U.S.
+David Lightfoot Yep, that's exactly that. However, I won't put all the version that exist on RU-vid because it would be unuseful and a lot of work for me to find all of them. Thank you for your comments :)
This is one of the best songs to grow up too at an early age. Breaking dancing and getting part time income from teaching at the Arthur Murray Dance Studios in Evanston, IL in the early 80's. Thank you Sensei Fuji (break dance instructor) ...I hope your still alive to read with this gratitudei...Can dance to it, can ride with it, run with it, do everything with it...One more thanks while we are at it Sensei. Africa Bambotta and these guys will favor instilled upon my memory ..Thank you Sensei, LOL
We used to break dance to this when I was a kid. It doesn't sound like the same version though although the date of 1984 is right. Same time period as Malcolm McLaren's Buffalo gals & Jam On It by Newcleus and Run DMC!
so cool that germany 70s electronic played such a major role in the early new york movement ,afrika bambaataa etc , thats the beauty of the universal encompassing effect of music
Original release date was actually June 1983 (remember it well) Why do folk always confuse this edition with its original song? Fuckin annoying , any KW Fans agree?..............................................
used to play this Very loud with my dads hifi "Hitachi" had really good speakers, leave the windows open and listen to it other end of the street.! I still this day got the 12" vinyl never got rid of it. and still plays :)
Yo aquí escuchando a Kraftwerk como telón de fondo, esperando la "coronación" de Egan Bernal como campeón en Champs Elysées. Buenos recuerdos de le Tour en los años 80.
I personally perfect the 2003 remastered version, because of the extra enthusiasm in Ralf’s voice and the added flare to the music itself, but this version is still exciting and refreshing.
Im a 80's Kid so my older brothers were breaking and Pop Locking at the time. Of course I tried it while listening to these tunes, Planet Rock, Jam On it Etc,,, HAHA. Anyhow forward to Coachella '08. I did the Video set up for Kraftwerk on the main stage. Along with surprise guest, PRINCE. Everlasting memories.........
![Kraftwerk - Tour de France [Original Version, 1984] HD](/img/logo.svg){kind=logo}
