Sportsong of the Week #11

"Tour de France"

Kraftwerk

1983 (original)

Produced by Ralf Hütter & Florian Schneider

Label: Kling Klang, EMI, Warner Bros.

Last week the Tour de France, the best known cycling competition in the world, started in Utrecht in the Netherlands. At the opening festivities at Le Grand Départ the men from Kraftwerk performed their song Tour de France, so this had to be Sportsong of the Week #11. Kraftwerk made the original song in june of 1983. Kraftwerk is a German electronic music band formed by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider in 1970 in Düsseldorf, and fronted by them until Schneider's departure in 2008. Kraftwerk frontman Ralf Hütter is known for his immense love for cycling. The song is a celebration of the sport of cycling, marking the love for this sport by the band members. They accompanied the song with an artistic music video, which is a sight to behold!

Kraftwerk recently did a series of shows in Amsterdam and the story goes that once Ralf heard the start of the Tour de France was also in Holland he approached the programmer if Kraftwerk could be part of the festivities. This programmer also had the silent wish they would be able to perform. 1+1=2. Their wishes became a reality. Unfortanetely I wasn't able to make it myself, but I heard it was an amazing performance. So enjoy and hopefully it makes you en danseuse jusqu'au sommet yourself!

(The impressive live version in 2015 of Tour de France by Kraftwerk @ Paradiso in Amsterdam)

Full lyrics "Tour de France" - Kraftwerk

L'enfer du Nord: Paris - Roubaix La Cote d'Azur et Saint Tropez Les Alpes et les Pyrennees Derniere etape Champs-Elysees Galibier et Tourmalet En danseuse jusqu'au sommet Pedaler en grand braquet Sprint final a l'arrivee Crevaison sur les paves Le velo vite repare Le peloton est regroupe Camarades et amitie