Germany

The Discothèque

What’s better than techno? German techno is the answer. Having the largest electronic music scene in the world, the Germans know how to “discothèque.” 

The beginning of the German electronic music scene began sometime in the 1950s when composer Karlheinz Stockhausen wanted to create modern and innovative music. This thinking began to expand starting in the early 1970s. 

Kraftwerk was one of the first “krautrock” bands whose vision was to exemplify modern life and the move into a more technological society. Themes that are heavily present in their music are computers, robots and traveling by the Autobahn.

The bands instrumentals were a different sort for the time, as they used a vocoder, electronic drums and synthesizers. 

Kraftwerk was heavily influential for many artists to come into the electronic music scene. By the eighties, many techno bands began springing up and wedging their way into popular culture.

By the late '80s, the rave scene in East Berlin became extremely popular, and going to underground techno parties was the norm. A few years later, techno clubs began to open. The very first techno clubs were Planet, Der Bunker and Tresor. 

German DJs normally played at these clubs, experimenting with different sounds and becoming weirder and weirder as the techno music was being well-received. 

One of the first famous DJs in Germany was Sven Vath who became popular in 1990 and went on to open his own dance club. 

As more of these techno dance clubs were opening in Germany’s big cities, they were being called “discothèques.”

By the mid to late 1990s, rave music was mainstream and techno musicians began trying mixing music and creating what we know as “remixes.” This means they would take classic songs and give them a techno spin, usually speeding up the original song.

The German music scene is now pretty diverse with hip-hop, rap and alternative having emerged recently, but the electronic scene is still going strong. Dancing at discothèques and raging to techno music is a very prominent part of German popular culture.

Digitalism

The techno/house duo called Digitalism hit the German electronic music scene in 2004. The band consists of DJs Jens Moelle and Ismail Tüfekçi. After the two were asked to DJ at a party together, they began mixing and recording as a band. 

In 2007, Digitalism released their debut album, Idealism. Some of the songs from the album were previously released as singles, but the band felt ready enough to compile them into a 15-track album.

Following Idealism, the duo released two EPs including the popular Pogo EP.  Their second full-length album was released in 2011 and was called I Love You, Dude.

The band has just recently released a new album called DJ Kicks. The album’s music shifts between many different genres including synth-pop, new wave, techno and what the band calls “pop glamour.” 

Digitalism is mainly a German band, but they have ventured out of their cultural realm by spreading their influence all over the world.

For example, the band records for the French label Kitsuné and Virgin Records. Digitalism has also appeared at well-known festivals including Coachella, Lollapalooza and Ultra Music Festival.

Most of Digitalism’s music consists of remixed tracks by existing artists of various genres. Some of the artists they have remixed include The Futureheads, Daft Punk and The White Stripes.

The band’s most recognized song is “Pogo” from Idealism and has been featured in different aspects of popular culture. The song even became one of the official tracks for Electronic Arts video games.

With some of Digitalism’s influences clearly being techno bands such as Daft Punk and Kraftwerk, the band has really made a name for themselves in the techno music scene. 

Italy

The Sounds of Romance

Picture a romantic night at a corner street restaurant listening to a man with his accordion. That image is the purest definition of Italy. The romance and the passion that fill the simplest of Italian compositions is overwhelming. 

Like many countries, Italian musicians are adopting more and more electronics in their popular music, overproducing their songs and doing a poor job of it. However, other current musicians are holding true to their Italian musical roots. The instrumentals in Italian music are essential to experience the country’s warmth and beauty. Strings and woodwind instruments are very popular in Italian music and add to its melodic nature.

When someone mentions Italian music, the first thing that comes to mind is most likely the opera. A traditional Italian form of entertainment, the opera has been going strong since the 16th century. Opera was such a heavy influence in Italy that it has become a feature for today’s popular Italian artists. 

Luciano Pavarotti is one of the first Italian tenors to bring opera into popular music. After singing in many operas and gaining recognition for his heavenly voice, Pavarotti began to sing in concerts with The Three Tenors. The trio was a small collection of exceptional operatic tenors, including Pavarotti and Spanish singers Plácido Domingo and José Carreras.

Although non-Italian speakers would not understand the lyrics, Italian songs are still so full of passion. I don’t know about you, but when I listen to Pavarotti, I feel like I’m starring in my own romantic drama. The story that the vivacious instrumentals tell makes having lyrics almost unnecessary.

Andrea Bocelli

Having one of the most recognizable tenor voices, the Tuscany born Andrea Bocelli has frequently been called the most beautiful singer in the world. With the obvious operatic influences in his music, Bocelli became a pop sensation in 1995.

Bocelli became blind at the age of seven, but that didn’t stop him from pursuing his biggest passion. Bocelli can proficiently play eight different instruments as well as master the voice of an angel. 

The singer’s career began when the Italian rockstar Zucchero had tenor auditions, planning to give Pavarotti the spot. Pavarotti, however, heard the tape that Bocelli sent in, and asked him to sing the song Zucchero wrote. Pavarotti himself said that “there is no one finer” than Bocelli. The newly recognized artist then performed with the notable Pavarotti, earning him the name, “the fourth tenor.” 

Bocelli released his debut album in 1994 called Il Mare Calmo della Sera, which quickly went platinum. 

His next album held what came to be his most recognizable and widely used song. The title, “Con te Partirò,” translates  to “Time to Say Goodbye.” The song, which was originally written by Francesco Sartori and Lucio Quarantotto, topped charts in various countries. “Con te Partirò" is frequently presented in films and television shows, as well as sporting events.

Since his debut, Bocelli has recorded 22 albums and has performed in nine opera performances. The singer has earned countless music awards and has toured all over the world. 

Over the years, Bocelli’s fame has unfortunately caused him to become more Americanized. The singer has collaborated with American artists like Christina Aguilera and has earned a number of American music awards. 

Bocelli also began recording some songs in English. He even made a remake of “Con te Partirò,” which is sung partly in English and is a duet with Sarah Brightman. 

Andrea Bocelli is still going strong in his career today. His most recent album, My Christmas, was released in 2009. The album was the singer’s first holiday album, and it became the best-selling holiday album of the year.  My Christmas features both Italian and English songs, but has a predominantly American feel to it.

Although Bocelli’s music has become so dominated by American pop culture, his Italian roots will always be what achieved him fame in the first place. 

Bocelli's dramatic voice over a passionate string symphony still fosters in me a warmth and enthusiasm that no singer has ever achieved.