Germany and France, an evocative clash indeed.
Two large iconic nation states at the heart of things in Europe, rich in stereotypical baggage. How many people here could list of the national character traits of the Belgians or the Costa Ricans?
Formerly at each others throats and fighting wars every couple of decades (the mystery is Harold Schumacher didn't precipitate another), they are now joined at the hip.
However, culturally, which country has given us more?
Over on TXFM Drive, Joe Donnelly asked listeners which country had given more to the world in music terms. Here he takes up the story...
With the World Cup quarter final match between France and Germany taking place today, I asked listeners to TXFM Drive to decide which country would come out on top in a battle of the bands and singers. Of all the remaining World Cup matches, no other two countries can offer up the same intriguing contest. While most of the music we listen to comes from Britain, the U.S., and of course our own country, there’s no denying that France and Germany have provided some quality artists over the years.
France has probably experienced greater popularity here, especially in terms of synth-based electro-pop. Daft Punk is an outfit that stands head and shoulders above their contemporaries, but listeners were keen to list off plenty of other electronic musicians and producers from France, including Justice, Phoenix, Air and Dimitri from Paris. The French have also provided us with some very fine singer-songwriters such as Sébastien Tellier.
Germany is perhaps better known for darker, industrial sounds generated by keyboards. Nonetheless, listeners were quick to identify the likes of Alphaville, Propaganda and Einstürzende Neubauten as acts that Germany should be proud of. Rammstein and Tokyo Hotel provided some metal and rock edge respectively. However, it is one act that swung the tie in favour of the Germans. Many, many listeners felt that Kraftwerk’s pioneering innovation in combining synths and keyboards with melodies and harmony is impossible to overstate. It was felt that “there would be no Daft Punk, Air or Justice without Kraftwerk”. Their legacy is too great, and their influence too vast, to conceive of a French victory. With this in mind, it was decided that Germany would beat France in a Music World Cup match.
To the victors go the spoils!
