[song] Nachtmahr - Ich bin

hello internet!

Long time no see, I am very busy but tonight I am going to an album releaseparty and I thought I'll do one of the new songs.

I am talking of Nachtmahr (it's an old fashioned term for nightmare), an austrian "industrial/techno/I don't know" band. It's not about the genre, it's about the music. I think they are well known around the world, at least in the dark scene. 

They are very provocative and their album covers and images often include girls in uniforms, naked women and some other fetish stuff. Anyway, I think their music is very powerful and I am looking forward to a crazy night:

video:

lyrics:

Ich bin zu eurem Konformismus

I AM TO YOUR CONFORMITY

Die legitime Reaktion

THE LEGITIMATE REACTION

Ich bin immer schon die Antithese

I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THE ANTITHESIS

Zu eurer Konvention

TO YOUR CONVENTION

Ich werd gehasst, verdammt, vergöttert

I AM HATED, DOOMED, DEIFIED

Erfolglos diffamiert

UNSUCCESSFUL DEFAMED

Geliebt, verbannt, verspottet

LOVED, BANISHED, LAMPOONED

Doch niemals ignoriert

BUT NEVER IGNORED

Ich bin

I AM

Ich bin wie ich bin

I AM WHAT I AM 

Und ich hab’ dich nicht drum gebeten mich zu verstehen

AND I NEVER ASKED YOU TO UNDERSTAND ME

Ich bin

I AM

Ich bin wie ich bin

I AM WHAT I AM

Und ich werde meinen Weg auch ohne dich weiter gehen

AND I AM GOING TO FOLLOW MY WAY ALSO WITHOUT YOU

Ich bin ein steter Kämpfer

I AM A CONSTANT FIGHTER

Gegen eure Scheinheiligkeit

AGAINST YOUR HYPOCRISY

Ich bin immer schon die Antithese

I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THE ANTITHESIS

Zu eurer Eitelkeit

TO YOUR VANITY

Ich bin niemand der akzeptiert

I AM NOBODY WHO ACCEPTS 

Was sich als gegeben präsentiert

WHAT IS ALREADY PRESENTED

Ich bin ein Geist, der stets verneint

I AM A GHOST, WHO ALWAYS NEGATES

Dein bester Freund, dein größter Feind

YOUR BEST FRIEND, YOUR BIGGEST ENEMY

Ich werd gehasst, verdammt, vergöttert

I AM HATED, DOOMED, DEIFIED

Erfolglos diffamiert

UNSUCCESSFUL DEFAMED

Geliebt, verbannt, verspottet

LOVED, BANISHED, LAMPOONED

Doch niemals ignoriert

BUT NEVER IGNORED

Ich bin

I AM

Ich bin wie ich bin

I AM WHAT I AM

Und ich hab dich nicht drum gebeten mich zu verstehen

AND I NEVER ASKED YOU TO UNDERSTAND ME

Ich bin 

I AMIch bin wie ich bin

I AM WHAT I AM

Ich bin

I AM
Ich bin

I AM
Ich bin

I AM

Ich bin

I AM 

Ich bin wie ich bin

I AM WHAT I AM

Und ich hab dich nicht drum gebeten mich zu verstehen

AND I NEVER ASKED YOU TO UNDERSTAND ME

Ich bin 

I AMIch bin wie ich bin

I AM WHAT I AM

Und ich werde meinen Weg kompromisslos weiter gehen

AND I AM GOING TO FOLLOW MY WAY UNCOMPROMISING

Ich bin

I AM

Ich bin wie ich bin

I AM WHAT I AM

Und ich hab dich nicht drum gebeten mich zu verstehen

AND I NEVER ASKED YOU TO UNDERSTAND ME

Ich bin 

I AMIch bin wie ich bin

I AM WHAT I AM

Ich bin

I AMIch bin

I AMIch bin

I AM

Ich bin

I AM 

Ich bin wie ich bin

I AM WHAT I AM

Und ich hab dich nicht drum gebeten mich zu verstehen

AND I NEVER ASKED YOU TO UNDERSTAND ME

Ich bin 

I AMIch bin wie ich bin

I AM WHAT I AM

Und ich werde meinen Weg kompromisslos weiter gehen

AND I AM GOING TO FOLLOW MY WAY UNCOMPROMISING

Ich bin

I AM

Ich bin wie ich bin

I AM WHAT I AM

Und ich hab dich nicht drum gebeten mich zu verstehen

AND I DID NOT ASKED YOU TO UNDERSTAND ME

Ich bin 

I AMIch bin wie ich bin

I AM WHAT I AM

additional: 

I think this is a good song to show how close many german and english words are related.  

Instead of  "I am what I am" you could also translate "I am how I am" but I think it doesn't matter.

All in all the lyrics are pretty clear. I think those lyrics could also be Rammstein lyrics? 

The idea of being non-conform and ignoring the mainstream is surely a big part of the dark scene, so you can't do anything wrong with such lyrics.

"I am a ghost who always negates" refers to Goethe's Faust where Mephisto says those words. Faust is probably the most famous (important?) german written work. 

That is all I can say to that.
I am looking forward to hear the new album tonight!

[song] Ostfront - Ich liebe es

Good evening!

This is still not the song I wanted to do for the last entries. I wanted to do a love song, but Halloween is upcoming, so I'll do another love song...
I have not much to say about the following song. Though I think it sounds pretty much like Rammstein. Btw. the clip and also the song is pretty explicit. Than again, nowadays every child is listening to Rihanna's SM, so I don't see a problem, anyway, you have been warned.

video:

lyrics:

Ich liebe es mit Haut und Haaren

I LOVE IT WITH SKIN AND HAIR

Den Anstand gründlich zu verwahren

KEEP THE MANNERS SAFE

Ich liebe es bei Kerzenschein

I LOVE IT AT CANDLE LIGHT

Es wird ein wenig schwerzhaft sein

IT IS GOING TO HURT A LITTLE 

Ich mag es ausgefallen hart

I LIKE IT UNUSUAL HARD

Der Beischlaf wird zum Attentat

THE COITUS BECOMES AN ASSASSINATION 

Ich liebe es auch ohne Luft

I LOVE IT ALSO WITHOUT AIR

So denn der Herr im Himmel ruft

SO THE LORD IN HEAVEN SHOUTS

Ich liebe es

I LOVE IT

Und es liebt mich

AND IT LOVES ME

Ich darf es quälen

I AM ALLOWED TO TORTURE IT

Darf es schinden

MAY MISTREAT IT

Seine Grenzen überwinden

OVERCOME IT'S BORDERS

Ich liebe es

I LOVE IT

Und es liebt mich

AND IT LOVES ME

Darf es misshandeln

I AM ALLOWED TO ABUSE IT

Degradieren

REDUCE IT

Wundervoll auf allen vieren

WONDERFUL ON ALL FOURS

Ich liebe es

I LOVE IT

Wie Gott es schuf

AS GOD CREATED IT 

Bestrafung wird mir zum Beruf

PUNISHMENT BECOMES MY BUSINESS

Mit Seitenhieben reich beschenkt

WITH SIDE STROKES RICH PRESENTED

Hat es mir sein Haupt gesenkt

IT HAS (ME) ITS HEAD LOWERED

Ich liebe es gewissenlos

I LOVE IT UNSCRUPULOUS 

Harte Worte spenden Trost

HARD WORDS GIVE SOLACE

Sprechverbot und Schluckbefehle

SPEAKING IS FORBIDDEN, SWALLOWING INSTRUCTED

Du liebst mich nur wenn ich dich quäle

YOU LOVE ME ONLY WHEN I TORTURE YOU

Ich liebe es

I LOVE IT

Und es liebt mich

IT LOVES ME

Ich darf es quälen

I AM ALLOWED TO TORTURE IT

Darf es schinden

I MAY MISTREAT IT

Seine Grenzen überwinden

OVERCOME ITS BORDERS

Ich liebe es

I LOVE IT

Und es liebt mich

IT LOVES ME

Darf es misshandeln

I AM ALLOWED TO ABUSE IT

Degradieren

DEGRADE IT

Wundervoll auf allen vieren

WONDERFUL ON ALL FOURS

Beschimpfen, bespucken

INSULT IT, SPIT AT IT

Entzücken und schmücken

CHARMING AND DECORATING

Es ausgiebig nutzen und gründlich beschmutzen.

USE IT EXTENSIVE AND MAKE IT EFFICIENT DIRTY

Additional comments:

...well well well. It was really hard to find the right words to translate this nasty song. Many words have of course more meanings, on the other hand I don't find the right english words, which do not have the wrong connotations. I tried my best... happy halloween.

[song] Eïs - Bei den Sternen

Good night, world!

Today I present you one of my absolute favorite bands. This song is from the album "Wetterkreuz" (which means according to my dictionary "air crossing", but taking a look at the album cover, they might see it as a metaphor for "summit cross").

In my first blog entry I already mentioned that I am going to do songs of them, the release of this album was also one of the reasons why I created this whole blog, but I also mentioned that it is some harder stuff. That is why I waited so long. Didn't want to scare you...

so take a deep breath.  I warned you. This isn't going to be that calm like the song in my previous post. Two additional notes why I love Eis, former called Geist, so much: First thing, their music is dark, heavy but very atmospheric. Second: they make black metal without kissing the devils ass. As much as I also like other black metal bands... the whole satan-shit is pretty ridiculous.

video:

lyrics:

Er sinkt, er fällt jetzt, höhnt ihr hin und wieder

HE SINKS, HE FALLS NOW, YOU JEER EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE
die Wahrheit ist, er steigt zu euch hernieder

THE TRUTH IS, HE CLIMBS DOWN TO YOU
sein Überglück wart ihm zum Ungemach

HIS LUCK WAS HIS ADVERSITY
sein Überlicht geht eurem Dunkel nach

HIS LIGHT FOLLOWS YOUR DARKNESs

Lassen wir die Berge hinter uns,  

LET'S KEEP THE MOUNTAINS BEHIND US,

die Täler, Grate und die Gipfel,

THE VALLEYS, THE RIDGES AND THE PEAKS,

Abgründe und Wetterkreuze,

THE ABYSS AND THE SUMMIT CROSSES,

die zu Stein gewordenen Menschen.

THE PEOPLE, WHO BECAME STONE

Richten wir den Blick nach oben

LET'S TURN OUR SIGHT ABOVE

über schneebeschenkte Wolken

OVER SNOW PRESENTED CLOUDS

auf die Wege der Planeten,

TO THE PATHS OF THE PLANETS

deren Gang wir nicht verstehen.

WHICH WAYS WE DON'T UNDERSTAND

Schick mich jenseits allen Wachens.

SEND ME BEYOND ALL AWARENESS

Lass mich schlafen bei den Sternen.

LET ME SLEEP AT THE STARS

Vierzig Monde, die verwehten

FORTY MOONS, WHICH BLEW

vor den dunklen Horizonten.

IN FRONT OF DARK HORIZONS

Nur die Schatten von Kometen

ONLY THE SHADOWS OF COMETS

waren, was wir sehen konnten.

WERE,  WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO SEE

Auf den eisbedeckten Dächern

ON THE ICE COVERED ROOFS

waren wir dem Nachthimmel ganz nah;

WE WERE CLOSE THE THE NIGHT SKY

sogar die Lichter von Pulsaren

EVEN THE LIGHTS OF PULSARS

schienen niemals unnahbar.

SEEMED TO BE NEVER INACCESSIBLE

Lass mich fliehen in Morpheus' Arme und triff mich auf dem hellsten Stern.

LET ME FLEE IN MORPHEUS' ARMS AND MEET ME AT THE BRIGHTEST STAR

Additional comments:

The first part is a quotation of Friedrich Nietzsche's poem Niedergang. ("downfall").

I already talked about the problem with the "Wetterkreuz". If you look at the album cover or look it up on google, it definitely means "summit cross", but my dictionary says it means "air crossing". However, I stick to "summit cross". Another problem is "allen Wachens", I translated it with "all awareness" but "wachens" would better be translated with some kind of "being awake". Well, I guess the meaning doesn't change.

All in all, it's pretty full of metaphors and beautiful linguistic pictures. I am not going to interpret them for you. That's what I would do in my German blog but here I'll just leave it to you.
In my opinion they made again an amazing album, full of atmosphere of epic nature, loneliness, melancholy, but also hope. I think they characterize the rough beauty of the wilderness and our whole planet.
Though I do know enough people, who don't enjoy black metal, so I perfectly understand if you don't like it. Next time it won't be any black metal. I promise ;-)

Thanks for visiting, if you didn't like the song, at least I was able to widen your horizon.

P.S.: talking of the horizon: there is of course another good reason to post a song called "at the stars" today:

A fellow countryman took a ride to the stars, but he did not sleep up there, but jumped back down.
It was a big adventure for all of mankind. The first human being, going all supersonic in free fall, without a protecting plane. It was very thrilling to watch. Congratulations to Felix Baumgartner and his whole team. While I am listening to some dreamily music, people like Baumgartner and his team expand the limits of mankind. I just hope that I will still be alive, when the first human being sets footprints on mars. I started to watch his adventurous stratos-jump because I was bored, but I have to admit, it was amazing. It felt important and big. It felt like a milestone in history. It was iconic.

His jump was not the reason why I picked that song today, but I realize now, that it somehow fits.
Bei den Sternen. At the stars.

I'm trying to find some sleep now, Good night world. ...and because I feel guilty for bombing you with that hard black metal stuff, I give you in addition a song to relax... 

Good night world. good night.

[song] Thomas D - Millionen Legionen

Good night internet!

It's late, I can't sleep so I decided to do another song. I was listening to it the whole day and now I share it with you. It's an interesting mix of calm music and clever and romantic lyrics. The song is originally from "Die Fantastischen Vier" (The fantastic four), in this version we hear Thomas D, who is actually a member of the Fantastischen Vier, performing it and it's also the unplugged version, which I really like.

Listen to it, read the lyrics, think about them. Some parts are striking, some are subtle, some are clear, some are metaphors.

Actually that wasn't the song I wanted to do next but somehow I remembered it today (the song is old!) and listened to it all day and now (if you press the play button) you have the chance to hear it too!

video:

lyrics:

  

Ich werde die Tests besteh'n,die mir das Leben stellt 

I AM GOING TO PASS THE TESTS OF LIFE

Weitergeh'n, suchen nach dem, was mich am Leben hält

GO ON, LOOKING FOR WHATS KEEPING ME ALIVE

Bin damit nich' allein - und werd' es nie mehr sein

I AM NOT ALONE - AND I NEVER WON'T BE 

Weil mich zum erstem Mal seit langer Zeit Verbundenheit befreit

BECAUSE FOR THE FIRST TIME A CONNECTION RELIEVES ME

Bin ich soweit, fließ' in den Äther, in den Kreis ohne Verräter

I AM READY, FLOW INTO THE AETHER, IN A CIRCLE WITHOUT TRAITORS 

Früher Schüler, streck' ich mehr und mehr meine Fühler nach dir aus

EARLIER  A PUPIL,  MY ANTENNAS REACH MORE AND MORE TO YOU 

Komm hierher, komm hierher

COME HERE, COME HERE

Herzlich willkommen zuhaus

WELCOME HOME

Ich bin für dich da - nein, ich bin wegen dir hier

I AM HERE FOR YOU - NO, I AM HERE BECAUSE OF YOU

Und für uns beide ist klar, ham' wir ein Ziel im Visier

AND IT'S CLEAR FOR BOTH OF US, IF WE HAVE A GOAL IN SIGHT

Dann setz' ich alles auf dich, mein' Schweiß, mein Blut

THEN I PUT EVEYERTHING ON YOU, MY SWEAT, MY BLOOD

Meine Tränen, mein' Mut, bis hin zu Trauer und Wut

MY TEARS, MY COURAGE, UP TO GRIEF AND ANGER

Ich werde dir mein Leben geben, weil's nicht anders geht

I AM GOING TO GIVE YOU MY LIFE, BECAUSE EVERYTHING ELSE IS IMPOSSIBLE

Forder' dich heraus, mein Einsatz steht

I CHALLENGE YOU, MY STAKE STANDS

Und du findest in mir mit was ich mich verbunden hab'

AND YOU FIND IN ME, WITH WHAT I HAVE CONNECTED

Einen Schatz, den ich mein Leben lang gefunden hab'

A TREASURE, WHICH I FOUND MY LIFE LONG

Mit jedem Satz bitt' ich: benütz' mich, stütz' dich auf mich

WITH EVERY SENTENCE I BEG: USE ME, LEAN ON ME

Mit dem Wissen aller Weisen dieser Welt beschütz' ich dich

I PROTECT YOU WITH THE WISDOM OF ALL SAGES OF THIS WORLD

Wo ich bin steh'n sie und wo ich geh' geh'n sie

WHERE I AM, THEY STAND, WHERE I GO, THEY GO

Ich hab' sie hergebeten, doch die wenigsten seh'n sie

I ASKED THEM TO COME, BUT ONLY A FEW  SEE THEM

Wir werden erwachen unter falschen Propheten

WE ARE GOING TO WAKE UP UNDER WRONG PROPHETS

Um als Kinder dieser Erde unser Erbe anzutreten

TO TAKE OVER OUR HERITAGE AS CHILDREN OF THIS EARTH

Ich rufe alle Superhelden, alle großen Meister

I CALL ALL SUPERHEROES, ALL GRAND MASTERS

Alle Highlander, alle Krieger, alle guten Geister

ALL HIGHLANDERS, ALL WARRIORS, ALL GOOD SPIRITS

Alle Superfreaks und Auserwählten zu mir ins Hier

ALL SUPERFREAKS, ALL CHOSEN ONES TO JOIN ME IN THE PRESENT

Ich hab' Millionen Legionen hinter mir

I HAVE MILLIONS OF LEGIONS BEHIND ME

In den Wogen der Welt wählten wir die wildesten Wellen

IN THE WAVES OF THE WORLD WE CHOSE THE BIGGEST BILLOWS

Bis hin zu innersten Quellen

TO THE INNER FOUNTAINS

Erlebten Lebensstromschnellen, machten uns bereit

EXPERIENCED LIFERAPIDS, MADE US READY

Wurden Weltenreiter über die Zeit

BECAME WAVESURFERS OVER THE TIME

Blieben Wächter der Wahrheit,

WERE GUARDIANS OF THE TRUTH

Surfer des Sandwurms

SURFERS OF THE SANDWORM

Wir zwei war'n die Augen des Sturms

WE TWO WERE THE EYES OF THE STORM

Wurden Herrscher der Schwingung und das als Nichtschwimmer

BECAME RULER OF VIBRATIONS, WHILE WE WERE NONSWIMMERS

Denn wir hatten es und halten es noch immer

BECAUSE WE HAD IT AND WE ARE STILL KEEPING IT

Und auch du, Baby, warst schon immer mein Kind

AND ALSO YOU, BABY, WERE ALWAYS MY CHILD

Wir waren Liebende, die ab und zu vor Liebe blind

WE WERE LOVERS, FROM TIME TO TIME BLIND

Um einander trieben, waren zu verschieden

FLOATING AROUND EACH OTHER, WE WERE TOO DIFFERENT 

Als dass es hätte langweilig werden können

SO IT COULDN'T GET BORED

War'n zwei echt gute Spinner, absolute Beginner

WE WERE TWO REAL IDIOTS, ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS

Wir hatten es und halten es noch immer

WE HAD IT AND STILL KEEP IT

Streiften alle Ketten ab, die sonst die Leichtigkeit besiegen

WE STRIP ALL CHAINS OFF, WHICH WOULD OTHERWISE DEFEAT  EASINESS

Konnten fliegen, ohne Flügel fliegen

WE WERE ABLE TO FLY, FLY WITHOUT WINGS

Und heute rufst du alle Superhelden, alle großen Meister

AND TODAY YOU CALL ALL SUPERHEROES, ALL GRAND MASTERS

Alle Highlander, alle Krieger, alle guten Geister

ALL HIGHLANDERS, ALL WARRIORS, ALL GOOD SPIRITS

Alle Superfreaks und Auserwählten und mich ins Hier

ALL SUPERFREAKS, ALL CHOSEN ONES AND ME INTO THE PRESENT

Du hast Millionen Legionen hinter dir

YOU HAVE MILLIONS OF LEGIONS BEHIND YOU

Ich hab' Millionen Legionen hinter mir

I HAVE MILLIONS OF LEGIONS BEHIND ME

Du hast Millionen Legionen hinter dir

YOU HAVE MILLIONS OF LEGIONS BEHIND YOU

Ich hab' Millionen Legionen hinter mir

I HAVE MILLIONS OF LEGIONS BEHIND ME

Du hast Millionen Legionen hinter dir

YOU HAVE MILLIONS OF LEGIONS BEHIND YOU

Ich hab' Millionen Legionen hinter mir

I HAVE MILLIONS OF LEGIONS BEHIND ME

Du hast Millionen Legionen hinter dir

YOU HAVE MILLIONS OF LEGIONS BEHIND YOU

Ich hab' Millionen Legionen hinter mir

I HAVE MILLIONS OF LEGIONS BEHIND ME

Du hast Millionen Legionen hinter dir

YOU HAVE MILLIONS OF LEGIONS BEHIND YOU

Es war die Nacht der Vampire in der Stadt der wilden Tiere

IT WAS THE NIGHT OF THE VAMPIRES IN THE CITY OF WILD ANIMALS

Sie ziehen mich zu sich, wenn ich das Gleichgewicht verliere

THEY  PULL ME OVER, WHEN I LOSE MY STAND

Geh' ich unter und verschmelz' mit dieser Masse von Mutanten

I'LL DROWN AND MELT WITH THIS CROWD OF MUTANTS

Seelenloser Wanderer und deren Artverwandten

SOULLESS WANDERERS AND THEIR CONGENERS

Und ich ringe zum Himmel, dass die Stimmung hier umschwingt

AND I BEG TO HEAVEN THAT THE MOOD WILL CHANGE

Heb' die Hände zu Gott, oder wer immer da rumhängt

RAISE MY HANDS TO GOD, OR WHOEVER HANGS AROUND UP THERE

Herrscher über mein Leben, dieser Thron gehört mir

RULER OVER MY LIFE, THIS THRONE BELONGS TO ME

Ich wohn' und regier' hier

I LIVE AND REIGN HERE

Und dann erheb' ich meine Feder zum Schutz gegen den Schmerz

AND THEN I RAISE MY FEATHER AS PROTECTION AGAINST THE PAIN,

Der vom Schlachtfeld der Liebe zu mir rüber dringt

WHICH COMES FROM THE BATTLEFIELD OF LOVE OVER TO ME

Obwohl es scheint, als ob hier jeder trübe Lieder singt

THOUGH IT SEEMS, THAT EVERYBODY IS SINGING SAD SONGS AROUND HERE

Wasch' ich mich rein und betrete neues Land

I EXCULPATE MYSELF AND ENTER FREE LAND

Dieser Junge steht am Rand und mit nichts in der Hand

THIS BOY STAND ON THE EDGE WITH NOTHING IN HANDS

Ohne Angst in den Augen, mit dem Rücken zur Wand

WITHOUT FEAR IN THE EYES, WITH THE BACK AGAINST THE WALL

Und dann ruft er alle Superhelden, alle großen Meister

AND THEN HE CALLS ALL SUPERHEROES, ALL GRAND MASTERS

Alle Highlander, alle Krieger, alle guten Geister

ALL HIGHLANDERS, ALL WARRIORS, ALL GOOD SPIRITS

Alle Superfreaks, Auserwählten und er ruft mich

ALL SUPERFREAKS, ALL CHOSEN ONES AND HE CALLS ME

Und hat Millionen Legionen hinter sich

AND HE HAS MILLIONS OF LEGIONS BEHIND HIM

Ich hab' Millionen Legionen hinter mir

I HAVE MILLIONS OF LEGIONS BEHIND ME

Ich hab' Millionen Legionen hinter mir

I HAVE MILLIONS OF LEGIONS BEHIND ME

Ich hab' Millionen Legionen hinter mir

I HAVE MILLIONS OF LEGIONS BEHIND ME

Ich hab' Millionen Legionen hinter mir

I HAVE MILLIONS OF LEGIONS BEHIND ME

Ich hab' Millionen Legionen hinter mir

I HAVE MILLIONS OF LEGIONS BEHIND ME

Ich hab' Millionen Legionen hinter mir

I HAVE MILLIONS OF LEGIONS BEHIND ME

Ich hab' Millionen Legionen hinter mir

I HAVE MILLIONS OF LEGIONS BEHIND ME

Ich hab' Millionen Legionen hinter mir

I HAVE MILLIONS OF LEGIONS BEHIND ME

Millionen Legionen

MILLIONS OF LEGIONS

Millionen Legionen

MILLIONS OF LEGIONS

Millionen Legionen

MILLIONS OF LEGIONS

Millionen Legionen

MILLIONS OF LEGIONS

Millionen Legionen

MILLIONS OF LEGIONS

Millionen Legionen

MILLIONS OF LEGIONS

Millionen Legionen

MILLIONS OF LEGIONS

Millionen Legionen

MILLIONS OF LEGIONS

additional comment:

well, this one was pretty tough. I hope it's good enough, that you see the metaphors and the meaning. This time I tried more to get the meaning, than staying as close to the German text as possible.

...so this was some German rap, in the ruminant, calm version. 

I am too tired for anything else and I have to stand up in less than 5 hours. good night world. oh, and check my other awesome blog. http://jenseitsderlyrik.blogspot.co.at/ 

[book] E.T.A. Hoffman - Der Sandmann, [song] Coppelius - Schöne Augen

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen!

Tonight I am going to show you something less known. Then again, I think everything is less known compared to Rammstein, so yeah. This freaky band gives us an intellectual masterpiece, which needs some explanation. 

Once upon a time, in 1816, a guy with the sounding name Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann wrote a short story called "Der Sandmann"(The Sandman). This book is pretty famous in the German language area and you should definitely read it. (It's only about 40 pages...)  

the Sandman, drawn by Hoffmann

While the book is very short, the interpretations fill hundreds of pages, so I try to give you a very short summary. (Attention, this contains spoilers and doesn't cope the awesomeness of this story. It's very short so read it anyway!):

The young Nathanael lives happy with his family. At the evenings father tells them nice stories (1816... no TV!) but in some dark nights a creepy man named Coppelius comes to do some secret work with Nathanael's father. Coppelius is best described by Wikipedia: "a fear-instilling, large and malformed man who spoiled the happiness of Nathanael and his siblings in their childhood".

In the nights Coppelius comes, his mother tells him to go to bed because the sandman is coming. He doesn't know who the sandman is, but according to the legends he cuts out the eyes of little children and after hearing those legends Nathanael is of course very afraid of Coppelius. One night Nathanael's father dies because an experiment went wrong. Turns out creepy Coppelius and Nate's dad did some secret forbidden alchemy stuff.
Jumpcut, Nate is a student at a university. One day a creepy Italian salesman called Coppola comes to sell glasses, lenses, barometers and such stuff. Nate totally freaks out because he thinks to recognize Coppelius. He writes letters home to tell this his fiancée Clara and also one of his best friends Lothar, but they answer that he shouldn't act like he was nuts. 

In the holidays he travels back to his loved ones only to find out after his return that there was a big fire and his flat burned down.

videogame character "Ashlotte"
from the soul calibur series
might be based on Olimpia. Do you
see the cogwheels in her stomach?

His new flat is opposite to the flat of his professor of physics Mr. Spalanzani, who lives together with his daugther Olimpia. Long story short, Nate buys a spy-glass from creepy Coppola and starts stalking Olimpia. He forgets about his fiancée Clara and totally falls in love with the beautiful but kind of shy Olimpia. One day he wants to marry her. He grabs the ring (which was supposed for Clara) runs over to Spalanzani's place and overhears a big fight. Spalanzani and Coppola are arguing about some technical issues. Nate comes in to find Spalanzani and Coppola wrestling over Olimpia, who is revealed to be an automaton or robot. A part wodden, part wax doll, run by cogwheels and fine precise technology. They break her during their fight, the glass eyes pop on the floor and Coppola grabs Olimpia and runs away. 
Nathanael's whole world breaks, he becomes mad and tries to kill Spalanzani. 
Also the society in the city gets very scared that there might live some other machines amongst them. 

Lucky Nate recovers, reunites with Clara and Lothar and they live happily ever after at some nice estate near Nate's hometown.

One day they pass the city, where Nate studied. They stop to climb the steeple to enjoy the good view. Up there Nate gets a madness backflash, tries to throw Clara down but she is saved by Lothar. Nate discovers Coppola between the people who stare up to him. He starts dancing and screaming "pretty eyes, pretty eyes" before he throws himself down. 

This was only a very short summary of the plot. As I indicated the German literature science made  its own little subgenre of "Sandman science" with hundreds of papers and theses. Just one example: Famous austrian psychotherapist Siegmund Freud wrote his own interpretation of it to back up his own theories. There are thousands of possible questions like "Are Coppola and Coppelius the same person?", "why is the eye-motive so important?" etc. etc.. 

It is in my opinion one of the most exciting topics German high-literature has to offer, it was also one of the scariest books I ever read and I am currently working on a paper about it where I compare the doll / puppet / robot - motive to our popculture. 

A famous example for automatons and robots in our pop culture. 

If you wondered why I was telling you this whole thing, popcultue is the operative point.
After this whole summary you now know why the following German band called themselves Coppelius. And after reading my summary you also know why they called this song "schöne Augen", which means of course "pretty eyes".  

Prepare yourself because what you are now going to hear is some unusual stuff. They use drums, double bass, cello and clarinets and describe their music as "19th century chamber (music) core".  With their old fashioned clothes including top hats and their choice of instruments it is a very unusual and special band. I have known this band for about 3 or 4 years and I hated them due to their crazy tunes... but times and people change and now I love them.  

video:

lyrics:

(Meine Damen, meine Herren, ich präsentiere Ihnen: Coppelius)

(LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I PRESENT TO YOU: COPPELIUS)

Hallo, mein kleiner Freund

HELLO, MY LITTLE FRIEND

Dass ich dich erst jetzt bemerk'

 'THAT I NOTICE YOU ONLY NOW

Was bist du für ein feiner Kerl  

WHAT A NICE FELLOW YOU ARE

Fehlst mir gerade für mein Werk

I'M MISSING YOU FOR MY CREATION

Doch wo willst du hin

BUT WHERE DO YOU WANT TO GO

Du bleibst jetzt hier

YOU WILL STAY NOW

Ich sagte gerad’ ich brauche dich

I SAID I NEED YOU

So glaube mir

SO BELIEVE ME

Du fragst: "Wozu soll ich kleiner Junge taugen?"

YOU ASK: "WHEREFORE SHELL I, JUST A SMALL BOY, BE GOOD FOR?"

Ich will nur eines – Deine schönen Augen

I WANT ONLY ONE THING - YOUR PRETTY EYES

Entzückend diese Angst

DELIGHTFUL, THIS FEAR

Hat mein Gestank dich so erschreckt?

DID MY SICKENING SMELL SCARE YOU? 

Oder haben meine dicken kalten Finger deine Furcht geweckt?  

OR DID MY THICK COLD FINGERS WAKE YOUR FEAR?

Du fragst: "Wozu soll ich kleiner Junge taugen?"

YOU ASK: "WHEREFORE SHELL I, JUST A SMALL BOY, BE GOOD FOR?"

Ich will nur eines – Deine schönen Augen, Augen

"I WANT ONLY ONE THING - YOUR PRETTY EYES, EYES

Mir war’s als würden Menschengesichter Ringsumher sichtbar,

IT WAS TO ME, AS IF PEOPLE'S FACES APPEARED ALL AROUND

jedoch ohne Augen Scheußliche tiefe schwarze Höhlen statt ihrer

BUT WITHOUT EYES, HORRIBLE DEEP BLACK HOLES INSTEAD

Und Coppelius sprach: „Schöne Augen her!“

AND COPPELIUS SAID: "PRETTY EYES HERE!"

Es ist gleich vorbei

IT'S OVER SOON

Du wirst mich nicht mehr sehen

YOU WON'T SEE ME ANYMORE

Musst fortan durch die Finsternis gehen

FROM NOW ON YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE DARKNESS

Du fragst: "Wozu soll ich kleiner Junge taugen?"

YOU ASK: "WHEREFORE SHELL I, A SMALL BOY, BE GOOD FOR?"

Ich will nur eines – Deine schönen

I WANT ONLY ONE THING - YOUR PRETTY

Du fragst: "Wozu soll ich kleiner Junge taugen?"

YOU ASK: "WHEREFORE SHELL I, A SMALL BOY, BE GOOD FOR?"

Ich will nur eines – Deine schönen Augen, Augen, Augen, Augen

I ONLY WANT ONE THING - YOUR PRETTY EYES, EYES, EYES, EYES

final words:

nothing to say about the lyrics. The lyrics are pretty clear if you know the plot of the book. Hope you enjoyed this innovative crazy band, if you find the book I highly recommend it, it's one of the best German books ever in my humble opinion. I think there is a pretty good chance that this song is going to be the first song which appears in this blog and also in my german and way more complex pendant http://jenseitsderlyrik.blogspot.co.at/  Thanks for visiting and if the sandman didn't scare you off, maybe until next time... and sweet dreams! 

[song] Rammstein - ich will

Hi there!

Due to popular demand I am translating another Rammstein song today. I already said a few things about the band in my previous post on "du hast", so what else can I say at this point? 

"ich will" is also a very well known song. It was released on their third album "Mutter" ("mother"), which is in my opinion their greatest album so far. The song is a typical live-song, the interaction with the audience is very important and part of the song. It's a dialogue between Rammstein and the audience, Rammstein demands or asks, the audience obeys.
Also the videoclip is very nice done and well produced, it reminds me on Michael Mann's "Heat" and interpreting this clip would also fill some pages. This song is definitely one of their absolute highlights at concerts, so if you are planning to go to one of their concerts, and everyone should have such plans, make sure you know your part! ;-)

video: 

lyrics:

ich will

I WANT 

ich will

I WANT 

ich will 

I WANT

ich will  

I WANT

ich will 

I WANT

ich will 

I WANT

ich will

I WANT

ich will 

I WANT

ich will

I WANT

ich will

I WANT

ich will

I WANT

ich will

I WANT

ich will, dass ihr mir vertraut

I WANT YOU TO TRUST ME 

Ich will

I WANT 

ich will dass ihr mir glaubt

I WANT YOU TO BELIEVE ME

Ich will

I WANT 

ich will eure Blicke spüren

I WANT TO FEEL YOUR LOOKS

Ich will jeden Herzschlag kontrollieren

I WANT TO CONTROL EVERY HEARTBEAT

Ich will

I WANT 

ich will eure Stimmen hören

I WANT TO HEAR YOUR VOICES

Ich will

I WANT 

ich will die Ruhe stören

I WANT TO DISTURB THE SILENCE

Ich will

I WANT 

ich will dass ihr mich gut seht

I WANT YOU TO HAVE A GOOD VIEW AT ME

Ich will

I WANT 

ich will, dass ihr mich versteht  

I WANT  YOU TO UNDERSTAND ME

Ich will

I WANT 

ich will eure Phantasie

I WANT YOUR IMAGINATION

Ich will

I WANT 

ich will eure Energie

I WANT YOUR ENERGY

Ich will

I WANT 

ich will eure Hände sehen

I WANT TO SEE YOUR HANDS

Ich will in Beifall untergehen

I WANT TO DROWN IN APPLAUSE

Seht ihr mich?

DO YOU SEE ME?

Versteht ihr mich? 

DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?

Fühlt ihr mich?

DO YOU FEEL ME?

Hört ihr mich?

DO YOU HEAR ME?

Könnt ihr mich hören?

CAN YOU HEAR ME?

Wir hören dich

WE HEAR YOU

Könnt ihr mich sehen?

CAN YOU SEE ME?

Wir sehen dich

WE SEE YOU

Könnt ihr mich fühlen?

CAN YOU FEEL ME?

Wir fühlen dich

WE FEEL YOU

Ich versteh euch nicht

I DON'T UNDERSTAND YOU

Könnt ihr mich hören?

CAN YOU HEAR ME?

Wir hören dich

WE HEAR YOU

Könnt ihr mich sehen?

CAN YOU SEE ME?

Wir sehen dich

WE SEE YOU

Könnt ihr mich fühlen?

CAN YOU FEEL ME?

Wir fühlen dich

WE FEEL YOU

Ich versteh euch nicht

I DON'T UNDERSTAND YOU

ich will 

I WANT

ich will  

I WANT

ich will 

I WANT

ich will

I WANT

Wir wollen, dass ihr uns vertraut

WE WANT YOU TO TRUST US 

Wir wollen, dass ihr uns alles glaubt

WE WANT YOU TO BELIEVE US EVERYTHING

Wir wollen eure Hände sehen

WE WANT TO SEE YOUR HANDS

Wir wollen in Beifall untergehen

WE WANT TO DROWN IN APPLAUSE

ja

YES

könnt ihr mich hören?

CAN YOU HEAR ME?

Wir hören dich

WE HEAR YOU

Könnt ihr mich sehen?

CAN YOU SEE ME?

Wir sehen dich

WE SEE YOU

Könnt ihr mich fühlen?

CAN YOU FEEL ME?

Wir fühlen dich

WE FEEL YOU

Ich versteh euch nicht

I DON'T UNDERSTAND YOU

Könnt ihr uns hören?

CAN YOU HEAR US?

Wir hören euch

WE HEAR YOU

Könnt ihr uns sehen?

CAN YOU SEE US?

Wir sehen euch

WE SEE YOU

Könnt ihr uns fühlen?

CAN YOU FEEL US? 

Wir fühlen euch

WE FEEL YOU

Wir verstehen euch nicht

WE DON'T UNDERSTAND YOU

ich will 

I WANT

ich will

I WANT

additional comments:
According to this (english subtitled) making of video the song is a parody on those festival activities where bands sing some simple rhythms and the croud copies it. The translation works pretty well, I tried again to stay as close to the german words as possible, the only problem is with:

Ich versteh euch nicht

I DON'T UNDERSTAND YOU

Wir verstehen euch nicht  

WE DON'T UNDERSTAND YOU

Technically "verstehen" means "to understand" but in this case "WE CAN'T HEAR YOU" would be a better translation. The whole idea of this line is to cheer the croud up and to make them sing louder. "My job here is done!" - Captain Obvious.

For more informations on the song, Rammstein and the video check the link above, if you understand German, I suggest you check out my other amazing blog where I analyse songs way more detailed.

So, that's it. Like it, share it, comment any complains, hints, or whatever you want, thanks for visiting, good night!

[song] Rammstein - du hast

Good morning world!

There is only one song to start such a blog and I am talking of course of Rammstein's "Du hast". Rammstein is surely one of the most successful German bands in the world and "Du hast" seems to be well known. On the first sight Rammstein might sound like a rough and brutal band, where every song has only three different notes, but let me assure you, there is often more behind Rammstein lyrics.

So when it comes down to "Du hast" we have one big translation problem. "Du hast" means "you have", but in spoken language it sounds similar to "du hasst" which means "you hate". While listening to "du hast" it is not sure if they mean "you have" or "you hate" and it also depends on the line and verse.

"Du hast" is on the album "Sehnsucht" ("desire") which I'm holding right now in my hands. In the booklet are translations of every song and that is where the fun begins:
According to the booklet the English lyrics say: "you hate", but at the same time the German lyrics say "you have". The whole idea of the song dies when you write the German lyrics down, because in written language you definitely see the difference between "du hast" and "du hasst". Of course they were aware of that and I guess that is why they translated the English lyrics on purpose wrong.

video:

lyrics:

du

YOU

du hast 

YOU HAVE 

du hast mich

YOU HAVE ME

du 

YOU

du hast

YOU HAVE

du hast mich

YOU HAVE ME

du

YOU

du hast

YOU HAVE 

du hast mich

YOU HAVE ME

du

YOU

du hast 

YOU HAVE

du hast mich

YOU HAVE ME

du

YOU 

du hast

YOU HAVE

du hast mich

YOU HAVE ME

du hast mich

YOU HAVE ME

du hast mich gefragt

YOU HAVE ASKED ME

du hast mich gefragt

YOU HAVE ASKED ME

du hast mich gefragt

YOU HAVE ASKED ME

und ich hab nichts gesagt

AND I SAID NOTHING

willst du bis der Tod euch scheidet

DO YOU WANT TILL DEATH SEPARATES YOU 

treue sein für alle Tage
TO BE LOYAL FOR ALL DAYS

nein
NO
 nein
NO

willst du bis der Tod euch scheidet

DO YOU WANT TILL DEATH SEPARATES YOU

treue sein für alle Tage

TO BE LOYAL FOR ALL DAYS

nein

NO

nein

NO

du

YOU

du hast

YOU HAVE

du hast mich

YOU HAVE ME

du

YOU

du hast

YOU HAVE

du hast mich

YOU HAVE ME

du 

YOU

du hast

YOU HAVE

du hast mich

YOU HAVE ME

du hast mich

YOU HAVE ME

du hast mich gefragt

YOU HAVE ASKED ME

du hast mich gefragt

YOU HAVE ASKED ME

du hast mich gefragt

YOU HAVE ASKED ME

und ich hab nichts gesagt

AND I SAID NOTHING

willst du bis der Tod euch scheidet

DO YOU WANT TILL DEATH SEPARATES YOU

treue sein für alle Tage

TO BE LOYAL FOR ALL DAYS

nein

NO

nein

NO

willst du bis zum Tod der Scheide

DO YOU WANT  TILL THE DIVIDE OF DEATH

sie lieben auch in schlechten Tagen

TO LOVE HER ALSO IN BAD DAYS

nein

NO

nein

NO

willst du bis der Tod euch scheidet

DO YOU WANT TILL DEATH SEPARATES YOU

treue sein

TO BE LOYAL

nein

NO

nein

NO

Additional stuff:
I tried to stick to the german words as close as possible. If you listen to it in German, you would probably understand it like this: "you, you have/hate, you hate me, you have asked me". Especially in the second and third line "hate" would make totally sense in German.

willst du bis zum Tod der Scheide

DO YOU WANT  TILL THE DIVIDE OF DEATH

I translated "Scheide" in this context as "divide". But this is also a provoking pun because "Scheide" normally means "vagina" (or scabbard). So technically you could also translate this line as "DO YOU WANT TILL THE DEATH OF THE VAGINA...". Yep. That's Rammstein. Very subtle. Like a wooden hammer. So... if you use Rammstein to teach German, and god knows, there is no better way to teach German, make sure your students are sexually educated. Maybe Rammstein isn't the most sensitive teacher on that topic. Many of their lyrics are really intelligent, but they also do have those wooden hammer provoking songs. 

So this was my translation where I tried to stick to the German words as close as possible: Let's see how the translation was done in the official CD-inlay. In my opinion that is a pretty free translation, but you now know the original. 

Du hast
you hate (so they already translated the title wrong...)

you

you hate

you hate me

you 

you hate

you hate me

you hate me to say

you hate me to say

you hate me to say

and I did not obey

will you until death does sever 

be upright to her forever

never

will you 'til death be her rider

her lover too, to stay inside her

never

So, from my part there is nothing more to say, see ya next time!

___
Feel free to put complains, other opinions, wishes, questions, whatevers in the comments.
You may also correct my English. I really don't feel that comfortable blogging in English. But if you correct me, please do it in a nice way, otherwise it might hurt my feelings.
And if you do speak German: feel free to check my German blog on song lyrics:
http://jenseitsderlyrik.blogspot.co.at/