The name comes from the well-known movie Das Boot about the German submarine U 96 from the Second World War. The project's first hit Das Boot (1991) is a techno remake of the film's title melody, which had been originally composed by Klaus Doldinger. An album of the same name was also number one in the German charts. This album paved the way for the commercial breakthrough of techno and house artists in Germany.
The experimental follow-up album 'Replugged' was released in 1993, and saw the group embracing the sound of 1980s electropop, ambient sounds and disco, and was likewise commercially successful despite not being necessarily original. It contained top 10 hits such as Love Sees No Colour and Night in Motion, both of which possessed strong 1980s techno-pop melodies in the vein of groups such as the Pet Shop Boys and New Order. In addition, calmer titles such as The One Russian and Without You, could be regarded as forerunners of what is now known as trip-hop.
The third album Club Bizarre was released in 1995 and indicated another change in sound. Club Bizarre mixed the techno-pop influence with fast Euro trance-like sounds throughout the majority of the album. The hit singles from the album were the piano-led Love religion (featuring vocalist Daisy Dee), the title track Club Bizarre with "classical" harmonies (which was reused later by Brooklyn Bounce) and the rave-influenced Movin'.
Motor Music also released Club Bizarre as an Interactive CD-ROM. The audio part of this CD-ROM includes several music tracks and the multimedia part features a discography, interviews with Alex Christensen and a neat little game for Mac OS and Windows PC.
In 1996 the fourth album, 'Heaven' was released. The album had a commercial sound, still containing some electropop influences, but also a number of hi-NRG Eurodance tracks. On this album new singer Dea-Li (Dorothy Lapi) was featured, she participated as vocalist on four titles.
In the following years singles Seven Wonders (1997), Energie (1998), Beweg Dich, Baby (1998) and finally Das Boot 2001 (2000) were released. Instead of a new regular album, U96 released the compilation Best Of 1991 - 2001 with some new songs from unpublished album Rhythm Of Life. Their last song We Call It Love was released in 2003 as a promo single only. They returned to the German Top 30 charts in 2006 with their downtempo hit Vorbei which featured the vocals of guest singer Ben.
Hamburg
Das Boot
U96 Lyrics
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Emergency
Maximum velocity
Und tanzen
One, two, three, techno
Das Boot
Das Boot
Das Boot
Das Boot
Attention waterpumps
Und tanzen
Get on board, join the troop
Get on board, join the troop
Double-engine, each for you
System activated
Das Boot
Und tanzen
One, two, three, tech
One, two, three, tech
Techno
Techno
Techno
Techno
Maximum velocity
Das Boot
System activated
Emergency
Emergency
Emergency
Emergency
Emergency
Emergency
E-emergency
E-emergency
The lyrics to U96's song "Das Boot" are a combination of German and English lyrics. The German phrase "Das Boot" translates to "The Boat" in English, which could be a reference to the 1981 German war film of the same name. The lyrics, "Attention waterpumps" and "Double-engine, each for you" may refer to the mechanics of a boat, while "Emergency, Emergency" represents the urgency that is necessary when onboard a vessel. The use of the word "techno" repeatedly throughout the song is characteristic of the electronic dance music (EDM) genre, which was popularized in Germany in the 1980s.
The repetition of "Und tanzen," which means "and dance" in German, invites listeners to dance to the upbeat techno rhythm. The repeated counting of "One, two, three" reinforces the feeling of urgency and excitement in the song. The lyrics "System activated" may be referring to the activation of the boat's engine, further emphasizing the connection to the maritime theme.
Line by Line Meaning
Techno
The style of music that this song is, which features heavy use of electronic instruments and synthesizers.
Emergency
A situation of danger or urgency that requires immediate attention or action.
Maximum velocity
The highest speed that something can reach, which typically requires powerful engines or other propulsion systems.
Und tanzen
A phrase in German that means 'and dance', which encourages listeners to enjoy the music and move their bodies to the beat.
One, two, three, techno
A counting phrase that leads up to the start of the techno music, which creates a sense of anticipation and excitement.
Das Boot
A German phrase that means 'the boat', which is also the title of this song and may symbolize the experience of being on a submarine or other enclosed vessel.
Attention waterpumps
A call for the onboard water pumps to be monitored or activated, suggesting that the boat is in a critical or challenging situation.
Get on board, join the troop
An invitation to become part of a group or team, perhaps in the context of a military operation or other high-stakes situation.
Double-engine, each for you
A reference to the boat's powerful propulsion system, which includes two engines that provide redundancy and reliability in challenging conditions.
System activated
An indication that a critical system or process has been activated or engaged, perhaps in preparation for an emergency or other event.
One, two, three, tech
A variation of the earlier counting phrase, which now emphasizes the technology or electronic equipment being used to create the music and other systems on the boat.
Techno
A repetition of the earlier line that emphasizes the role of the music in setting the tone and atmosphere of the situation.
E-emergency
A variation of the earlier emergency phrase, which now includes an extra 'e' to create a stuttering effect and emphasize the urgency of the situation.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: KLAUS DOLDINGER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind