The Model
♪ Kraftwerk Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'd like to take her home that's understood
She plays hard to get, she smiles from time to time
It only takes a camera to change her mind
She's going out tonight, loves drinking just champagne
And she has been checking nearly all the men
She's playing her game and you can hear them say
She's posing for consumer products now and then
For every camera she gives the best she can
I saw her on the cover of a magazine
Now she's a big success, I want to meet her again
"Model" by Kraftwerk discusses the life and career of a female model in the fashion industry. The song starts with the singer proclaiming that the model looks great and he would love to take her home. However, the model is playing hard to get, she smiles sometimes and only needs a camera for her to change her mind. The song then shifts to detail the model's nightly routine, she enjoys drinking champagne and checking out men while playing her games. People are always complimenting her on her beauty and they would pay a lot for it. She has been posing for products and gives the best she can to the camera. The singer had also seen her on the cover of a magazine, and now that she has become a big success, he wants to see her again.
"Model" critiques the fashion industry's tendency to promote one type of beauty, which is often unattainable for most people. The song highlights the artificiality of this beauty ideal, the model is "smiling from time to time" and simply needs a camera to change her mind. The reinforcement of such beauty ideals is further emphasized when the singer notes that people are willing to pay for it. The song is also critical of consumer culture, where models are often used to sell products.
Overall, "Model" presents a complicated view of modeling and beauty standards, challenging the viewer to think critically about fashion, beauty, and consumer culture.
Line by Line Meaning
She's a model and she's looking good
The subject of the song is a woman who works as a model, and she is physically attractive
I'd like to take her home that's understood
The singer finds the model desirable and wants to spend time with her
She plays hard to get, she smiles from time to time
The model is elusive, but sometimes shows interest or flirtation
It only takes a camera to change her mind
The model is influenced by the attention and validation that comes from being photographed
She's going out tonight, loves drinking just champagne
The model enjoys the luxurious lifestyle associated with her job, which includes drinking champagne at fancy events
And she has been checking nearly all the men
The model is flirtatious and enjoys the attention of many men
She's playing her game and you can hear them say
The model is playing a game of flirting and seduction, and others are taking notice
She is looking good, for beauty we will pay
The model's physical appearance is highly valued in society, and people are willing to pay to see her in advertisements or magazines
She's posing for consumer products now and then
The model's job is to pose for advertisements and market various consumer products
For every camera she gives the best she can
The model puts in effort to look her best in front of the camera, in order to further her career
I saw her on the cover of a magazine
The singer has seen the model's photograph published on a magazine cover
Now she's a big success, I want to meet her again
The model is now famous and successful, and the artist desires to meet her again
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHRISTOPHER HENRY DIFFORD, GLENN MARTIN TILBROOK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gameboypocket9038
As you thought about, what they sing about on Autobahn, here is a little translation:
We are driving on the Autobahn
In front of us is a wide valley
The sun is shining with glittering rays
The driving strip is a grey track
White stripes, green edge
We are switching the radio on
From the speaker it sounds:
We are driving on the Autobahn
Obviously it rhymes in German, haha
@clausappel8086
Since my childhood my interpretation of this song is:
Part one - start and driving on the Autobahn
Part two - taking a break and enjoying the nature
Part three - the journey continues
Part four - the car breaks down because of a bursted radiator hose.
The noise represents the hissing noise of the steam.
The vibrato bass line stands for the heartbeat of the worried driver.
Then comes someone to repair the car, represented by the slow melody with the elongated notes and the disappearing vibrato (the heartbeat calms down)
Part five: On the road again .....
Part six: traffic jam! Everyone can only drive slowly or must stand still.
Then: Full throttle to make up time.
In the end: Arrival at the destination.
Lyrics (translated):
Autobahn
Autobahn
Autobahn
Autobahn
Autobahn
We drive drive drive on the Autobahn
We drive drive drive on the Autobahn
We drive drive drive on the Autobahn
We drive drive drive on the Autobahn
We drive drive drive on the Autobahn
We drive drive drive on the Autobahn
In front of us there is a wide valley
the sun is shining with shimmering light
We drive drive drive on the Autobahn
We drive drive drive on the Autobahn
We drive drive drive on the Autobahn
We drive drive drive on the Autobahn
We drive drive drive on the Autobahn
We drive drive drive on the Autobahn
The roadway is a grey band
White stripes green border
We drive drive drive on the Autobahn
We drive drive drive on the Autobahn
We drive drive drive on the Autobahn
We drive drive drive on the Autobahn
Now we switch on the radio
From the loudspeaker it sounds
We drive drive drive on the Autobahn
We drive drive drive on the Autobahn
We drive drive drive on the Autobahn
We drive drive drive on the Autobahn
...........
Before I forget:
TUBULAR BELLS
@roygalaasen
Aaaaaaahhhhhh The Box is insane!
You listen to part one, slowly building up to part 2 and it totally blows up!
Pure genius.
That is also a true Gold nugget, though of the 90’s.
Edit: you mentioning 28 minutes, which made me have to research a bit, and there is this single where there are more parts continuing where part 2 ends, totalling 28 minutes. Sadly I never had the single though the part that did not make the album are great as well.
It is different, and you may not like, but give this album a listen. It is brilliant as well.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mixmsfhHN1xgSZtgviqq2SW63bQkLIe7c
@stellaVista
I really love the way you "geek out" to the music. Besides all the intellectual impulses, it´s the beautiful music that goes right into your head and heart. And you really manage to convey that joy and enthusiasm.
Since you wished to know what the lyrics are and because they are so often mis-heard. This is probably the best translation:
Wir fahr´n, fahr´n, fahr´n auf der Autobahn
We´re drivin', drivin', drivin' on the freeway.
Vor uns liegt ein weites Tal. Die Sonne scheint mit Glitzerstrahl.
A wide valley lies before us. The sun is shining with glittering beam.
Die Fahrbahn ist ein graues Band, weisser Streifen, grüner Rand.
The tarmac is a grey line, white stripe, green edge.
Jetzt schalten wir das Radio an. Aus dem Lautsprecher klingt es dann:
Wir fahr'n, fahr'n, fahr'n auf der Autobahn.
Now we switch the radio on. Then it sounds from the speaker:
We´re drivin', drivin', drivin' on the freeway.
I made a funky remix/mash-up which you might enjoy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lcgL5vHZq0
@Doctormix
🚀Ready to elevate your music production skills? Get my 'Music Producer Gold Guide' now at 25% off for a limited time only! 👉 http://GoldGuide.uk
@gameboypocket9038
Your "Fun Fun Fun"-Theory is very wrong, "Fahren" = "Driving" in Germany, so your little Beach Boy Reference ist just a happy little accident :)
@gameboypocket9038
As you thought about, what they sing about on Autobahn, here is a little translation:
We are driving on the Autobahn
In front of us is a wide valley
The sun is shining with glittering rays
The driving strip is a grey track
White stripes, green edge
We are switching the radio on
From the speaker it sounds:
We are driving on the Autobahn
Obviously it rhymes in German, haha
@InSurrealtime
Phase shifter has a very hypnotic effect. I use it all the time.
@gps4l184
@GameBoyPocket
Exactly and the part Dr Mix asked for
Die Fahrbahn ist ein graues band, weise strife, grüner rand (20:58)
@MojoSpoon
@20.58: "Die Fahrbahn ist ein graues Band, weisse Streifen, grüner Rand" and means: "The roadway is a gray band, white stripes, green border"
@tomhekker
I love how Kraftwerk gets almost 100% electrically created sounds to sound human. It’s really what sets them apart from everyone else.
@j.maxell3030
El que le dió 120% humanidad a la Electrónica fue Moroder...no el Krautrock & Ruido Dusseldorft de Conny Plank (Kraftwerk).
En Autobahn los Kraftwerk se van alejando de su Krautrock & Rock Prog. y entrando mas al rubro de la Música Electrónica (Post Concreta, Experimental, Soundtrack & Moog) que se desarrolla desde los 60s y finales del 50s Kingsley, Dissevelt, Scott, Derbyshire, Hodgson, Cecil, Garson, Prilly...
Moroder, Jarre, Lacksman, Tangerine Dreams, YMO, Schulze, Vangelis, Tonet, Gizzi, Pinhas, Martin W. & Ian Craig...(entre otros) toman la misma base electrónica para el desarrollo de sus modelos y lineas electrónicas siendo Moroder el Top 1 con su modelo EDM (NRG & Synthpop) desde 1977 influyendo incluso a los 4 Robots del Krautrock.
Habría que decirle a Doctor Mix que escuche música electronica anterior a 1974 antes de creer que Autobhan es algo avanzado o revolucionario 😅
@miloshp7399
Human? Please verify that you're not a robot.
@artuskoenich8377
20:56 the lyrics are: "fahr'n, fahr'n, fahr'n, die Fahrbahn ist ein graues Band. Weiße Streifen, grüner Rand." which translates to "drive, drive, drive, the road is a grey band, white stripes, a green roadside"
Love your analyses ❤