The band started performing on the streets of Cologne, with videos of their performances garnering a following on social media. During one of their practice sessions, they eventually welcomed double bass player Lars Lötgering into the fold.
In 2013, AnnenMayKantereit released its first self-recorded album, which was celebrated with a launch party in Cologne's Gebäude 9 venue. They continued to gain traction with German audiences, performing at various festivals and supporting big names such as Clueso and the Beatsteaks.
The band's signing with Universal Records in 2015 led to recording an EP titled "Wird schon irgendwie gehen" at Hansa-Studios in Berlin. Following this, AnnenMayKantereit embarked on sell-out tours and continued to solidify its place in the German music scene.
AnnenMayKantereit has released several albums throughout their career. In 2013, they released their first self-recorded album, which had a release party in Cologne.
After releasing the music video for their song "Wohin du gehst," the band toured Germany. In summer 2014, they played at several big festivals and went on to play as the supporting act for Beatsteaks and Clueso. They were also finalists in the New Music Award of the ARD-Jugendprogramme. In December 2014, they appeared on the television programme Circus HalliGalli.
In 2015, AnnenMayKantereit signed with Universal and recorded the EP "Wird schon irgendwie gehen" with Moses Schneider at Hansa-Studios in Berlin. It was released on October 16, 2015, by the label Vertigo Berlin. In February 2016 they released the single "Pocahontas" from their album "Alles Nix Konkretes," which reached number one on the German album charts.
In December 2018, they released their album "Schlagschatten," produced by Markus Ganter and recorded in Spain. In January 2019, BMG Rights Management announced they had signed a worldwide publishing contract with the band. They started a new tour in January 2019, and in March 2019, they started a big hall tour.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the band was forced to cancel all planned concerts from March 2020. In September 2020, AnnenMayKantereit participated in the mass demonstration Fridays for Future in Berlin where they announced that Malte Huck was leaving the band. In November 2020, they surprise-released their third album "12."
In March 2022, the band achieved their first UK hit with their version of Suzanne Vega's "Tom's Diner," charting at number 63 on the UK singles chart. The song was also a new entry on the Irish singles chart at number 33. In May 2022, the band announced that bassist Sophie Chassée would support them on their 2022 club tour. Additionally, the band is supported by a string quartet and a four-member jazz combo at their concerts.
In 2023, the band released the album "Es ist Abend und wir sitzen bei mir."
Das Krokodil
AnnenMayKantereit Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Kaffee, Marmelade und verdünnten Orangensaft
Eigentlich ist jeder Abend eine lange Nacht
Auto fahren, sitzen, schlafen mit dem Kopf am Fenster
Und hinten liegen Jacken oder einer von uns pennt da
Und manchmal fahren wir raus und machen Pause
Und morgen ist München und irgendwann ist auch wieder zu Hause
Die Zigaretten werden vorgedreht
Das Krokodil raucht zu viel (Ach ja?)
Das Krokodil raucht zu viel (Ach ja?)
Das Krokodil, das Krokodil
Das Krokodil raucht zu viel
Schön, dass ihr da seid, wurde auch Zeit
Und wo wart ihr gestern und wie lange seid ihr schon auf Tour?
Und Essen gibt's um 18 Uhr
Toilette ist auf dem Gang, dahinten sind die Garderoben
Dritte Tür links und dann ganz nach oben
Und Duschen haben wir leider nicht
Sorry für das Neonröhrenlicht
Und wenn ihr Fragen habt, fragt mich
Und wenn ihr mich fragt
Ich glaub, ihr kommt bestimmt mal ganz groß raus
Und bevor ich es vergesse
Im ganzen Haus herrscht Rauchverbot
Das Krokodil raucht zu viel (Ach ja?)
Das Krokodil raucht zu viel (Ach ja?)
Das Krokodil, das Krokodil
Das Krokodil raucht zu viel
Was soll das denn heißen?
Im ganzen Haus ist Rauchverbot?
Das Krokodil raucht zu viel (Ach ja?)
Das Krokodil raucht zu viel (Ach ja?)
Das Krokodil, das Krokodil
Das Krokodil raucht zu viel
The song "Das Krokodil" by AnnenMayKanteriet explores the life of a touring musician, detailing the highs and lows of life on the road. The opening lines of the song "Brauchen Sie das Zimmer bis um zehn Frühstück gibt's ab 8 / Kaffee, Marmelade und verdünnten Orangensaft" establish the mundanity of life on tour, with the band dealing with logistical issues such as hotel bookings and early morning breakfasts. The next lines, "Eigentlich ist jeder Abend eine lange Nacht / Auto fahren, sitzen, schlafen mit dem Kopf am Fenster" emphasise the tedium of touring life, where every night blends into one long never-ending experience. The band members try to pass the time on the road by sleeping or staring out the window, with jackets and sleeping companions strewn around the car.
The tone of the song shifts slightly with the mention of the cigarettes being pre-rolled before each pit stop. The lyrics "Vor jedem Raststättenhalt / Die Zigaretten werden vorgedreht" imply that the band relies on smoking to pass the time and to relieve stress. The line "Das Krokodil raucht zu viel" is repeated several times throughout the song, suggesting that excessive smoking may be a coping mechanism for the band's unhappiness or boredom. The final lines of the song "Was soll das denn heißen? / Im ganzen Haus ist Rauchverbot?" highlight the dichotomy of the band's existence - on tour, anything goes, but back in the real world, they are subject to rules and regulations.
Overall, "Das Krokodil" is a poignant portrayal of the mundanity, boredom and escapism that comes with life on the road, with cigarette smoking acting as a metaphor for the band's struggle to cope with this existence.
Line by Line Meaning
Brauchen Sie das Zimmer bis um zehn Frühstück gibt's ab 8
Do you need the room until ten? Breakfast is available from 8.
Kaffee, Marmelade und verdünnten Orangensaft
Coffee, jam, and diluted orange juice.
Eigentlich ist jeder Abend eine lange Nacht
Actually, every evening is a long night.
Auto fahren, sitzen, schlafen mit dem Kopf am Fenster
Driving, sitting, sleeping with our heads against the window.
Und hinten liegen Jacken oder einer von uns pennt da
And in the back, there are jackets or one of us is sleeping there.
Und manchmal fahren wir raus und machen Pause
And sometimes we drive out and take a break.
Und morgen ist München und irgendwann ist auch wieder zu Hause
And tomorrow is Munich, and eventually, we'll be back home.
Die Zigaretten werden vorgedreht
The cigarettes are pre-rolled.
Vor jedem Raststättenhalt
Before each rest stop.
Das Krokodil raucht zu viel (Ach ja?)
The crocodile smokes too much (Oh really?)
Schön, dass ihr da seid, wurde auch Zeit
Nice that you're here, it was about time.
Und wo wart ihr gestern und wie lange seid ihr schon auf Tour?
And where were you yesterday and how long have you been on tour?
Und Essen gibt's um 18 Uhr
And dinner is at 6 pm.
Toilette ist auf dem Gang, dahinten sind die Garderoben
The toilet is down the hall, and the coat racks are in the back.
Dritte Tür links und dann ganz nach oben
Third door on the left and then all the way up.
Und Duschen haben wir leider nicht
And unfortunately, we don't have showers.
Sorry für das Neonröhrenlicht
Sorry for the neon tube lighting.
Und wenn ihr Fragen habt, fragt mich
And if you have any questions, ask me.
Und wenn ihr mich fragt
And if you ask me,
Ich glaub, ihr kommt bestimmt mal ganz groß raus
I believe you'll definitely make it big someday.
Und bevor ich es vergesse
And before I forget,
Im ganzen Haus herrscht Rauchverbot
The whole house is a non-smoking area.
Was soll das denn heißen?
What does that mean?
Das Krokodil raucht zu viel (Ach ja?)
The crocodile smokes too much (Oh really?)
Das Krokodil raucht zu viel (Ach ja?)
The crocodile smokes too much (Oh really?)
Das Krokodil, das Krokodil
The crocodile, the crocodile.
Das Krokodil raucht zu viel
The crocodile smokes too much.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Christopher Annen, Henning Gemke, Malte Huck, Moses Schneider, Severin Kantereit
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@piaperfekt6981
+Ara A
not sure if it is a 100 percent sure because I am still learning English but I guess you get it:
clear the room till 10,
breakfast is at 8:
coffee, marmalade and diluted orange juice.
actually every evening is like a long night:
driving in car, sleeping while sitting whit the head on the window.
coats lying in the back or someone from us is sleeping(kip?) there with something as a replacement for a pillow.
and sometimes we drive out and take a break; and tomorrow is 'Leipzig' and someday it will be 'at home' again.
The cigarettes going to be rolled before each stopp on a resting place.
And the crocodile smokes to much. (oh really?)
and the crocodile smokes to much. (oh really?)
and the crocodile..
and the crocodile..
and the crocodile.. smokes to much!
"Great to have you here, that was about time, and where have you been yesterday and scine when are you on tour already? - and dinner is at 6 o'clock (p.m.).
and the toilets are at the passageway; along the track back there is the wardrobe. 3rd door on the left and then straight to the top.
and sadly we don't have showers.
sorry because of the lights from neon tubes.
and in case you have questions: ask me!
and if you ask me:
you will definitely be famous one day! of course! definitely! (ironic voice)
and before I forget about this: in the whole house smoking is forbidden."
And the crocodile smokes to much. (oh really?)
and the crocodile smokes to much. (oh really?)
and the crocodile..
and the crocodile..
and the crocodile.. smokes to much!
(break)
what do you mean with 'in the whole house smoking is forbidden'? We are not in 'Nordrhein Westfalen', dude! (only "state" in Germany smoking inside buildings is always forbidden)
And the crocodile smokes to much. (oh really?)
and the crocodile smokes to much. (oh really?)
and the crocodile..
and the crocodile..
and the crocodile.. smokes to much!
@piaperfekt6981
an English version of the text so that everyone kinda understand the song:
(sry for bad spelling, still learning English)
clear the room till 10,
breakfast is at 8:
coffee, marmalade and diluted orange juice.
actually every evening is like a long night:
driving in car, sleeping while sitting whit the head on the window.
coats lying in the back or someone from us is sleeping(kip?) there with something as a replacement for a pillow.
and sometimes we drive out and take a break; and tomorrow is 'Leipzig' and someday it will be 'at home' again.
The cigarettes going to be rolled before each stopp on a resting place.
And the crocodile smokes to much. (oh really?)
and the crocodile smokes to much. (oh really?)
and the crocodile..
and the crocodile..
and the crocodile.. smokes to much!
"Great to have you here, that was about time, and where have you been yesterday and scine when are you on tour already? - and dinner is at 6 o'clock (p.m.).
and the toilets are at the passageway; along the track back there is the wardrobe. 3rd door on the left and then straight to the top.
and sadly we don't have showers.
sorry because of the lights from neon tubes.
and in case you have questions: ask me!
and if you ask me:
you will definitely be famous one day! of course! definitely! (ironic voice)
and before I forget about this: in the whole house smoking is forbidden."
And the crocodile smokes to much. (oh really?)
and the crocodile smokes to much. (oh really?)
and the crocodile..
and the crocodile..
and the crocodile.. smokes to much!
(break)
what do you mean with 'in the whole house smoking is forbidden'? We are not in 'Nordrhein Westfalen', dude! (only "state" in Germany smoking inside buildings is always forbidden)
And the crocodile smokes to much. (oh really?)
and the crocodile smokes to much. (oh really?)
and the crocodile..
and the crocodile..
and the crocodile.. smokes to much!
@piaperfekt6981
Das geilste ist wenn du in der Stimme hören kann wie er lacht/ grinst und wenn man sieht wie die ganze Gruppe einfach Spaß hat auf der Bühne und das ganze mit Herz macht
@schwarze_wand
Pia Perfekt Ich finde das auch so schön! Man spührt wie viel Spaß sie haben.
@denisehartinger5357
Pia Perfekt hggxy😬😤👄Wright
u
J
zu
zuck
txtdrghfbu😌😌😆😆
Mohammed jjvd8dr
@ncjoy
Henning estava inspirado nesse dia😁❤️
@annab.16
ich finde es so gut, dass hier nicht jeder zweite sein Handy in der Hand hält, sondern einfach das Konzert genießt!
@mali5378
Anna Benzi Bei Konzerten sagt Henning gerne mal, dass die Leute doch ihr Handy wegstecken sollen und den Moment genießen.
@yuiikari9302
Хочу к ним на концерт. Я кажется влюбилась в голос вокалиста
@Semi_svetik
А я как хочу, даже билет купила. 😑
@azizavanzyl407
The vocalist's name is henning may, the one with the drums is severin kantereit and the guitarist with the beard is Chris annen
@user-uc1di4fk6n
Супер!!! Освежающе, зажигающе!!! Бодряще!!!