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."
Jenny Jenny
AnnenMayKantereit Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Müde Augen werden wach
Geschminkt
Die Lippen rot wie Ziegel
Und dann der Kaffee, den sie jeden Morgen trinkt
Und sie trägt blau und gelb
Sie sagt, sie wär so gern fest angestellt
Sie sagt, die Welt ist kleiner wenn du jeden Tag fliegst
Jenny Jenny, Wolkenreiter, lächelt einfach immer weiter
So wie alle Flugbegleiter
Jenny, Wolkenreiter
Jenny Jenny, Wolkenreiter, lächelt einfach immer weiter
So wie alle Flugbegleiter
Jenny Jenny, Wolkenreiter
Und nach jeder Landung
Is' sie das Lächeln in der Brandung
Zwischen tausend Passagieren, die nich' warten wollen
Auf die Passkontrollen und den Zoll
Und dann drei Stunden Aufenthalt
Und Jenny trinkt den Kaffee kalt
Und sie googelt Panama
Vor zwei Jahren war sie mal zehn Minuten da
Oh, Panama
Oh, Panama (Panama)
Oh oh oh Panama (Panama)
Oh oh oh Panama (Panama)
Oh, wie schön is Panama (Panama)
Jenny Jenny, Wolkenreiter, lächelt einfach immer weiter
So wie alle Flugbegleiter
Jenny, Wolkenreiter
Jenny Jenny, Wolkenreiter, lächelt einfach immer weiter
So wie alle Flugbegleiter
Jenny Jenny, Wolkenreiter
Willkommen an Bord
Willkommen an Bord
Willkommen an Bord
Willkommen an Bord
Jeden Tag zehntausend Meilen über dem Meer
Sie sagt, sie kommt manchmal nach Hause
Und weiß nich' mehr woher
Jenny Jenny, Wolkenreiter, lächelt einfach immer weiter
So wie alle Flugbegleiter
Jenny, Wolkenreiter
Jenny Jenny, Wolkenreiter
Lächelt immer weiter
So wie alle Flugbegleiter
Jenny, Wolkenreiter
Willkommen an Bord
The song "Jenny Jenny" by AnnenMayKantereit tells the story of a flight attendant, Jenny, who wakes up every morning and starts her day with her routine of putting on make-up, having coffee, and dressing in her blue and yellow uniform. She talks about how she wishes to have a stable job, but then expresses how the world seems smaller when you fly every day. The chorus of the song repeatedly refers to her as a "Wolkenreiter," which translates to "cloud rider" or "sky rider," reflecting the flight attendant's job of spending every day in the sky. The lyrics capture the character of a flight attendant, someone who is always smiling, welcoming passengers aboard and bidding them farewell, providing comfort and safety during the flight, and then welcoming them back to "reality" after a long trip.
The song also portrays Jenny's life outside of flying. She talks about how she often forgets where she came from and spends her layovers searching for new experiences. She mentions googling Panama and how she was only there for ten minutes two years ago. The song closes with the line "Willkommen an Bord" repeatedly said, perhaps reflecting the cyclical nature of Jenny's life as a flight attendant.
Overall, the song pays tribute to the hardworking individuals who work in the aviation industry, but also highlights the loneliness and dislocated feelings that come with the job. The juxtaposition of Jenny's polished exterior and inner yearning for something more is what makes the song so poignant and relatable.
Line by Line Meaning
Der Tag beginnt im Spiegel
Jenny starts her day by looking at herself in the mirror.
Müde Augen werden wach
Her tired eyes wake up as she begins her day.
Geschminkt
She puts on makeup.
Die Lippen rot wie Ziegel
She paints her lips red like bricks.
Und dann der Kaffee, den sie jeden Morgen trinkt
She drinks coffee every morning.
Und sie trägt blau und gelb
She wears blue and yellow.
Sie sagt, sie wär so gern fest angestellt
Jenny wishes she had a permanent job.
Sie sagt, die Welt ist kleiner wenn du jeden Tag fliegst
She believes the world becomes smaller if you fly every day.
Und nach jeder Landung
After every landing,
Is' sie das Lächeln in der Brandung
Jenny stands out like a smile among the crowd of tired travelers.
Zwischen tausend Passagieren, die nich' warten wollen
Amidst thousands of impatient passengers who do not want to wait,
Auf die Passkontrollen und den Zoll
Jenny goes through passport control and customs.
Und dann drei Stunden Aufenthalt
And then there is a three-hour layover.
Und Jenny trinkt den Kaffee kalt
Jenny drinks her coffee cold.
Und sie googelt Panama
She googles Panama.
Vor zwei Jahren war sie mal zehn Minuten da
She had been there for ten minutes two years ago.
Oh, Panama
Oh, Panama.
Jenny Jenny, Wolkenreiter, lächelt einfach immer weiter
Jenny, the cloud rider, always keeps on smiling.
So wie alle Flugbegleiter
Just like all flight attendants.
Willkommen an Bord
Welcome aboard.
Jeden Tag zehntausend Meilen über dem Meer
Every day she flies ten thousand miles above the sea.
Sie sagt, sie kommt manchmal nach Hause
She says she sometimes comes home.
Und weiß nich' mehr woher
And doesn't remember where she's from.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Christopher Annen, Felix Roemer, Henning Gemke, Malte Huck, Markus Ganter, Severin Kantereit
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
don't mind me just chilling
Jenny Jenny
Day starts in the mirror
Tired eyes will wake up
Make up
Lips are red like brick
And then the coffee that she drinks every morning
And she wears blue and yellow
She says, i'd like to work on a permanent job
She says, the world is smaller when you fly everyday
Jenny Jenny, cloud surfer, smiles all the time
Such as all flight attendants
Jenny, cloud surfer
Jenny Jenny, cloud surfer, smiles all the time
Such as all flight attendants
Jenny, cloud surfer
And after every landing
She is the laugh in the surf
Between thousand passengers,that don't want to wait
In passport control and in duty
And then three hours of waiting
And Jenny drinks coffee cold
And she googles Panama
Two years ago she was there for ten minutes
Oh, Panama
Oh, Panama (Panama)
Oh oh oh Panama (Panama)
Oh oh oh Panama (Panama)
Oh, how beautiful is Panama (Panama)
Jenny Jenny, cloud surfer, smiles all the time
Such as all flight attendants
Jenny, cloud surfer
Jenny Jenny, cloud surfer, smiles all the time
Such as all flight attendants
Jenny, cloud surfer
Welcome on board
Welcome on board
Welcome on board
Welcome on board
Everyday thousand of miles overseas
She says, she comes sometimes to home
And doesn't know anymore from where
Jenny Jenny, cloud surfer, smiles all the time
Such as all flight attendants
Jenny, cloud surfer
Jenny Jenny, cloud surfer, smiles all the time
Such as all flight attendants
Jenny, cloud surfer
Welcome on board
Caffeinated Nation
Rough English Translation
The day begins in the mirror
Tired eyes wake up
made up
Lips red as bricks
And then the coffee she drinks every morning
And she wears blue and yellow
She says she would love to have a permanent job
She says the world is smaller when you fly every day
Jenny Jenny, Cloud Rider, just keeps smiling
Just like all flight attendants
Jenny, cloud rider
Jenny Jenny, Cloud Rider, just keeps smiling
Just like all flight attendants
Jenny Jenny, Cloud Rider
And after every landing
Is she the smile in the surf?
Between a thousand passengers who don't want to wait
Passport control and customs
And then three hours stay
And Jenny drinks the coffee cold
And she googles Panama
Two years ago she was there for ten minutes
O Panama
Oh Panama (Panama)
Oh oh oh Panama (Panama)
Oh oh oh Panama (Panama)
Oh, how beautiful is Panama (Panama)
Jenny Jenny, Cloud Rider, just keeps smiling
Just like all flight attendants
Jenny, cloud rider
Jenny Jenny, Cloud Rider, just keeps smiling
Just like all flight attendants
Jenny Jenny, Cloud Rider
Welcome on board
Welcome on board
Welcome on board
Welcome on board
Ten thousand miles across the sea every day
She says she comes home sometimes
And I don't know where from
Jenny Jenny, Cloud Rider, just keeps smiling
Just like all flight attendants
Jenny, cloud rider
Jenny Jenny, Cloud Rider
Keep smiling
Just like all flight attendants
Jenny, cloud rider
Welcome on board
bilvotel
English version in between:
Der Tag beginnt im Spiegel
Müde Augen werden wach geschminkt
Die Lippen rot wie Ziegel
Und dann der Kaffee, den sie jeden Morgen trinkt
Und sie trägt blau und gelb
Sie sagt, sie wär so gern fest angestellt
Sie sagt, die Welt ist kleiner wenn du jeden Tag fliegst
The day begins in the mirror
Tired eyes being made up wide-awake
The lips red as bricks
And then the coffee she drinks every morning
And she wears blue and yellow
She says she'd be glad to be permanently employed
She says the world is smaller when you fly every day
Jenny Jenny, Wolkenreiter,
lächelt einfach immer weiter
So wie alle Flugbegleiter
Jenny, Wolkenreiter
Jenny Jenny, Wolkenreiter,
lächelt einfach immer weiter
So wie alle Flugbegleiter
Jenny Jenny, Wolkenreiter
Jenny Jenny cloud rider
just smiles on and on
As all flight attendants
Jenny, cloud rider
Jenny Jenny cloud rider
As all flight attendants
Jenny Jenny cloud rider
Und nach jeder Landung
Is sie das Lächeln in der Brandung
Zwischen tausend Passagieren, die nich warten wollen
Auf die Passkontrollen und den Zoll
Und dann drei Stunden Aufenthalt
Und Jenny trinkt den Kaffee kalt
Und sie googelt Panama
Vor zwei Jahren war sie mal zehn Minuten da
And after ever landing
She is the smile in the surge*
In between a thousand passengers, who don't want to wait
for the passport control and customs
And then three hours layover
And Jenny drinks the coffee cold
And she googles Panama
Two years ago she's been there once ten minutes
Oh, Panama
Oh, Panama (Panama)
Oh oh oh Panama (Panama)
Oh oh oh Panama (Panama)
Oh, wie schön ist Panama (Panama)
Oh, Panama
Oh, Panama (Panama)
Oh oh oh Panama (Panama)
Oh oh oh Panama (Panama)
Oh, how beautiful is Panama (Panama)
Jenny Jenny, Wolkenreiter,
lächelt einfach immer weiter
So wie alle Flugbegleiter
Jenny, Wolkenreiter
Jenny Jenny, Wolkenreiter,
lächelt einfach immer weiter
So wie alle Flugbegleiter
Jenny Jenny, Wolkenreiter
Jenny Jenny cloud rider
just smiles on and on
As all flight attendants
Jenny, cloud rider
Jenny Jenny cloud rider
As all flight attendants
Jenny Jenny cloud rider
Willkommen an Bord
Willkommen an Bord
Willkommen an Bord
Willkommen an Bord
Welcome on board
Welcome on board
Welcome on board
Welcome on board
Jeden Tag zehntausend Meilen über dem Meer
Sie sagt, sie kommt manchmal nach Hause
Und weiß nich mehr woher
Every day ten thousand miles over the sea
She says, she comes home sometimes
And doesn't know anymore where from
Jenny Jenny, Wolkenreiter,
lächelt einfach immer weiter
So wie alle Flugbegleiter
Jenny, Wolkenreiter
Jenny Jenny, Wolkenreiter
Lächelt immer weiter
So wie alle Flugbegleiter
Jenny, Wolkenreiter
Jenny Jenny cloud rider
just smiles on and on
As all flight attendants
Jenny, cloud rider
Jenny Jenny cloud rider
As all flight attendants
Jenny Jenny cloud rider
Willkommen an Bord
Welcome on board
*"Sie ist das Lächeln in der Brandung" (she is the smile in the surge) is an alteration of the german proverb "Der Fels in der Brandung sein" (being the rock in the surge) this could be translated to "being a pillar of strength".
Nina M.
You know the song is awesome when you don't understand a word but you still keep listening; makes you wanna translate it 😂 Their every single song is perfect! Good job, guys. Greetings from Serbia. ✨
lenny fade
The Refrain means sth Like. Jenny Jenny riding on the clouds, keeps smiling all the time as Every Stewardess, Jenny riding on the clouds
bilvotel
I just posted an english translation
Katie Morrison
Okay right!? I am in the same boat! I have to search for translations of the lyrics haha. I’m in love with his voice❤️ And the whole band creates music with such good vibes!
A A
Searching for the lyrics and scrolling a bit will produce a site that has a translation. At least if your google settings are in English.
Sime
I love this song
Célia Bf
I hate the fact that this song ends. It’s one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever heard. I wish there was a one hour version of it. You all are beyond talented.
joel baisch
Wieder einmal ein perfektes Beispiel für die Einzigartigkeit von Hennings Stimme und dem riesigen Talent der Gruppe😍
EndlessNight
Wenn Henning diese Stimme nicht hätte, würde über diese Band wahrscheinlich kaum mehr einer reden. ;-)
Cogitoergo Sum
@EndlessNight Das glaube ich nicht - Hennings Stimme ist toll, aber die Musik ist so stark, dass sie wahrscheinlich auch Erfolg hätten, wenn Chrisi und Henning die Rollen tauschen würden...