The sexy/quirky/mysterious Brazilian Girls were three men -- Didi Gutman (from Argentina) on keyboards and computers, Jesse Murphy on bass, and Aaron Johnston on drums -- and one woman, Sabina Sciubba, the vocalist. Sciubba often enjoys wearing lacy eye masks on-stage and sings in no fewer than five different languages. She was born in Rome but grew up in Nice and Munich before settling in Brooklyn, NY. She first came to record buyers' attention when she recorded two jazz albums -- You Don't Know What Love Is with pianist Chris Anderson and Meet Me in London with guitarist Antonio Forcione -- for the English audiophile label Naim. She described her meeting with the men of Brazilian Girls as "love at first sight and it moved as fast as the Autobahn." Falling into the new, playful downtown scene that was revolving around the Nublu club helped speed the band's success.
Like-minded bands like Wax Poetic and the Nublu Orchestra had made the club the hip spot 2004 for adventurous pop fans and Brazilian Girls' freeform, bouncy kind of jamming fit right in. Soon they had the Saturday night slot at Nublu, and the East Village press had fallen in love with them. Murphy and Johnston made appearances on John Zorn's 2003 album Voices in the Wilderness and every Brazilian Girl contributed to Wax Poetic's sophomore release, the Nublu Sessions, the same year. The Verve Company became interested in the band around this time, thinking them perfect for the more pop and progressive imprint Verve Forecast. In 2004 the label released the Lazy Lover (EP), which included the title track -- a chillout room favorite -- in its original form and in a remix by the quirky house producer Herbert. The group's self-titled, full-length debut Brazilian Girls hit the streets in early 2005. (allmusic.com, 02/06) The band's second album, Talk to La Bomb, was released in September 2006 by Verve Forecast, to mixed reviews.
In 2008, the band released a third album "New York City" - also to mixed reviews. In the interim, singer Sciubba returned to France and had a child. Unfortunately, the band announced in January 2011 that they had broken up.
Never Met A German
Brazilian Girls Lyrics
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Never even seen one
Read it on the newsstand that day
That the tanks are rolling
Next thing I remember is that I'm walking in the army
Following instructions it isn't very charming
Even now I feel like I'm on fire
Oh - even now I couldn't get much higher
Now I am a general and I am giving out the orders
I almost have an orgasm when the tanks are rolling
Crashing through the borders
It's good to be a general
Just tell these idiots what to do...hehe
Anyone in my position would love it to I say:
Oh(ohohohohoh)
Even now I feel like I'm on fire
Oh ? even now I couldn't get much higher
Never never never
Now I am a German
The song "Never Met A German" by Brazilian Girls seems to be a commentary on war and the seductiveness of power. The song begins with the lyrics, "Never met a German, never even seen one, read it on the newsstand that day, that the tanks are rolling." This line seems to suggest that the singer is hearing about a war, possibly through the media, and is intrigued or even excited by it.
The next lines reveal that the singer has somehow become involved in the conflict: "Next thing I remember is that I'm walking in the army, following instructions it isn't very charming." It's not clear how or why the singer has joined the military, but it's clear that the experience is not what they expected.
As the song progresses, the singer seems to become enamored with the power and authority that comes with being a general: "Now I am a general and I am giving out the orders, I almost have an orgasm when the tanks are rolling, crashing through the borders." The lyrics suggest that the singer is intoxicated by the ability to command others and to be in control of the tanks and the troops.
Overall, "Never Met A German" seems to be a cautionary tale about the danger of becoming enamored with war and power. The song suggests that the seductiveness of war and authority can be dangerous and alluring, and that it's important to be aware of the potential consequences of pursuing them.
Line by Line Meaning
Never met a German
I have never come across a person from Germany.
Never even seen one
I have not even caught a glimpse of a person from Germany.
Read it on the newsstand that day
I found out about Germany's military activities from a news publication.
That the tanks are rolling
The news explained that the military was actively moving tanks.
Next thing I remember is that I'm walking in the army
Suddenly, I find myself enlisted and participating in the army's activities.
Following instructions it isn't very charming
Military directives are not enjoyable or pleasant to follow.
Oh (ohohohohoh)
Even now I feel like I'm on fire
Oh - even now I couldn't get much higher
I am experiencing great excitement and exhilaration from being part of the military activities.
Now I am a general and I am giving out the orders
I have been promoted to the rank of general and am now in charge of giving orders.
I almost have an orgasm when the tanks are rolling
Crashing through the borders
I derive great pleasure and satisfaction from the military's actions of rolling tanks and tearing down borders.
It's good to be a general
Just tell these idiots what to do...hehe
Anyone in my position would love it to I say:
Being a general is enjoyable because I get to boss around the others, who I consider to be idiots.
Never never never
Repetition for emphasis that I have never experienced such things before.
Now I am a German
Complete reversal that now, instead of having never met a German, somehow I am now seeing myself as being a German, likely through the control and power I have acquired as a general in the military.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: AARON JOHNSTON, BARRY REYNOLDS, DIDI GUTMAN, JESSE YUSEF MURPHY, SABINA SCIUBBA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind