A lot of their initial popularity came from positive press in the UK (when many other Krautrock bands were shunned by UK media such as NME) and airplay on John Peel's BBC radio programmes, which led to extensive touring in the UK. They also gained exposure in Germany by doing soundtrack work for German filmmakers.
Keyboardist Irmin Schmidt and bassist/producer Holger Czukay had studied electronic music together under Karlheinz Stockhausen circa 1966. Schmidt was inspired to start the group following a trip to New York where he was "corrupted' by Andy Warhol and The Velvet Underground. As well as Schmidt and Czukay, the initial lineup included guitarist Michael Karoli, a former pupil of Czukay; and drummer Jaki Liebezeit.
Their first vocalist was an American sculptor, Malcolm Mooney, who joined them living in an old castle with their own music studio, Inner Space. Mooney added a sort of "outsider artist" approach to his improvised vocals, but the chaotic lifestyle was damaging to his mental health and he eventually fled back to the USA on advice of a psychiatrist. He later contributed to the 'reunion' album Rite Time in the mid '80s.
Mooney was replaced by Kenji "Damo" Suzuki, found busking outside a café in Munich. With Damo Suzuki they made their classic albums Tago Mago (1971), Ege Bamyasi (1972) and Future Days (1973). Suzuki left the group in 1973, marrying his German girlfriend and becoming a Jehovah's Witness; he subsequently resumed touring and recording as a solo artist. He sadly passed away on 09.02.2024 at the age of 74.
Following Suzuki's departure the music at first became even more atmospheric and electronic-based, with Karoli and Schmidt providing occasional vocals. However they then moved towards conventional music forms such as disco and reggae. The disco-influenced single I Want More was an international hit in 1976. The lineup was bolstered in 1977 by the addition of former Traffic bassist Rosko Gee and percussionist Rebop Kwaku Baah, while original bassist Czukay was relegated to making electronic sound effects.
The group split in 1979 but reunited briefly in the mid-80s and early 90s.
Bel Air
Can Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But then your story made the store right now
And when you started to say that you hate
You're coming down to the start up gown
And then this party, you just stay that you hide
You're coming down to just start running down
And when nobody you're just shredding his head
You're coming down to the start up gown
Spinning down alone, spinning down alone
Spinning down alone, you spin alive
Spinning down alone, spinning down alone
Spinning down alone, you spin alive
Spinning down alone, spinning down alone
Spinning down alone, you spin alive
Spinning down alone, spinning down alone
Spinning down alone, you spin alive
Spinning down alone, spinning down alone
Spinning down alone, you spin alive
Spinning down alone, spinning down alone
Spinning down alone, you spin alive
When it's down alone, when it's down alone
When it's down alone you spin alive
It's down, breaking down where it's all alone
It's down, breaking down where it's all alone
But it's the dying
The down breaking wall where it's all tonight
It's down, breaking down where it's all tonight
But just the dying, oh yeah
Coming down to this speeding life
You're coming down to this waiting goal
Making down to this speeding life
I'm breaking down to this walking goal
Coming down to this speeding life
You're coming down to this waiting goal
Making down to this speeding life
I'm breaking down to this walking goal
Breaking down, you know, speaking down, you know
Waking down, you know, you spin alive
Breaking down, you know, speaking down, you know
Waking down, you know, you spin alive
Breaking down, you know, speaking down, you know
Waking down, you know, you spin alive
Breaking down, you know, speaking down, you know
Waking down, you know, you spin alive
The lyrics to Can's song "Bel Air" are enigmatic and open to interpretation. The song's repeating refrain, "spinning down alone, you spin alive," seems to suggest a state of isolation and introspection. The verses are more cryptic, with lines like "when nobody can say that you hate" and "when you started to say that you hate" hinting at a shifting emotional landscape. The song may be about the process of coming to terms with one's inner demons and finding a way to move forward.
The song's title, "Bel Air," may refer to the affluent neighborhood of Bel Air in Los Angeles, known for its opulent mansions and luxury lifestyle. This could be a nod to the idea of material success and privilege as an empty pursuit that ultimately leaves one feeling alone and disconnected. The song's pulsating rhythm and disorienting sound effects add to its feeling of disorientation and unease.
Despite its abstract lyrics and experimental sound, "Bel Air" has become one of Can's most enduring songs and has been covered by numerous other artists over the years. Its influence can be heard in a wide range of music genres, from post-punk to electronic music.
Line by Line Meaning
And when nobody can say that you hate
Even if nobody accuses you of hating anyone or anything, that doesn't guarantee that it's true.
But then your story made the store right now
Your version of events is what's currently being accepted as the truth.
And when you started to say that you hate
But now you're admitting that you do, in fact, hate something or someone.
You're coming down to the start up gown
You're falling from grace and starting over, with nothing but your determination to succeed.
And then this party, you just stay that you hide
Even though you're at a party, you're still hiding something important to you.
You're coming down to just start running down
You're starting to lose momentum and energy, and it's affecting your ability to succeed.
And when nobody you're just shredding his head
Even though nobody is attacking you, you're still trying to protect yourself and stay ahead of the game.
Spinning down alone, spinning down alone
You're spiraling out of control and feeling isolated from everyone else while doing so.
When it's down alone, when it's down alone
When you hit rock bottom and feel completely alone in the world.
It's down, breaking down where it's all alone
You're experiencing a major collapse or failure, and there's nobody around to help you through it.
But it's the dying
This is a critical moment, where everything is at stake and it feels like you might not make it through.
The down breaking wall where it's all tonight
Your defenses are crumbling and it's happening rapidly and intensely.
Coming down to this speeding life
You're feeling overwhelmed and like life is moving too fast for you to keep up.
You're coming down to this waiting goal
You're slowly losing momentum and motivation towards your desired outcome.
Making down to this speeding life
You're trying to keep up with everyone else and feel like you're falling behind.
I'm breaking down to this walking goal
You're becoming more and more sluggish and demotivated towards your goal.
Breaking down, you know, speaking down, you know
You're losing confidence and feeling like you can't communicate properly.
Waking down, you know, you spin alive
You're starting to become more alert and aware of your surroundings despite feeling overwhelmed.
Contributed by Micah T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.