The Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft (DAF) is an influential industrial /… Read Full Bio ↴The Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft (DAF) is an influential industrial / Neue Deutsche Welle band from Düsseldorf, formed in 1978 in Wuppertal, Germany featuring drummer/synth player Robert Görl, vocalist Gabi Delgado-Lopez/Gabi Delgado, guitarist Wolfgang Spelmans, Kurt Dahlke "Pyrolator", Michael Kemner, bassist and bassist/keyboardist/saxophonist Chrislo Haas. The band's name is a term that had originally been used in West Germany, without irony, in the early years of the Cold War, at the height of German popular enthusiasm for all things American, and as humoristic counterpart to the "deutsch-sowjetische Freundschaft" (german-soviet-friendship) parole used in the German Democratic Republic. (GDR, or DDR in german)

DAF's most famous song is the grimly sarcastic "Der Mussolini" from the album "Alles Ist Gut", a pulsing dance song featuring the lyrics "Dance the Mussolini, move your behind, clap your hands, and now the Adolf Hitler, and now the Jesus Christ, and now the communism ...". The song caused a scandal amongst the more humourless elements of German liberal society.

In interviews they claimed to not target anything or anyone specific while creating lyrics to be taken as a parody of words and phrases floating around in the public media. "Sato-Sato" and "Der Mussolini" are both examples of songs written around Delgado-Lopez's fascination with the sound of a particular word.

The album "Alles Ist Gut" (All Is Well) received the German "Schallplattenpreis" award by the "Deutsche Phono-Akademie", an association of the German recording industry.
Following that they released two more similar albums called "Gold und Liebe" and "Für Immer", all produced by legendary Conny Plank.

After experimenting with more mainstream attempts of their particular style of contemporary dance music on the 1986 album "1st Step to Heaven" but with limited success DAF split up (1986).

A few months before the 2003 invasion of Iraq DAF released "Der Sheriff (anti-amerikanisches lied)" (An Anti-American Song) criticizing perceived American imperialism.

In the hiatus of DAF 1985-2002 both Robert and Gabi had their own careers. DAF was more or less resurrected by Gabi alone when he toured in 1994-5 as DAF OPD (On Public Demand) touring with classic and remixed DAF material. Following the success of that partial comeback he started Daf.Dos with Wotan Wilke. They released two more techno oriented albums and toured much until Gabi and Robert reunited for the album "Fünfzehn Neue DAF lieder" in 2003.

Notable is also Robert Görls contribution to Eurythmics first album In the Garden where he unmistakably plays the drums on the tracks Belinda and Caveman Head.

Gabi Delgado continued releasing music under his own name, creating the following albums: 1 (2013), X (2014), and 2 (2015).

Gabi Delgado died in March 2020, thus ending his career, but forever immortal in the music and style he created, which would inspire and spawn whole music genres in decades to come.

Die Fesche Lola
Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ich bin die fesche lola. Der liebling der saison.
Ich habe ein pianola. Zuhaus in meinem salon.
Ich bin die fesche lola. Mich kennt ein jedermann.
Doch an mein pianola. Da lass ich keinen ran.

Overall Meaning

The song "Die Fesche Lola" by the Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft (DAF) is about a woman who is confident and popular with everyone. She is known as the "darling of the season" and owns a Pianola in her salon. She is proud of her Pianola and does not allow anyone to touch it. The lyrics are a celebration of her independence and self-reliance.

The song has a catchy electronic beat and is sung in a monotone style, which adds to the overall theme of detachment and individuality. The lyrics are simple and repetitive, which makes the song easy to sing along to. The message of the song is that Lola is in control of her own life and does not need anyone else to validate her worth.

Overall, "Die Fesche Lola" is a song that celebrates independence and individuality. It is a catchy and upbeat tune that encourages listeners to be confident in themselves.

Line by Line Meaning

Ich bin die fesche lola. Der liebling der saison.
I am the stylish Lola. The favorite of the season.

Ich habe ein pianola. Zuhaus in meinem salon.
I have a pianola, at home in my living room.

Ich bin die fesche lola. Mich kennt ein jedermann.
I am the stylish Lola. Known by everyone.

Doch an mein pianola. Da lass ich keinen ran.
But for my pianola, I let no one touch.

Contributed by Audrey G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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