Die Ärzte were formed in 1982 by Jan Vetter (alias Farin Urlaub), Dirk Felsenheimer (alias Bela B.) and bassist Hans Runge (alias Sahnie). Bela and Farin had previously played together in the punk band Soilent Grün; after that band broke up they decided to form a band playing fun songs, in contrast to the mostly political bands of the punk scene at that time. While deriving from that punk scene, their early music was heavily influenced by pop and rock and roll, especially The Beatles, whom Farin heard a lot as a child due to his mother playing their records.
In the first two years they mostly played in clubs of their hometown of Berlin. Their first release was a contribution to the sampler "20 schäumende Stimmungshits" (roughly, "20 exuberant mood hits"), which contained a strong alcohol theme. In 1983 they won a rock contest in Berlin; with the prize money they recorded their debut EP "Uns gehts Prima" ("We're doing great"). Finally Columbia Records signed them, and they released their first LP "Debil" in 1984 and the second one ("Im Schatten der Ärzte") a year later.
After the second record they parted ways with Sahnie due to internal problems. On the third record he was replaced by producer Miccey Meuser; later Hagen Liebig, better known as The Incredible Hagen, played bass for them during live performances until their breakup.
In 1987 the German Federal Centre for Media Harmful to Young Persons put the songs Geschwisterliebe ("Sibling Love", a song about incest, from Die Ärzte), Claudia hat 'nen Schäferhund ("Claudia has a German Shepherd", about zoophilia, from "Debil") and Schlaflied ("Lullaby", about a monster coming and eating you after falling asleep, also from "Debil") on the German List of Media Harmful to Young People. This prohibited the band from performing the songs live and, more importantly, promoting the two albums, and shops from openly displaying the records in their shelves. After several trials against shops that still openly sold the records a lot of shops removed Die Ärzte completely from their stock. The result was a drop in record sales and big financial problems for the band. In response they released the compilation "Ab 18" ("Adults Only") with all their songs on the index and some other old and new tasteless songs, and the greatest hits album "Ist das alles?"("Is this everything?" but also can be translated as "Is this the end?"). The album and the new singles were fairly successful, partly because of growing media interest due to the previous censorship.
The following album "Das ist nicht die ganze Wahrheit" ("That is not the whole truth") was even more successful, climbing into the top 10 in the German album charts. They decided to go out on a high note in 1988, breaking up after doing one last tour and recording a live double album that became their first number one in the album charts.
Neither Farin's new band King Køng nor Bela's Depp Jones were really successful, so in 1993 they decided to do a reunion. As bass player they invited Rodrigo Gonzales, who was guitarist in Depp Jones and a friend of Bela. Their comeback single was Schrei nach Liebe ("Cry for Love"), their first ever political song, that they published as a statement against what was perceived as growing racism and right wing extremist violence in Germany at that time.
The album was more diverse than ever, with ballads, punk, rock and traditional German sounds. Both album and single became big hits in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The follow-up "Planet Punk" was also very successful.
In 1996 they wanted to make an EP just about hair, but they wrote too many songs for an EP and made the Album "Le Frisur" ("The Hairdo") instead. It was slightly less successful than its predecessors. Apart from their own tours they also supported Kiss in that year, a dream come true for Bela and Rod.
1998 was perhaps the most successful year of their career, the single "Männer sind Schweine" ("Men are Pigs") being their first Number 1 single in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, and the album 13 also being Number 1 in Germany and Switzerland. After a lot of promotion and touring in that year they decided to take a break, deciding also to never play again "Männer sind Schweine" at a concert due to the too great success this song had. They did not like the upcoming unwanted and rather unoriginal remakes by other bands as e.g. "Frauen sind Schweine" ("Women are pigs") and also did not like to see their song played at mass tourist beach parties at places like Mallorca/Spain.
In 2000 they came back with another very successful album, "Runter mit den Spendierhosen, Unsichtbarer!", and two top 10 singles. As the third single from the album they released the 30-second-song "Yoko Ono", which, according to the Guinness Book of Records, is the shortest single ever released - another example of their sense of humour. On their tour in 2001 they sold the limited Album "5, 6, 7, 8 Bullenstaat" consisting of short punk songs that were written and recorded while recording the full length album published a year before, and some cover songs published in 1994 on a tour only EP.
After that they again took a break: Bela did some acting, Farin recorded his first solo album (Endlich Urlaub!). In late 2002 they did an MTV Unplugged in a school auditorium together with the school band. After that they made a new double album Geräusch that was released in 2003. On the next tour a Live DVD was recorded and published one year later.
On 2 November 2007, Die Ärzte released their latest album, Jazz ist anders ("Jazz is nothing like this", literally "Jazz is different").
In August 2011 the band announced that they are working on a new album which is set to be released in 2012 with a tour called "Das Ende ist noch nicht vorbei" ("The end is not over yet") following in the summer 2012.
The official homepage for Die Ärzte is www.bademeister.com
Der Infant
Die Ärzte Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Als Kind bin ich in die Bruce Lee-Filme gerannt,
Jetzt habe ich das Geld um im KungFu-Verein zu sein
Als Kind hab' ich mir oft die Finger verbrannt,
Und jetzt habe ich das Geld mich mit Asbest zu bekleiden
In meinem Flur steht Captain Kirk,
Unter einem Comicberg,
Liegt die Formel für Wasserstoff
Ellenlange Diskussionen, ob denn so Erwachsene wohnen,
Werden sich bei mir nicht lohnen
Ich bitt' euch mich zu verschonen
Denn jetzt bin ich endlich groß und die Hölle bricht los
Gut, dass ich erwachsen bin
Gut, dass ich erwachsen bin
Als Kind da wollt' ich immer so wie Batman sein,
Am Tage Playboy und nachts ein Rächer
Jetzt treten mir die Playmates glatt die Türe ein,
Mein lieber Freund und Kupferstecher
Ich fahr' ein Batmobil, schau' nur noch Pornofilme,
Das tut mir nicht weiter weh
Ich bau' 'ne Bombe und sprenge Kiel,
Danach esse ich Fischstäbchen mit Kartoffelpüree
Ja, jetzt habe ich gut Lachen, kann jetzt all die Sachen machen,
All die schönen mannigfachen
Ich lass' es jetzt ordentlich krachen
Denn jetzt bin ich endlich groß und die Hölle bricht los
Gut, dass ich erwachsen bin
Gut, dass ich erwachsen bin
"Das ganze Gehirn weggelutscht!" Nö
Langeweile liegt mir fern, dafür danke ich dem Herrn
Oh Gott, du bist grandios
Ich musste gerad' mal 18 werden seitdem ist die Hölle los
Gut, dass ich erwachsen bin
Oh wie gut oh wie gut, dass ich erwachsen bin
Gut, dass ich erwachsen bin
Oh wie gut oh wie gut, dass ich erwachsen bin
Ja, ja, ja gut, dass ich erwachsen bin
"I'm on a highway to hell!"
"Ah, moment"
The song "Der Infant" by Die Ärzte is a reflection on growing up and how the freedom of adulthood can lead to impulsiveness and chaos. The first verse discusses how as a child, the singer was inspired by Bruce Lee films, but now as an adult, they have the financial means to join a KungFu club and even dress in asbestos. The second verse continues this theme of childhood fantasies turned slightly misguided adult behavior, as the singer desired to be like Batman as a child and now drives a Batmobile, watches pornography, and even jokes about bombing a city before indulging in a comfort food meal of fish sticks and mashed potatoes.
The chorus of "Gut, dass ich erwachsen bin" (which translates to "good thing I'm an adult") serves as both a celebration of newfound freedom and a tongue-in-cheek acknowledgement of the irresponsibility that can come with it. The singer is glad to have the ability to make their own choices, but also acknowledges that some of those choices may not be the wisest.
Overall, the song can be seen as a commentary on the pitfalls and joys of growing up and the idea that sometimes having too much freedom can be just as problematic as not having enough.
Line by Line Meaning
Als Kind bin ich in die Bruce Lee-Filme gerannt,
As a child, I ran to see Bruce Lee movies,
Jetzt habe ich das Geld um im KungFu-Verein zu sein.
Now I have the money to join a Kung Fu club.
Als Kind hab' ich mir oft die Finger verbrannt,
As a child, I often burned my fingers,
Und jetzt habe ich das Geld mich mit Asbest zu bekleiden.
And now I have the money to dress myself in asbestos.
In meinem Flur steht Captain. Kirk,
Captain Kirk stands in my hallway,
Gleich neben Monsterfußpantoffeln.
Right next to monster foot slippers.
Unter einem Comicberg,
Under a mountain of comics,
Liegt die Formel für Wasserstoff.
Lies the formula for hydrogen.
Ellenlange Diskussionen, ob denn so Erwachsene wohnen,
Endless discussions about how adults should live,
Werden sich bei mir nicht lohnen. Ich bitt' euch mich zu verschonen.
Won't do any good with me. I beg you to leave me alone.
Denn jetzt bin ich endlich groß und die Hölle bricht los.
Because now I'm finally grown and all hell breaks loose.
Gut, dass ich erwachsen bin.
Good thing I'm an adult.
Gut, dass ich erwachsen bin.
Good thing I'm an adult.
Als Kind da wollt' ich immer so wie Batman sein,
As a child, I always wanted to be like Batman,
Am Tage Playboy und nachts ein Rächer.
A Playboy during the day and a vigilante at night.
Jetzt treten mir die Playmates glatt die Türe ein,
Now Playmates just come knocking on my door,
Mein lieber Freund und Kupferstecher.
My dear friend and copper engraver.
Ich fahr' ein Batmobil, schau' nur noch Pornofilme,
I drive a Batmobile and only watch porn movies,
Das tut mir nicht weiter weh.
It doesn't hurt me any further.
Ich bau' 'ne Bombe und sprenge Kiel,
I build a bomb and blow up Kiel,
Danach esse ich Fischstäbchen mit Kartoffelpüree.
Then I eat fish sticks with mashed potatoes.
Ja, jetzt habe ich gut Lachen, kann jetzt all die Sachen machen,
Yes, now I can laugh and do all those things,
All die schönen mannigfachen. Ich lass' es jetzt ordentlich krachen.
All those beautiful, diverse things. I'm really gonna let loose now.
Denn jetzt bin ich endlich groß und die Hölle bricht los.
Because now I'm finally grown and all hell breaks loose.
Gut, dass ich erwachsen bin.
Good thing I'm an adult.
Gut, dass ich erwachsen bin.
Good thing I'm an adult.
"Das ganze Gehirn weggelutscht!" Nö!
"Sucked out the entire brain!" No!
Langeweile liegt mir fern, dafür danke ich dem Herrn.
Boredom is far from me, thank god for it.
Oh Gott, du bist grandios.
Oh God, you are majestic.
Ich musste gerad' mal 18 werden seitdem ist die Hölle los.
I only had to turn 18 and hell has broken loose since then.
Gut, dass ich erwachsen bin.
Good thing I'm an adult.
Gut, dass ich erwachsen bin.
Good thing I'm an adult.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Bela B. Felsenheimer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Flowerpower
Hatte ganz vergessen, wie cool der Text ist, lach mich grad schon wieder kaputt...🤣🤣🤪
Belas Lebensgeschichte...😆
IncapableLP
Song of my life!
anginfd
ich liebe die ärzte <3
Gustav Hund
welcher deutscher "nicht nazi" denn nicht? selbst den gruseligen rod würde ich jederzeit hier übernachten lassen... und der kann ECHT creepy sein, wenn er will..
Frank Irmer
Ich liebe diesen Song
Björn Schürken
gute lieder einfach geile musik bei mir läuft nichts andres
Gwendolyne Scarlett
Wenn meine Tochter 18 wird, spiele ich ihr das vor :) Noch 3 Jahre... Meine Freundin
und ich haben damals daraufhingefiebert 18 zu werden und dieses Lied laufen zu lassen.
Flowerpower
Das ist ne super Idee😂
Valhalla
Das Lied würde Ultra gut zu einem Eberhofer Krimi passen🤘🏼🤘🏼Passt wie die Faust aufs Auge 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Keys of Perception
So me. I'm 26 but behave like I'm 5