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
Freundschaft ist Kunst
Die Ärzte Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Verzeih', wenn ich jetzt keine Parolen mehr mit dir sing
Dein Zorn ficht mich nicht an, hab mich verändert, Mann
Und da kommst du mir dumm, hau ab, ich häng' mit Künstlern rum
Ich häng' mit Künstlern rum, häng' jetzt mit Künstlern rum
Dein Lebenskompromiss war mir schon lange viel zu krumm
Ich häng' mit Künstlern ab, da weiß ich was ich hab,
Und ihre Andersartigkeit, die nehm' ich gern in Kauf
Ich war gelangweilt, hatte Zeit, sie hielten mir die Türe auf
Sie leben exzessiv, nur in der Enge frei
Sie sind stets depressiv und haben ihren Spaß dabei
Ich häng' mit Künstlern rum, häng' jetzt mit Künstlern rum
Dein Lebenskompromiss war mir schon lange viel zu krumm
Ich häng' mit Künstlern ab, da weiß ich was ich hab,
Mach mit oder bleib stumm, denn ich häng' jetzt mit Künstlern rum
Ich häng' mit Künstlern rum
Mal sehen wohin das führt
Ich weiß genau warum
Ich hab es gleich gespürt
Dass ich dazu gehör'
Das macht mich interessant
Ich fühl' mich elitär und du, du nennst mich arrogant
Ich häng' mit Künstlern rum, häng' jetzt mit Künstlern rum
Dein Lebenskompromiss war mir schon lange viel zu krumm
Ich häng' mit Künstlern ab, da weiß ich was ich hab,
Mach mit oder bleib stumm, denn ich häng' jetzt mit Künstlern rum
Ich häng' mit Künstlern rum, häng' jetzt mit Künstlern rum
Ich häng' mit Künstlern ab
Mach mit oder bleib stumm,
Denn ich häng' jetzt mit Künstlern rum
The lyrics to Die Ärzte's song "Freundschaft ist Kunst" (Friendship is Art) depict a friendship that has come to an end due to one person's change in lifestyle. The first verse suggests a rift between the two friends due to differences in their music preference and attitude. The singer has moved on to hanging out with artists, whereas their friend still clings to the punk scene. The singer is unimpressed with their former friend's anger and tells them to "hau ab" (get lost). The chorus emphasizes the singer's newfound friendship with artists, which they value more than their old friendship. The second verse elaborates on the singer's new circle of friends, highlighting their existential angst and sense of freedom. The song ends by repeating the chorus and repeating the sentiment that the singer has no interest in maintaining the old friendship.
The song can be read as a commentary on the evolution of punk music and culture. The singer represents a new wave of artists who are more eclectic in their tastes, less angry, and less concerned with the punk ethos. The old friend, on the other hand, is portrayed as narrow-minded and stuck in the past. At the same time, the song can be read as a broader reflection on the nature of friendship and how it changes over time. Friendships, like everything else, can evolve or dissolve, and it's up to each person to decide who they want to surround themselves with.
Line by Line Meaning
Punk ist der Mainstream jetzt, mach du mal schön dein Ding
Punk is now mainstream, so do what you want. I'm sorry if I can't sing along with your slogans anymore.
Verzeih', wenn ich jetzt keine Parolen mehr mit dir sing
I apologize for not singing slogans with you anymore.
Dein Zorn ficht mich nicht an, hab mich verändert, Mann
Your anger doesn't affect me, I've changed.
Und da kommst du mir dumm, hau ab, ich häng' mit Künstlern rum
And if you call me stupid, go away, because I hang out with artists now.
Ich häng' mit Künstlern rum, häng' jetzt mit Künstlern rum
I hang out with artists now, that's what I do.
Dein Lebenskompromiss war mir schon lange viel zu krumm
I didn't like your compromise on life, it was too crooked.
Ich häng' mit Künstlern ab, da weiß ich was ich hab,
I hang out with artists, because I know what I get.
Mach mit oder bleib stumm, denn ich häng' jetzt mit Künstlern rum
Join me or stay silent, because I hang out with artists now.
Und ihre Andersartigkeit, die nehm' ich gern in Kauf
I like their uniqueness and I accept it.
Ich war gelangweilt, hatte Zeit, sie hielten mir die Türe auf
I was bored and had time, they opened the door for me.
Sie leben exzessiv, nur in der Enge frei
They live excessively, free only in constraint.
Sie sind stets depressiv und haben ihren Spaß dabei
They are always depressed and have fun with it.
Mal sehen wohin das führt
Let's see where this leads.
Ich weiß genau warum
I know exactly why.
Ich hab es gleich gespürt
I felt it right away.
Dass ich dazu gehör'
That I belong with them.
Das macht mich interessant
That makes me interesting.
Ich fühl' mich elitär und du, du nennst mich arrogant
I feel exclusive and you call me arrogant.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Scufler89
die drei Harmonieren einfach Genial zusammen, meinetwegen können die gerne noch 20 Jahre so zusammenbleiben wie bisher, alleine sind sie gut, zusammen sind sie Super ;)
DavDav Snoopy
Ich kenne das Album vielleicht gerade mal 3 Wochen und kann alle Lieder schon auswendig mitsingen die Ärzte haben sich in mein Musikherz gesungen und ich bin verdammt empfindlich was Musik betrifft. Ich liebe die Ärzte und das Album "Auch , einfach nur GENIÄL.
katzenblut
Bela ist für mich die größte Überraschung des Albums, von ihm ist einfach kein schwacher Song dabei.
Nichtwissen
Bela... so geile Stimme! Noch son Lied von den Ärzten welches wohl nie alt wird
Eselkuhmolch
Der absolut geilste Spruch der ganzen Platte : sie sind stets depressiv und haben ihren Spaß dabei.. einfach genial^^
schwejk23
Die "Jungs" sind jeder für sich schon hervorragende Musiker (Künstler, ey! *g*), aber zusammen sind sie Dynamit. Bei den Ärzten scheint es wie mit gutem Wein: Je älter, desto besser :-)
DeathSkyLP
Genial einfach nur genial Die Ärzte Die beste Band der Welt :D
Сергей Морозов
Ништяк 😉👍🏻
J. Fee
Er hat manchmal ein paar grauselige Ausrutscher, aber ich mag würd ich sagen so 80% der reinrassigen Rods ;) Auch wirklich sehr gerne. Da sieht man wie sich der Geschmack unterscheiden kann. Wenn ich auf so Sachen wie Anti-Zombie verzichten müsste könnten die Ärzte mich gleich als Fan abschreiben xD Aber hast schon Recht, er rockt am meisten dadurch dass er einfach cool ist :D Aber ich schweife ab, eigentlich wollte ich dich fragen: Gibt es denn tatsächlich Leute die nach Sahnie schreien?oO
boehmmi
Ich halte "auch" ja für das beste die ärzte Album seit den Spendierhosen.