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
Goldenes Handwerk
Die Ärzte Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ich weiß nie bei welcher Farbe soll ich gehen?
Und der Zeitungsmann er flucht,
Ich hab schon wieder versucht Brot bei ihm zu kaufen
"Tja, dumm gelaufen"
Doch dabei kann ich's nicht belassen,
Bei Gehirnfragen muss ich passen
Krieg' selten mit wie mir geschieht
Doch ich hab zwei Freunde für die ist dies Lied
Weil ich Schlagzeuger bin
(A drumming man)
Oh, weil ich Schlagzeuger bin
(Is a lonesome man)
Brauch kein Latinum, häng' mit Musikern rum,
Bin loyal aber dumm
(A drumming man)
Mach mich für die Band krumm
(Is a lonesome man)
Bin ein Mensch ohne Sinn,
Nirgends gehör' ich hin
Weil ich Schlagzeuger bin
Weil ich Schlagzeuger bin
Ich hab als Kind schon nichts getaugt,
Statt an der Brust hab ich am Bauchnabel gesaugt
Das war kurz nach der Geburt,
Als meiner Mutter klar wurd'
Dass ich niemanden gefährde
Wenn ich Drummer werde
Wer steht heut' schon auf Gitarristen
Das größte überhaupt ist doch den Schlagzeuger zu fisten
Mein natürlicher Sex
Wird selbst erwähnt in der Spex
Schau mich an und dann check's
Dieser Song ist von mir für mich
Weil ich Schlagzeuger bin
(A drumming man)
Oh, weil ich Schlagzeuger bin
(Is a lonesome man)
Brauch kein Latinum, häng' mit Musikern rum,
Bin loyal aber dumm
(A drumming man)
Mach mich für die Band krumm
(Is a courageous man)
Bin ein Mensch ohne Sinn,
Nirgends gehör' ich hin
Weil ich Schlagzeuger bin
Ich trinke gern Spirituosen
(A drumming man)
Gehör' zu den Ahnungslosen
(Is a lonesome man)
Double Platinum für das bisschen bumm, bumm
Kommt 'ne Menge bei 'rum
(A drumming man)
"Yeah"
Schlagzeu G E R
Schlagzeu G E R
"Yeah"
Schlagzeu G E R
"Das Lied hab ich ganz allein geschrieben"
Schlagzeu G E R
Schlagzeu G E R
The opening lines of Die Ärzte's song "Goldenes Handwerk" translate to "I can't stand traffic lights/I never know what color should I be walking?" The singer goes on to describe a series of situations in which he feels out of place or uneducated, including struggling to buy bread and not being able to answer difficult questions. However, the singer takes consolation in being a drummer in a band, and explains that he doesn't need to be smart or accomplished as long as he has his friends and music.
The song can be read as a humorous commentary on the nature of being a musician, particularly a drummer. The singer pokes fun at the idea that drummers are not as talented or intelligent as other members of a band, but also seems to revel in the aesthetic of being a rebellious and overlooked underdog. The repeated refrain of "because I'm a drummer" underscores the idea that the singer's identity as a musician is deeply tied to his self-worth and sense of belonging.
Line by Line Meaning
Ampeln kann ich nicht ausstehen
I cannot stand traffic lights
Ich weiß nie bei welcher Farbe soll ich gehen?
I never know when to cross the street
Und der Zeitungsmann er flucht, Ich hab schon wieder versucht Brot bei ihm zu kaufen Tja, dumm gelaufen
And the newspaper man curses, I tried to buy bread from him again, well tough luck
Doch dabei kann ich's nicht belassen, Bei Gehirnfragen muss ich passen Bin ein einfaches Gemüt, Krieg' selten mit wie mir geschieht Doch ich hab zwei Freunde für die ist dies Lied
But I cannot leave it at that, I suck at brain teasers, I am a simple person, I rarely keep track of what's happening to me, but I have two friends for whom this song is dedicated
Weil ich Schlagzeuger bin (A drumming man) Oh, weil ich Schlagzeuger bin (Is a lonesome man) Brauch kein Latinum, häng' mit Musikern rum, Bin loyal aber dumm (A drumming man) Mach mich für die Band krumm (Is a lonesome man) Bin ein Mensch ohne Sinn, Nirgends gehör' ich hin Weil ich Schlagzeuger bin Weil ich Schlagzeuger bin
Because I am a drummer (a drumming man), oh, because I am a drummer (is a lonesome man). I don't need a degree, I hang out with musicians, I'm loyal but dumb (a drumming man). I work hard for the band (is a lonesome man). I'm a person without direction, I don't belong anywhere, because I am a drummer, because I am a drummer
Ich hab als Kind schon nichts getaugt, Statt an der Brust hab ich am Bauchnabel gesaugt Das war kurz nach der Geburt, Als meiner Mutter klar wurd' Dass ich niemanden gefährde Wenn ich Drummer werde
I wasn't good for anything even as a kid, instead of suckling at the breast I sucked on my belly button. This was shortly after birth when my mother figured out that I wouldn't endanger anyone if I became a drummer
Wer steht heut' schon auf Gitarristen Das größte überhaupt ist doch den Schlagzeuger zu fisten Mein natürlicher Sex Wird selbst erwähnt in der Spex Schau mich an und dann check's Dieser Song ist von mir für mich
Who likes guitarists these days? The greatest thing is to fist bump the drummer. My natural charisma is even mentioned in Spex magazine. Look at me and you'll see that this song is for me
Ich trinke gern Spirituosen (A drumming man) Gehör' zu den Ahnungslosen (Is a lonesome man) Double Platinum für das bisschen bumm, bumm Kommt 'ne Menge bei 'rum (A drumming man)
I like to drink spirits (a drumming man). I belong to the ignorant (is a lonesome man). Double platinum for the little boom, boom, a lot comes out of it (a drumming man)
"Yeah" Schlagzeu G E R Schlagzeu G E R "Yeah" Schlagzeu G E R "Das Lied hab ich ganz allein geschrieben" Schlagzeu G E R Schlagzeu G E R
"Yeah" Drummer D R U M Drummer D R U M "Yeah" Drummer D R U M "I wrote the song all by myself" Drummer D R U M Drummer D R U M
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Bela B. Felsenheimer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@davidgehtraus
Dieser Song spricht mir als Drummer aus der Seele ;-)
@CHR129
Mir auch :)
@BelaFarinRod-ho4re
Ich liebe die 3!!!!! einfach geil!!!
@Fidy002
xDD "das lied hab ich ganz allein geschrieben" wie geil xDD
@Shinyuqueeny
Einfach nur genial. Definitiv eins meiner Lieblingslieder. :')
@Uhtred83
die beste stelle für mich ist "das lied hab ich ganz allein geschrieben!" xD
@clemch97
Ich habe das Album mit 5-8 gehört und liebe es immer noch :)
@TheSme77
die ärzte- einfach die beste band :D
@matsminus3216
Die bÄste Band
@fabidlawnner6641
...der Welt