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 / Punk ist...
Die Ärzte Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ich weiЯ 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.
Bin ein einfaches Gemьt. Krieg selten mit wie mir geschieht.
Doch ich hab' zwei Freunde, fьare die ist dies Lied.
Weil ich Schlagzeuger bin (a drummin' man),
Brauch kein Latinum. Hдng' mit Musikern rum.
Bin loyal aber dumm (a drummin' man).
Mach mich fьare die Band krumm (is a lonesome man)
Bin ein Mensch ohne Sinn, nirgends gehцr' 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 gefдhrde, wenn ich Drummer werde.
Wer steht heut' schon auf Gitarristen,
Das GrцЯte ьberhaupt ist doch den Schlagzeuger zu fisten.
Mein natьrlicher s** wird selbst erwдhnt in der "Spex".
Schau mich an und dann check's. Dieser Song ist von mir fьare mich.
Weil ich Schlagzeuger bin (a drumming man),
Oh weil ich Schlagzeuger bin (is a lonesome man).
Brauch kein Latinum. Hдng' mit Musikern rum.
Bin loyal aber dumm (a drumming man).
Mach mich fьare die Band krumm (is a courageous man)
Bin ein Mensch ohne Sinn, nirgends gehцr' ich hin,
Weil ich Schlagzeuger bin.
Ich trinke gern Spirituosen,
Gehцr' zu den Ahnungslosen.
Double-Platinum.
Fьare das biЯchen Bum-Bum,
Kommt 'ne Menge bei rum, yeah.
Schlagzeuger (wdh.)
Das Lied habe ich ganz allein geschrieben.
Du sagst, Punk ist jeden Tag ultra-besoffen zu sein.
Du sagst, Punk ist dreckig, feige und gemein.
Du sagst, Punk ist Selbstverstьmmelung, Gewalt und Hass.
Das klingt nach 'ner ganzen Menge SpaЯ.
Du sagst, Punk ist politisch unbequem.
Du sagst, Punk ist mit deinem Geist gegen das System.
Du sagst, Punk ist Existentialismus pur.
Verneinung von Werten und Struktur.
Ich sag dir:
[Chorus:]
Mach dein Ding,
Steh dazu,
Heul nich rum,
Wenn andere lachen.
(2x)
So wie ich.
Du sagst, Punk ist coole Klamotten, alles I'm Lack.
Du sagst, Punk ist ein guter Musikgeschmack.
Du sagst, Punk ist besoffen Lieder grцhlen am Tresen,
Nur '77 ist's echt gewesen.
Du sagst, Punk ist um 7 Uhr morgens aufzustehen.
Du sagst, Punk ist jeden Tag zur Arbeit zu gehen.
Du sagst, das ist Punk fьare dich ich sag von mir aus, mach du nur.
Fьare mich ist Punk Arschlecken und Rasur.
Ich sag dir:
[Chorus:] (3x)
Denn ich tu's nicht! (8x)
The Die Ärzte song "Goldenes Handwerk/Punk ist..." is a tribute to drummers everywhere, sung from the perspective of a self-aware and somewhat sheepish drummer. The song is filled with self-deprecation and tongue-in-cheek humor, as the lyrics outline some of the struggles that come with being a drummer in a band. For example, the drummer notes that he struggles with brain teasers and is generally unaware of what's happening around him. However, he takes pride in his role as a musician and is dedicated to "making it work" for the benefit of the band.
The song suggests that punk is a multifaceted concept that can mean different things to different people; however, the chorus urges listeners to "do their thing" and "stand up" for what they believe in, no matter what others might say. Through its playful, self-referential lyrics, "Goldenes Handwerk/Punk ist..." highlights the importance of individuality and celebrates the unique contributions that each member of a band brings to the table.
Overall, "Goldenes Handwerk/Punk ist..." is a lighthearted and fun song that captures the essence of punk rock while paying tribute to one of the oft-overlooked members of a band: the drummer.
Line by Line Meaning
Ampeln kann ich nicht ausstehen.
I hate traffic lights.
Ich weiЯ nie bei welcher Farbe soll ich gehen,
I never know which color to go at.
Und der Zeitungsmann, er flucht, ich hab' schon wieder versucht,
And the newspaper man curses because I have once again tried,
Brot bei ihm zu kaufen (tja, dumm gelaufen).
to buy bread from him (well, tough luck).
Doch dabei kann ich's nicht belassen. Bei Gehirnfragen muss ich passen.
But I can't leave it at that. I am not good at brain teasers.
Bin ein einfaches Gemьt. Krieg selten mit wie mir geschieht.
I am a simple person. I rarely understand what happens to me.
Doch ich hab' zwei Freunde, fьare die ist dies Lied.
But I have two friends for whom this song is.
Weil ich Schlagzeuger bin (a drummin' man),
Because I am a drummer (a drumming man),
Oh weil ich Schlagzeuger bin (is a lonesome man).
Oh, because I am a drummer (is a lonesome man).
Brauch kein Latinum. Hдng' mit Musikern rum.
I don't need an award in Latin. I hang around with musicians.
Bin loyal aber dumm (a drummin' man).
I am loyal but stupid (a drumming man).
Mach mich fьare die Band krumm (is a lonesome man).
I work hard for the band (is a courageous man).
Bin ein Mensch ohne Sinn, nirgends gehцr' ich hin,
I am a person without meaning, I don't belong anywhere,
Weil ich Schlagzeuger bin, weil ich Schlagzeuger bin.
because I am a drummer, because I am a drummer.
Ich hab' als Kind schon nichts getaugt,
I was already no good as a child,
Statt an der Brust hab' ich am Bauchnabel gesaugt.
Instead of sucking on the chest, I sucked on the belly button.
Das war kurz nach der Geburt, als meiner Mutter klar wurd',
That was shortly after birth when my mother realized,
Dass ich niemanden gefдhrde, wenn ich Drummer werde.
that I wouldn't endanger anyone if I became a drummer.
Wer steht heut' schon auf Gitarristen,
Who likes guitarists today,
Das GrцЯte ьberhaupt ist doch den Schlagzeuger zu fisten.
The greatest thing is to fist the drummer.
Mein natьrlicher s** wird selbst erwдhnt in der "Spex".
My natural sex is even mentioned in the 'Spex' magazine.
Schau mich an und dann check's. Dieser Song ist von mir fьare mich.
Look at me and then check it out. This song is for myself.
Du sagst, Punk ist jeden Tag ultra-besoffen zu sein.
You say punk is getting ultradrunk every day.
Du sagst, Punk ist dreckig, feige und gemein.
You say punk is dirty, cowardly, and mean.
Du sagst, Punk ist Selbstverstьmmelung, Gewalt und Hass.
You say punk is self-mutilation, violence, and hate.
Das klingt nach 'ner ganzen Menge SpaЯ.
That sounds like a lot of fun.
Du sagst, Punk ist politisch unbequem.
You say punk is politically uncomfortable.
Du sagst, Punk ist mit deinem Geist gegen das System.
You say punk is against the system with your mind.
Du sagst, Punk ist Existentialismus pur.
You say punk is pure existentialism.
Verneinung von Werten und Struktur.
Negation of values and structure.
Ich sag dir:
I tell you:
Mach dein Ding,
Do your thing,
Steh dazu,
Stand by it,
Heul nich rum,
Don't whine,
Wenn andere lachen.
When others laugh.
(2x)
So wie ich.
Like me.
Du sagst, Punk ist coole Klamotten, alles I'm Lack.
You say punk is cool clothes, everything in lacquer.
Du sagst, Punk ist ein guter Musikgeschmack.
You say punk is good taste in music.
Du sagst, Punk ist besoffen Lieder grцhlen am Tresen,
You say punk is getting drunk and singing songs at the counter,
Nur '77 ist's echt gewesen.
Only '77 was real.
Du sagst, Punk ist um 7 Uhr morgens aufzustehen.
You say punk is getting up at 7 in the morning.
Du sagst, Punk ist jeden Tag zur Arbeit zu gehen.
You say punk is going to work every day.
Du sagst, das ist Punk fьare dich ich sag von mir aus, mach du nur.
You say that is punk for you, I say go ahead, do it.
Fьare mich ist Punk Arschlecken und Rasur.
For me, punk is ass-licking and shaving.
Denn ich tu's nicht! (8x)
Cause I don't! (8x)
Contributed by Emma H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.