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
Lied vom Scheitern
Die Ärzte Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Trotzdem setzte ich mich zwischen alle Stühle
Und machte es mir bequem bis hierhin kein Problem
Ich strengte mich an gehörte doch nie zu denen
Und schwelgte doch nur in unerreichbaren Plänen
Und am Ende war der Lohn Frustration
Der Selbstbetrug tat mir nichts bringen, denn
Du bist immer dann am besten, wenn's dir eigentlich egal ist
Du bist immer dann am besten, wenn du einfach ganz normal bist
Du bist immer dann am besten du musst das nicht mehr testen jedes Mal
Dein Spiegelbild ist anderen egal
Ich war nicht mehr ich selbst es wurde gefährlich
Tat, was andre verlangten, war zu mir selbst nicht ehrlich
Wer Wahrheit simuliert, wird nur kurz akzeptiert
Ich machte es allen recht alle sollten mich lieben
Sah nicht die Dämonen, die mich dazu trieben
War gefangen und nicht mehr frei und ich ging kaputt dabei
Man kann die Welt nicht ewig blenden
Ich muss den Quatsch sofort beenden, denn
Du bist immer dann am besten, wenn's dir eigentlich egal ist
Du bist immer dann am besten, weil der Ehrgeiz dich sonst auffrisst
Du bist immer dann am besten du musst das nicht austesten, nicht noch mal
Dein Spiegelbild ist anderen egal
Du kannst für eine Weile dein Umfeld belügen
Doch dein eigenes Herz wirst du nicht betrügen
Man erntet, was man sät drum wird's dein Herz sein, das dich verrät
Ich will deinen Elan doch überhaupt nicht dämpfen
Wenn du etwas willst, musst du darum kämpfen
Nur eines versprichst du mir
Bleib immer du selbst und bleib bei dir
Ich bin immer dann am besten, wenn's mir eigentlich egal ist
Ich bin immer dann am besten, wenn mir keiner ins Regal pisst
Ich bin immer dann am besten am zweit-, dritt oder zehnt-besten
Von mir aus auch mal nicht am besten
Ich muss das nicht austesten
Nicht noch mal
Mein Spiegelbild ist anderen egal
The lyrics of "Lied vom Scheitern" or the "Song of Failure" by Die Ärzte explores the dark side of ambition and self-doubt. The song talks about the desire to excel and succeed but also highlights the dangers of losing oneself in the process. The first verse talks about how the singer always knew what they wanted but ended up sitting on the fence and becoming complacent. The second verse talks about how the singer tried to impress others by pretending to be someone else, and in the process, lost their true self. The chorus then delivers a harsh but important message - that one is always at their best when they don't care about what others think of them.
The following verse then expounds on the dangers of self-deceit and how it can lead to short-term acceptance but long-term devastation. The bridge then offers a warning about the consequences of trying to fool oneself and others for extended periods. Finally, the closing verse suggests that staying true to oneself is the only way to be truly successful and that one's own opinion of themselves is more critical than anyone else's opinions.
In summary, the lyrics of "Lied vom Scheitern" is a cautionary tale about the dangers of being too ambitious and trying too hard to impress others. It reminds us that true success starts with staying true to oneself and being comfortable in one's own skin.
Line by Line Meaning
Ich wusste stets, was ich will doch das wollen viele
I always knew what I wanted, but many people wanted the same thing.
Trotzdem setzte ich mich zwischen alle Stühle
Nevertheless, I put myself in between all the chairs.
Und machte es mir bequem bis hierhin kein Problem
And made myself comfortable until now, no problem.
Ich strengte mich an gehörte doch nie zu denen
I tried hard, but I never belonged to those people.
Und schwelgte doch nur in unerreichbaren Plänen
And indulged in unreachable plans.
Und am Ende war der Lohn Frustration
And in the end, the reward was frustration.
Ich dachte, ich könnte es erzwingen
I thought I could force it.
Der Selbstbetrug tat mir nichts bringen, denn
The self-deception didn't help me at all, because
Du bist immer dann am besten, wenn's dir eigentlich egal ist
You are always at your best when you don't really care.
Du bist immer dann am besten, wenn du einfach ganz normal bist
You are always at your best when you are just being normal.
Du bist immer dann am besten du musst das nicht mehr testen jedes Mal
You are always at your best, and you don't have to test it every time.
Dein Spiegelbild ist anderen egal
Your reflection doesn't matter to others.
Ich war nicht mehr ich selbst es wurde gefährlich
I wasn't myself anymore, and it became dangerous.
Tat, was andre verlangten, war zu mir selbst nicht ehrlich
I did what others demanded, and I wasn't honest with myself.
Wer Wahrheit simuliert, wird nur kurz akzeptiert
Whoever simulates the truth is only accepted briefly.
Ich machte es allen recht alle sollten mich lieben
I tried to please everyone, and everyone should love me.
Sah nicht die Dämonen, die mich dazu trieben
I didn't see the demons that drove me to do that.
War gefangen und nicht mehr frei und ich ging kaputt dabei
I was trapped and no longer free, and I broke down with it.
Man kann die Welt nicht ewig blenden
You can't blind the world forever.
Ich muss den Quatsch sofort beenden, denn
I have to stop this nonsense immediately, because
Du bist immer dann am besten, wenn's dir eigentlich egal ist
You are always at your best when you don't really care.
Du bist immer dann am besten, weil der Ehrgeiz dich sonst auffrisst
You are always at your best because ambition would otherwise consume you.
Du bist immer dann am besten du musst das nicht austesten, nicht noch mal
You are always at your best, and you don't have to test it again.
Dein Spiegelbild ist anderen egal
Your reflection doesn't matter to others.
Du kannst für eine Weile dein Umfeld belügen
You can fool your environment for a while.
Doch dein eigenes Herz wirst du nicht betrügen
But you won't deceive your own heart.
Man erntet, was man sät drum wird's dein Herz sein, das dich verrät
You reap what you sow, so it will be your heart that betrays you.
Ich will deinen Elan doch überhaupt nicht dämpfen
I don't want to dim your enthusiasm at all.
Wenn du etwas willst, musst du darum kämpfen
If you want something, you have to fight for it.
Nur eines versprichst du mir
Just promise me one thing.
Bleib immer du selbst und bleib bei dir
Always be yourself and stay true to yourself.
Ich bin immer dann am besten, wenn's mir eigentlich egal ist
I am always at my best when I don't really care.
Ich bin immer dann am besten, wenn mir keiner ins Regal pisst
I am always at my best when no one gets in my way.
Ich bin immer dann am besten am zweit-, dritt oder zehnt-besten
I am always at my best as the second, third, or tenth-best.
Von mir aus auch mal nicht am besten
I don't have to be the best all the time.
Ich muss das nicht austesten
I don't have to test it again.
Nicht noch mal
Not again.
Mein Spiegelbild ist anderen egal
My reflection doesn't matter to others.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Bela B. Felsenheimer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Feigling0o
Jetzt nach 11 Jahren kann man schon mal fragen oder? Wo bleibt die Fortsetzung? Möchte schon sehen wir Farin das löst! :D
@-davorite-
Da Farin in jedem Musikvideo am Ende stirbt, kann man sich die Fortsetzung eigentlich ausmalen :D
@NRX25
Jop, denke Rod "gewinnt".
@fantast1961
Das Motto...."Du bist am Besten, wenns Dir eigentlich egal ist...." hat mich immer aufgebaut, wenn es mal schlecht lief.
@qwert314oderwat
Mich net hab mein Leben immer noch nicht im Griff xD
@derdude3301
Mit 8 Jahren angefangen Die Ärzte zu hören. Heute mit 25 immer noch genauso gerne. Zeitlose Klassiker.
@varaner4891
Hab noch etwas früher angefangen weil meine Mutter mir das quasi in die Wiege gelegt hat... Aber höre es heute mit 25 auch immer noch absolut gerne xD
@whiterabbit4945
ich kann einfach nicht like drücken wenns auf 69 ist
@TheLuc224
Geht mir auch so
@KathySm0
Ich bin auch 25, Mit 17 Jahren angefangen Die Ärzte zu hören