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
Look Don't Touch
Die Ärzte Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ah, ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah
Ah, ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah
Uh
Dies ist ein Liebeslied, das ich für dich nur schrieb
Doch hier du ahnst es schon etwas Information
Ich bin ein Super-Typ, ich seh' gut aus, bin lieb
So wunderbar
Ich bin ein
Prachtexemplar
Du bist dem
Himmel so nah
Diese Liebe ist wahr, wirklich elementar
Diese Liebe ist wahr
Wie ein Bergbach so klar, diese Liebe ist wahr
Bin immer für dich da (nur für dich da)
Doch Baby mach dir eins klar (mach dir eins klar)
Du schwebst in Lebensgefahr (Todesgefahr)
Berührst du einmal mein Haar
Oh-yo
Mir reißt sonst nie die Schnur, bin die Beherrschung pur
Doch in mir steigt der Hass
Wenn wer mein Haar anfasst
Nur mein Friseur
Der darf mein Haar berühren, darf seine Stärke spüren
Doch lass ich das nur zu mit einem Paar Schutzhandschuh
Glaub mir, ich liebe dich, doch eines das darfst du nicht
So wunderbar
Ich bin ein
Prachtexemplar
Du bist dem
Himmel so nah
Diese Liebe ist wahr, wirklich elementar
Diese Liebe ist wahr
Wie ein Bergbach so klar, diese Liebe ist wahr
Bin immer für dich da (nur für dich da)
Doch Baby mach dir eins klar (mach dir eins klar)
Du schwebst in Lebensgefahr (Todesgefahr)
Berührst du einmal mein Haar
Check it out
The lyrics of Die Ärzte's song Look Don't Touch depict a love song written for a partner, but with a warning attached to it. The singer believes himself to be a "Supertyp," good-looking and kind, and difficult to criticize. He sings that he is "so wonderful" and a "Prachtexemplar" or a magnificent example, and the person he loves is "close to heaven." He insists that their love is pure and elemental "like a mountain stream so clear," but warns that the person is in danger of death if they touch his hair. The singer claims that he usually keeps his cool and is in control of himself but harbors hatred towards anyone who touches his hair, except for his hairdresser, who is allowed to touch it with protective gloves.
The song Look Don't Touch is a satirical masterpiece, expressing the vanity of individuals who see themselves as perfect and beyond reproach. The lyrics emphasize the self-absorbed nature of the character who claims to be "wunderbar" or wonderful and "perfekt und mehr" or perfect and more. It also reveals the irrationality of such extreme behavior and emotions, where a person may harbor deep hatred or anger towards others who may touch their hair or other parts of their body. Although the tone of the song may appear comical, it reveals deep-seated insecurities and narcissism that can manifest in different ways.
Line by Line Meaning
Dies ist ein Liebeslied, das ich für dich nur schrieb
This is a love song that I wrote only for you.
Doch hier du ahnst es schon etwas Information
But you already sense that there's some information here.
Ich bin ein Supertyp, ich seh' gut aus, bin lieb
I'm a great guy, good-looking and kind.
Kritik an mir fällt schwer, ich bin perfekt und mehr.
It's hard to criticize me, I'm perfect and then some.
Ich bin so wunderbar
I am so wonderful.
Ich bin ein Prachtexemplar
I am a splendid example.
Du bist dem Himmel so nah
You are so close to heaven.
Diese Liebe ist wahr, wirklich elementar
This love is true, truly elemental.
Diese Liebe ist wahr
This love is true.
Wie ein Bergbach so klar, diese Liebe ist wahr
As clear as a mountain stream, this love is true.
Bin immer für dich da (Nur für dich da)
I'm always there for you (just for you).
Doch Baby mach dir eins klar (Mach dir eins klar)
But baby, you need to understand one thing.
Du schwebst in Lebensgefahr (Todesgefahr)
You are in mortal danger.
Berührst du einmal mein Haar
If you touch my hair.
Mir reißt sonst nie die Schnur, bin die Beherrschung pur
I'm usually in control and don't lose my temper.
Doch in mir steigt der Haß wenn wer mein Haar anfasst
But I feel hate rising in me when someone touches my hair.
Nur mein Friseur
Only my hairdresser.
Der darf mein Haar berühren, darf seine Stärke spüren
They can touch my hair and feel their strength.
Doch laß ich das nur zu mit einem Paar Schutzhandschuh
But I only allow it with a pair of protective gloves.
Glaub mir ich liebe dich doch eins das darfst du nicht
Believe me, I love you, but there's one thing you can't do.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Bela B Felsenheimer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind