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
Straight Outta Bückeburg
Die Ärzte Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In deiner Posse bist du Kapitän
Du kriegst den kulturellen Kick beim Fernsehen auf dem Sofa
Ach, könnte Kurt Cobain dich jetzt so sehen
Keiner kann dir was erzählen, du weißt genau, was los ist
Du weißt immer Bescheid, was wo abgeht
Was unter anderem daran liegt, dass Bückeburg nicht groß ist
Und alles vorher in der Zeitung steht
Heut hast du dich zum ersten Mal rasiert
Natürlich bist du gegen Staat und Bullen und Gesetze
Und gegen das System an und für sich
Du wohnst bei deinen Eltern, machst dein Abi und ich schätze
Che Guevara wäre stolz auf dich
Du hattest einen Nasenring, der wirkte recht verwegen
Doch fing er an zu eitern über Nacht
Dein Mädchen fand ihn sexy, aber Mutti war dagegen
Da hast du ihn dann lieber rausgemacht
Doch dann hast du's getan, dann hast du es riskiert
Dann hast du dich zum ersten mal rasiert
Dann hast du's getan, dann hast du's riskiert
Dann hast du dich zum ersten mal rasiert
Nicht, dass es nötig war, mehr
Um vielleicht mal ein Haar hervorzulocken aus deinem Gesicht
Denn du weißt genau, Hinter deinem Rücken
Machen sie sich immer wieder heimlich lustig über dich
Nennen dich Milchgesicht oder schlimmer
Doch sie ahnen nicht
In deinen Träumen bist du zu tätowiert
Und in downtown Bückeburg voll akzeptiert
Du stehst deinen Hombre, Angst ist dir fremd
Mit deiner UZI unterm offenen Hemd
Ein Mofo nach dem anderen wird niedergemäht
Wegen irgendeiner Rintelner Gangrivalität
Ein heißes Pflaster, aber du bist eiskalt
Denn du lebst für Gefahr und Gewalt
Du bist der König, das Leben ist hart
Und du trägst einen Zickenbart, Zickenbart
Du trägst einen Zickenbart, Zickenbart
Du weißt genau, in den Straßen herrscht Krieg
Doch das ist jetzt egal, du hörst Musik
Du weißt genau, in den Straßen herrscht Krieg
Doch das ist jetzt egal, du hörst Musik
(Schüttel dein Kopfhaar!)
The lyrics to Die Ärzte's "Straight Outta Buckeburg" paint a picture of a young person living in a small town (Bückeburg) who dreams of living a rebellious urban lifestyle. They are the captain of their clique and get their cultural fix from TV on the sofa. They are self-assured and savvy about what's going on in town, given the small size of Bückeburg. They are against authority figures and the system in general but still live at home and focus on finishing school. Their appearance is an important part of their identity, with a nose ring that becomes a point of contention with their mother. The climax of the song occurs when they finally shave for the first time, a symbolic gesture of growing up and moving toward adulthood.
The song speaks to the universal experience of feeling stuck in a small town and dreaming of something bigger and more exciting. The singer is a mix of rebellion and conformity, trying to find their place in the world while navigating the expectations of their parents and peers. The chorus is a call to shake off these concerns and just enjoy the music, seeking solace and freedom through a shared experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Dein Brooklyn liegt in Bückeburg, dein Harlem heißt Hannover
You like to pretend to live in a big city like Brooklyn or Harlem, but in reality, you live in the small town of Bückeburg and the nearby city of Hannover.
In deiner Posse bist du Kapitän
You have a group of friends who follow your lead and look up to you as their leader.
Du kriegst den kulturellen Kick beim Fernsehen auf dem Sofa
You feel cultured and knowledgeable when you watch TV shows and movies from the comfort of your couch.
Ach, könnte Kurt Cobain dich jetzt so sehen
You idolize Kurt Cobain and wish he could see how cool and rebellious you think you are.
Keiner kann dir was erzählen, du weißt genau, was los ist
You think you know everything and believe no one can tell you anything you don't already know.
Du weißt immer Bescheid, was wo abgeht
You think you know everything that's happening around you and always feel in the know.
Was unter anderem daran liegt, dass Bückeburg nicht groß ist
You are able to keep up with everything going on around you because you live in a small town like Bückeburg.
Und alles vorher in der Zeitung steht
You stay informed by reading the local newspaper, which covers everything happening in your town and nearby cities.
Doch heut' hast du's getan, heut' ist es passiert
Today, you did something different, something that has never happened before.
Heut hast du dich zum ersten Mal rasiert
You shaved for the first time today.
Natürlich bist du gegen Staat und Bullen und Gesetze
You are against the government, the police, and the law.
Und gegen das System an und für sich
You are also against the entire system and everything it stands for.
Du wohnst bei deinen Eltern, machst dein Abi und ich schätze
You still live with your parents, are finishing up school, and I assume.
Che Guevara wäre stolz auf dich
You admire Che Guevara and think he would be proud of your rebellious spirit.
Du hattest einen Nasenring, der wirkte recht verwegen
You used to have a nose ring, which you thought made you look rebellious and tough.
Doch fing er an zu eitern über Nacht
Unfortunately, your nose ring got infected overnight.
Dein Mädchen fand ihn sexy, aber Mutti war dagegen
Your girlfriend liked your nose ring, but your mom disapproved of it.
Da hast du ihn dann lieber rausgemacht
You decided to remove the nose ring instead of dealing with the complications and your mother's disapproval.
Doch dann hast du's getan, dann hast du es riskiert
But then, you did something brave, something that you thought could be risky.
Dann hast du dich zum ersten mal rasiert
You shaved for the first time, which may not have actually been risky, but it was a big change for you.
Nicht, dass es nötig war, mehr
It wasn't necessarily necessary to shave, but you wanted to try it anyways.
Um vielleicht mal ein Haar hervorzulocken aus deinem Gesicht
You shaved in hopes of getting some hair to grow on your face, to look more mature and manly.
Denn du weißt genau, Hinter deinem Rücken
You're aware that people talk behind your back.
Machen sie sich immer wieder heimlich lustig über dich
People sometimes make fun of you when you're not around.
Nennen dich Milchgesicht oder schlimmer
They call you names like 'baby face' or even worse insults.
Doch sie ahnen nicht
But they don't know the real you.
In deinen Träumen bist du zu tätowiert
In your dreams, you have lots of tattoos.
Und in downtown Bückeburg voll akzeptiert
You imagine that in downtown Bückeburg, everyone would accept and admire you if you had many tattoos.
Du stehst deinen Hombre, Angst ist dir fremd
You are brave and fearless, and never shy away from a challenge.
Mit deiner UZI unterm offenen Hemd
You imagine yourself carrying a UZI machine gun under your unbuttoned shirt, ready for action.
Ein Mofo nach dem anderen wird niedergemäht
You imagine yourself taking down one 'motherf***er' after another in a gang war.
Wegen irgendeiner Rintelner Gangrivalität
Your imaginary gang war is all because of a rivalry with a gang from Rinteln.
Ein heißes Pflaster, aber du bist eiskalt
The situation is tense and dangerous, but you remain calm and collected.
Denn du lebst für Gefahr und Gewalt
You thrive on danger and violence, at least in your imagination.
Du bist der König, das Leben ist hart
In your imaginary world, you are the king and life is tough.
Und du trägst einen Zickenbart, Zickenbart
You have a little goatee, which you think is cool and rebellious.
Du weißt genau, in den Straßen herrscht Krieg
You believe that the streets are filled with violence and danger.
Doch das ist jetzt egal, du hörst Musik
But you don't care about all of that right now, you just want to listen to music.
Schüttel dein Kopfhaar!
The song ends with an encouragement to shake your head and enjoy the music.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind