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
Vokuhila Superstar
Die Ärzte Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Vorne kurz und hinten lang
Meistens noch 'ne Zündschnur dran
Die Frisur ist dein Programm
Nichts fickt dich so einfach an
Um lockere Sprüche nie verlegen
Im steten Nebel liegt dein Bregen
Bis der Arsch im Sarge liegt
Ballerst du durch diese Welt
Peter Maffay ist dein Held
Maffay ist dein Held
In deiner kleinen Welt, du hast eine
Vokuhila, du bist der Star, von dem der Chor hier singt
Na, alles klar? Vokuhila, unser Frisurenking
Bist echt korrekt, hast es gecheckt
Cool, alles easy, Mann
Vokuhila, du bist gut drauf, hast Plan
Alles easy, Mann
Obwohl es schwer zu glauben ist
Weiß ich, dass du eitel bist
Mit Packung, Shampoo, Haarkur, Fön
Hat man dich schon oft gesehen
Du bist von einem anderen Stern
Wie soll ich mir das sonst erklären?
Ihr tut so harmlos und debil
Doch ich durchschaue euer Spiel
Die Weltherrschaft, die strebt ihr an
Und dann verpasst ihr jedem Mann
Wirklich jedem Mann, auch Frauen kommen dran, zu einer
Vokuhila, du bist der Star, von dem der Chor hier singt
Na, alles klar? (Klar) Vokuhila, unser Frisurenking
Bist echt korrekt, hast es gecheckt
Cool, alles easy, Mann
Vokuhila, du bist gut drauf, hast Plan
Ey, alles easy, Mann
(Und nun Leute, stellt der Mann granitenen Kehle
Die musikalische Frage?)
Haargel, Öl und Pferdeschwanz
Verlangen sehr viel Toleranz
Es glaubt doch höchstens noch ein Kind
Dass Zickenbärte kleidsam sind
Und ganz besonders der beliebte Oberlippenbart (Voku-)
Ist ein Gigant der Widerwart (-hila)
Mit zottigen Dreadlocks fand jetzt die Wissenschaft heraus (Voku-)
Sehen Haare nicht mehr fettig aus (-hila)
Doch warum, frag' ich mich betrübt, sind Vokuhilas so beliebt?
Warum tragt ihr sie?
Warum tragt ihr sie?
Sagt, warum tragt ihr sie, eure
Vokuhila, du bist der Star, von dem der Chor hier singt
Na, alles klar? (Na?) Vokuhila, unser Frisurenking
Bist echt korrekt, hast es gecheckt
Cool, alles easy, Mann
Vokuhila, du bist gut drauf, hast Plan (geili, geili)
Vokuhila, du bist der Star, von dem der Chor hier singt
Na, alles klar? Vokuhila, unser Frisurenking
Bist echt korrekt, hast es gecheckt
Cool, alles easy, Mann
Vokuhila, du bist gut drauf, hast Plan
Vokuhila
Vokuhila
Vokuhila
Vokuhila
The song "Vokuhila Superstar" by Die Ärzte is a satirical take on the hairstyle known as the "Vokuhila" or the mullet. The song portrays the Vokuhila hairstyle as being the defining feature of a person's personality and identity. The lyrics describe how the wearer of the hairstyle is carefree and always up for a good time, even though their brains may be foggy and they may not be very intelligent. The song also suggests that the Vokuhila hairstyle is a symbol of vanity and a desire for attention, as evidenced by the many hair care products the wearer must use to maintain the style.
The lyrics of the song criticize the Vokuhila hairstyle and its wearers, highlighting their shallow personalities and lack of substance. The song mocks those who believe that their hairstyle makes them special or unique, and suggests that the hairstyle is ridiculous and outdated. The lyrics also point out the absurdity of fashion trends and the lengths that people will go to conform to them.
In summary, "Vokuhila Superstar" is a humorous critique of a 1980s hairstyle that was once popular but has since fallen out of fashion. The song highlights the ridiculousness of conforming to fashion trends and the vanity and lack of substance that can be associated with this kind of conformity.
Line by Line Meaning
vorne kurz und hinten lang
The hairstyle has short hair in the front and long hair in the back
und meistens noch ne Zündschnur dran
It usually has a little strand of hair sticking out like a fuse
die Frisur ist dein Programm, nichts ficht dich so einfach an
Your hairstyle is your trademark and nothing can deter you
um lockere Sprüche nie verlegen
You are never short of witty remarks
im steten Nebel liegt dein Bregen
Your mind is always hazy
immer lustig und vergnügt, bis der Arsch im Sarge liegt
You are always happy and carefree until death takes you
ballerst du durch diese Welt, Peter Maffay ist dein Held
You navigate through life with reckless abandon and Peter Maffay is your hero
Maffay ist dein Held in deiner kleinen Welt
Peter Maffay is your hero in your own little world
du trägst eine
VOKUHILA - du bist der Star, von dem der Chor hier singt
na, alles klar? Vokuhila - unser Frisurenking
You sport a Vokuhila hairstyle and are the star that the choir sings about. You are the King of that hairstyle
bist echt korrekt, hast es gecheckt, cool, alles easy, Mann
You are really good, you get it, you're cool, everything is easy, man
Vokuhila, du bist gut drauf, hast Plan, alles easy, Mann!
Your Vokuhila hairstyle makes you feel good and confident, you have a plan and everything is easy
obwohl es schwer zu glauben ist
weiß ich, daß du eitel bist
mit Packung, Shampoo, Haarkur, Fön hat man dich schon oft gesehn
Although it's hard to believe, I know that you are vain. I've seen you with hair products, shampoo, conditioner, and hairdryer
du bist von einem anderen Stern
wie soll ich mir das sonst erklären?
ihr tut so harmlos und debil, doch ich durchschaue euer Spiel
You are from another planet, how else can I explain it? You act innocent and foolish, but I see through your game
die Weltherrschaft, die strebt ihr an und dann verpaßt ihr jedem Mann
-
(wirklich jedem mann, auch Frauen kommen dran) eine
VOKUHILA...
You aspire to rule the world and you give everyone, men and women alike, a Vokuhila hairstyle
Haargel, Öl und Pferdeschwanz
verlangen sehr viel Toleranz
es glaubt doch höchstens noch ein Kind
daß Zickenbärte kleidsam sind
Hair gel, oil, and ponytails require a lot of tolerance. Only a child would believe that goatees are stylish
und ganz besonders der beliebte Oberlippenbart
ist ein Gigant der Widerwart
Especially the popular mustache is a giant burden
mit zottigen Dreadlocks, fand jetzt die Wissenschaft heraus
sehn Haare nicht mehr fettig aus
Science has discovered that with shaggy dreadlocks, hair no longer looks oily
doch warum, frag ich mich betrübt, sind Vokuhilas so beliebt?
warum tragt ihr sie? warum tragt ihr sie, eure...
But why, I ask myself sorrowfully, are Vokuhilas so popular? Why do you wear them? Why do you wear your Vokuhilas?
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Dirk Felsenheimer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind