In the mid-1980s, Rieke and Schmidt formed the Terminal Team, which Dürr and Beck joined in 1989. Under the new name Die Fantastischen Vier they made German hip hop, or Deutschen Sprechgesang (German spoken-song) as they called it, popular in Germany. Although there were German hip-hop artists prior to them (such as Advanced Chemistry from Heidelberg), it was Die Fantastischen Vier who registered the first chart hit with their 1992 single "Die da?!" (Her?!) from the album 4 gewinnt, hitting No. 2 in Germany and No. 1 in Austria and Switzerland.
After traveling to Los Angeles in the late 1980s, the group realized the lack of connection between the struggles of "the poor blacks in the United States and middle-class whites in Germany", and made a conscious effort to move away from the typical and cliché American gangsta rap. The group never got involved with gangsta rap clichés, reacting with tongue-in-cheek humor to verbal attacks of alleged German 'gangsta rappers'. In the albums following 4 gewinnt, the band matured and progressed to a more serious and philosophic style.
In addition to the group's works, Thomas D, Hausmarke, and Ypsilon also produced successful solo albums and the four had their own weekly show Die 4. Dimension, named after their third album, which aired on the German pay TV channel Premiere in 1993 and 1994. At the 1996 Popkomm in Cologne, Die Fantastischen Vier announced the establishment of their label, Four Music. Headquarters were in Stuttgart, but were later moved to Berlin-Kreuzberg.
Three years later, the group's seventh album 4:99 was released on their own label, with four singles from the album following. After the No. 2 hit "MfG", three singles were released at the same time, a first in German music business. Each one can be associated with one of the rappers: "Le Smou" (Smudo), "Michi Beck in Hell" (Michi Beck), and "Buenos Dias Messias" (Thomas D).
In late September 2004, the group released the album Viel, the following tour being their most successful and best-attended to date.
In 2005, Fanta 4's first greatest-hits album, Best of 1990-2005, was published. It includes all singles, as well as several other songs and rare footage from the group's early days, when they were still called Terminal Team and rapped in English.
On 7 April 2007, the number-one album Fornika was released, preceded by the single "Ernten was wir säen" (Reap what we sow). The song was released as a download for Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock in December 2007 and was covered by rock band Oomph! in 2009.
Die Fantastischen Vier are also the German voices of the Penguins (Michael Beck as Skipper, Thomas D. as Kowalski, Andreas Rieke as Rico and Michael Bernd Schmidt as Private) in the Madagascar film series.
In 2010, Für dich immer noch Fanta Sie peaked again at number one of the German charts. The 2014 release of the album Rekord marked the 25th anniversary of the band. It also topped the charts in Germany. In 2018, the single "Zusammen", featuring Clueso, from the album Captain Fantastic, was chosen as the official song for the 2018 FIFA World Cup by German public broadcaster Das Erste.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Die_Fantastischen_Vier
Studio albums
Jetzt geht’s ab (1991)
4 gewinnt (1992)
Die 4. Dimension (1993)
Lauschgift (1995)
4:99 (1999)
Viel (2004)
Fornika (2007)
Für dich immer noch Fanta Sie (2010)
Rekord (2014)
Captain Fantastic (2018)
Ich bin
Die Fantastischen Vier Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Hey, ihr! Wie die ander'n)
(Hey, ihr! Wie die ander'n)
(Hey, ihr! Wie die ander'n)
(Hey, ihr! Wie die ander'n)
Komm schon rüber mit der info, komm, Mann lass ab
Und sag mir, was ein anderer hat und was ich nicht hab'
Denn ich bin (wie die ander'n, ander'n, wie ihr)
(Wie die ander'n, ander'n, wie ihr)
(Wie die ander'n)
Boah, ja, das hört sich gut an, Mann
Somit bin ich also der Mann, der alles fertig bringen kann
Dann bin ich König meiner Welt, die ich allein regier'
Ganz genau (wie die ander'n, ander'n, wie ihr)
(Wie die ander'n, ander'n, wie ihr)
(Wie die ander'n, ander'n, wie ihr)
(Wie die ander'n, ander'n, wie ihr)
(Wie die ander'n, a-a-ander'n)
Ja, Mann jetzt wird mir alles klar
Somit macht jeder also seine eigenen träume wahr
Und das heißt, wenn ihr jetzt noch pennt, stell' ich mich vor eure Tür
Mit fünfeinhalb Milliarden (ander'n, ander'n, wie ihr)
(Wie die ander'n, ander'n, wie ihr)
(Wie die ander'n, ander'n, wie ihr)
(Wie die ander'n, ander'n, wie ihr)
(Wie die ander'n, ander'n, wie ihr)
(Wie die ander'n, ander'n, wie ihr)
(Wie die ander'n, ander'n, wie ihr)
(Und er ist da, Thomas D)
In Die Fantastischen Vier's song "Ich bin," the lyrics focus on the idea of individuality and the desire to fit in with the crowd. The repeated refrain of "wie die ander'n" (like the others) emphasizes the singer's struggle to differentiate themselves from their surroundings. The verses present a dialogue between the singer and an unknown person who possesses information about how to conform to the group. The singer is initially skeptical of this person, asking them to reveal what they have that the singer does not. However, as the conversation progresses, the singer becomes convinced that they have what it takes to blend in with everyone else.
The singer's confidence grows with each repetition of "wie die ander'n." They embrace the idea of being just like everyone else and believe that doing so will lead them to ultimate success and power. The singer is determined to make their dreams a reality, with or without the help of those around them.
Line by Line Meaning
(Wie die ander'n)
Just like the others, nothing special or unique
(Hey, ihr! Wie die ander'n)
Hey, everyone! I'm just like you all, nothing extraordinary
(Komm schon rüber mit der info, komm, Mann lass ab)
Give me the information, let's cut to the chase
Und sag mir, was ein anderer hat und was ich nicht hab'
Tell me what another person has that I lack
Du hast die Wahl, doch egal was es ist auch in mir
You have a choice, but it doesn't matter what it is because I am just like everyone else
Denn ich bin (wie die ander'n, ander'n, wie ihr)
Because I am (just like the others, others, like you)
(Boah, ja, das hört sich gut an, Mann)
Wow, that sounds good, man
Somit bin ich also der Mann, der alles fertig bringen kann
Therefore, I am the man who can get everything done
Dann bin ich König meiner Welt, die ich allein regier'
Then I am the king of my world, which I alone rule
Ganz genau (wie die ander'n, ander'n, wie ihr)
Exactly the same as the others, others, like you
(Ja, Mann jetzt wird mir alles klar)
Yes, now everything becomes clear to me
Somit macht jeder also seine eigenen träume wahr
Therefore, everyone makes their own dreams come true
Und das heißt, wenn ihr jetzt noch pennt, stell' ich mich vor eure Tür
And that means that if you are still sleeping, I will be knocking on your door
Mit fünfeinhalb Milliarden (ander'n, ander'n, wie ihr)
With five and a half billion (others, others, like you)
(Und er ist da, Thomas D)
(And he is here, Thomas D)
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Andreas Rieke, Michael Beck, Michael B Schmidt, Thomas Duerr
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind