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)
Tokio
Die Fantastischen Vier Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Groupe fort de la scène hip-hop en Allemagne
„Die Fantastischen Vier“, sont nos invités ce soir
Ils viennent du Sud-Ouest du pays dans la région du Schwaben
Connu pour son industrie florissante
Comme Mercedes à Stuttgart
Die Fantastischen Vier
続いての曲は彼らの名前がヨーロッパ中に知れ渡るきっかけとなりました
92年のヒットナンバーです
„Die da“
These lyrics are an introduction to the song "Tokio" by Die Fantastischen Vier. The lyrics start by greeting Tokyo from Paris, mentioning that Die Fantastischen Vier, a notable hip-hop group from Germany, are the guests for the evening. The group hails from the southwest region of Germany called Schwaben, known for its thriving industry, including the iconic Mercedes in Stuttgart.
The introduction sets the stage for the song and highlights Die Fantastischen Vier as the main focus. It mentions their fame and popularity across Europe, with their hit song "Die da" from 1992 being the catalyst for their widespread recognition.
Overall, these lyrics serve to establish the connection between Paris and Tokyo, as well as introduce Die Fantastischen Vier and their significance within the hip-hop scene in Germany and beyond.
Line by Line Meaning
Bonsoir Tokyo, ici Paris
Good evening Tokyo, this is Paris
Groupe fort de la scène hip-hop en Allemagne
A strong group in the German hip-hop scene
„Die Fantastischen Vier“, sont nos invités ce soir
"Die Fantastischen Vier" are our guests tonight
Ils viennent du Sud-Ouest du pays dans la région du Schwaben
They come from the Southwest of the country in the Schwaben region
Connu pour son industrie florissante
Known for its thriving industry
Comme Mercedes à Stuttgart
Like Mercedes in Stuttgart
続いての曲は彼らの名前がヨーロッパ中に知れ渡るきっかけとなりました
The next song became the opportunity for their name to be known throughout Europe
92年のヒットナンバーです
It's a hit number from '92
„Die da“
"Die da"
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Michael Beck, Thomas Duerr, Andreas Rieke, Michael B Schmidt
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind