The founding members were Schorsch Kamerun (vocals), Ale Sexfeind (drums), Ted Gaier (bass, guitar) and Aldo Moro (guitar, bass). Initially they combined hard rock with 1970s-era punk and lyrics that were both angry, yet comedic and pop-like. The band rejected the traditional music industry, seeing themselves as a symbol of artistic independence not wanting to "serve the structures of rock" (Ted Gaier.) Since 1995's departure of Psycho 1 only Schorsch Kamerun (vocals, diverse instruments) and Ted Gaier (synthesizer, guitar, e-bass, diverse instruments) remain from the early days. On the other hand, with a group now functioning more like a loose collective with shared duties on most instruments than a fixed band, no member has ever left since - they are Julius Block (piano, bass, guitar, organ, diverse Instruments), Enno Palucca (drums, triangle), Hans Platzgumer (guitar, organ, drums, diverse instruments), Stephan Rath (drums) and Mense Reents (synthesizer, e-bass, clavinet, trumpet, diverse instruments).
In 1986 Die Goldenen Zitronen courted initial attention with their single "Am Tag als Thomas Anders starb" (~The Day Thomas Anders died). Their subsequent release, "Für Immer Punk" (~Forever Punk, basically a cover of the similar named Foreigner song with modified lyrics), was a cult hit in the German punk scene, inspiring comparisons with bands such as Die Toten Hosen and Die Ärzte. It even included contributions by Rodrigo González (banjo) of Die Ärzte.
The band developed their style further with 1990's Fuck You, in which they mock popular rock groups and protest against the tedium of daily life.
But, due to social, political and personal developments and encounters, that fun-punk approach wore off in the beginning of the 90s. A notion of change was first implied by the Billy Childish-produced Punkrock album of 1991. Yet it was 1994's Das Bisschen Totschlag (~That Dram of Manslaughter) that saw the major musical transition. The Zitronen mixed their power-rock style with elements of garage-trash, electro-beat, hip-hop and noise-pop. This trend of experimentation continued with 1996's Economy Class, which was influenced by improvisational jazz.
With 1998's Dead School Hamburg, the band further altered their style, pursuing a greater emphasis on electronic instrumentation. Their 2001 released album, Schafott zum Fahrstuhl (~Lift to the Elevator, a play on the Louis Malle classic), takes a more avant-garde direction.
Lenin, published in 2006 via Buback Records, is a bit slowed down. Daniel Richter, a long time friend of the band, contributed the cover artwork. 2009 saw the release of Die Entstehung der Nacht (~The Genesis of Night) with guest appearances by Mark stewart, Melissa Logan and Michaela Melian,
Die Goldenen Zitronen have had a diverse number of sometimes frequent collaborators, ranging from the poet Franz Josef Degenhardt to Chicks on Speed or Peaches (see WMFU blog for more information and mp3-examples).
Wenn ich ein Turnschuh wär
Die Goldenen Zitronen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
geb ich meine letzten Mittel her, Mittel her, Mittel her
und es zieht mich weil ich dringend muss, dringend muss, dringend muss
immer über den Bosporus, Bosporus, Bosporus.
Wann geht mein Schiff vom Stapel? Ich muss dringend nach Neapel!
Wo all die Träume blüh'n will ich später einmal hinzieh'n.
geb ich meine letzten Mittel her, Mittel her, Mittel her
und es zieht mich weil ich dringend muss, dringend muss, dringend muss
immer über den Bosporus, Bosporus, Bosporus.
Trotz aller Seepiraten und den schärfsten Grenzsoldaten,
auch wenn's gefährlich ist (hey) drückt es mich jetzt hin zur Küste.
Ja für eine Fahrt an's Mittelmeer, Mittelmeer, Mittelmeer
geb ich meine letzten Mittel her, Mittel her, Mittel her
und es zieht mich weil ich dringend muss, dringend muss, dringend muss
immer über den Bosporus, Bosporus, Bosporus.
Über euer scheiß Mittelmeer käm ich, wenn ich ein Turnschuh wär.
Oder als Flachbild-Scheiß – ich hätte wenigstens ein' Preis.
Es gäb' für uns kein Halten mehr, wir kämen immer nur schneller her.
Ich seh die Waren zieh'n, ohne zu flieh'n gehen sie an Land...
...gehen sie an Land – als Verheißungslieferant, (Vorführ)Meinungspraktikant,
Rückweisungsversand, Abwicklungsgarant
Komm gib mir deine Hand,
denn heute feiern wir!
The song "Wenn ich ein Turnschuh wär" by Die Goldenen Zitronen talks about the desire to travel to the Mediterranean region urgently, even at great personal expense. The lyrics suggest that there is something enticing about the region that causes the singer to feel a sense of urgency to travel there, even in the face of potential danger. The singer even suggests that if they were a shoe or a TV, they would come to the Mediterranean region faster.
The lyrics also suggest that the Mediterranean region is a place of opportunity and potential, where dreams can be realized. The singer expresses a desire to go there to see where all the dreams bloom, suggesting that the region holds a special allure that draws people in. Despite the potential risks, the singer is willing to take the chance of traveling to the region, suggesting that the rewards are worth it.
Overall, the song is a commentary on the allure and potential danger of the Mediterranean region, expressing a personal desire to experience it for oneself.
Line by Line Meaning
Ja für eine Fahrt an's Mittelmeer, Mittelmeer, Mittelmeer
I am willing to give up everything I have just to set sail to the Mediterranean Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, the Mediterranean Sea.
geb ich meine letzten Mittel her, Mittel her, Mittel her
I am willing to spend all the funds I have left, funds, funds.
und es zieht mich weil ich dringend muss, dringend muss, dringend muss
I am drawn to it because of my urgent need, my urgent need, my urgent need.
immer über den Bosporus, Bosporus, Bosporus.
I must always cross the Bosporus to reach my destination, to reach my destination, to reach my destination.
Wann geht mein Schiff vom Stapel? Ich muss dringend nach Neapel!
When will my ship set sail? I need to urgently get to Naples!
Wo all die Träume blüh'n will ich später einmal hinzieh'n.
I want to go to where my dreams come true, someday in the future.
Trotz aller Seepiraten und den schärfsten Grenzsoldaten,
Despite all the sea pirates and the strictest border soldiers,
auch wenn's gefährlich ist (hey) drückt es mich jetzt hin zur Küste.
even if it is dangerous (hey), I am drawn towards the coast right now.
Über euer scheiß Mittelmeer käm ich, wenn ich ein Turnschuh wär.
If I were a sneaker, I would cross over your damn Mediterranean Sea.
Oder als Flachbild-Scheiß – ich hätte wenigstens ein' Preis.
Or as a flat-screen crap - at least I would have a price/ value.
Es gäb' für uns kein Halten mehr, wir kämen immer nur schneller her.
There would be no stopping us, we would only come faster and faster.
Ich seh die Waren zieh'n, ohne zu flieh'n gehen sie an Land...
I see the goods being transported without any resistance, and they go ashore...
...gehen sie an Land – als Verheißungslieferant, (Vorführ)Meinungspraktikant, Rückweisungsversand, Abwicklungsgarant
...and they go ashore - as a promising deliverer, a demonstration intern, a return shipping, a processing guarantee.
Komm gib mir deine Hand, denn heute feiern wir!
Come give me your hand, because we are celebrating today!
Contributed by John P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.