However, Neubauten soon outgrew the confines of even the broad scope of industrial music. In their 25-plus years, they have produced a dozen studio albums, live records, a remix album and EP, scored theatre pieces, and more.
Lead vocalist Blixa Bargeld is perhaps the best-known member of the group, both for his work with Neubauten and as guitarist for Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. His fellow founding members Alexander Hacke and N.U. Unruh have likewise been active in various musical roles outside the group over the years.
Bassist Mark Chung was a member of the group from 1981 to 1994. He founded the publishing house Freibank Music Publishing to handle business affairs for Neubauten and other groups, and has continued in this role (concurrently serving as a senior vice-president of Sony Music International for nine years). Percussionist FM Einheit, was a member from 1981 to 1995, and has also been active as a solo artist and member of groups such as Gry.
Since 1997 the group has also included guitarist Jochen Arbeit and percussionist Rudi Moser.
Neubauten's most recent work has been available exclusively to subscribers to their online home, www.neubauten.org. Neubauten completed the third incarnation of their online project in November 2007 and were touring Europe in 2008 in support of their latest album Alles Wieder Offen.
Currently Einstürzende Neubauten is celebrating their 30th anniversary with a tour through Europe and the United States. In October/November 2010 the band is releasing Strategies Against Architecture IV, the fourth album in the archival compilation series by Neubauten which collates the band’s output from 2002-2010.
La Guillotine de Magritte
Einstürzende Neubauten Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The framework's in the system
But the blade is missing, it's only sky
Wayward clouds and bright blue sky
The convict Me is hiding in the flowers
The convict Me is convinced he can't be seen
Next to the guillotine
Under it, the bucket is for my spilled claret
But I use it as a
Cooler for Rosé Saignée Champagne
Right next to the guillotine
La Guillotine de Magritte
If I look up I know it is waiting therе
Somewhere in thе dead of night
With or without a blood-red moon
La Guillotine de Magritte
La Guillotine la Guillotine de Magritte
I'm sorry for my afterlife
I haven't changed it yet
The delinquent is not yet ready
For the Guillotine de Magritte
I'm sorry for my afterlife
I haven't changed it yet
This delinquent is not yet ready
For the Guillotine de Magritte
I'm sorry for my afterlife
I haven't changed it yet
This delinquent is not yet ready
For Magritte's Guillotine
The lyrics of Einstürzende Neubauten's song "La Guillotine de Magritte" delve into themes of surveillance, self-awareness, and the tension between reality and imagination. The song opens with the recognition of a machine, symbolizing the system in place, but notes that the blade is missing, leaving only the vast expanse of the sky. This imagery suggests a sense of unease or uncertainty about the power and potential consequences of the system. The mention of "wayward clouds and bright blue sky" further emphasizes the contrast between the expected structure and the freedom or unpredictability of nature.
The song then shifts to the perspective of the singer, who identifies themselves as "the convict Me" hiding amongst the flowers. This suggests a desire to evade the watchful gaze of the system or society. However, there is also a conviction that they cannot truly be unseen, particularly in the presence of the guillotine, which represents the threat of punishment or social control. The reference to Magritte, the Belgian surrealist painter, brings an element of surrealism to the song, highlighting the blurred boundaries between reality and imagination.
The lyrics continue to juxtapose elements of danger and indulgence. The bucket under the guillotine, typically used for spilled blood, is repurposed as a cooler for Rosé Saignée Champagne. This combination of opposite purposes reflects a disregard for traditional boundaries and norms. The repetition of the phrase "La Guillotine de Magritte" reinforces the significance of this symbol, emphasizing its presence and impact on the singer's thoughts.
The closing lines reveal a sense of remorse or inadequacy. The singer apologizes for their afterlife, suggesting the repercussions or consequences of their actions. However, they also express a lack of readiness or willingness to accept the punishment represented by Magritte's guillotine. This hesitation indicates a reluctance to conform or submit to the expectations imposed by the system or society.
Overall, "La Guillotine de Magritte" explores themes of defiance, surveillance, and the conflict between conformity and individuality. It delves into the complexities of navigating societal expectations and the internal struggle to maintain one's sense of self in the face of potential punishment or judgment.
Line by Line Meaning
If I look up I know the machine is there
When I glance upwards, I am aware of the presence of the execution device
The framework's in the system
The structure and mechanics of the guillotine are embedded in its design
But the blade is missing, it's only sky
However, the crucial component of the blade is absent, leaving just the expanse of the heavens
Wayward clouds and bright blue sky
Errant clouds drifting amidst a vibrant azure sky
The convict Me is hiding in the flowers
The guilty aspect of my being is concealed amidst the blossoming flora
The convict Me is convinced he can't be seen
The guilty part of myself firmly believes that it cannot be detected
Next to the guillotine
Adjacent to the instrument of execution
La Guillotine de Magritte
The guillotine created by the artist Magritte
Under it, the bucket is for my spilled claret
Beneath it, there is a container to catch the crimson liquid I have carelessly spilled
But I use it as a
However, I repurpose it as
Cooler for Rosé Saignée Champagne
A vessel to keep chilled Rosé Saignée Champagne
Right next to the guillotine
Positioned directly beside the guillotine
If I look up I know it is waiting there
When I gaze upwards, I am aware that it lies in wait
Somewhere in the dead of night
Somewhere within the profound darkness of the night
With or without a blood-red moon
Regardless of the presence or absence of a moon stained in the color of blood
La Guillotine de Magritte
The guillotine created by the artist Magritte
I'm sorry for my afterlife
I express regret for the existence that follows my death
I haven't changed it yet
I have not yet altered this outcome
The delinquent is not yet ready
The perpetrator of transgressions is not yet prepared
For the Guillotine de Magritte
To face the guillotine created by the artist Magritte
I'm sorry for my afterlife
I express regret for the existence that follows my death
I haven't changed it yet
I have not yet altered this outcome
This delinquent is not yet ready
This wrongdoer is still unprepared
For the Guillotine de Magritte
To face the guillotine created by the artist Magritte
I'm sorry for my afterlife
I express regret for the existence that follows my death
I haven't changed it yet
I have not yet altered this outcome
This delinquent is not yet ready
This wrongdoer is still unprepared
For Magritte's Guillotine
To face the guillotine created by the artist Magritte
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Bongwater66
...they won't be topped albums & projects like....
-Haus der Lüge (1989);
-Tabula Rasa (1993);
-Ende Neu (1996);
-Stella Maris (1996);
-Silence Is Sexy (2000);
-Total Eclipse of the Sun (1999);
-Berlin Babylon (2001)......anymore!
'The early magic's gone'
cheers,
Gregxx....🦇
@isabely.6926
How calming it is to hear Blixa's voice right now, it's like getting home, like being in my safe place. This week I suffered of a severe mental breakdown, and most things lost it's meaning. But music is my healer, my God, my love... And EN holds a special place in my soul. Thank you for this!
@bonitastjulienlepauvre6489
Hope you're on the mend, Isabel.
@littleghostfilms3012
I hope you are doing better and find the meaning in life again for your soul to heal. I found this song today and it is obsessing me because I did a piece of art last year of a guillotine with the artist Magritte's face on the blade and an apple where the head to be chopped off would be. It has multiple meanings to me but finding this video is even stranger. I've also done another piece of art with Blixa's and Nick Cave's faces next to each other. Love both those guys lots! Again, do what you have to do to rise above your troubles and find happiness.
@isabely.6926
@@bonitastjulienlepauvre6489 For a regular person (maybe), this would be just a random message from a stranger. To me, right now... IT IS truly meaningful. I appreciate your kind wishes, and hope you're doing well too. Thank you, Bonita.
@isabely.6926
@@littleghostfilms3012 I cherish the fact of how much this phenomenal pieces of art can inspire us. Also it's wonderful how all things in destiny are entangled and these peculiar coincidences are the proof. Getting to connect with Music in mysterious ways. I'd love to see the pieces that you've created. (If you have them online and would like to share). Thank you for your kind wishes! Music helps a lot when it comes to find meaning in life, even when the world (literally and figuratively) is falling apart.
@johnsrome8459
Hold on, Isabel. “Hold on when there is nothing in you” (“If”, R.Kipling). I know what’s like to go through hell, believe me. Music has been a source of refuge & renewal for oh, such a long time. Voices like Blixa Bargeld, Michael Gira & John Balance have kept me going. All I’m saying is I relate to you, empathise with you and love you as precious human being. Thank you for sharing your feelings. Hold on.
PS. Do you/have you ever tried to make your own music, Isabel? EN will have revealed to you that every sound is music, with intent.
@mordicus420
40 years later and they still are amazing 👏
👑🔥🤘✌💚
@mukhinvinyl
EN's new album is the best thing that happened this year.
@TheNarano
согласный
@beatrizsmdr
Maybe the only good thing