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.
Seltener Vogel
Einstürzende Neubauten Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Was für ein seltener Vogel
Was für ein seltener Vogel
Was für ein seltener Vogel
Ein seltener Vogel what a rare bird!
Was für ein seltener Vogel
Was für ein seltener Vogel
Ein seltener Vogel der sehr sanft singt
Was für ein seltener Vogel
Ein seltener Vogel der sehr sanft singt
Gefieder ohne Färbung gefieder ohne Färbung
What a rare bird! Was für ein seltener Vogel
Was für ein seltener Vogel
Den Schnabel in die Himmel
Den Schnabel in die Himmel what a rare bird!
Was für ein seltener Vogel
Fliegt allein zum ragenden Gipfel des Ararat
Ararat! Ararat!
Jetzt fängt es endlich an zu regnen
Und hört überhaupt nicht mehr auf
Nach dem Regen sind nicht mehr alle dabei
Zum Beispiel
Das Pteranodon ist nicht mehr dabei
Zum Beispiel
Archaeoperix ist nicht mehr dabei
Zum Beispiel selbst der Shenzhouraptor ist
Nicht mehr dabei zum Beispiel
Sowieso sind nach dem Regen die
Meisten nicht mehr dabei ich warte
Auf das Anlanden in Zuversicht
Auf dem einstmals ragenden Gipfel
Der neuen Insel dem alleinigen Strand
Ich warte auf das was der seltener Vogel
Bei seiner Rückkehr im Schnabel trägt:
Das neue Lied! Ararat!
Ararat! Was der seltene Vogel nach seiner
Rückkehr im Schnabel trägt: Das neue Lied!
Das neue Lied!
Es liegt auf der Zunge und brennt!
Es liegt auf der Zunge und brennt!
Es liegt auf der Zunge und brennt!
Es liegt auf der Zunge und brennt!
The lyrics of Einstürzende Neubauten's song "Seltener Vogel" convey various themes and imagery.
The repeated phrase "Was für ein seltener Vogel" or "What a rare bird" serves as a metaphorical representation of something unique and extraordinary. The rare bird signifies an individual or an idea that stands out from the norm. This individual or idea is described as "singing softly" or "feathers without color," suggesting a gentle and subtle presence that is often overlooked amidst the chaos of the world.
The song then transitions into a narrative about the rare bird flying alone towards the towering summit of Mount Ararat. This mythical mountain holds significance as the place where Noah's Ark came to rest after the biblical flood. As the rain begins to pour, the lyrics imply that not everyone can endure the challenges and transformations that follow. The Pteranodon, the Archaeopteryx, and even the Shenzhouraptor are mentioned as examples of creatures that do not survive the rain.
Yet, the singer remains hopeful, waiting for the rare bird to return with something special in its beak: the new song. The song is described as being on the tip of the tongue and burning, suggesting a powerful and urgent message that needs to be shared. The reference to Ararat reinforces the idea of a new beginning, symbolizing the emergence of a fresh and transformative experience.
Overall, "Seltener Vogel" explores themes of uniqueness, transformation, and the power of creative expression in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Was für ein seltener Vogel
What an extraordinary creature
Ein seltener Vogel what a rare bird!
An exceptional bird, truly rare
Ein seltener Vogel der sehr sanft singt
A gentle singer, this unique bird
Gefieder ohne Färbung gefieder ohne Färbung
Colorless plumage, devoid of hues
Den Schnabel in die Himmel
Its beak pointing toward the heavens
Den Schnabel in die Himmel what a rare bird!
A magnificent spectacle, such a rare bird
Fliegt allein zum ragenden Gipfel des Ararat
Soars alone to the towering peak of Ararat
Jetzt fängt es endlich an zu regnen
Now it finally starts to rain
Und hört überhaupt nicht mehr auf
And it doesn't stop at all
Nach dem Regen sind nicht mehr alle dabei
After the rain, not everyone remains
Zum Beispiel
Das Pteranodon ist nicht mehr dabei
For example, the Pteranodon is no longer here
Zum Beispiel
Archaeoperix ist nicht mehr dabei
For example, the Archaeoperix is no longer here
Zum Beispiel selbst der Shenzhouraptor ist
Nicht mehr dabei zum Beispiel
For example, even the Shenzhouraptor is
no longer here, for example
Sowieso sind nach dem Regen die
Anyway, after the rain, the majority
Meisten nicht mehr dabei ich warte
Are no longer present, I wait
Auf das Anlanden in Zuversicht
In anticipation of landing with confidence
Auf dem einstmals ragenden Gipfel
On the formerly towering peak
Der neuen Insel dem alleinigen Strand
Of the new island, the sole beach
Ich warte auf das was der seltener Vogel
Bei seiner Rückkehr im Schnabel trägt:
I wait for what the rare bird carries in its beak upon returning:
Das neue Lied! Ararat!
The new song! Ararat!
Was der seltene Vogel nach seiner
Rückkehr im Schnabel trägt: Das neue Lied!
What the rare bird brings in its beak upon returning: The new song!
Es liegt auf der Zunge und brennt!
It lies on the tongue and burns!
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ALEXANDER HACKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mwsessor1
What a rare bird…
What a rare bird…
What a rare bird
What a rare bird
A rare bird
What a rare bird!
What a rare bird
What a rare bird
A rare bird
Who sings very gently
What a rare bird
What a rare bird
A rare bird
Who sings very gently
Feathers without coloring
Feathers without coloring
What a rare bird!
What a rare bird…
What a rare bird…
The beak in the sky
The beak in the sky
What a rare bird!
What a rare bird…
Flies alone to the towering peak
Ararat
Ararat!
Ararat!
Now it finally starts to rain
And does not stop at all
After the rain, not everyone is there
The pteranodon is no longer there
Archaeoperix not in it any more
Even the shenzhouraptor is no longer there
Anyway, after the rain most of them are no longer there…
I am waiting…
On landing in confidence
On the once towering peak
The new island
The sole beach
I am waiting
On what the rare bird
On his return
In the beak carries:
The new song!
Ararat!
Ararat!
What the rare bird carries in its beak after its return:
The new song!
It lies on the tongue and burns!
It lies on the tongue and burns!
It lies on the tongue and burns!
It lies on the tongue and burns!
@keanuwhittier1784
I just love how creepy this song is. Heard it on CSI and couldn't get it out my head.
@crescentmoon9728
Same
@miguelferreira4204
I knew Einstürzende Neubauten already but I was unaware of this song as I mainly focused on the early records. When I first heard it on CSI I went “Hang on! I know this voice! It’s Blixa Bargeld!”. As it happens the whole of “Perpetuum Mobile” album (2001) is brilliant. It was surprising yet great to hear it on a mainstream TV show as soundtrack
@quasarsphere
I know I'll lose a lot of cool points for saying this, but I like late period Neubauten a lot more than the early stuff. This song is WONDERFUL, and I think Perpetuum Mobile is by far their best album.
@Indywidude
Same
@BrunoGomes-ew8be
AMAZING as USUAL... (EN)
@TheJoeMotes
CSI anyone?
@kerrielane6929
I've been looking for this.
@Stormpriest
exactly how I came across this song. I used to listen to These guys from 89 to the late 90s. This obv came out after I stopped buying their cds
@corvusduluth
Yep!