Guano Apes is an alternative metal band formed in 1994 in Göttingen, German… Read Full Bio ↴Guano Apes is an alternative metal band formed in 1994 in Göttingen, Germany. The group consists of Sandra Nasic (vocals), Henning Rümenapp (guitar), Stefan Ude (bass) and Dennis Poschwatta (drums). Their energetic rock mix is mostly described as crossover, going from rap over funky, from melodic singing to hardcore screaming of their lead singer. The band has released five studio albums, with four Top 10 songs in Germany.

The band was already established in 1994 by Rümenapp, Ude and Poschwatta, when the vocalist Sandra Nasic joined later that year. They recorded 3 demo tapes, but their career took off in 1996 after winning the Local Hero contest for unsigned bands. They used the prize money for recording their first hit "Open Your Eyes" and shot a video for that song. They also signed to GUN/Supersonic Records.

"Open Your Eyes" was released as a single (#5 GER) and was followed by their debut album Proud Like a God in 6 October 1997. The album ranked #4 and it was certified platinum in Germany. Two other singles helped the album's popularity and sales: "Rain" (#76 GER) and "Lords of the Boards" (#10 GER). "Lord of the Boards" is performed as the closing song on every Guano Apes concert.

In 1999, they issued the stand alone single "Don't You Turn Your Back on Me" (# 50 GER).

In 2 May 2000, Guano Apes released the sophomore album, Don't Give Me Names. This #1 album in Germany was certifed gold in the same country and it was promoted by four singles: "Big in Japan" (#9 GER, #5 IT), "No Speech" (#75 GER), "Living in a Lie" (#84 GER) and "Dödel Up" (#57 GER).

In 2001, the band credited as Guano Babes featuring Michael Mittermeier, issued the stand alone single "Kumba Yo!" (#3 GER).

Their third album Walking on a Thin Line was released in 3 February 2003. The album peaked #1 and it was certified gold in Germany. Guano Apes released three singles from this album: "You Can't Stop Me" (#10 GER), "Pretty in Scarlet" (#51 GER) and "Quietly" (#51 GER).

After the very long promo tour to the WOATL album, the band decided to take a rest for a while. In 2004 they issued a Best Of album titled Planet of the Apes and the single "Break the Line". The band broke up after a final tour in February 2005. A year later, their label released the compilation Lost (T)apes, which contains previously unreleased demos, originally recorded in 1994 and 1995.

Dennis Poschwatta formed the crossover band Tamoto with his friend G-Ball and released the album Clemenza. Henning Rümenapp worked for Horus Studios in Germany. Sandra Nasic released her solo album The Signal in 2007. In 2006 Dennis, Henning and Stefan formed a new group with singer Charles Simmons, called IO. IO realeased their studio album For the Masses in 2008.

In 2009 Guano Apes reformed and played some dates including Enterro da Gata (Portugal), Rock am Ring (Germany), Nova Rock (Austria), Woodstock Festival (Poland), Sofia (Bulgaria), Bucharest (Romania). In Bucharest, Sandra announced the band is working on a new studio album.

Their fourth album Bel Air was released in Spring 2011, preceded by the single "Oh What a Night".

Official site: http://www.guanoapes.org

La Noix
Guano Apes Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Allez, allez
Comment ça va, comment ça va ?
Et vous, et vous ?

Au début de la saison elle est toujours de bonne humeur
Le monsieur est pauvre
Et si la lune tombe
Il va à la chasse, sans classe, en face

Dans la rue
Les femmes attendent
Elles rient de lui
Parce qu'il leur offre une noix
Cette saison
Les femmes attendent
Elles rient de lui
Parce qu'il leur offre une noix

Allez, allez
Comment ça va, comment ça va ?
Et vous, et vous ?

Après cette aventure il va dans un bar
Triste, parce qu'il a encore une noix
Il espère le miracle
Ce soir il prend sa guitare
Il chante

Dans la rue
Les femmes attendent
Elles rient de lui
Parce qu'il leur offre une noix
Cette saison
Les femmes attendent
Elles rient de lui
Parce qu'il leur offre une noix

Allez, allez
Comment ça va, comment ça va ?
Et vous, et vous ? (2x)

Comment ça va

Overall Meaning

The song "La Noix" by Guano Apes tells a story about a man who is always in a good mood at the beginning of the season, but he is poor and has nothing much to offer. He goes out hunting in a rather undignified way. He passes through the streets, and the women he meets look down on him and laugh at him because he offers them a single walnut as a gift. Despite this, he persists in his attempts to win their favor. When he comes out of the bar, he takes out his guitar and begins to sing. The man hopes for a miracle through his music, and he persists in his quest despite the discouragement of the women he meets.

The lyrics of the song are quite straightforward and tell the story of a man's trials and tribulations in trying to win the affection of women while dealing with his poverty. The lyrics also suggest that despite the setbacks, he still retains some level of positive spirit and hope, as evidenced by his continuing attempts to win over the women with a walnut or his singing.

Line by Line Meaning

Allez, allez
Come on, come on

Comment ça va, comment ça va ?
How are you, how are you?

Et vous, et vous ?
And you, and you?

Au début de la saison elle est toujours de bonne humeur
At the beginning of the season, she is always in a good mood

Le monsieur est pauvre
The gentleman is poor

Et si la lune tombe
And if the moon falls

Il va à la chasse, sans classe, en face
He goes to hunt, without class, in front

Dans la rue
In the street

Les femmes attendent
The women are waiting

Elles rient de lui
They laugh at him

Parce qu'il leur offre une noix
Because he offers them a nut