After dropping out of high school, he started an apprenticeship as a construction draftsman. He soon changed plans and was admitted to the Duisburg conservatoire to study piano, after passing an entrance exam for particularly gifted applicants (it later turned out that his diploma was invalid since he dropped out of high school too early). He then toured as a little-known jazz musician and as entertainer, basically as stand-up comedian in local clubs. Schneider plays various instruments such as the Hammond organ, acoustic and electric guitar, ukulele, drums, piano, accordion, trumpet and others.
He became a popular comedian in the 1990s and still is among the best known German comedians. He toured and still tours (alone and with his bands "Hardcore", "The Firefuckers" and others) through major concert halls with a mixture of music and comedy. He frequently appears on German TV, and is probably best known for his song Katzenklolied (Kitty Litter Box Song): "Katzenklo, Katzenklo, ja das macht die Katze froh" ("Kitty litter box, kitty litter box, that makes the cat happy."), a number one hit in 1994. He wrote, directed and starred in four movies. In 2007 he appeared as Adolf Hitler in a satirical film: Mein Führer: The Truly Truest Truth About Adolf Hitler.
Schneider has written nine books, including an autobiography ("There is my whole life in this book, up to right now. The second part comes in thirty, forty years") and a musical, "Mendy - das Wusical", which appeared at Bochum Theatre in 2004.
His comic techniques include parody, use of the local Ruhr area dialect, surprising use of infantile language and other unexpected changes in style, slapstick/physical humour, Dada like absurdities, sudden and unexpected use of crude/sexual humour, references to national and international highbrow and lowbrow culture, and phonetic and declamatory playfulness and exaggeration. Most of his material is heavily language dependent and therefore does not translate well into other languages.
Georgia On My Mind
Helge Schneider Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A short time later they all watched in awe and all of a sudden I'm here
She was also my father so I hardly got to see her
I was afraid of the dark, but it was only 'cause I was a believer
I was told when I was two years old
She swore that I would be special
I took a good look around and thought
Georgia, you'll always be home to me
Georgia, I belong to you and yes you belong to me
When they ask me where I'm from
I'm proud to say that I'm your son
I'm movin' on using mostly dirt roads until I find my way
Campbellton Road, can't forget Cascade or remember both MLK
There's somethin' about Atlanta, doesn't cease to amaze me
Oh, after all you even raised the people that raised me
And my old man is very dead, can't be mad now why bother?
And you have been my mother nature also my godfather
Georgia, you'll always be home to me
Georgia, I belong to you and yes you belong to me
When they ask me where I'm from
I'm proud to say that I'm your son
Georgia, you'll always be home to me
Georgia, I belong to you and yes you belong to me
When they ask me where I'm from
I'm proud to say that I'm your son
In this song, Helge Schneider takes a trip down memory lane, reminiscing about his mother and father and how he came into this world. He reflects on how his mother was the one who had the idea to bring him into the world, but his father was not present during his early years. Despite this, Helge assures his mother that he is going to be alright in the city, as she had hoped he would be special. He also acknowledges his fear of the dark which was based on a belief, highlighting his innocent and naive nature as a child.
Helge then moves on to speak about his hometown of Georgia, which he considers to be his true home. He sings about his pride in being from Georgia and how he belongs to his hometown and it belongs to him. He mentions the various dirt roads he has traveled in search of himself, pointing out specific streets and landmarks like Campbellton Road, Cascade, and MLK Boulevard. Helge expresses appreciation for the city of Atlanta, which has never ceased to amaze him, and acknowledges the people who raised him, including some who have passed on. In the end, Helge reflects on how his mother has acted as both his mother and father, a mother nature and godfather to him.
Line by Line Meaning
Back down memory lane, I began as my mother's bright idea
Looking back at the past, I was born due to my mother's inspiration.
A short time later they all watched in awe and all of a sudden I'm here
Within a brief time, everyone watched in wonder as I came into existence.
She was also my father so I hardly got to see her
My mother also played the role of a father, so I didn't get to spend much time with her.
I was afraid of the dark, but it was only 'cause I was a believer
Although I was scared of the darkness, the reason behind it was only due to my beliefs.
I was told when I was two years old, she swore that I would be special
At the young age of two, my mother promised that I would be unique and extraordinary.
I took a good look around and thought, Don't worry mama this city's gonna help ya
I assessed the surroundings and confidently thought that the city would assist my mother with raising me.
Georgia, you'll always be home to me Georgia, I belong to you and yes you belong to me
Georgia has always been my home, and I feel a sense of belonging to the state, just like it belongs to me.
When they ask me where I'm from, I'm proud to say that I'm your son
When someone inquires about my origin, I am glad to proclaim that I am a son of Georgia.
I'm movin' on using mostly dirt roads until I find my way
I am progressing ahead, utilizing mostly unpaved roads until I reach my destination.
Campbellton Road, can't forget Cascade or remember both MLK
I distinctly recall Campbellton Road and Cascade, but I'm uncertain if I have memories of both MLK.
There's somethin' about Atlanta, doesn't cease to amaze me
There's something about Atlanta that never fails to leave me astonished.
Oh, after all you even raised the people that raised me
In the end, you even raised the people who raised me, so your influence runs deep in my roots.
And my old man is very dead, can't be mad now why bother?
My father is long gone, and holding onto anger towards him is pointless at this stage.
And you have been my mother nature also my godfather
You have played the role of both my mother and my godfather, like a nurturing force of nature.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., BMG Rights Management
Written by: David Guy, Homer Steinweiss, Leon Michels, Nick Movshon, Thomas Brenneck, Thomas Callaway
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Funnysterste
Helge wird immer besser je besser er wird.
John Gordon
So ist das im Leben
Regina Zimmermann
Weiser wird Helge
triggSerable
Voll geil!
Finde Pete's Gesang auch klasse. :)
popogast
Schön, dass Pete York bei dem Spaß dabei war.
Liegt wohl daran, dass Helge wirklich ein begnadeter Musiker ist.
qwasd0r
Der Mann hat auch eine klasse Singstimme, spitze!
ThePilot314
Pete York einer der besten Schlagzeuger ünerhaupt. Mal unter Drummer-Battle suchen, da geht die Post ab!
Linki Link
Buy the Super drumming records. Or is this what you meant.
Rita Horvath
oh mein Gott, das ist so großartig ... ! ♥
tripleplonk
Herr Pete hat eine schöne Stimme.