The group's earliest incarnation included German drummer En Esch and British vocalist Raymond Watts, the latter of whom left and rejoined the group several times over its history. The trio recorded the band's earliest albums in Germany before Konietzko and Esch moved to the United States, where they found much greater success with seminal industrial record label Wax Trax!. German guitarist Günter Schulz joined in 1990; both he and Esch continued with the band until KMFDM broke up in 1999. Konietzko resurrected KMFDM in 2002 (Esch and Schulz declined to rejoin) on Metropolis Records, and by 2005 he had assembled a consistent line-up that included American singer Lucia Cifarelli, British guitarists Jules Hodgson and Steve White, and British drummer Andy Selway. Konietzko and Cifarelli moved back to Germany in 2007, while the rest of band stayed in the U.S. In addition to these core members, dozens of other musicians have worked with the group across its nineteen studio albums and two dozen singles, with sales totaling in excess of two million records worldwide.
Critics consider KMFDM to be one of the first bands to bring industrial music to mainstream audiences, though Konietzko refers to the band's music as "The Ultra-Heavy Beat". The band incorporates heavy metal guitar riffs, electronic music, samples, and both male and female vocals in its music, which encompasses a variety of styles including industrial rock and electronic body music (EBM). The band is fiercely political, with many of its lyrics taking stands against violence, war, and oppression. KMFDM normally tours at least once after every major release, and band members are known for their accessibility to and interaction with fans, both online and at concerts. Members, singly or working together and with other musicians, have recorded under many other names, primarily Watts' PIG, Konietzko's Excessive Force, and Esch and Schulz's Slick Idiot.
KMFDM (Discogs): https://www.discogs.com/artist/11606-KMFDM
KMFDM (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/officialkmfdm
KMFDM (MySpace): https://myspace.com/officialkmfdm
KMFDM (Official Site): http://www.kmfdm.net
KMFDM (Reddit): https://www.reddit.com/r/kmfdm
KMFDM (SoundCloud): https://soundcloud.com/kmfdm_official
KMFDM (Store): http://kmfdm.fulfillmentmerch.com
KMFDM (Tumblr): https://www.tumblr.com/tagged/kmfdm
KMFDM (Twitter): https://twitter.com/kmfdmofficial
KMFDM (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/user/officialkmfdm
---Current Members---
Sascha Konietzko – vocals, guitar, bass, programming, keyboards, synthesizer, percussion
Lucia Cifarelli – vocals, keyboards
Jules Hodgson – guitar, bass, keyboards
Andy Selway – drums
Steve White – guitar
---Former Members---
En Esch – vocals, drums, guitar, programming
Raymond Watts – vocals, programming
Günter Schulz – guitar, programming
Mark Durante – guitar, steel guitar
Tim Skold – vocals, guitar, bass, drums, programming
Classic KMFDM Discography (1984-1999)
---Studio Albums---
1984 - Opium
1986 - What Do You Know, Deutschland?
1988 - Don't Blow Your Top
1989 - UAIOE
1990 - Naïve
1992 - Money
1993 - Angst
1995 - Nihil
1996 - Xtort
1997 - Symbols
1999 - Adios
---Compilations---
1986 - 84-86 (compilation)
1994 - Naïve/Hell to Go (remix)
1996 - Retro (compilation)
1998 - Agogo (compilation)
---Singles---
1987 - Kickin' Ass
1988 - Don't Blow Your Top
1988 - More & Faster
1989 - Virus
1990 - Godlike
1991 - Naïve + The Days of Swine and Roses (split with My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult)
1991 - Split
1992 - Vogue
1992 - Money
1992 - Help Us/Save Us/Take Us Away
1992 - Sucks
1993 - A Drug Against War
1994 - Light
1994 - Glory
1995 - Juke Joint Jezebel
1995 - Juke Joint Jezebel (The Moroder Mixes)
1995 - Brute
1995 - Trust
1995 - Year of the Pig
1996 - Power
1996 - Rules
1997 - Anarchy
1998 - MDFMK
---Side Projects/Collaborations---
1991 - Excessive Force - Conquer Your House
1992 - Excessive Force - Conquer Your World
1992 - En Esch - Cheesy
1993 - Excessive Force - Blizkrieg
1994 - Excessive Force - Gentle Death
1994 - KMFDM vs. PIG - Sin Sex & Salvation
---Modern KMFDM Discography (2002-present)
---Studio Albums---
2002 - Attak
2003 - WWIII
2005 - Hau Ruck
2007 - Tohuvabohu
2009 - Blitz
2011 - WTF?!
2013 - Kunst
2014 - Our Time Will Come
2017 - Hell Yeah
2019 - Paradise
2022 - HYËNA
2024 - LET GO
---Compilations---
2002 - Strum & Drang Tour Live (live)
2004 - WWIII Live 2003 (live)
2006 - Ruck Zuck (remix)
2008 - Brimborium (remix)
2008 - Extra Vol. 1 (compilation)
2008 - Extra Vol. 2 (compilation)
2008 - Extra Vol. 3 (compilation)
2009 - Krieg (remix)
2010 - Würst (compilation)
2010 - Greatest Shit (compilation)
2014 - We Are KMFDM (live)
---Singles---
2002 - Boots
2010 - Day of Light
2010 - Godlike 2010
2010 - Light 2010
2011 - Krank
2011 - Amnesia
2014 - Salvation
---Side Projects/Collaborations---
2000 - MDFMK - MDFMK
2001 - Schweinstein - Schweinstein
2001 - Slick Idiot - DickNity
2002 - Schweinstein - Son of Schweinstein
2003 - Slick Idiot - ReDickUlous
2004 - Slick Idiot - Screwtinized
2004 - Lucia - From the Land of Volcanoes
2006 - Slick Idiot - xSCREWciating
2006 - KGC - Dirty Bomb
2009 - Slick Idiot - Sucksess
2009 - Skold vs. KMFDM - Skold vs. KMFDM
2011 - OK●ZTEIN●OK - PROLET●KULT
2014 - En Esch - SPÄNK
Godlike
KMFDM Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Black man, white man, rip the system
I will pray and pray
That your country undergoes recovery
Use the power
Taste the best, have your salvation
Now is the time
Get on the right side
{Security forces may have killed thousands of people
In crushing the anti-government rallies
Fascists and terrorists are responsible for the violence}
Escape your own life
Of bondage and sin
Now is the time
Get on the right side
You'll be godlike
You'll be godlike
{And I know that we were right to do what we did
And if you ask am I happy
Absolutely not, absolutely not}
Raise your head
From the ashes, from the fire
Now is the time
Get on the right side
You'll be godlike
You'll be godlike
You'll be godlike
Und so werde ich beten und abermals beten
Auf dass euer land eine genesung erfahren wird
Und ihr eure macht nutzen werdet
Gluckseligkeit zu sehen und das heil zu ernten
Now is the time
Get on the right side
Godlike
You'll be godlike
The song "Godlike" by KMFDM is a powerful critique of the political, social, and economic systems that oppress and control individuals and communities. The repeated refrain of "Black man, white man, rip the system" highlights the need for unity among people of different races and backgrounds to dismantle the structures of power that maintain the status quo. The lyrics also speak to the need for change and transformation, urging individuals to "escape your own life of bondage and sin" and to "get on the right side" of history.
The song may also be interpreted as a call to revolution and resistance against oppressive institutions and ideologies. The references to "fascists and terrorists" suggest a critique of the state-sponsored violence and repression that is often used to suppress dissent and maintain control. The lyric "raise your head from the ashes, from the fire" implies that even in the face of destruction and oppression, there is a possibility for rebirth and renewal.
Line by Line Meaning
Black man, white man, rip the system
People of all races should work together to dismantle oppressive systems and structures
I will pray and pray
That your country undergoes recovery
I hope your country can heal and overcome its struggles
Use the power
Taste the best, have your salvation
Use your own power and experience the best things in life to achieve salvation
Now is the time
Get on the right side
The current moment is important and people should align themselves with what is right
{Security forces may have killed thousands of people
In crushing the anti-government rallies
Fascists and terrorists are responsible for the violence}
Violence and oppression by those in power have caused harm and mayhem in society
Escape your own life
Of bondage and sin
Free yourself from a life filled with oppression and wrongdoing
You'll be godlike
You'll be godlike
You can achieve greatness and godlike status
{And I know that we were right to do what we did
And if you ask am I happy
Absolutely not, absolutely not}
We did what we did for the greater good, but that doesn't mean we are happy about it
Raise your head
From the ashes, from the fire
Rise up from the devastation and chaos and become stronger
Und so werde ich beten und abermals beten
Auf dass euer land eine genesung erfahren wird
Und ihr eure macht nutzen werdet
Gluckseligkeit zu sehen und das heil zu ernten
And I will pray and pray so that your country can heal and you can use your power to see happiness and achieve salvation
Godlike
You'll be godlike
You can achieve godlike status
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: SASCH KEGEL KONIETZKO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@feastofmysoul
I'll pray
And pray
That your country
Undergoes recovery
Use the power
Taste the bliss
Harvest salvation
Now is the time
Get on the right side
And you'll be godlike
Escape your old life
Of bondage and sin
Now is the time
Get on the right side
You'll be godlike
You'll be godlike
Raise your head
From the ashes
From the fire
Now is the time
Get on the right side
You'll be godlike
You'll be godlike
@acidmadhouse2230
I'd like to personally thank Tom Fulp for having a killer taste in music
@darkseraphim6793
Pico's School is awesome.
@WolfsH0ok
I used to dance to this track when it was in the Clubs
good times
they never did get around to Killing DM ..
oh wait !
@moorooster223
I'd like to personally thank Eric Harris for having a KILLER taste in music >:)
@SethJohn
Early flash and industrial are like peanut butter and jelly
@jonathanmadison12
Newgrounds <3
@bane2988
I played Pico's School when i was younger and have been a KMFDM fan for almost a decade
I never put two and two together
@imtiredofitallmakeitstop
Oof
@tomfulp1050
OMG I was putting together a Cassandra playlist and I came to this song and saw this comment... lol
@torrescesar__
@@tomfulp1050 oh god
Cassandra is my beloved