First released as a 7" single in Germany (B-side: "Neonlicht"), under its English translation the song was eventually included on the B-side of the "Computer Love" single released in July 1981, which reached #36 in the UK charts. When radio DJs started playing the B-side, EMI re-issued the single in December 1981 – apparently against the band's wishes – with "The Model" as the A-side. It reached #1 in February 1982 and spent a total of 21 weeks in the top 75 of the UK singles charts.
The song was first covered by Snakefinger on his debut LP Chewing Hides the Sound in 1979. Noise rock pioneers Big Black covered the song on their 1987 album Songs About Fucking. Another version was released by Rammstein in 1997. It has also been covered by The Cardigans, Carter USM, Belle & Sebastian, Electric Six, Yat-Kha, Hikashu, Ride, Aviador Dro, Eläkeläiset and Zoot Woman, Scala & Kolacny Brothers, Demolition Group, Wunderkind, Fink. Sophie Ellis-Bextor recorded a cover of the song, but Kraftwerk didn't allow it to be released.
Das Model
Kraftwerk Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'd like to take her home that's understood
She plays hard to get, she smiles from time to time
It only takes a camera to change her mind
She's going out tonight, loves drinking just champagne
And she has been checking nearly all the men
She's playing her game and you can hear them say She is looking good, for beauty we will pay
She's posing for consumer products now and then
For every camera she gives the best she can
I saw her on the cover of a magazine
Now she's a big success, I want to meet her again
The song “Das Model” by Kraftwerk is an intriguing take on the modeling industry, depicting a beautiful woman who is both admired and objectified, and for whom appearances and consumerism are paramount. In the lyrics, the band describes the singer as a “model” who is “looking good” and who they would like to “take home”. However, although the woman is initially aloof, she ultimately succumbs to the lure of the camera, changing her mind and posing for the photographer.
The song highlights how the modeling industry promotes a particular type of beauty, as the woman portrayed in the lyrics is seemingly flawless and desirable, attracting the attention of both men and women. She enjoys her celebrity status, enjoying the finest things in life, such as drinking champagne and modeling for various consumer products. She is aware of her own beauty, and uses this to her advantage, playing games with those who surround her. The lyrics suggest that the beauty industry has powerful influence, as the woman is seen as an object of desire and elevated to stardom through her appearance on magazine covers.
Line by Line Meaning
She's a model and she's looking good
The subject being referred to is a professional model, and she has an exceptional appearance.
I'd like to take her home that's understood
The singer is attracted to her and would like to have her in his company.
She plays hard to get, she smiles from time to time
The person they are referring to does not make it easy for others to get close to her, though she does smile occasionally to keep up an appearance.
It only takes a camera to change her mind
A camera has the ability to cause the person to change their stance or mood.
She's going out tonight, loves drinking just champagne
The person in question is going out tonight, likely to a social event, and prefers to consume only champagne.
And she has been checking nearly all the men
She has been observing the men in her vicinity, possibly because she is looking for someone.
She's playing her game and you can hear them say
She is playing a game, and people are discussing her approach, possibly her flirtatiousness.
She is looking good, for beauty we will pay
Her physical appearance is highly valued, and people are willing to pay to see her.
She's posing for consumer products now and then
She frequently poses for advertisements and consumer products to earn a livelihood.
For every camera she gives the best she can
Whenever a camera is around, she does her utmost to look the best she can.
I saw her on the cover of a magazine
The person who was once referred to as just a model is now a celebrity, and appears on the cover of magazines.
Now she's a big success, I want to meet her again
As she has become highly successful, the artist is eager to meet her again.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHRISTOPHER HENRY DIFFORD, GLENN MARTIN TILBROOK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@niadinozavura4411
[Verse 1]
Sie ist ein Model und sie sieht gut aus
Ich nähm sie heut gerne mit zu mir nach Haus
Sie wirkt so kühl, an sie kommt niemand ran
Doch vor der Kamera da zeigt sie was sie kann
[Verse 2]
Sie trinkt in Nachtclubs immer Sekt (Korrekt!)
Und hat hier alle Männer abgecheckt
Im Scheinwerferlicht ihr junges Lächeln strahlt
Sie sieht gut aus und Schönheit wird bezahlt
[Verse 3]
Sie stellt sich zur Schau für das Konsumprodukt
Und wird von Millionen Augen angeguckt
Ihr neues Titelbild ist einfach fabelhaft
Ich muß sie wieder seh'n, ich weiß sie hat's geschafft
@alkowyfunkowy513
RIP Florian Schneider... The Pioneer of electronic sound.
@thankyousomuch9527
RIP😞
@Claudia1sodre
RiP😥😥
@mariobakx6207
Pioneers for sure🤟
@Champipout
RIP😿
@daviddacunzo3648
RIP
@daveice20
listening to early electronic music is like listening to a brighter future that never happened
@marcusTanthony
It happened. You just don’t want to be here.
@jaronimo1976
Korrekt!
@alejandrocruzmonfort3918
Exacto, como toda utopía, como el sueño del progreso, como el sueño de la ciencia, pareciera que todo ha fallado, pero aún se mantiene algo: seguir buscando ansiosamente un horizonte que sabemos jamás alcanzaremos.