From 1972 to 1973, Hagen enrolled in the crash-course performance program at The Central Studio for Light Music in East Berlin. Upon graduation, she joined the band Automobil (picture), which released a well-received album in Germany, including her first hit "Du hast den Farbfilm vergessen" in 1974.
After a concert for a West German labour union in 1976 her stepfather, Wolf Biermann, was forbidden to return to the GDR. Because of their protests against it her mother, Eva-Maria Hagen and Nina were thrown out of GDR in 1977, and followed Biermann to his hometown Hamburg.
Nina subsequently met West-Berlin photographer Jim Rakete (who also produced some bands he shot the cover-photos for - like "Nena" some years later). He brought Nina together with the politically left-wing band "Lokomotive Kreuzberg" (later known as "Spliff"): thus the "Nina Hagen Band" was born.
In 1978 The Nina Hagen Band released their self-titled debut album, which included titles like "TV-Glotzer" (a cover of "White Punks on Dope" by The Tubes) and "Auf'm Bahnhof Zoo".
According to reviewer Fritz Rumler, she thrusts herself into the music, aggressively, directly, furiously, roars in the most beautiful operatic alto, then, through shrieks and squeals, precipitates herself into luminous soprano heights... she parodies, satirises, and howls on stage like a dervish.
Nina Hagen's eccentricity led to big disputes in the band and during a subsequent European tour Hagen decided to leave the band, though she was still under contract to produce a second album in 1979. This LP, Unbehagen (in addition to the obvious pun on her name, in German this also means 'discomfort' or 'unease'), was eventually produced with the band recording their tracks in Berlin and Hagen recording the vocals in Los Angeles, California. It included the single "African Reggae"/"Wir leben immer... noch" (a cover of Lene Lovich's "Lucky Number"). The headless Nina Hagen Band soon developed a successful independent musical career as Spliff.
Meanwhile, Hagen's public persona was steadily creating an increasing media uproar and she became infamous for an appearance on an Austrian talk show called Club 2, in which she performed an explicit simulation of masturbation. She also acted with Dutch sex-drugs-and-rock-'n'-roll legend Herman Brood in the movie Cha Cha, along with Lene Lovich and various Dutch bands.
An European tour with a new band in 1980 was cancelled, she had a love affair with a 16 year old punk from Amsterdam called Noddy (www.noddyriot.co.uk) and sang a RHCP rapduet with him at the OneWorldPoetry festival at the MilkyWay and lived with him in New York and in the Bahamas.
In 1982 her first solo album NunSexMonkRock, a dissonant mix of punk, funk and opera, was a minor hit, and led to a world tour with the No Problem Orchestra.
In 1983 came the album Angstlos and a minor European tour. By this time, Hagen's public appearances were becoming even stranger; over the years they frequently included discussions of God, UFOs, her social and political beliefs, animal rights / vivisection and claims of alien sightings. The English version of Angstlos, 'Fearless', generated two major club hits in America , "Zarah" and the disco/punk/opera classic, "New York New York".
1985's 'Nina Hagen In Ekstasy' fared less well, but it did generate club hits with "Universal Radio" and a cover of "Spirit In The Sky", and it also featured her hardcore punk take on Frank Sinatra's "My Way", which had been one of her signature live tunes in previous years. Her contract with CBS over, she released the Punk Wedding EP independently in 1987, a celebration of her marriage to an 18-year old punk. It followed an independent 1986 one-off single with Lene Lovich, the anthemic "Don't Kill The Animals".
In 1989 Hagen released the album Nina Hagen which was backed up by another German tour. Now living in Paris with her daughter Cosma Shiva, in 1991 she toured Europe in support of her new album Street.
In 1992 Hagen became the host of a TV show on RTLplus. The following year she released Revolution Ballroom and two years later the German-language album Freud Euch appeared, recorded in English as Beehappy in 1996. Also in 1996, Hagen collaborated with electronic music composer Christopher Franke on "Alchemy of Love", the theme song for the Tenchi Universe movie Tenchi Muyo! in Love.
In 1998, Hagen became the host of a weekly science fiction show on the British Sci-Fi-Channel, in addition to embarking on another tour of Germany. In 1999, she released the devotional album Om Namah Shivay, which was distributed exclusively online. She also sang "Witness" on KMFDM's Adios.
Nina has a strong interest in various religions, but that is mainly driven by her urge to build a better world and her own colorful freedom within it.
In 2000, her song Schön ist die Welt became the official song of Expo 2000. The album The Return of the Mother was released in February 2001, accompanied by another German tour.
Hagen dubbed the voice of Sally in the German release of Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas and she also did some voice work in Hot Dogs by Michael Schoemann.
Hagen has been featured on many songs by other bands, for instance Oomph!'s song Fieber, a cover of Rammstein's "Seemann" with Apocalyptica and in 2008 appeared readily on psy-trance act S.U.N. Project's X Black Album, most notably on the fully vocal track We're In Space. She also sang the song "Garota de Berlim" with Brazilian singer Supla in her early years.
Her two children are Cosma Shiva and Otis.
URLs:
BEST archive for Nina Hagen pictures and stuff (regrettably just in German), incl. very old GDR pics like a beautiful one at the age of 18 and one shot by the "Stasi" (together with her stepfather Wolf Biermann - wiki)
Erfurt & Gera
Nina Hagen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wir haben uns heute hier zusammengefunden,
um über den Weggang unser geliebten Christian Kiesling
aus Erfurt zu trauern.
Gäben wir dem Toten nun unser letztes Geleit,
und bitten wir den Herrn im Himmel, um Gnade für seine Seele!
Da steht'n Totenstein an der Autobahn
da starb so'n armes Schwein in nem' Autounfall,
das war'n ziemlich harter, schwerer
Oh Christian, starb auf der Autobahn,
paar Wochen vorher war er grad abgehaun'
aus'm Osten innen' Westen,
der Fluchtversuch war vom Besten.
Es war sein erster Trip zurück und gleich da bricht's ihm das Genick,
von Wessi-Land nach West-Berlin,
zwischen Erfurt+Gera, das Schicksal spielte Lehrer.
Aber Hallo!
In Erfurt geboren, in Erfurt verloren,
er haute ab mit einer Clique aus sieben,
und alle aus Erfurt, in Erfurt verschieden,
mir is nur die verliebte Erinnerung geblieben.
Er war'n Aufschneider, n' Angeber sogleich von "Bild" gekauft,
Geld ausgeben, Playboyleben, in Erfurt abge-sauft!
DAAA...Ruhe!
Sonst hol ick die Volkspolizei!
Aber hallo! (Und den Geist von Walter Ulbricht)
Da steht'n Totenstein an der Autobahn zwischen
Erfurt und Gera
Daaaamitt's nich noch mehr wer'n schalt' ick mir ein,
ick bin der Bekehrer.
Und wenn ihr eure Trabbis gegen BMW's eintauscht,
ihr besser auf die kleine inn're Stimme lauscht!
Ihr Ossis rast in den Westen, um Eure neuen Kisten zu testen.
Jetzt uff die Bremsen getreten, hier wird nicht gepennt,
die Totenhemdenindustrie steht voll im Trend,
und alles ist so schön bunt hier,
da kommt man schon schnell auf den Hund hier!
Oh Christian, starb auf der Autobahn,
paar Wochen vorher war er grad abgehaun'
aus'm Osten innen' Westen,
der Fluchtversuch war vom Besten.
Oh Christian starb auf der Autobahn,
die "Bild am Sonntag" ist total drauf abgefahren!
Lasst Euch bloß nicht verleiten!
Ihr gehört doch zu den Gescheiten!
(Würden Sie sich bitte mal ausweisen? Nee.. aber ich kann Ihnen ne' Banane schenken!)
The song "Erfurt & Gera" by Nina Hagen starts with a funeral announcement of Christian Kiesling, who passed away in Erfurt. The singer requests everyone to give their final respects to the deceased and pray for his soul's salvation. The song then takes a turn towards a comment on a fatal accident that happened on the autobahn connecting Erfurt and Gera, where a person named Christian died a few weeks after his escape from the east (Erfurt) to the west (Berlin) and buying the "Bild" newspaper, which was the symbol of western consumerism.
Nina Hagen paints a bleak outlook towards the state of former East Germany, with sarcastic remarks and dark humor. She addresses the audience as "Ossis," which is a slang term referring to people from East Germany. She notes that East Germans are too desperate to test their new Western automobiles and warns them to be careful as the death industry is thriving. The song's tone is cynical towards Western capitalism and consumerism, indirectly criticizing the people of East Germany for being caught up in the same race, just like the west. The song's lyrics evoke a sense of regret for the lost opportunities and the lives lost in an attempt to escape, which is now merely a part of history.
Line by Line Meaning
Verehrte Trauergemeinde!
Respected mourners, we have gathered here today to mourn the loss of our beloved Christian Kiesling from Erfurt.
Wir haben uns heute hier zusammengefunden,
We have gathered here today,
um über den Weggang unser geliebten Christian Kiesling aus Erfurt zu trauern.
to mourn the departure of our beloved Christian Kiesling from Erfurt.
Gäben wir dem Toten nun unser letztes Geleit,
Let us now give our final farewell to the deceased,
und bitten wir den Herrn im Himmel, um Gnade für seine Seele!
and pray to the Lord in heaven for mercy on his soul!
Da steht'n Totenstein an der Autobahn zwischen Erfurt und Gera,
A gravestone stands on the highway between Erfurt and Gera,
da starb so'n armes Schwein in nem' Autounfall,
where a poor pig died in a car accident,
das war'n ziemlich harter, schwerer
which was quite a hard and heavy blow.
Oh Christian, starb auf der Autobahn,
Oh Christian, died on the highway,
paar Wochen vorher war er grad abgehaun' aus'm Osten innen' Westen,
a few weeks before he had just escaped from the east to the west,
der Fluchtversuch war vom Besten.
with one of the best escape attempts.
Es war sein erster Trip zurück und gleich da bricht's ihm das Genick,
It was his first trip back and right away he breaks his neck,
von Wessi-Land nach West-Berlin, zwischen Erfurt+Gera,
from Wessi-Land to West Berlin, between Erfurt and Gera,
das Schicksal spielte Lehrer.
fate played the teacher.
Aber Hallo!
But hello!
In Erfurt geboren, in Erfurt verloren,
Born in Erfurt, lost in Erfurt,
er haute ab mit einer Clique aus sieben,
he ran away with a gang of seven,
und alle aus Erfurt, in Erfurt verschieden,
all from Erfurt, all disappeared in Erfurt,
mir is nur die verliebte Erinnerung geblieben.
only the memory of love remains with me.
Er war'n Aufschneider, n' Angeber sogleich von 'Bild' gekauft,
He was a bragger, showing off the newspaper he bought from 'Bild',
Geld ausgeben, Playboyleben, in Erfurt abge-sauft!
Spending money, living like a Playboy, and drowning it all away in Erfurt!
DAAA...Ruhe!
SHHH...Quiet!
Sonst hol ick die Volkspolizei!
Otherwise, I'll call the People's Police!
Und den Geist von Walter Ulbricht)
And the ghost of Walter Ulbricht!
Daaaamitt's nich noch mehr wer'n schalt' ick mir ein,
To prevent any more from happening, I'll intervene,
ick bin der Bekehrer.
I am the convert.
Und wenn ihr eure Trabbis gegen BMW's eintauscht,
And if you exchange your Trabis for BMW's,
ihr besser auf die kleine inn're Stimme lauscht!
You better listen to that little inner voice!
Ihr Ossis rast in den Westen, um Eure neuen Kisten zu testen.
You Ossis race to the West to test your new cars.
Jetzt uff die Bremsen getreten, hier wird nicht gepennt,
Now hit the brakes, no sleeping here,
die Totenhemdenindustrie steht voll im Trend,
The funeral industry is trending,
und alles ist so schön bunt hier,
And everything is so colorful here,
da kommt man schon schnell auf den Hund hier!
One can easily go to the dogs here!
Oh Christian, starb auf der Autobahn,
Oh Christian, died on the highway,
die 'Bild am Sonntag' ist total drauf abgefahren!
'Bild am Sonntag' was totally obsessed with it!
Lasst Euch bloß nicht verleiten!
Don't be tempted!
Ihr gehört doch zu den Gescheiten!
You belong to the smart ones!
(Würden Sie sich bitte mal ausweisen?
Nee.. aber ich kann Ihnen ne' Banane schenken!)
(Can you please identify yourself? No, but I can give you a banana!)
Contributed by Gavin K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Maik Deumlich
Seid ca. 30 Jahren schmeiß ick mir jetzt weg über dieses Prachtwerk - immer mal wieder - isch gönnt mich beömmeln!
Viele Grüße aus Erfurt
Dirk Braatz
JA!!!!!!
Fabian Hartmann
Nina ist einfach der Wahnsinn, ich liebe sie selbst mit erst 22 ist sie einfach nur der Wahnsinn😂😂😂
Ina Koppenburger
Ich liebe es ! Liebe Grüsse aus Sachsen von dor Ina an de Nin❤
Ina Koppenburger
An de Nina, hab mich vertatscht 😘
steffen petzold
der beste song aller zeiten
Eugeniy Erer
Dass mein favourite fon Nina!!!
Field Post
Das muss auf meiner Beerdigung gespielt werden 😜
No Ma’am
Fahr vorsichtig! 😉
Kurt der Eisenflechterkulle
Hallo Fans und Verücktes Huhn Nina, wir hoffen es geht dir gut!? 1979 hab ich dich in der Stadthalle zu Braunschweig Live gesehen! Alles Gute, der AC/DC + Lemmy Fan, Kurt