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)
Flying Saucers
Nina Hagen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Achtung, achtung, jetzt komm' hier, jetzt komm' hier
Be Fearless
Flying saucers everywhere, say, did you see one too?
One night they came to me as they will also come to you
Those flying saucers are my friends 'cause they're so nice
I'm gonna see them again and again
For flying saucers we are unbelieveably important
'Cause they know the secret of life
Yes, flying saucers understand our world with deep compassion
And we are observed in the name of the Light
And it's so funny when those scary monsters tried to shoot them
And when those bullets just go through them, through
Yes, flying saucers teach us all we've always wanted to know
They open up our heart and our mind, no more blindness
The thought of hate and ignorance is fading away
The crisis finally comes to its end
For flying saucers we are unbelievably important
'Cause they know the secret of life
And flying saucers understand our world with deep compassion
And we are observed in the name of the Light
And it's so funny when those scary monsters
Get the shock of a lifetime with a close encounter
Of the third kind for the first time
Then they wake up, Good Morning America...
Here and now
Be Fearless
Attention, attention
Sei Angstlos!
The lyrics of Nina Hagen's song Flying Saucers are an ode to extraterrestrial beings and their supposed role in humanity's spiritual evolution. The song begins with a call to attention, urging the listener to be present and fearless. The chorus then introduces the singer's fascination with flying saucers, which they believe are not only real but also friendly. The singer claims that the saucers are their friends, and that they have come to visit not only the singer, but everyone.
The singer then describes the significance of the flying saucers, claiming that they hold the secret of life and that they understand humanity with deep compassion. Moreover, the singer believes that humans are being observed by the saucers in the name of the Light, which is likely a euphemism for a higher power or a spiritual force. The singer finds it amusing that some people react with fear or hostility towards the flying saucers, especially when they try to shoot them, and the saucers simply pass through the bullets unscathed.
The song's lyrics convey a sense of wonder and curiosity towards the unknown, and a belief that there is more to the universe than what humans can perceive. The singer positions the flying saucers as benevolent beings that are here to help humans evolve spiritually, and urges the listener to be fearless in their encounters with them. The chorus repeats the call to attention and fearlessness, as well as the German phrase "Sei Angstlos," which literally means "be without fear."
Line by Line Meaning
Attention, attention, here and now, here and now
Be present and focused in the current moment, don't allow distractions to take over
Flying saucers everywhere, say, did you see one too?
There are extraterrestrial beings visiting Earth in their spacecrafts, have you had a sighting as well?
Those flying saucers are my friends 'cause they're so nice
The alien visitors are friendly and kind, and Nina Hagen enjoys their company
I'm gonna see them again and again
Nina Hagen looks forward to more encounters with the extraterrestrial beings
For flying saucers we are unbelieveably important
The aliens place great significance on humanity, recognizing our value and potential
'Cause they know the secret of life
The extraterrestrial beings possess knowledge about the nature of existence that is not yet available to humans
Yes, flying saucers understand our world with deep compassion
The extraterrestrial beings empathize with the human experience and seek to help
And we are observed in the name of the Light
The aliens watch over Earth and its inhabitants in the name of a higher, benevolent power
And it's so funny when those scary monsters tried to shoot them
Nina Hagen finds it amusing when humans try to harm the friendly alien visitors
And when those bullets just go through them, through
The alien spacecrafts are advanced enough to resist human weaponry, rendering attacks futile
Yes, flying saucers teach us all we've always wanted to know
The extraterrestrial beings have important knowledge and insight to share with humanity
They open up our heart and our mind, no more blindness
The alien encounters bring a sense of enlightenment and understanding, dispelling ignorance and fear
The thought of hate and ignorance is fading away
Humanity is becoming more accepting and enlightened as a result of the alien encounters
The crisis finally comes to its end
There is hope for a brighter future, with the help of the extraterrestrial visitors
Get the shock of a lifetime with a close encounter
Those who have a close-up experience with the extraterrestrial visitors are in for a life-changing event
Of the third kind for the first time
Referring to the classification of close encounters with extraterrestrial beings, this is a first time experience for many people
Then they wake up, Good Morning America...
Awareness of the extraterrestrial presence may lead to a reevaluation of societal norms and assumptions
Sei Angstlos!
A mantra to remind oneself to be fearless and open-minded
Contributed by Ellie E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
J M
This is my favorite song by Nina, It's really cute 💖
BooBoo
I know every lyric and will sing at will at a drop of a hat.
Anthony Moore
you and i could get along fabulously if we ever met. instant friends 😂 🤜
Brian Nemeth
My favorite. Saw her play in NYC, entertaining enough but wow she was high. It was obvious from the balcony
Nina Hagen by Gilles75
Cool !
Intelligence Services
a favorite
jennie Devereaux
Cosmic Queen Nina love you so much 🏴🎉🎊💕💖💕💖