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)
Schachmatt
Nina Hagen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wat`n Jammertal, wat`ne Seelenqual
Das Ende der Welt, ist euch das egal
Wat`n Jammertal, wat`ne Seelenqual
Ist sich denn hier keiner Gewahr
Es besteht absolute Kriegsgefahr
Ist sich denn hier keiner Gewahr
A- und B- und C-Waffen
Wie sie nur gaffen, gaffen und raffen
??? unsere Erde aus ???
Ja, haben haben, wie die doofen Schaben
Aber wo bleiben unsere Gaben?
Stellt euch vor, wie haben uns gerade geliebt
Da fliegt er auf uns zu der Asteroid
Mit rötlich gelbem Schwanz
Tanzt er uns den Todestanz
Er macht ein lautes BOOH,
Mach bloß schnell das Fenster zu du
Die ohne Bange, entweichen der Zange
Die göttlichen Schiffe, mir göttlichem Griffe
Nehmen die, die keine Angst haben einfach mit
The rest gets hit
Wie haben wir geliebt, die Erde und den Sand
Die ewig große Liebe, die uns alle so verband
Wie haben wir geliebt, den einen lieben Gott
Wie haben wir gelitten, brachte man uns auf das Schafott
Wie haben wir geliebt, das Waßer und das Meer
Ist denn uns und die Welt zu ändern wirklich so so schrecklich schwer?
Wie haben wir geliebt, die Sonne und das Licht
Sag mir bitte niemals wieder ändern kannst du dich nicht
Die Prophezeiung, wenn Hitze auf Kälte trifft
Wenn es nur noch grau ist, wenn es nur noch schifft
Wenn Stürme zu Wirbelstürmen werden, ist das Ende nah auf Erden
Die Welt wird erschüttert werden,
Von Erdbeben, will denn keiner überleben?
Sie werden schlucken Stadt für Stadt, Schachmatt
Land für Land, ach du großer Elefant
Nichts ist hier mehr mit charmant und garlant
Alles abgebrannt, kein Geld mehr da für Flaschenpfand
Es ist eine große Schand!
Es ist eine große Schand!
Wie haben wir geliebt, die Erde und den Sand
Die ewig große Liebe, die uns alle so verband
Wie haben wir geliebt, das Waßer und das Meer
Ist denn uns und sie Welt zu ändern wirklich so so schrecklich schwer?
Wie haben wir geliebt, die Liebe und die Kraft
Die Kinder und die Tiere und die große Wißenschaft
Wie haben wir geliebt, die Ruhe der Natur
Seelig seihen die, die halten ihre Seelen pur
Wie haben wir geliebt, als Mensch geboren zu sein
Und alles uns zu teilen, bis es dann kam, das Dein und Mein!
Wie haben wir geliebt, den Esel und das Gnu
Und nach getaner Arbeit unsere wohlverdiente Ruh
Wie haben wir geliebt, den einen lieben Gott
Wie haben wir gelitten, brachte man uns auf das Schafott
Wie haben wir geliebt, die Erde und den Sand
Die ewig große Liebe, die uns alle so verband
Wie haben wir geliebt, das Waßer und das Meer
Ist denn uns und sie Welt zu ändern wirklich so so schrecklich schwer?
Wie haben wir geliebt, die Sonne und das Licht
Sag mir bitte niemals wieder ändern kannst du dich nicht
The song "Schachmatt" by Nina Hagen is a sobering reflection on the state of the world and the impending danger of war and destruction. The lyrics express frustration and sadness at the lack of awareness and action in society, and the potential for catastrophic events such as nuclear war and natural disasters. Hagen warns of the consequences of not taking action, as the world may soon face its end. She questions whether humanity will realize the severity of the situation before it's too late, and whether we are capable of changing the course of our actions.
The song also touches on themes of love and the interconnectedness of all things. Hagen sings of the love and connection between humans, the earth, and all living things, and the devastation that would occur if these bonds were broken. She emphasizes the need for peace, harmony, and taking care of our planet before it's too late.
Overall, "Schachmatt" is a powerful and thought-provoking song that urges listeners to take action and work towards creating a better world before it's too late.
Line by Line Meaning
Das Ende der Welt, ist euch das egal
Do you not care about the end of the world
Wat'n Jammertal, wat'ne Seelenqual
What a valley of tears, what a soul torment
Ist sich denn hier keiner Gewahr
Is nobody aware here
Es besteht absolute Kriegsgefahr
There is an absolute danger of war
A- und B- und C-Waffen
A, B, and C weapons
Wie sie nur gaffen, gaffen und raffen
They only gaze, grab, and gather
Unsere Erde aus ????
Our earth made from ????
Ja, haben haben, wie die doofen Schaben
Yes they have, like stupid bugs
Aber wo bleiben unsere Gaben?
But where are our gifts?
Stellt euch vor, wie haben uns gerade geliebt
Imagine us just making love
Da fliegt er auf uns zu der Asteroid
Here comes the asteroid flying towards us
Mit rötlich gelbem Schwanz
With a reddish yellow tail
Tanzt er uns den Todestanz
Dancing us the death dance
Er macht ein lautes BOOH,
He makes a loud BOOH,
Mach bloß schnell das Fenster zu du
Just quickly close the window
Die ohne Bange, entweichen der Zange
Those without fear escape the grasp
Die göttlichen Schiffe, mir göttlichem Griffe
The divine ships with a divine grip
Nehmen die, die keine Angst haben einfach mit
Take those who simply have no fear with them
The rest gets hit
The rest gets hit
Wie haben wir geliebt, die Erde und den Sand
How we loved the earth and the sand
Die ewig große Liebe, die uns alle so verband
The eternal great love that connected us all
Wie haben wir gelitten, brachte man uns auf das Schafott
How we suffered, if they brought us to the scaffold
Wie haben wir geliebt, das Waßer und das Meer
How we loved the water and the sea
Ist denn uns und die Welt zu ändern wirklich so so schrecklich schwer?
Is it really so terribly difficult to change us and the world?
Wie haben wir geliebt, die Sonne und das Licht
How we loved the sun and the light
Sag mir bitte niemals wieder ändern kannst du dich nicht
Please never tell me again that you cannot change
Die Prophezeiung, wenn Hitze auf Kälte trifft
The prophecy, when heat meets cold
Wenn es nur noch grau ist, wenn es nur noch schifft
When it's only gray, when it's only raining
Wenn Stürme zu Wirbelstürmen werden, ist das Ende nah auf Erden
When storms turn into hurricanes, the end is near on Earth
Die Welt wird erschüttert werden,
The world will be shaken
Von Erdbeben, will denn keiner überleben?
From earthquakes, does no one want to survive?
Sie werden schlucken Stadt für Stadt, Schachmatt
They will swallow city by city, checkmate
Land für Land, ach du großer Elefant
Land by land, oh you big elephant
Nichts ist hier mehr mit charmant und garlant
Nothing is charming and festive here anymore
Alles abgebrannt, kein Geld mehr da für Flaschenpfand
Everything burned down, no more money for bottle deposits
Es ist eine große Schand!
It is a great shame!
Wie haben wir geliebt, die Liebe und die Kraft
How we loved love and strength
Die Kinder und die Tiere und die große Wißenschaft
The children and the animals and the great knowledge
Wie haben wir geliebt, die Ruhe der Natur
How we loved the peace of nature
Seelig seihen die, die halten ihre Seelen pur
Blessed are those who keep their souls pure
Wie haben wir geliebt, als Mensch geboren zu sein
How we loved to be born as humans
Und alles uns zu teilen, bis es dann kam, das Dein und Mein!
And to share everything with us, until the time came for yours and mine!
Wie haben wir geliebt, den Esel und das Gnu
How we loved the donkey and the gnu
Und nach getaner Arbeit unsere wohlverdiente Ruh
And our well-deserved rest after work
Contributed by Brooklyn V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Alex Orozco
I love the entire album, but this song has an amazing power.
Erick Flores
Una de mis canciones favoritas de Nina
Pascal Biaudet
Un savant mélange de photos de Nina et d'images plus belles et parlantes les unes que les autres. De la création à l'apocalypse, de la douleur à la joie, du bonheur à la tristesse, de ce monde aux autres univers, tout y passe naturellement et nous fait sombrer dans une atmosphere inquietante mais si vraie. Encore une fois BRAVO! Pascal.
TributetoRioReiser
You choose really cool songs from Nina for upload! And the Slideshow fits perfect to it! Thanks!
Alex Orozco
Es mi canción favorita del disco también jeje
tedzodd
perfect video interpretation for this beautiful song.
daniel Madre
Du bon boulot!!! Bravo!
fifou oyeah
your videos are always good. I love it !!
Susanne Hämmerle
GREAT!! REALLY LOVE IT- THANK`S FOR THE UPLOAD!!! (`v`)- nice greetings- peac-e & love
fifou oyeah
nice!! great!! wonderful !!!!