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)
TV-Glotzer
Nina Hagen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ich begrüsse Sie recht herzlich zu unserem heutigen Fernsehprogramm
Und wünsche Ihnen einen recht guten Empfang.
Allein!
Die Welt hat mich vergessen
Ich hänge rum!
Hab's bei allen verschissen
Keine Lust zu gar nichts
Ich fühl' mich alt!
Im Sumpf wie meine Omi:
Ich schalt' die Glotze an
Die Daltons, Waltons, everyone
Ich glotz' von Ost nach West, 2, 5, 4
Ich kann mich gar nicht entscheiden,
Ist alles so schön bunt hier!
Ich glotz' TV (Sie glotzt TV)
Ich glotz' TV (Sie glotzt TV)
Wau!
Ich bin so tot!
War das nun schon mein Leben
Meine schöne Phantasie!
Meine Schaltstellen sind hinüber
Ich schalt' die Glotze an
Happiness, Flutsch Flutsch, Fun Fun
Ich glotz' von Ost nach West 2, 5, 4
Ich kann mich gar nicht entscheiden,
Ist alles so schön bunt hier!
Ich glotz' TV (Sie glotzt TV)
Ich glotz' TV (Sie glotzt TV)
Ich krieg'ne Meise, weil
Na, ich fass' kein Buch mehr an
Literatur, da wird mir übel
Und die Arztromane hab' ich mit zwölf schon hinter mich gebracht
Mann, bin ich belesen
Und die Erfrischungswaffeln sind ausgelaufen, würg, würg, würg
Und diese Scheissschokolade macht einen fetter und fetter
Und fetter und fetter und ...
Ach,
Ich schalt' die Glotze an
Happiness, Flutsch-Flutsch, Fun Fun
Ich glotz' von Ost nach West 2, 5, 4
Ich kann mich gar nicht entscheiden,
Ist alles so schön bunt hier!
Ich glotz' TV
Ich glotz' TV
Ich glotz' TV
Ich glotz' TV
Ich glotz' TV
Ich glotz' TV
TV, TV, TV, TV, TV, TV, TV,
Ich glotz' TV!
TV, TV, TV, TV, TV, TV,
TV ist 'ne Droge
TV macht suechtig
TV, TV, TV, TV
Nina Hagen's song TV-Glotzer is a reflection of the vast impact that TV has on our lives. It paints a picture of a lonely individual who feels forgotten and disillusioned by the world. The singer has lost interest in life and feels disconnected from the people around her. She turns to TV as a form of escapism, hoping to find solace in the colorful and varied programs that it offers. The lyrics reflect her indecision as she switches from channel to channel, enthralled by the endless entertainment options, yet still searching for something that will make her feel alive.
The song is also a critique of how our addiction to TV can dull our senses and make us passive observers in our lives. The lyrics suggest that the singer's life has been reduced to mere viewership, and she has lost touch with reality. The references to literature and the health effects of junk food are a commentary on how TV can replace other enriching activities and lead to a decline in intellectual and physical well-being.
Overall, Nina Hagen's TV-Glotzer is a warning about how our preoccupation with TV and other forms of media can lead to a loss of agency in our lives, as we become passive recipients of information and entertainment.
Line by Line Meaning
Einen recht schönen guten Abend, meine Damen und Herren.
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.
Ich begrüsse Sie recht herzlich zu unserem heutigen Fernsehprogramm.
Welcome to our television program for today.
Und wünsche Ihnen einen recht guten Empfang.
I hope you have a good reception.
Allein! Die Welt hat mich vergessen.
I am alone, forgotten by the world.
Ich hänge rum! Hab's bei allen verschissen.
I am doing nothing useful, and I have ruined all of my relationships.
Ich sitz' zu Hause! Keine Lust zu gar nichts.
I am at home, with no motivation for anything.
Ich fühl' mich alt! Im Sumpf wie meine Omi:
I feel old and stuck, like my grandmother in a swamp.
Ich schalt' die Glotze an. Die Daltons, Waltons, everyone.
I turn on the TV and watch anything - The Daltons, The Waltons, anyone.
Ich glotz' von Ost nach West, 2, 5, 4.
I browse the channels from east to west, on 2, 5, 4.
Ich kann mich gar nicht entscheiden, ist alles so schön bunt hier!
I can't decide what to watch, everything looks so colorful.
Ich glotz' TV.
I watch TV.
(Sie glotzt TV)
(She watches TV)
Wau!
Wow!
Ich bin so tot! War das nun schon mein Leben
I feel so dead inside, is this all my life is?
Meine schöne Phantasie! Meine Schaltstellen sind hinüber
My imagination is gone, my mental state is messed up.
Happiness, Flutsch Flutsch, Fun Fun
I watch shows that promise happiness and fun.
Und die Arztromane hab' ich mit zwölf schon hinter mich gebracht
I read medical novels when I was only 12.
Mann, bin ich belesen
I am well-read.
Und die Erfrischungswaffeln sind ausgelaufen, würg, würg, würg
The refreshment wafers have gone stale and taste bad.
Und diese Scheissschokolade macht einen fetter und fetter
Eating this terrible chocolate is making me more and more overweight.
Ach,
Oh,
TV, TV, TV, TV, TV, TV, TV,
TV, TV, TV, TV, TV, TV, TV,
Ich krieg'ne Meise, weil Na, ich fass' kein Buch mehr an
TV is making me crazy because I can't even pick up a book anymore.
Literatur, da wird mir übel
Reading literature makes me feel sick.
TV ist 'ne Droge
TV is a drug.
TV macht suechtig
TV is addictive.
TV, TV, TV, TV
TV, TV, TV, TV.
Contributed by Alexander C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@AcapulKero
Lyrics in English: Alone!
The world has forgotten about me
I am hanging around
fucked it up with everyone
no desire to do a thing
I feel old
like my grandma in a swamp
I turn on the box
the Daltons, Waltons, everyone
I stare from East to West, 2, 5, 4
No way I can decide
everything here is so beautifully colourful!
I stare at the TV (she stares at the TV)
I stare at the TV (she stares at the TV)
Wow!
I am so dead!
Was this my life already?
My beautiful imagination!
My sensors are have had it!
I turn on the box
happiness, smooth smooth, fun fun!
I stare from East to West, 2, 5, 4
No way I can decide
everything here is so beautifully colourful!
I stare at the TV (she stares at the TV)
I stare at the TV (she stares at the TV)
Yeah!
I am going nuts
I won't touch another book
Literature? Puke puke!
Makes me sick
And the medical novels I've read with twelve
Boy, i am so well-read! Hey!
And the refreshment waffles have leaked, gag gag
and this fucking chocolate makes one fatter and fatter
and fatter and fatter and oh dear!
I turn on the box
happiness, smooth smooth, fun fun!
I stare from East to West, 2, 5, 4
No way I can decide
everything here is so beautifully colourful!
I stare at the TV...
TV TV TV TV is a drug
TV is addictive
TV TV TV TV
@horsebadorties4054
My mom used to play this in the car when we were on a long ride. I guess I was a lucky boy to be raised this way.
@CupidStunt0001
Remember buying the album 30yrs ago, playing this track full blast on the stereo & annoying my parents to death... lol Pure Class!!
@dominiqueeschenbrenner1670
41 ans après... Je l'écoute toujours avec autant de plaisir... A sa sortie une vraie bombe ce disque!!! Et ça reste un des mes CD préférés... et de loin. Ne pas oublier la contribution de Lokomotive Kreutzberg sur les 2 premiers CD. ET les textes de Nina sont géniaux (je parle très bien l'Allemand).
@narc78
I‘m always surprised how popular Nina is outside of Germany. Definitely a good representation of good Germany music!
@matteobarsanti8139
And also Kraftwerk!
@NickSBailey
and Rammstein
@balibandulu
bless you from italy <3
@kateraugenindernacht1203
That's because she and her talented band had made such a singular music, I'm hearing her music from here in Uruguay, South America, cheers!
@ussrwrestling
Какая талантливая!!! Первая панк-дама Германии! Родилась в Восточном Берлине, в ГДР!!!)))))
@brianmillerthomas
I had the first album and Unbehagen in 1980..absolutely brilliant. Loved the Tubes as well as it happens. But this version of White Punks is out of this world. Nina, we love you xx