His biggest hit Major Tom (Völlig Losgelöst) was released in German in 1982. The song is a a retelling of David Bowie's classic 1969 song "Space Oddity".
The English version of Major Tom became an international hit in 1983 when Peter released the album Error in the System.
http://www.peterschilling.com/
Retro
Peter Schilling Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Retro, Retro
1. Vers
Der Ajatollah I'm Iran
Die Russen brechen ein in Afganistan
Geburtenkonrolle. Are. A. F
Janis Joplin auf Vinyl gepresst
Man hat noch nicht in Containern gewohnt
Es gab keine Atempause-no future
Und kein Plan
S** Pistols live
Der Punk Rock kam
2. Ref:
Ihr wollt Retro
Immer nur Retro
Denn ihr seht doch
Es geht nicht ohne Retro
Voller Sehnsucht schreit ihr Retro
Computerspiele made in Japan
George Michael war noch bei Wham
Atomkraft-nein danke
Die Startbahn kam noch
40 Jahre ddr-die Mauer fiel doch
Bob Beamon sprang den Weltrekord
Dallas, Denverbiest-Beverly Hills Cop
Der saure Regen wusch Tschernobyl fort
Der Punk geht weiter an nem anderґn Ort
3. Ref:
Ihr wollt Retro
Immer nur Retro
Denn ihr seht doch
Es geht nicht ohne Retro
Voller Sehnsucht schreit ihr Retro
Ihr wollt Retro
Ohne Veto
Immer wieder Retro
Bis es weh tut
Retro, Retro
Instr
4. Ref:
Ihr wollt Retro
Immer nur Retro
Denn ihr seht doch
Es geht nicht ohne Retro
Voller Sehnsucht schreit ihr Retro
Ihr wollt Retro
Ohne Veto
Immer wieder Retro
Bis es weh tut
Retro, Retro
The song "Retro" by Peter Schilling is a reflection on the past and the nostalgia that people feel towards it. The first verse talks about various historical events that happened in the past, such as the Iranian Revolution, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and the rise of punk rock. The verse also mentions the idea of population control and the popular belief that Americans faked the moon landing. The second verse talks about popular culture from the 80s, including the development of video games in Japan, the band Wham, and the Chernobyl disaster. The chorus emphasizes the desire for retro, and how people feel they cannot live without it.
The song is a commentary on our culture's obsession with the past, and how we often romanticize it. Schilling makes a point in the song that while some things from the past are worth remembering, such as important historical events and cultural milestones, we should not forget the problems and issues that existed at the same time. By constantly looking to the past, we risk missing out on opportunities for progress and growth in the present.
Line by Line Meaning
Ref: Retro, Retro
The chorus of the song is simply repeating the word 'retro' twice
Der Ajatollah I'm Iran
The Ayatollah was the religious leader of Iran during the period when the song was written
Die Russen brechen ein in Afganistan
The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, which was a major international event at the time
Geburtenkontrolle. Are. A. F
Birth control was a controversial topic at the time, with many countries implementing policies to regulate population growth
Janis Joplin auf Vinyl gepresst
Janis Joplin was a famous musician from the 60s and 70s, and vinyl records were a popular format for music at the time
Waren die Amis wirklich auf dem Mond?
Many people at the time questioned whether the US really landed on the moon, as there are conspiracy theories that it was faked
Man hat noch nicht in Containern gewohnt
Living in shipping containers was not a common practice at the time, unlike today where it is becoming more popular as a form of affordable housing
Es gab keine Atempause-no future
The phrase 'no future' was a common slogan among the punk scene, meaning that they felt there was nothing to look forward to in society
Und kein Plan
This line continues the idea of there being no future, as there was no clear plan or vision for the future of society
S** Pistols live
The Sex Pistols were a famous punk band that gained notoriety for their rebellious attitude and controversial lyrics
Der Punk Rock kam
Punk rock was a new and emerging genre of music at the time, known for its anti-establishment message and unique sound
Ihr wollt Retro Immer nur Retro Denn ihr seht doch Es geht nicht ohne Retro Voller Sehnsucht schreit ihr Retro
The chorus is repeated several times throughout the song, emphasizing the desire for nostalgia and the belief that the past cannot be forgotten
Computerspiele made in Japan
Japan was a major producer of electronic devices, including video games, which were becoming increasingly popular at the time
George Michael war noch bei Wham
George Michael was a member of the band Wham before he became a solo artist, and was a popular figure in the music industry at the time
Atomkraft-nein danke
This line refers to the anti-nuclear movement that was growing in popularity, as many people were concerned about the safety and environmental impact of nuclear energy
Die Startbahn kam noch
This line refers to the controversy surrounding the construction of a new runway at Frankfurt Airport in Germany
40 Jahre ddr-die Mauer fiel doch
Germany was divided into two parts after World War II, with East Germany (also known as the DDR) separated from West Germany. The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 was a historic event that reunited the two halves of the country
Bob Beamon sprang den Weltrekord
Bob Beamon was an American athlete who set a long jump world record at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City
Dallas, Denverbiest-Beverly Hills Cop
These are all popular TV shows and movies from the 80s, highlighting the nostalgia for that era
Der saure Regen wusch Tschernobyl fort
The Chernobyl disaster was a catastrophic nuclear accident that occurred in Ukraine in 1986, and acid rain refers to the environmental damage caused by air pollution
Der Punk geht weiter an nem anderґn Ort
The punk movement may have ended in some places, but it still continues in other locations around the world
Ihr wollt Retro Ohne Veto Immer wieder Retro Bis es weh tut Retro, Retro
The chorus repeats the idea that people want to relive the past without any objection, and will continue to do so until it becomes painful
Contributed by Jayce G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.