After winning a local contest, Rammstein was able to record demos and send them to different record labels, eventually signing with Motor Music. Working with producer Jacob Hellner, they released their debut album Herzeleid in 1995. Though the album initially sold poorly, the band gained popularity through their live performances and the album eventually reached No. 6 in Germany. Their second album, Sehnsucht, was released in 1997 and debuted at No. 1 in Germany, resulting in a worldwide tour lasting nearly four years and spawning the successful singles "Engel" and "Du hast" and the live album Live aus Berlin (1999). Following the tour, Rammstein signed with major label Universal Music and released Mutter in 2001. Six singles were released from the album, all charting in countries throughout Europe. The lead single, "Sonne", reached No. 2 in Germany. Rammstein released Reise, Reise in 2004 and had two more singles reach No. 2 in Germany: "Mein Teil" and "Amerika"; the former song reached No. 1 in Spain, becoming their first No. 1 single.
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Their fifth album, Rosenrot, was released in 2005, and the lead single, "Benzin", reached No. 6 in Germany. Their second live album, Völkerball, was released in 2006. The band released their sixth album, Liebe ist für alle da, in 2009, with its lead single, "Pussy", becoming their first No. 1 hit in Germany despite having a controversial music video that featured hardcore pornography. The band then entered a recording hiatus and toured for several years, releasing the Made in Germany greatest hits album as well as the Rammstein in Amerika and Paris live albums. After a decade without new music, Rammstein returned in 2019 with the song "Deutschland", which became their second No. 1 hit in Germany. Their untitled seventh studio album was released in May 2019 and reached No. 1 in 14 countries. While sheltering during COVID-19 lockdowns, the band spontaneously wrote and recorded their eighth studio album, Zeit, which was released in April 2022.
Rammstein was one of the first bands to emerge within the Neue Deutsche Härte genre, with their debut album leading the music press to coin the term, and their style of music has generally had a positive reception from music critics. Commercially, the band has been very successful, earning many No. 1 albums as well as gold and platinum certifications in countries around the world. Their grand live performances, which often feature pyrotechnics, have contributed to the growth in their popularity. Despite success, the band has been subject to some controversies, with their overall image having been criticized; for instance, the song "Ich tu dir weh" forced its parent album Liebe ist für alle da to be re-released in Germany with the song removed due to its sexually explicit lyrics.
Musical style and lyrics
Rammstein is considered a Neue Deutsche Härte band, and is also often described as industrial metal. Other descriptions include hard rock and gothic metal, as well as nu metal, alternative metal, symphonic metal, progressive metal, and "techno metal". Rammstein was traditionally inspired by bands such as the Slovenian group Laibach, known for its provocative songs, often citing political symbols of the far-right and whose music style also combines different genres, or the German rock band Oomph! However, the band members don't see a real connection to Laibach – apart from the similarity in vocal style which Flake Lorenz admitted in a Viva interview from 1997. In the same interview Richard Kruspe said: "For me, Laibach is a very, very intellectual story. Rammstein is much more emotional for me – in the beginning. And I can't do anything with that intellect that Laibach uses."
Live performances
Since their early years, Rammstein are particularly known for their over-the-top live performances, making such extensive use of pyrotechnics that fans eventually coined the motto, "Other bands play, Rammstein burns!". Following an accident in Berlin on 27 September 1996, in which some burning decorative parts of the stage collapsed, the band started using professionals to handle the pyrotechnics. Lindemann subsequently qualified as a licensed pyrotechnician, and often spends entire songs engulfed in flames. He has suffered multiple burns on his ears, head, and arms.
The band's stage costumes are also known for being outlandish. During the Reise, Reise Tour, they wore lederhosen, corsets, and military-inspired uniforms with German steel helmets; during the Mutter Tour, the group kept to the themes of the album artwork and descended onto the stage from a giant uterus while wearing diapers. During the Völkerball concert, among others, Lindemann changed costumes between songs and dressed accordingly for each. For example, for the song "Mein Teil", he was dressed as a blood-soaked chef; in "Reise, Reise", he dressed as a sailor. The rest of the band each wore their own preferred costume, but none quite as bizarre as Till's. The band's flair for costumes is evident in their music videos as well as their live shows. In the "Keine Lust" video, all members except Lorenz are dressed in fat suits. In the "Amerika" video, all members of the band wear astronaut costumes.
Since the Mutter Tour in 2001, Rammstein have worked with stage designer Roy Bennett, who helped the band in developing the look of the stages. With the Ahoi Tour in 2004/2005, the band began using a two-level stage, with half the band playing the lower level and the other half on the upper level. At this tour, the upper level rose over 2 meters above the stage floor and had an oval entrance just beneath the drums. At both sides of the upper level, a special lift made it possible for the band members to access both stage levels.
On the Liebe ist für alle da Tour in 2009, the new stage still had a two-level design. This time, however, the upper level only had about half the height as on the previous tour. Stage entrance was possible by a hydraulic ramp in the middle of the stage floor. At each end of the upper level, stairs were placed in order to gain access to both levels. This tour included not only the extensive use of pyrotechnics, but also a massive lighting show, such as the band's logo lit up as big lamps on four enormous collapsible towers, forming the industrial backdrop of the set and being capable of different lighting effects.
During the arena shows of the Made in Germany 1995-2011 Tour, the stage was slightly altered with new set pieces such as a large industrial fan as well as new backdrops. The most noticeable addition was a long catwalk, connecting the main stage to a smaller stage in the middle of the audience. During the 2013 festival leg of the tour, the bridge and smaller stage were omitted. For the 2016 Festival Tour, the band kept the stage itself mostly unchanged, though had the entire lighting rig changed completely. According to Kruspe, the onstage antics are meant to get people's attention and have fun at the same time; Rammstein's motto, according to Schneider, is "do your own thing and overdo it"
Members
Since forming in 1994, Rammstein have retained a constant line-up. Richard Kruspe had said in a Revolver Magazine interview that it is because of the band respecting each other's wishes to take a break, either for personal reasons or to focus on a side project. Members of the band have had side projects that they take part in during Rammstein's inactivity. Kruspe currently fronts the group Emigrate while Till Lindemann began his project Lindemann in 2015.
Till Lindemann – lead vocals, harmonica
Richard Kruspe – lead guitar, backing vocals
Paul Landers – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
Oliver Riedel – bass guitar
Christoph Schneider – drums, percussion
Christian "Flake" Lorenz – keyboards, samples, synthesizers, trumpet, programming
Studio albums
Herzeleid (1995)
Sehnsucht (1997)
Mutter (2001)
Reise, Reise (2004)
Rosenrot (2005)
Liebe ist für alle da (2009)
Rammstein (2019)
Zeit (2022)
Morgenstern
Rammstein Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wenn sie in den Himmel schaut
Dann fürchtet sich das Licht scheint ihr
Von unten ins Gesicht
So muss sie sich am Tag verstecken
Will das Licht doch nicht erschrecken
Lebt im Schatten bis der Schein vergeht
Sieht einen Stern im Zwielicht prangen und flehtMal mir Schönheit auf die Wangen
Morgenstern ach scheine
Auf das Antlitz mein
Wirf ein warmes Licht
Auf mein Ungesicht
Sag mir ich bin nicht alleine
Hässlich, du bist hässlich
Du, du bist hässlich
Ich bin allein zur Nacht gegangen
Die späten Vögel nicht mehr sangen
Sah Sonnenkinder im Gewimmel und so
Rief ich in den gestirnten Himmel
Morgenstern ach scheine
Auf die Liebste meine
Wirf ein warmes Licht
Auf ihr Ungesicht
Sag ihr sie ist nicht alleine
Morgenstern ach scheine
Auf die Seele meine
Wirf ein warmes Licht
Auf ein Herz das bricht
Sag ihr dass ich weine
Denn du, du bist hässlichDu bist einfach hässlich
Der Mensch ist doch ein Augentier
Schöne Dinge wünsch' ich mir
Doch du, du bist nicht schön, nein
Morgenstern ach scheine
Morgenstern ach scheine
(Morgenstern)
Morgenstern ach scheine
Auf die Liebste meine
Wirf ein warmes Licht
Auf ihr Ungesicht
Sag ihr sie ist nicht alleine
Und der Stern will scheinen
Auf die Liebste meine
Wärmt die Brust mir bebt
Wo das Leben schlägt
Mit dem Herzen sehen
Sie ist wunderschön
Rammstein's song "Morgenstern" tells the story of a person who feels ugly and unwanted by society. The opening verse describes a woman who is so ugly that looking at the sky scares her because the light from above shines on her face, making her feel exposed. She spends her days hiding in the shadows, waiting for the light to fade. However, in the evening, she looks up at the starry sky and prays for beauty to be painted onto her cheeks. The chorus repeats the words "Morgenstern ach scheine" (Morning star, shine) and asks for the star's warm light to shine on the singer's face and the face of his beloved, reassuring them that they are not alone, even if they feel ugly.
The second verse tells how the singer walked alone at night, listening to the sounds of birds that had already gone to sleep. He looked up at the stars that were shining like "sun children" in the sky and called out to the Morning Star. In the final verse, the singer acknowledges that humans are creatures that desire beautiful things. However, the final repetition of "Morgenstern ach scheine" moves from a request to a plea for the star to shine on the singer's love interest, as the singer realizes her beauty, even if the rest of the world cannot. In essence, the song is a reflection on the human need for validation and acceptance, especially regarding physical appearance.
Line by Line Meaning
Sie ist hässlich, dass es graut
She is ugly to the point of being frightening
Wenn sie in den Himmel schaut
When she looks up at the sky
Dann fürchtet sich das Licht scheint ihr
Then the light is afraid to shine on her
Von unten ins Gesicht
Onto her face from below
So muss sie sich am Tag verstecken
So she has to hide during the day
Will das Licht doch nicht erschrecken
But she doesn't want to scare away the light
Lebt im Schatten bis der Schein vergeht
Lives in the shadows until the light fades away
Sieht einen Stern im Zwielicht prangen und fleht
Sees a star shining in the twilight and pleads
Mal mir Schönheit auf die Wangen
Paint beauty on my cheeks
Morgenstern ach scheine
Morning star, oh shine
Auf das Antlitz mein
On my face
Wirf ein warmes Licht
Throw a warm light
Auf mein Ungesicht
On my uncomely face
Sag mir ich bin nicht alleine
Tell me I am not alone
Hässlich, du bist hässlich
Ugly, you are ugly
Du, du bist hässlich
You, you are ugly
Ich bin allein zur Nacht gegangen
I went alone into the night
Die späten Vögel nicht mehr sangen
The late birds no longer sang
Sah Sonnenkinder im Gewimmel und so
Saw children of the sun in the crowd and so
Rief ich in den gestirnten Himmel
I called out to the starry sky
Morgenstern ach scheine
Morning star, oh shine
Auf die Liebste meine
On my love
Und der Stern will scheinen
And the star will shine
Auf die Liebste meine
On my love
Wirf ein warmes Licht
Throw a warm light
Auf ihr Ungesicht
On her uncomely face
Sag ihr sie ist nicht alleine
Tell her she is not alone
Morgenstern ach scheine
Morning star, oh shine
Auf die Seele meine
On my soul
Wirf ein warmes Licht
Throw a warm light
Auf ein Herz das bricht
On a heart that is breaking
Sag ihr dass ich weine
Tell her that I am crying
Denn du, du bist hässlich
Because you, you are ugly
Du bist einfach hässlich
You are simply ugly
Der Mensch ist doch ein Augentier
Man is a visual creature after all
Schöne Dinge wünsch' ich mir
I wish for beautiful things
Doch du, du bist nicht schön, nein
But you, you are not beautiful, no
Wärmt die Brust mir bebt
Warms my chest, trembles
Wo das Leben schlägt
Where life beats
Mit dem Herzen sehen
To see with the heart
Sie ist wunderschön
She is beautiful
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: RICHARD Z. KRUSPE, PAUL LANDERS, TILL LINDEMANN, DOKTOR CHRISTIAN LORENZ, OLIVER RIEDEL, CHRISTOPH DOOM SCHNEIDER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
David Mijangos Pain
on Fried Eis
ich werde immer bei dir sein;
FERTIG - bin ich mit dir, bis zum Morgen sitz ich da.
DU BIST - so ganz allein,
das Schicksal hat mich angelacht;
UNHEIL - hört wie ihr schreit,
sie singen die letzten Melodien.
Uuuuh - you were the night
Holding breath, cause you all remind it
(DU BIST ALLEIN)
Uuuuh - and let me show you,
I am not alone
(DU ALLEIN)
Uuuuh - (???)
horror may remind it
TIEFE - die Einsamkeit,
es ist so weit - Aus Vorbei!
KRAFTLOS - Hab keine Angst,
sie singen die letzten Melodien
Uuuuh - you were the night
Holding breath, cause you all remind it
(DU BIST ALLEIN)
Uuuuh - and let me show you,
I am not alone
(DU ALLEIN)
Uuuuh - (???)
horror may remind it
Du gehörst zu mir, ich zeige wann und wie
du gehst.
Du hast keine and're Wahl, sie sind einsam und allein
allein.
allein
allein
du allein
Laaaahhh
Uuuuh - you were the night
Holding breath, cause you all remind it
(DU BIST ALLEIN)
Uuuuh - and let me show you,
I am not alone
(DU ALLEIN)
Uuuuh - (???)
Horror may remind it
May remind it
Rammstein - Freid Eis
SabrinaOnlineFan96
on Sonne
This song reminds me of Gru from Despicable Me, as he is so powerful, that he paralyzed a shark and was able to outrun supersonic missiles.
Ben - Moderator
on Keine Lust
Corrected the music video fact above.
Andrew
on Keine Lust
The music video has them performing in fat suits, not at a funeral.