Tocotronic are from Hamburg and are released on L'Age D'Or, together with Die Sterne - forming the so-called Hamburger Schule ("Hamburg school"). However, they dislike this classification; they rather like to see their music as "discursive-rock", which emphasizes their rather intellectual approach to pop music.
Despite having never been overly commercially successful - only "Schall & Wahn" made it to the top of the German charts, most other albums merely in the top 5-, Tocotronic have a steady fanbase in Germany and their records have been reviewed in mainstream newspapers and music magazines alike.
The band members are bassist Jan Müller, drummer Arne Zank, and guitarist and singer Dirk von Lowtzow. Starting with the album "Pure Vernunft darf niemals siegen" a second guitarist and keyboard player, Rick McPhail, has joined the band. He used to play with Tocotronic at live shows before.
Discography:
Studio Albums:
* Digital ist besser (1995) (Digital is better)
* Nach der verlorenen Zeit (1995) (After the lost time)
* Wir kommen um uns zu beschweren (1996) (We're Coming To Complain)
* Es ist egal, aber (1997) (It Doesn't Matter, But)
* K.O.O.K. (1999)
* Tocotronic (2002)
* Pure Vernunft darf niemals siegen (2005) (Pure Reason Must Never Prevail)
* Kapitulation (2007)
* Schall & Wahn (2010)
* Wie wir leben wollen (2013)
* Tocotronic (Das rote Album) (2015)
* Die Unendlichkeit (2018)
The Gift
Tocotronic Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The gift of a lifetime
The news of an end to the night
I was reluctant but it stayed
As if it stuck to me
Fastened with all of its might
I was just...
The opening lines of Tocotronic's song "The Gift" explore the concept of receiving a precious and extraordinary gift- the gift of hope. The singer is initially doubtful when presented with this gift - news of an end to the night- but as time wears on, he realizes that it has become ingrained in his life, as if it is now a part of him. The image of the gift being fastened with all of its might suggests that it might not be easy to let go of this gift and the hope it has given him.
The next few stanzas of the song delve deeper into the idea of the gift being a symbol of hope and renewal. The lyrics paint a picture of nature, with the sun rising and banishing the darkness, and flowers blooming in the spring. The gift that the singer has received is almost like that of a new day- a new beginning or a fresh start. The singer is filled with a newfound sense of optimism, recognizing that anything is possible and that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope.
"The Gift" is a song that is ultimately about finding hope in difficult times. The gift in question is not tangible, but rather an intangible concept that is difficult to grasp or understand. The song speaks to the human experience of struggling to find meaning or purpose in life, and the importance of having hope to carry us through difficult times. Through evocative lyrics and a haunting melody, Tocotronic has crafted a beautiful tribute to the power of hope and the resilience of the human spirit.
Line by Line Meaning
I was just given
I received something unexpected
The gift of a lifetime
Something extremely valuable that will greatly benefit me
The news of an end to the night
I heard about the end of a difficult situation
I was reluctant but it stayed
I was hesitant about accepting it, but it remained with me
As if it stuck to me
It felt attached or connected to me like glue
Fastened with all of its might
It was secured tightly, as though it didn't want to let go
Contributed by Natalie W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.