I just came across a political mail list with a very brief discussion of Rammstein's political leanings. As far as I'm concerned these guys are pretty far off the mark.
Links 2 3 4 is a response to accusations and speculations, based entirely on Rammsteins Teutonic heritage, martial beats, and industrial harshness, that the band members have Nazi leanings and right wing political agendas. This is something Rammstein's members have stated in no uncertain terms in the past. The song is a superficial and droll statement against the idea that they are right-wing fascists born from Germany's darkest past.
It is not a profound statement of their political stance. It is not a political statement in and of itself. It's a tongue-in-cheek nod to the past militarism of their nation and the misconceptions about their social beliefs that Nazi Germany, a thing of the past, has given rise to. The marching cadence, use of the word 'Links' ('left'), and in particular the generally known marching call 'Links zwo drei vier' ('Left two three four') used on the parade grounds of the German military, are all remarks on the divergence between what is believed of them and what is fact. In summary: Try and label them as right-wing and they wink and write about their heart beating to the left in a way wryly designed to conjure up images of goose-stepping Wehrmacht troops.
Amerika is another animal altogether. Along with Zerstören, it is often thought to be anti-American. To my mind it is more a criticism of America's foreign policy and an observation about the pervasiveness and ubiquity of American culture and icons, than it is an indictment on America's (let's be honest here) self-righteous interference in the interests of other nations and cynical manipulation of the facts. Whether America is right or wrong to carry out its foreign policy as it does is not something I will tackle here, but I do hope that this post can address some ideas I consider to be misguided where Rammstein's intent is concerned.
I think they criticise, but I don't consider their music to be political in any real sense. Nor do I consider them to be a political unit. They are entertainers who inject stories into their music, and sometimes the stories are fables, with lessons, messages, and challenges to the critical faculties of their listeners. They are minstrels of a decidedly operatic and dramatic type, and to read or gather political activism or propaganda from this this is both unrealistic and unfair.
I'd like everyone who actually takes on board the meaning of Rammstein's German lyrics to keep in mind that each song is a painting, and that image is full of darkness and shadows in some shape or form, but that they don't actually attack anything that is open to interpretation. They merely illuminate the scene for your mind to take in. They only attack in so much as they highlight the bad along with the good, and observe those faults by shining a light into the murky darkness, that we can see what it is hiding.
Minstrels, telling takes of good and evil, darkness and light; this is Rammstein. They observe and paint pictures with music. Take it in, and by all means consider the reality behind the story, but do not, please DO NOT pigeonhole the minstrel by that which he tells of. That is like shooting the messenger.
Links 2 3 4 is a response to accusations and speculations, based entirely on Rammsteins Teutonic heritage, martial beats, and industrial harshness, that the band members have Nazi leanings and right wing political agendas. This is something Rammstein's members have stated in no uncertain terms in the past. The song is a superficial and droll statement against the idea that they are right-wing fascists born from Germany's darkest past.
It is not a profound statement of their political stance. It is not a political statement in and of itself. It's a tongue-in-cheek nod to the past militarism of their nation and the misconceptions about their social beliefs that Nazi Germany, a thing of the past, has given rise to. The marching cadence, use of the word 'Links' ('left'), and in particular the generally known marching call 'Links zwo drei vier' ('Left two three four') used on the parade grounds of the German military, are all remarks on the divergence between what is believed of them and what is fact. In summary: Try and label them as right-wing and they wink and write about their heart beating to the left in a way wryly designed to conjure up images of goose-stepping Wehrmacht troops.
Amerika is another animal altogether. Along with Zerstören, it is often thought to be anti-American. To my mind it is more a criticism of America's foreign policy and an observation about the pervasiveness and ubiquity of American culture and icons, than it is an indictment on America's (let's be honest here) self-righteous interference in the interests of other nations and cynical manipulation of the facts. Whether America is right or wrong to carry out its foreign policy as it does is not something I will tackle here, but I do hope that this post can address some ideas I consider to be misguided where Rammstein's intent is concerned.
I think they criticise, but I don't consider their music to be political in any real sense. Nor do I consider them to be a political unit. They are entertainers who inject stories into their music, and sometimes the stories are fables, with lessons, messages, and challenges to the critical faculties of their listeners. They are minstrels of a decidedly operatic and dramatic type, and to read or gather political activism or propaganda from this this is both unrealistic and unfair.
I'd like everyone who actually takes on board the meaning of Rammstein's German lyrics to keep in mind that each song is a painting, and that image is full of darkness and shadows in some shape or form, but that they don't actually attack anything that is open to interpretation. They merely illuminate the scene for your mind to take in. They only attack in so much as they highlight the bad along with the good, and observe those faults by shining a light into the murky darkness, that we can see what it is hiding.
Minstrels, telling takes of good and evil, darkness and light; this is Rammstein. They observe and paint pictures with music. Take it in, and by all means consider the reality behind the story, but do not, please DO NOT pigeonhole the minstrel by that which he tells of. That is like shooting the messenger.
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