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Levinarium, No.

“Rammstein” is a huge exception in the rock world: their material is only getting better and better year after year, provoking primitive shock and intellectual debates, hysterical protests and deafening applause.

I remember how I heard their “Du hasst… du hasst mich… du hast mich… gefragt…” when a student: a word game and harsh rhythms, nothing more.

When I watched their “Deutschland” (2019) for the first time during the very first hours after they premiered it, I already new what would follow: stormy criticism and, only later, some vague understanding. It happened exactly like this. Btw, the appendix (titles with solo piano) is also one of the most important clues to the message.

This is what Germany’s dramatic history looks and sounds like: “Meine Liebe kann ich dir nicht geben”, I can’t give you my love.

Their “Ausländer” (2019, premiered yesterday) is probably not as powerful as “Deutschland” (or maybe we already expect anything), but it is strikingly packed with allusions and double interpretations as well. A bunch of European travelers arrives at a shore where a local tribe welcomes them. Their boat reminds of the one the illegal immigrants use to cross the Mediterranean.

The travelers then sail away, leaving only one behind…

(Note the name of the boat: Ms. Rammstein.)

English titles: Rammstein “Germany“, “Foreigner
Original titles (German): “Deutschland”, “Ausländer”

First published in the Levinarium Telegram Channel (now closed and deleted)