Best Metal Videos of All Time
Number 4: Deutschland—Rammstein
4: Deutschland—Rammstein (Germany) Total Score = 11-
Scoring rationale: music = 8+ + 1 point for story and historical references + 1 point for production values + 0.5 points for sheer bravado = 11- points;
Holy Macaroni—sorry, make that bratwurst—I had to watch this three times to get maybe half of the historical references. The Germans of Rammstein are not afraid to question their country’s history, and neither are they afraid of controversy1. Keep in mind that, while Rammstein likes to shock, they do not glorify the horrible parts of Germany’s past but rather expose them fully for the nightmares they were. When the members of Rammstein perform as Jews about to be killed by Nazis, then it should be abundantly clear that they don’t support fascism.
But what can we make of this overload of German history, this intense, kaleidoscopic, over-the-top (or maybe not) depiction? Sometimes the best way is to follow the lyrics (meaning one needs to understand German). It embodies the paradox of being German: you love the things that made Germany great, while you hate the atrocities Germany has committed. “Will dich lieben und verdammen”—“Want to love you and damn you”. OR—can’t live with you, but can’t live without you. Not incoincidentally, this theme runs through many Rammstein songs.
Is that why they chose a black actress to represent ‘Germania’? Most probably, the very first humans to settle in what is now Germany were white, so one might expect ‘Germania’ to be white (if taken to Nazi extremes, the Aryan ideal of blond hair, blue eyes, etcetera). Therefore, Rammstein goes against that on purpose2, maybe also as an admission that all of humanity came out of Africa3, and finally as a nod to modern, multicultural times4—the fall of the Berlin wall (and Germany’s subsequent reunification) is notably absent in this video—when Germania is taken to space in a coffin-shaped glass box (a mix of 2001, A Space Odyssey with Das Boot? Who knows).
Recently, singer Till Lindemans was in the news for sexual misconduct. Investigations have been dropped, as far as I know.
Isn’t that bad? Where there’s smoke, there’s fire and all that. Also, the law assumes someone is innocent until proven guilty. Anyway, realistically as long as there has been popular music, there have been groupies5. Countless amounts of them. As long as its consensual—and the parties involved are adults—then nothing unlawful happens.
According to the rumours, Till Lindemans didn’t even wait until after the show, as he wanted to have sex during it6. And so did the late, great Freddie Mercury, and I’d be extremely surprised if they were the only ones. There are two things at work here; that is, naïveté on part of the fans invited to go backstage and—in these days—intentional obfuscation on Rammstein’s side. For one, an attractive female fan asked by roadies of a performing band to join the band backstage—or “Row Zero” in this case—should realise that certain acts may be asked for the favour. For another, Rammstein’s roadies should make clear to the attractive female fan that having sex with the singer is the idea, so that they can refuse before they get backstage—or “Row Zero” or whatever the name they make up for it.
Nevertheless, shouldn’t these old groupie habits slowly die out in this modern age? Well—as Greg Egan wrote in Diaspora—the platitudes linger. Still, even Rammstein isn’t completely insensitive to the accusations, as they took out the song “Pussy” and cut the part in their performance where Lindemans rides a giant cock which then—by way of foam—shoots big loads into the audience. Of course, then many fans expressed disappointment that this was taken out. You just can’t please everyone.
But what if an attractive fan—whatever sexuality or sexual preference—just wants to take a selfie with the band, or talk about their music? Get in line if the band does an autograph session. Buy a VIP ticket7, hang around the artist entrance hoping they show up (and want to be disturbed). Or get to know the band before they become very popular. I’ve met quite a few artists at a festival when they were in the audience when they weren’t playing. In that case, they’re quite approachable.
That’s like a crapshoot. The moment a band reaches a certain level of popularity, there are many thousands of fans for each band member at a given arena or stadium show. It’s physically impossible for the band members to greet each and every fan personally.
Anyway, Rammstein. Aren’t they performing the same schtick over and over again? Arguably yes, but they have moments of brilliance and Deutschland (the video) is most definitely one of them.
Don’t say: Will Rammstein ever grow up?
Do say: Bück dich, Rammstein, euer gesicht interessiert uns nicht!
Correct that: they thrive on controversy;
Likely, because of their proclivity for controversy;
Less likely;
More likely;
If Milos Forman’s movie Amadeus is to be believed this phenomenon is at least three centuries old;
Albeit not on the stage;
Stupidly expensive, I know;