Thank you for the analysis! I also think that "Schöner, größer, härter! (Straffer, glatter, stärker)" is linked to the Olympic motto "Citius, Altius, Fortius" (or "Schneller, höher, stärker" in German), so that beauty becomes a competition to the point of madness (fun fact: at least some parts of the music video were filmed in a former psychiatric hospital)
Love your videos as usual my friend! "der Nacken" in English would essentially be "nape". You don't hear it all too often but, the nape of ones neck is the back of the neck. But most people in the English world would, as you suggest, be more inclined to call the entirety of the neck by just one word.
Listening to Zeit, it felt like someone contemplating death. We're born, we live, we die. Zick Zack dealing with beauty and getting older. Looking at the track list with songs like "Meine Tränen" (My Tears) , "Angst" (Fear) & "Adieu" (Farewell). Along with the band members in their 50s now and Till being 60 next year. This album feels like a midlife crisis.
Your comment about circumcision, and "Jews and Muslims" is interesting to me. As an American, circumcision is fairly normal for the majority of people here. Not sure why it became the norm, but only in these last two generations have people begun to question its practice. The percentage is now going down, but last time I saw numbers, 70% of American males were still getting snipped. I don't judge, either way, by the way. This is not one of the things I'm passionate about.
In a lot of ways you can thank Dr. John Kellogg for that little surgery. He had ideas about purity and not succumbing to your "carnal passions". He thought it was a good way to prevent onanism. You can look him up, he also gave us Corn Flakes.
@@TiffanyHallmark Oh yeah, I'm familiar with all of Dr. Kellogg's odd medical beliefs. I don't think I'd heard that he spearheaded the circumcision movement, though.
@@devenscience8894 he promoted burning off the clitoris with acid to suppress/repress any sexual desire in women, and I think, fairly sure, he was pro circumcision. It removes so much of the sensitivity and can have awful complications and is, barring exceptional cases, a totally unnecessary procedure. Which, when done on a baby or child, who cannot give consent, I think the practice of both (male) circumcision and female genital mutilation (sometimes called "female circumcision") are both utterly barbaric, abuse, and torture!
that's really a culture thing. here in Brazil people really don't go cut unless medically needed. i've seen a map once about it, random countries where circumcision is just the norm (like pretty much USA) and then surrounding countries where it's not.
Thanks for this analysis, always so useful. Was a bit nervous about this song when I saw the promo photos but I'm glad to say I really like it, and the videos hilarious!
I love it !! It is Rammstein! I'm their age almost and I completely understand why they did this and the pressure in the society especially in their business. Thank you so much for your videos. And I have to say Richard is more handsome now then he was in his youth. Actually they all have aged very well. Wonder if they have done any zick Zack??? 😂
I watched your breakdown of Rammstein's last album when it came out and was so grateful to have the lyrics explained in a way that shows how Till uses the language so masterfully. I am pumped to see you back again for this album!! Thank you for being the best!! Can't wait to watch your breakdown of Zeit!
I don't speak German, I TY for breaking it down & translating the song..I understand it better now & is still a funny & good lyrics & great beat song comrade..🎶🎙😉
I really love your work here. I'm trying to learn German and I have areal culture and humanities type brain. This is an amazingly fun way to expand on what I'm studying. I love the way people interpret music and poetry. Thank you for bridging cultures with your insight.
this song is so fun and funny. dont know how he comes up the video ideas. schlaffe is sagging and schlaf is sleep. dont know why i thought schalaffe was sleepy. lol
I loved this video, and I love the guys’ sense of humor, as usual. I’ve noticed that some in the fandom may have issues with Rammstein getting older. Lots of “90s Till” images out there as well as reverse-lapse aging gifs of all the members, particularly Till and Richard. Richard admits to his vanity, but if they happen to see this kind of stuff…it can’t be easy or feel good. I mean, everyone knows they’re getting older, and your 50s really drive that home. Thanks for the rundown and for explaining what Till says to Flake in the break.
LOL!!! Mirror Disease of course. You can only see your own Willie in the mirror as your belly blocks they view xD Also Rammstein over exaggerating? What a shocker :p Last time I checked they started doing it sometime around 1994 or 1995... Never gets old for me :D Cheers! I.
I saw some people saying that the core subject of the song(surgery and clinical procedures to avoid getting older) was a cliche. I mean, I kinda agree, but I don't think it makes the song worse. Personally I think that Rammstein's approach concerning those subjects is unique. Such exaggeration, words choice, performance and visual are their signature. It's like a satirical play about the weird and sick aspects of humankind. And as pointed by Dave, Zick Zack's theme matches with the apparent main subject of the album: time.
I greatly enjoyed this song and the video that accompanies it. Could I choose to interpret the Zick Zack in an onomatopoeic way? Like the sound of the scissors? Ich mag deine Videos jedes Mal. Mach weiter so. Vielen Dank
Been a lifelong fan of Rammstein and the German language but never found someone I can relate to in learning the lyrics but you are interesting to listen to and learn from. Ty for your insight, ez sub
This was great! Thanks much for making this video. I was hoping you might. I wasn't sure how to feel about the song at first but I ended up having it on repeat for hours. My friend who is not a fan of the music was blown away by the music vid. These guys are just awesome and to see them still rocking in their 50's ( seeing them in Montreal in Aug ) is inspiring.
This might have been mentioned i'm still partway through but will forget otherwise - when you talk about milling the nose often in (British) English, when talking about rhinoplasty - plastic surgery of the nose, the word "shave" is used, as in: "we will shave [amount] from the bridge of the nose" as an example. Also having worked in operating theatres most surgery is pretty brutal really. They might talk it up as a precise, petite, pretty thing, but actual surgery is different. (Although mad respect to plastics, they really do some fine precision work eg repairing a hand!) another thought about "milling" the nose, is the English expression "nose to the grindstone" meaning working extremely hard or being put upon and pressured.
Thank you so much for translating this and breaking it down. I like the video, and I was hoping someone would translate it into English, but I didn't expect such a thorough explanation. Again thank you!🙏❤🙏
I've spent my working life as a qualified nurse in the operating theatre firstly as a scrub nurse and latterly as an anaesthetic nurse. I've worked in plastic and reconstructive surgery both in our wonderful NHS and in Private theatre. So I found it hilarious Zick Zack, especially when Till's face falls and he uses a carpet stapler to put his face back together! I'm sorry to anyone who took the message from the video seriously. However having worked in this area it is a funny video.
This song should be a ring tone for instagram models 😂 thats what came to my mind immediately after listening to the song. As much as some people may get offended by the song itself, it points out serious-nowadays issue with a young generation who tends to turn more and more often to the plastic surgeries to have that perfect look, but at the end of the day, there is no running away from time
This is the first video of yours that I have watched. Great video, BTW. I am now watching the rest of your channel and am absolutely loving it. Ever since I was a child and learned of my own German roots, I've wanted to learn more about the culture and language. This is exactly what I've been looking for. Thank you for your hard work!
Just some correction from a medical professional: Schlauchbootlippen develop from injecting silicon. Not botox. Botox removes wrinkles by paralyzing muscles.
I had the same impression about the initial part of the song(when the comparative form of the adjectives are said). I think that this feeling of "it's not enough like it is now" is triggered by the use of the "-er" suffix, but also by the fact that they scream these words. I mean, I may be overthinking that, but it seemed like "external voices" that impose that everything about us must be perfect and which make people feel that they are never "enough".
VlogDave - the English word "throat" exists, which refers to the front part. Neck refers to the bone and muscle, throat is the entire front part (inside and out) and is not referred to as neck. Hence Sweeny Todd cut his victims' throats (not neck) and I'm sure you're familiar with "deepthroat" ;)
Great video! You should really do one for the Armee der Tristen, perhaps one of the best songs from the "Zeit" album...it actually deals with the subject of depression and those states of mind...check it out ;)
pois é kk achei estranho que "der Necken" seja apenas pra trás, confesso que não sabia. é que "der Hals" não ser apenas garganta, e significar também a parte externa do pescoço soa estranho.
As a Brazilian, I enjoyed your videos very much 'cause I can practice german alongside with english at the same time, specially what concerns my listening skills. doch eine Frage: doesn't the "zick zack" thing have anything to do with Schlager Musik? I mean, I was really expecting you were going to mention Schlager when commenting the video.. its theme, costumes and stuff.
I assumed it was a negative view on plastic surgery. Just accept aging, it's a part of life. Young people rely on it too soon, and a lot of people go overboard to where it's obvious they've had work done, rather than just subtle changes to make themselves look (in their opinion) better.
“Z-plasty is a plastic surgery technique that is used to improve the functional and cosmetic appearance of scars. With this technique, it is possible to redirect a scar into better alignment with a natural skin fold or the lines of least skin tension. Contracted scars may be lengthened with this technique.”
Your last point... the video is so AWFUL (incredibly well done tho), it really distracts from the song quality. When you listen in your car.. it's a great song!
I've always loved the contrast between their brighter songs with dark lyrics, I think the video accentuates that contrast a bit further, it adds to the sound for me personally
I'm a longtime Rammstein fan since 1997 and I'm strongly disappointed. This song is one of the worst "things" they've released period. Probably the worst one. "Zeit" was pretty interesting, nothing special, but good. But "this"... ? Yeah, the video is funny, blah, blah, blah, but the guitar "riffs", melody, etc., my gosh. So premature, so stupidly simple (not in the right way), it's quite embarrassing even to listen to it tbh. The thing they never wanted to be and what they always said they will never be. Nowadays, Rammstein is more the brand than the band. And masses will consume it, even tho it tastes like vomit. I know people will defend them as usual, but I'm quite sad what "thing" my favorite band turned out to be.
Your point at 15 minutes... is a dangerous topic, but it seems really obvious all the band members are trying to look like women, and perhaps part of the criticism is that modern cosmetic surgery seems very often to be cutting away masculinity (it's toxic, haven't you heard? ;).
Zig zag might be a reference to the kinds of incisions the surgeon does during plastic surgery. I was a surg tech and assisted a lot of plastic surgery.
I remember listening to this for the first time with my friends(we're Afrikaans) and bring the only one who understands German and them all looking at me like I'm insane for how much I laughed.
Thank you for the analysis! I also think that "Schöner, größer, härter! (Straffer, glatter, stärker)" is linked to the Olympic motto "Citius, Altius, Fortius" (or "Schneller, höher, stärker" in German), so that beauty becomes a competition to the point of madness (fun fact: at least some parts of the music video were filmed in a former psychiatric hospital)
Great point, Grete! Thanks for sharing! :)
Love your videos as usual my friend! "der Nacken" in English would essentially be "nape". You don't hear it all too often but, the nape of ones neck is the back of the neck. But most people in the English world would, as you suggest, be more inclined to call the entirety of the neck by just one word.
Know this one from Attack on Titan's english translation
would you not refer to the front part as the throat?
@@theinvisibleneonrainbowzeb2567 you certainly could, and then people would know that you meant specifically the front, but it's not a necessity.
Listening to Zeit, it felt like someone contemplating death. We're born, we live, we die. Zick Zack dealing with beauty and getting older. Looking at the track list with songs like "Meine Tränen" (My Tears)
, "Angst" (Fear) & "Adieu" (Farewell). Along with the band members in their 50s now and Till being 60 next year. This album feels like a midlife crisis.
Very well put.
I found the video funny in places, that’s why I like Rammstein’s music videos. Yes you do have strange ones but that’s their way of doing it
Your comment about circumcision, and "Jews and Muslims" is interesting to me. As an American, circumcision is fairly normal for the majority of people here. Not sure why it became the norm, but only in these last two generations have people begun to question its practice. The percentage is now going down, but last time I saw numbers, 70% of American males were still getting snipped. I don't judge, either way, by the way. This is not one of the things I'm passionate about.
In a lot of ways you can thank Dr. John Kellogg for that little surgery. He had ideas about purity and not succumbing to your "carnal passions". He thought it was a good way to prevent onanism. You can look him up, he also gave us Corn Flakes.
@@TiffanyHallmark Oh yeah, I'm familiar with all of Dr. Kellogg's odd medical beliefs. I don't think I'd heard that he spearheaded the circumcision movement, though.
@@devenscience8894 he promoted burning off the clitoris with acid to suppress/repress any sexual desire in women, and I think, fairly sure, he was pro circumcision. It removes so much of the sensitivity and can have awful complications and is, barring exceptional cases, a totally unnecessary procedure.
Which, when done on a baby or child, who cannot give consent, I think the practice of both (male) circumcision and female genital mutilation (sometimes called "female circumcision") are both utterly barbaric, abuse, and torture!
that's really a culture thing. here in Brazil people really don't go cut unless medically needed. i've seen a map once about it, random countries where circumcision is just the norm (like pretty much USA) and then surrounding countries where it's not.
Thanks for this analysis, always so useful. Was a bit nervous about this song when I saw the promo photos but I'm glad to say I really like it, and the videos hilarious!
Zick zack is a song that could be used to roast Michael Jackson addiction to plastic surgery
I love it !! It is Rammstein! I'm their age almost and I completely understand why they did this and the pressure in the society especially in their business. Thank you so much for your videos. And I have to say Richard is more handsome now then he was in his youth. Actually they all have aged very well. Wonder if they have done any zick Zack??? 😂
I watched your breakdown of Rammstein's last album when it came out and was so grateful to have the lyrics explained in a way that shows how Till uses the language so masterfully. I am pumped to see you back again for this album!! Thank you for being the best!! Can't wait to watch your breakdown of Zeit!
I don't speak German, I TY for breaking it down & translating the song..I understand it better now & is still a funny & good lyrics & great beat song comrade..🎶🎙😉
I love the context you provide for these songs that you can't get from just looking up words in a dictionary!
I really love your work here. I'm trying to learn German and I have areal culture and humanities type brain. This is an amazingly fun way to expand on what I'm studying. I love the way people interpret music and poetry. Thank you for bridging cultures with your insight.
this song is so fun and funny. dont know how he comes up the video ideas. schlaffe is sagging and schlaf is sleep. dont know why i thought schalaffe was sleepy. lol
Ach so? Sterb☠️%/¤#/(!X ¤"..dying is funny?
I loved this video, and I love the guys’ sense of humor, as usual. I’ve noticed that some in the fandom may have issues with Rammstein getting older. Lots of “90s Till” images out there as well as reverse-lapse aging gifs of all the members, particularly Till and Richard. Richard admits to his vanity, but if they happen to see this kind of stuff…it can’t be easy or feel good. I mean, everyone knows they’re getting older, and your 50s really drive that home. Thanks for the rundown and for explaining what Till says to Flake in the break.
LOL!!!
Mirror Disease of course. You can only see your own Willie in the mirror as your belly blocks they view xD
Also Rammstein over exaggerating? What a shocker :p Last time I checked they started doing it sometime around 1994 or 1995... Never gets old for me :D
Cheers!
I.
I saw some people saying that the core subject of the song(surgery and clinical procedures to avoid getting older) was a cliche. I mean, I kinda agree, but I don't think it makes the song worse. Personally I think that Rammstein's approach concerning those subjects is unique. Such exaggeration, words choice, performance and visual are their signature. It's like a satirical play about the weird and sick aspects of humankind. And as pointed by Dave, Zick Zack's theme matches with the apparent main subject of the album: time.
I greatly enjoyed this song and the video that accompanies it. Could I choose to interpret the Zick Zack in an onomatopoeic way? Like the sound of the scissors? Ich mag deine Videos jedes Mal. Mach weiter so. Vielen Dank
Yep, you totally could! It's a cool, ambiguous title :) Thank you so much, highly appreciated, Tiff! 😊🤘
Thank you for another very insightful video
Been a lifelong fan of Rammstein and the German language but never found someone I can relate to in learning the lyrics but you are interesting to listen to and learn from. Ty for your insight, ez sub
I am glad I found your video explaining the song and I love German language and the music! 💃💃🤗
Vielen Dank! As usual so helpful in understanding the content and context ☺️
This was great! Thanks much for making this video. I was hoping you might. I wasn't sure how to feel about the song at first but I ended up having it on repeat for hours. My friend who is not a fan of the music was blown away by the music vid. These guys are just awesome and to see them still rocking in their 50's ( seeing them in Montreal in Aug ) is inspiring.
This might have been mentioned i'm still partway through but will forget otherwise - when you talk about milling the nose often in (British) English, when talking about rhinoplasty - plastic surgery of the nose, the word "shave" is used, as in:
"we will shave [amount] from the bridge of the nose"
as an example.
Also having worked in operating theatres most surgery is pretty brutal really. They might talk it up as a precise, petite, pretty thing, but actual surgery is different. (Although mad respect to plastics, they really do some fine precision work eg repairing a hand!)
another thought about "milling" the nose, is the English expression "nose to the grindstone" meaning working extremely hard or being put upon and pressured.
Thank you so much for translating this and breaking it down. I like the video, and I was hoping someone would translate it into English, but I didn't expect such a thorough explanation. Again thank you!🙏❤🙏
I've spent my working life as a qualified nurse in the operating theatre firstly as a scrub nurse and latterly as an anaesthetic nurse. I've worked in plastic and reconstructive surgery both in our wonderful NHS and in Private theatre. So I found it hilarious Zick Zack, especially when Till's face falls and he uses a carpet stapler to put his face back together! I'm sorry to anyone who took the message from the video seriously. However having worked in this area it is a funny video.
This song should be a ring tone for instagram models 😂 thats what came to my mind immediately after listening to the song. As much as some people may get offended by the song itself, it points out serious-nowadays issue with a young generation who tends to turn more and more often to the plastic surgeries to have that perfect look, but at the end of the day, there is no running away from time
Thanks!
A minor typo correction: while you correctly say "das Fett", it's written "der Fett (sgl)" in that little German flag title box.
Thank you so much for doing these!
We actually do have a word specifically for the back of the neck in English. It's called the nape.
Once more, a great video and superb dissection of the lyrics.
THANKS A LOT!
For some reason, this song reminds me of the video for Winona’s Big Brown Beaver by Primua.
This is the first video of yours that I have watched. Great video, BTW. I am now watching the rest of your channel and am absolutely loving it. Ever since I was a child and learned of my own German roots, I've wanted to learn more about the culture and language. This is exactly what I've been looking for. Thank you for your hard work!
Hi Chris, thanks a lot for sharing that! Much appreciated 🙏
Just some correction from a medical professional: Schlauchbootlippen develop from injecting silicon. Not botox. Botox removes wrinkles by paralyzing muscles.
Makes sense. Thank you, appreciated!
Reminds me of the fact that my native language (german) can indeed be great if used with inspiration.
Geiler Scheiss!
Danke!
Thank you 🔥🤘
Hope we have Angst translate soon! What I understand, some how, a big why to show disfunction of numeric social-media...
Totally random comment: I love your legal copyright desclaimer text. Very elegant and discreet. :-)
I had the same impression about the initial part of the song(when the comparative form of the adjectives are said). I think that this feeling of "it's not enough like it is now" is triggered by the use of the "-er" suffix, but also by the fact that they scream these words. I mean, I may be overthinking that, but it seemed like "external voices" that impose that everything about us must be perfect and which make people feel that they are never "enough".
VlogDave - the English word "throat" exists, which refers to the front part. Neck refers to the bone and muscle, throat is the entire front part (inside and out) and is not referred to as neck. Hence Sweeny Todd cut his victims' throats (not neck) and I'm sure you're familiar with "deepthroat" ;)
Deepthroat? ahem! I nearly choked on this c... nevermind!
It was Cuppa, ya filthy gets!
also yes, throat is the front, neck is the back
Could you please translate the Zick Zack magazine? Do a "walk/read through".🙏
This song ties back to Was Ich Leibe - For every beauty, one has to pay, yes! Am I learning German?
Great video! You should really do one for the Armee der Tristen, perhaps one of the best songs from the "Zeit" album...it actually deals with the subject of depression and those states of mind...check it out ;)
Thanks for this video, very useful. For me it would help if you point out the cases, cuz none of my languages have cases. Ok thanks!!!
In portuguese (at least in Brazil) the back of the neck is called “a nuca” and the whole thing is called “o pescoço”.
pois é kk achei estranho que "der Necken" seja apenas pra trás, confesso que não sabia. é que "der Hals" não ser apenas garganta, e significar também a parte externa do pescoço soa estranho.
In italian also: la nuca 👍
As a Brazilian, I enjoyed your videos very much 'cause I can practice german alongside with english at the same time, specially what concerns my listening skills.
doch eine Frage: doesn't the "zick zack" thing have anything to do with Schlager Musik? I mean, I was really expecting you were going to mention Schlager when commenting the video.. its theme, costumes and stuff.
Again with the passing of time being a... roter faden in the songs. I wonder if this will continue in the rest of the album.
♥️
I assumed it was a negative view on plastic surgery. Just accept aging, it's a part of life.
Young people rely on it too soon, and a lot of people go overboard to where it's obvious they've had work done, rather than just subtle changes to make themselves look (in their opinion) better.
I think "ist die Frau im Mann nicht froh, alles ganz weg, sowieso" refers to transgender people getting their genitalia removed
So realistic, people actually look like this😹
Do one even need to get a transplant/translate for this one? ACH! ALT ich bin...
Zick zack refers to a plastic surgery method to help hide scars.
..or maybe just to; plastic surgery needed or NOT!?
“Z-plasty is a plastic surgery technique that is used to improve the functional and cosmetic appearance of scars. With this technique, it is possible to redirect a scar into better alignment with a natural skin fold or the lines of least skin tension. Contracted scars may be lengthened with this technique.”
Your last point... the video is so AWFUL (incredibly well done tho), it really distracts from the song quality. When you listen in your car.. it's a great song!
...no mirrors in your vehicle?
I've always loved the contrast between their brighter songs with dark lyrics, I think the video accentuates that contrast a bit further, it adds to the sound for me personally
First
"The last will be first, and the first last" - Jesus 😛
When I first heard it, I literaly thought about transgender people
Based
I'm a longtime Rammstein fan since 1997 and I'm strongly disappointed. This song is one of the worst "things" they've released period. Probably the worst one. "Zeit" was pretty interesting, nothing special, but good. But "this"... ? Yeah, the video is funny, blah, blah, blah, but the guitar "riffs", melody, etc., my gosh. So premature, so stupidly simple (not in the right way), it's quite embarrassing even to listen to it tbh. The thing they never wanted to be and what they always said they will never be. Nowadays, Rammstein is more the brand than the band. And masses will consume it, even tho it tastes like vomit. I know people will defend them as usual, but I'm quite sad what "thing" my favorite band turned out to be.
Your point at 15 minutes... is a dangerous topic, but it seems really obvious all the band members are trying to look like women, and perhaps part of the criticism is that modern cosmetic surgery seems very often to be cutting away masculinity (it's toxic, haven't you heard? ;).
..hmm, try Harder?
Zig zag might be a reference to the kinds of incisions the surgeon does during plastic surgery. I was a surg tech and assisted a lot of plastic surgery.
I remember listening to this for the first time with my friends(we're Afrikaans) and bring the only one who understands German and them all looking at me like I'm insane for how much I laughed.
I just think music videos with long middle intermissions are annoying.