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Sehnsucht
Studio album by Rammstein
Released	August 22, 1997
Recorded	Temple Studios, Malta, 1997
Genre	Tanz-Metall
Length	48:25
Label	Motor Music/Slash Records
Producer	Jacob Hellner with Rammstein
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link Pitchfork Media (2.9/10) link Q link Rolling Stone link
Rammstein chronology
Herzeleid (1995) Sehnsucht (1997) Live aus Berlin (1999)

Sehnsucht (German for "Longing" and sometimes translated as "Hunger") is the German NDH-metal band Rammstein's second album. It was released on 22 August 1997. Image File history File links Nuvola_apps_important. ... Rammstein - Sehnsucht album cover (1997). ... A studio album is a collection of previously unreleased, studio-recorded tracks by a recording artist. ... Rammstein is a German industrial metal band. ... is the 234th day of the year (235th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar). ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Motor Music Records is a subsidiary of Universal Music Group. ... Slash Records is a record label. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... Jacob Hellner is a Swedish music producer who has produced bands like Rammstein and Clawfinger. ... Rammstein is a German industrial metal band. ... The All Music Guide (AMG) is a metadata database about music owned by All Media Guide. ... Image File history File links 4_stars. ... A typical example of Pitchforks main page, as of 12-12-06 Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork and occasionally shortened to P4K, pitchy, or pfork,[1] is a United States-based daily Internet publication devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. ... Q is a music and entertainment magazinepublished monthly in the United Kingdom. ... Image File history File links 3_stars. ... This article is about the magazine. ... Image File history File links 4_stars. ... Rammstein is a German industrial metal band. ... Herzeleid (German for Heartache) is the German NDH-metal band Rammsteins first musical album. ... Live aus Berlin (German for Live from Berlin or Live out of Berlin) is a recording of a concert by the German NDH-metal band Rammstein in 1998. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Rammstein is a German industrial metal band. ... is the 234th day of the year (235th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar). ...

The album booklet folds out to reveal six different covers, one for each band member (each photo depicting the member with a facial mutilation). The cover most commonly seen features Till Lindemann with a muzzle and odd metal objects blocking his view, as they are placed over his eyes. The cover art was created by Austrian artist Gottfried Helnwein [1]. The album is the only album entirely in German to be certified Platinum by the RIAA in the United States. Till Lindemann (b. ... Gottfried Helnwein, Beautiful Victim, watercolor, 1974 Gottfried Helnwein (born October 8, 1948 in Vienna) is an Austrian-Irish fine artist, photographer, installation and performance artist. ... Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has sold a certain number of copies. ...

Track listing

• All tracks written by Rammstein.

Original CD

1. "Sehnsucht" ("Longing/Hunger") – 4:05
2. "Engel" ("Angel") – 4:26
3. "Tier" ("Animal/Beast") – 3:49
4. "Bestrafe mich" ("Punish me") – 3:37
5. "Du hast" ("You hate) – 3:57
6. "Bück dich" ("Bend down" or "Bend over", literally "Bend thyself") – 3:24
7. "Spiel mit mir" ("Play with me") – 4:46
8. "Klavier" ("Piano") – 4:26
9. "Alter Mann" ("Old man") – 4:26
10. "Eifersucht" ("Jealousy") – 3:37
11. "Küss mich (Fellfrosch)" ("Kiss me (Furfrog)") – 3:29

Sehnsucht (wishfulness or Longing) is the fist song on the album of Sehnsucht by Rammstein. ... Engel (German for Angel) is the first single by Rammstein from their LP Sehnsucht. ... Tier (Animal) is the third track on the album Sehnsucht by Rammstein. ... Bestrafe mich (Punish me), is the fourth track on the album Sehnsucht by Rammstein. ... Du Hast is a song by the German Industrial rock band Rammstein from the 1997 album Sehnsucht. ... Bück dich (Bend down, Bend over) is a song by the German Tanz-Metall band Rammstein that first appeared on their second full-length album, Sehnsucht. ... Spiel mit mir is a song by the German Tanz-Metall band Rammstein on their album Sehnsucht. ... Küss mich (Fellfrosch) is a song by the German Tanz-Metall group Rammstein. ...

Bonus tracks

Depending on the country of purchase, the following are possible bonus tracks after track 11:

• English versions of "Du hast" and "Engel".
• Rammstein's English cover of "Stripped".
• "Du riechst so gut '98".
• The "Asche zu Asche" single as a second CD.
• The Australian tour edition has 18 tracks:
  12. "Stripped"
  13. "Asche zu Asche" (Album version)
  14. "Spielt mit mir" (Live)
  15. "Laichzeit (Live)
  16. "Wollt ihr das Bett in Flammen sehen?" (Live)
  17. "Engel" (Live)
  18. "Asche zu Asche" (Live)

Du Hast is a song by the German Industrial rock band Rammstein from the 1997 album Sehnsucht. ... Engel (German for Angel) is the first single by Rammstein from their LP Sehnsucht. ... Stripped is a single by the German Industrial Metal band Rammstein. ... This is a re-release of the single Du riechst so gut by the German band Rammstein. ... Asche zu Asche is a single by the German band Rammstein, from their first studio album, Herzeleid. ...

Song information

1. Sehnsucht (Longing)

• This song is about longing for a lost love, and wanting to be with this lover again. ^{[attribution needed]} The lyrics Zwischen deine langen Beinen such den Schnee vom letzten Jahr doch es ist kein Schnee mehr da (Between your long legs I search for last year's snow but there is no more snow there) imply that once a love is lost, even its resumption cannot bring back the original feeling and happiness. The lines der Finger rutscht nach Mexiko doch er versinkt im Ozean (the finger slips to Mexico but it sinks in the ocean) obviously refer to fingering and imply that after having lost this love, even sex loses its pleasure.

While playing Sehnsucht at Live aus Berlin, Till hit himself in the head with his microphone repeatedly and throughout the rest of the concert could be seen bleeding from his hairline.^{[citation needed]} This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Live aus Berlin (German for Live from Berlin or Live out of Berlin) is a recording of a concert by the German NDH-metal band Rammstein in 1998. ... Till Lindemann (b. ...

2. Engel (Angel)

• The song Engel is about not wanting to aim at perfection all the time because oftentimes, something that seems perfect and pleasurable is in fact delusive. ^{[attribution needed]} What one thinks as a blissful existence is actually fearful and lonely: wir haben Angst und sind allein (we are afraid and alone). The song can also be interpreted as doubting the existence of God and angels: Den Blick gen Himmel fragst du dann warum man sie nicht sehen kann (you look to the sky and ask why can't you see them).

Yet a third interpretation can be sexual in nature. Angel (Engel) can be a slang term for a person that dies never having had sex, and so the song could be seen as the thoughts of someone who doesn't want to die without experiencing carnal pleasure: Gott weiß ich will kein Engel sein (God knows i don't want to be an angel). Some lyrics support this interpretation: sie müssen sich an Sterne krallen (ganz fest) (They must cling onto the stars, very tight, so they won't fall from heaven) could be seen as a metaphor for masturbation. Also, the video made for this song seems to imply through imagery of the main character being teased by a stripper holding a snake (possibly an image of Eve and Satan from the Bible) that the man is a virgin fighting off the temptation of lust. Two children also appear in cages dressed as cherubs with black eyes, probably representing the innocence of youth. The woman then turns into the same that was watching her with black around the eyes, possibly representing that his inner sexual urges were leading him astray. He is then trapped in a prison, perhaps of his own design either by succumbing to temptation or by resisting.

The Fact that a group of who appear to be the main character's friends leading him into a strip club is also reminiscent of a bachelor party thrown by a man's friends before a wedding and this could in fact lead to a fourth interpretation. Perhaps, that of a man who will be getting married in the near future and his friends convince him (perhaps unknowingly) to call it off by bringing the man to a strip club where he decides he'd rather remain single instead of being metaphorically imprisoned by marriage. In either case this seems to work with the Sehnsucht album's theme of Longing (for sex and/or freedom). These are most likely not the true meaning behind the lyrics, but may be deliberate as Rammstein is well-known for their use of puns and double-meanings.

3. Tier (Animal)

• This song portrays the theme of incest by moodily depicting a father taking sexual advantage of his own daughter. When the daughter grows up, she slays her father and writes her story in his blood. Tier implies that humans are nothing more than animals as they do and feel the same thing a beast does. ^{[attribution needed]}

4. Bestrafe mich (Punish me)

• On one hand, Bestrafe mich explores the theme of S&M, depicting a man who enjoys being punished. The lyrics Du meinst "Ja" und ich denk' "Nein" (You say "Yes" and I think "No") imply his helplessness and complete submission to his punisher. On the other hand, the song makes numerous references to religion and shows the degree to which some religious fanatics subordinate themselves to God: Der Herrgott nimmt, der Herrgott gibt (Lord God takes, Lord God gives). The relationship between man and God is made to resemble that of a master and slave.

5. Du hast (You Have)

• This song is a play on German wedding vows; however, it can be interpreted in many different ways. The first lines of the song have a double meaning; the phrases Du hast and Du haßt are homonymes and mean You have and You hate, respectively. (In the way the lyrics are printed on the album's booklet, they mean "you have").

For more info, see the single's page. Single by the German industrial band Rammstein from the album Sehnsucht Track Listing Du hast (single version) Bück dich Du hast (Jacob Hellner remix) Du hast (Clawfinger remix) ...

6. Bück dich (Bend down or Bend over)

• This song is about sodomy and sexual dominance, perhaps even rape. ^{[citation needed]} The song comments on the cruelty and complete lack of emotions of the dominating partner. The lyrics Ein Zweibeiner auf allen Vieren, ich führe ihn spazieren (A two-legged being on all fours, I take him for a walk) show that he perceives the other partner as nothing more but an animal.

Performed live, frontman Till leads keyboardist Christian "Flake" Lorenz around the stage on a leash in full bondage gear, and then simulates sodomy with him using a liquor-squirting dildo (sometimes filled with milk instead), which Till then squirts on the crowd. Till and Flake were arrested for this performance after a concert in Worcester, Massachusetts. The literal translation of the title is Bend thyself. François Elluin, Sodomites provoking the wrath of God, from Le pot pourri de Loth (1781). ... This article or section includes a list of works cited or a list of external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... Christian Flake Lorenz [pronounced Lor-ents] (b. ...

7. Spiel mit mir (Play with me)

• Spiel mit mir explores the taboo theme of incestual sexual fantasy and its realization. It is a subversive and ominous invitation from someone to his brother. The person's voice seems innocent and playful, yet there is a macabre sexual undertone in his bidding: Brüderlein komm und sei so nett, Brüderlein komm fass mich an, rutsch ganz dicht an mich heran (brother dear, come and be so kind brother dear, come touch me, slide closely to me). This is the second song in the album that portrays incest and betraying a relative's trust as its main theme (the first one being Tier).

The album song begins with loud hootings reminiscent of apes or monkeys. The sounds could also be interpreted as a crowd of people laughing - building the image that the adults are away at a party and the two siblings are using this to their advantage to have incest. The song when played live differs from the album version, as keyboardist Christian "Flake" Lorenz transposes the keyboards two octaves higher than usual in the last chorus. Also when performed at live aus berlin the introduction was played at the middle of the song before the guitar solo Christian Flake Lorenz [pronounced Lor-ents] (b. ...

8. Klavier (Piano)

• Klavier is one of Rammstein's few slow and sentimental songs. It tells a story of a man who adored the way his girlfriend played the piano: und wenn ihr Spiel begann, hielt ich den Atem an (and when her performance began, I held my breath). However, it turned out that she had not been faithful and had played for another man as well. Till's character could not bear this and killed her, locking her away in the room with her piano. Sometime later, her parents force him to open the door of the room and they see their daughter lying at the dusty and untuned piano, long since dead.

9. Alter Mann (Old man)

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• Alter Mann is about the wisdom and insight of old age, and can also be interpreted as having a religious meaning. The old man is disappointed by the young man throwing the stone into the water, and says that only when the water is smooth, can you see how much of you fairy-tale you have left, and then you will beg for salvation. A possible interpretation of this is old people's insight into themselves and the secrets of life, in contrast to the chaotic life of those of the younger. Only when you are at peace can you see what it is. There is also a religious aspect in this song, in the way the younger one takes over, almost like a protege.

This in some ways resembles Buddhism and other religions. Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... A silhouette of Buddha at Ayutthaya, Thailand. ...

• It can also be interpreted in another way. The old man can be interpreted as God, keeping the "water" (world or life) smooth with his fan. Likewise, the old man can represent the older generation, trying to keep the world peaceful. The water is simply a metaphor for life, and keeping it smooth is to be keeping the world peaceful. However, the young man throws a stone into the water, disrupting the surface. This may be a metaphor for the young people of the world often making rash decisions and disrupting the peace of the world. Once the old man (representing the older generation) passes away, the young man will become older and wiser, and take over the job of the old man - keeping the water/life smooth. In a way, this is the cycle of life.

10. Eifersucht (Jealousy)

• Eifersucht explicitly depicts cannibalism, but is actually about jealousy in its most macabre forms. The lyrics portray a man who morbidly invites someone, who is envious of him, to kill and eat him, thus becoming somewhat his mirror image. The song relates to the ancient belief that upon eating the flesh of an enemy, one gain his powers and abilities.

The song is also in the movie "Wing Commander". Wing Commander is a science fiction film loosely based on the Wing Commander computer game series. ...

This song has never been played live.

11. Küss mich (Fellfrosch) (Kiss me (Furfrog))

• Küss mich (Fellfrosch) explores the theme of wanting something one can hardly or not at all receive. It is about a woman who desires oral sex but seldom obtains it because of its taste (this can also be interpreted as her not being physically attractive): Doch weil es etwas bitter schmeckt, wird sie selten nur geküsst (But because it tastes somewhat bitter, she is seldom kissed). Frog is used in German as slang for female genitals. The song uses many interesting synthesised effects; one can even hear throughout the song a noise used in various cartoon shows.

This song has never been played live.

External links

• Album lyrics