Sunday, December 15, 2019

The 2019 Jester One Music Top 20 Countdown - #6

#6. Rammstein - Radio


Speaking of bands who were on indefinite hiatus, Rammstein didn't break up at any time between their releases, they were just quiet. Instead, guitarist Richard Z Kruspe worked on his side project Emigrate, Till Lindemann founded his eponymous side project, and the band played select major festivals. Of course, the major media outlets would ask when the band were planning on releasing music, but the band kept insisting that they would do it on their own time. I've seen many of their members talk about how recording as the band can be difficult because each member has equal say in how they do things, and also because they are older now and have their own lives to live. I don't think any of them were in any hurry, but I'm sure they were working on what they had in their minds all the while. Late last year, the word started the spread that the band was wrapping up the record, and back in January they announced a release date in the spring.

The band did what they always do - they released things in the manor that they deemed fit, and kept fans and critics on their toes. The album has never been given an official name from the band, and so has been deemed Rammstein and Untitled. The group released two controversial singles a month apart, both shining a light on the more controversial sides of Germany's history, and both being accompanied by graphic videos. It just wouldn't be a Rammstein record without massive controversy and critical acclaim, would it? The album shot right to #1 in 14 different countries, #2 in 5 more and also made it all the way to #9 on the Billboard 200. It was a force to be reckoned with among critics as well, scoring rave reviews across the country. Other great tracks include "Hallomann", "Puppe", and "Deutschland".

The second single released was titled "Radio", and dealt with East German censorship after World War 2. The East German government banned all forms of media that wasn't to their liking, but occasionally Western media would leak through. The song opens with a bouncy keyboard before the rest of the band jumps in with their signature chugging guitars. Everything they record is truly machine-like, and this song is no different with its driving electronic beat and Lindemann's almost whispered verses, which seem to amplify the taboo nature of what he is singing. The video features the band playing in 60s attire, while women are shown liberating themselves to the music as an army marches to find where the band is performing. The song scored over 45 million streams on Spotify, with the video grabbing 65m views. Although "Radio" wasn't as big of a hit as its predecessor "Deutschland", it did chart in several countries and made it up to #27 on the US Hot Rock tracks.

The band has said that this record may indeed be their last, and if that is the case, they certainly ended on a fantastic note. As it stands, they have released 2 albums in the Countdown era and both have charted, with "Fruhling in Paris" landing at #18 in 2010.



Favorite line: "Radio, mein Radio, Ich lass' mich in den Äther saugen"








Title: Radio
Artist: Rammstein
Album: Untitled


Previous #6s

2018: Turnspit - Walk Away
2017: Assemblage 23 - Bravery
2016: Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown - Loaded Dice and Buried Money
2015: Lamb of God - 512
2014: Lo-Fang - When We're Fire
2013: Tegan and Sara - Closer
2012: Lamb of God - King Me
2011: Nine Lashes - Anthem of the Lonely
2010: Them Crooked Vultures - Mind Eraser, No Chaser
2009: Kelly Clarkson - Already Gone

Radio, mein Radio
Ich lass' mich in den Äther saugen
https://lyricstranslate.com/en/radio-radio.html-33
Radio, mein Radio
Ich lass' mich in den Äther saugen
https://lyricstranslate.com/en/radio-radio.html-33

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