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Das Model

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This article is about the Kraftwerk song. For Model (disambiguation), see Das Model (disambiguation).
"Das Model"
Song
B-side"Neonlicht" (1978, Germany)
"The Model" (1981, Germany)
"Computer Love" (1981, UK)

"Das Model" (spelling on album: "Das Modell"; English version title: "The Model") is a song recorded by the electro-pop group Kraftwerk in 1978; written by musicians Ralf Hütter and Karl Bartos, with artist Emil Schult collaborating on the lyrics. It is featured on the album, Die Mensch-Maschine; English version title: The Man-Machine. It is one of the band's most accessible and melodic songs.

First released as a 7" single in Germany (B-side: "Neonlicht"), under its English translation the song was eventually included on the B-side of the "Computer Love" single released in July 1981, which reached #36 in the UK charts. When radio DJs started playing the B-side, EMI re-issued the single in December 1981 – apparently against the band's wishes – with "The Model" as the A-side. It reached #1 in February 1982 and spent a total of 21 weeks in the top 75 of the UK singles charts[1].

Chart performance

Chart (1978) Peak
position
Dutch GfK chart[2] 43
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[3] 39
Chart (1982) Peak
position
German Singles Chart 7
Dutch GfK chart[2] 41
Irish Singles Chart[4] 4
UK Singles Chart[1] 1
Preceded by UK number one single by Kraftwerk
6 February 1982 		Succeeded by

Rammstein version

"Das Model"
Song
B-side"Kokain"
"Alter Mann"

German rock band Rammstein covered the German version of "Das Model" in 1997 as "Das Modell". It was released as a non-album single.

"Das Modell" is introduced by a French phrase spoken by film editor Mathilde Bonnefoy[5]: "Mesdames et messieurs, nous avons l'honneur ce soir, de vous présenter la nouvelle collection de Rammstein" which loosely translates to "Ladies and Gentlemen, tonight we have the honor to present you with the new collection of Rammstein" – something that one would expect to hear about a clothing collection. The beginning sounds like a fashion catwalk. Someone belches then a bump and a scream is heard, followed by laughter and cameras clicking, apparently to sound as if the model stumbled and fell.

The video for this song was never released, possibly due to subject matter closely related to Princess Diana[citation needed].

The single contains three non-album tracks taken from the Sehnsucht recording sessions. In the special version of "Alter Mann", Christiane Herbold (aka. Bobo) sings alongside Till Lindemann in the chorus. Also included is the computer game "Asche zu Asche" for Microsoft Windows.

Live versions

Despite being a single, "Das Modell" has only been played live once, on 23 October 1998 in St. Louis, MO, USA, during the Family Values Tour[6]. It had a shortened intro and outro, making it one of the few Rammstein songs to be shortened instead of extended when played live. According to Flake Lorenz the second song from the single, "Kokain", was played live a few times[citation needed]. Moreover Lorenz stated it was a difficult song to put across live[citation needed].

Track listings

Promo CD
  • Germany: Motor Music / 569 029-2
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Das Modell"Ralf Hütter, Karl Bartos, Emil Schult4:46
2."Kokain"Rammstein3:09
Enhanced CD
  • Germany: Motor Music / 569 029-2
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Das Modell"Hütter, Bartos, Schult4:46
2."Kokain"Rammstein3:09
3."Alter Mann (Special Version)" (featuring Bobo)Rammstein4:22
4."Rammstein Computerspiel für Windows" (Rammstein computer game for Windows)n/an/a

Chart performance

Chart (1997/1998) Peak
position
German Singles Chart 5
Austrian Singles Chart[7] 18
Swedish Singles Chart[8] 41

Other cover versions

The song was first covered by Snakefinger on his debut LP Chewing Hides the Sound in 1979. Noise rock pioneers Big Black covered the song on their 1987 album Songs About Fucking. It has also been covered by The Cardigans, Carter USM, Zippy Kid, Belle & Sebastian, The Divine Comedy, Electric Six, Yat-Kha, Hikashu, Ride, Chris Whitley, Supernaut, Aviador Dro, Veronika Zemanová, Eläkeläiset and Zoot Woman, Scala & Kolacny Brothers, Russian experimental surf rock band Messer Chups, Demolition Group, Wunderkind, the Dutch band Treble Spankers, Fink, English Folk Band Tickled Pink, Sopor Aeternus & the Ensemble of Shadows (sung in Latin, and released under the title 'Modela Est'). Sophie Ellis-Bextor recorded a cover of the song, but Kraftwerk didn't allow it to be released.[citation needed]

References

  1. ^ a b "Chart Stats - Kraftwerk - The Model/Computer Love". Retrieved 14 June 2009 (2009-06-14). {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  2. ^ a b "dutchcharts.nl - Kraftwerk - The Model (in Dutch)". Retrieved 4 April 2009 (2009-04-04). {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  3. ^ "allmusic ((( Kraftwerk > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles )))". Retrieved 14 June 2009 (2009-06-14). {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  4. ^ "irishcharts.ie search results". Retrieved 4 April 2009 (2009-04-04). {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  5. ^ "Rammstein - Das Modell (CD, Maxi, Enh) at Discogs". Retrieved 22 April 2009 (2009-04-22). {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  6. ^ "Rammstein - RammsteinNicCage.com - Concert Info - St. Louis, MO, USA - October 23, 1998". Retrieved 23 April 2009 (2009-04-23). {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  7. ^ "Rammstein - Das Modell - austriancharts.at (in German)". Retrieved 23 April 2009 (2009-04-23). {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  8. ^ "swedishcharts.com - Rammstein - Das Modell". Retrieved 23 April 2009 (2009-04-23). {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
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