BAP -Kristallnaach

I was nominated by @katharsisdrill to participate in this challenge, where you have to write seven consecutively posts about songs from your high-school/college years, that somehow were important for you.

The second song, I'd like to talk about, was a hit by Cologne rock band BAP in 1982. But let's start with the music:

BAP - Kristallnaach (1982)

BAP

While the New German Wave (NDW), I talked about in yesterday's post, made listening to German music cool again, there simultaneously was a rock band called BAP (meaning: Dad).

Although all their lyrics were written and performed in the Cologne dialect "Kölsch", they suddenly became one of the most successful rock acts in Germany. The band leader, Wolfgang Niedecken, was often refered to as the German Bob Dylan and so it might not surprise, that his songs often dealt with political topics.

Power of Music

I have to admit, that I had been quite apolitical during that time, mostly because I was still heavily influenced by the religion of my parents, which prohibited to actively deal with politics. Although they had to be conformist regarding the authorities, they actually just accepted the bible being their ultimate authority.

While growing up, the discrepancy between their believes and my own thinking became more and more obvious. For example, being homosexual was considered being a sin in their religious concept. So when I heard the following verse, it somehow resolved my doubts about in which direction I would have to head.

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_{Coincidentally I've met Wolfgang Niedecken at last year's documenta in Kassel for the first time in real life.}

Kristallnaach

Here is a short explanation about the title of the song, which means Kristallnacht in standard German:

Kristallnacht (lit. "Crystal Night"), also referred to as the Night of Broken Glass, Reichspogromnacht or simply Pogromnacht, was a pogrom against Jews throughout Nazi Germany on 9–10 November 1938, carried out by SA paramilitary forces and German civilians. The German authorities looked on without intervening. The name Kristallnacht comes from the shards of broken glass that littered the streets after the windows of Jewish-owned stores, buildings, and synagogues were smashed.

Source

And here is a short statement about the motivation of the band for writing the song.

As early as summer 1979, while travelling through Greece, which had just liberated itself from the military dictatorship, Niedecken dealt with a political text on the subject of neo-fascism. He chose the theme of the pogrom night. [..] The intention for the song was to set an example in the light of the strengthening of the political right in Europe and the discussion about coming to terms with the past of the Nazi era in the Federal German Republic.

Translated from German Wiki

2016 Cover

The song has also been covered in 2016 by German Rapper Samy Deluxe

When you read the last verse, you may undsterstand, why it is still contemporary:

Where Darwin is an excuse for everything
Whether it's displacement or torture of people
Where money is the root of power
Where being strong is all that counts
Disfigured by cowering and standing to attention
Where they're playing hymns on a comb even
In their barbaric hunger for profit
From cheers to jeers
Whenever there's something to gain
They have their daily Kristallnacht

Source and whole translation

Thanks for reading!

@shortcut

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The #musicwaybackchallenge rules:

• Choose one song from your high-school/college years.
• Write a few words about who made you listen to this song for the first time, what this song means to you (was it a breakup song? you blasted it at 100% on your audio system when you were partying with your friends?) whatever you want.
• Write your text while listening to the song. As soon as the song ends, wrap up what you where writing and submit it.
• Do this for 7 days in a row if you get nominated
• Mention one person who should do this on each day.
• Tag it with #musicwaybackchallenge and include these rules at the bottom of your post