1001 Songs Challenge #945: Mein Teil (2004)

On 11 February 2019 I set myself the challenge of reading 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die by Robert Dimery (ed.) and following the book’s advice to the letter. I’ve previously read 1001 Films… and started 1001 Albums… but felt 1001 Songs… would be a sensible place to start for what I have in mind here.

My challenge is to read about one song per day and listen to it (YouTube and Spotify, I need you tonight!) before sharing my own thoughts. Some songs I will love, others I’ll hate, and I’m sure there will be those that leave me perplexed but listen to them I shall.

I’ll also try, and most likely fail, to pinpoint the best song from the 1001 on offer but I’m nothing if not foolhardy. Instead of one song, I’m predicting I’ll have about 100 favourites by the end and may have to resort to a Top 10 so far to maintain any semblance of sanity.

So long as I post every day (including Christmas) then this challenge should come to an end on Wednesday 8 November 2021. Staying with the Barney Stinson theme I am hoping that the whole experience will prove to be… legendary!

 

Rammstein – Mein Teil (2004)

 

 

We’re leaving the US behind today, dear reader, and making our way across the Atlantic and into Europe once more. Once we reach the mainland we head on over to Berlin in Germany. Formed in 1994 Rammstein embraced both heavy metal and were not afraid of the odd bit of controversy when it came to some of their music. We join them in 2004 with the release of their fourth album, Reise, Reise, and from there 1001 Songs have gone with the track – Mein Teil. 

Mein Teil translates as “my part” or “my share” and is also slang for “penis.” Mein Teil recounts the disturbing tale of Armin Meiwes and Bernd Jurgen Armando Brandes. In March 2001 Meiwes posted an online advertisement looking for someone who wanted to be killed and he would then eat them. Many responded to the ad but withdrew before meeting Meiwes. Armando responded and did meet with Meiwes at his home. The case is gruesome so I will not delve into detail here but Armando ended up dead and Meiwes later went to prison, initially for manslaughter and later murder. Mein Teil recounts these events, focusing in particular on one body part. It’s an interesting but bizarre background for a song.

This is my first experience of Rammstein and I have to say I was impressed. Heavy metal is alive and well with groups such as this. Had I listened to Mein Teil without reading up on the background I would have enjoyed it as an effective heavy metal piece. Learning about its composition makes it pretty controversial and that did nothing to harm the song’s sales and chart performance upon release. Rammstein continue to perform to this day and have kept the same lineup throughout their history.

 

Favourite songs so far:

The Animals – House of the Rising Sun (1964)

Simon & Garfunkel – The Sounds of Silence (1965)

The Beatles – A Day in the Life (1967)

The Doors – The End (1967)

Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here (1975)

Meat Loaf – Bat Out of Hell (1977)

Tracy Chapman – Fast Car (1988)

U2 – One (1991)

Radiohead – Paranoid Android (1997)

Snow Patrol – Run