Du hast den Farbfilm vergessen

Nina Hagen

About Du hast den Farbfilm vergessen

"Du hast den Farbfilm vergessen" (translation: You Forgot The Color Film) is a pop single written by Michael Heubach (music) and Kurt Demmler (lyrics). It was first performed by German punk artist Nina Hagen and her band Automobil (of which Heubach was the keyboardist), released in 1974 prior to Hagen's punk career. The song depicts a young girl scolding her boyfriend for forgetting to bring the color film for their camera while on vacation. The song reached the top places of the East German music charts in 1974, and 40th place in the 1975 full-year charts Heubach was paid around 10,000 East German marks and 500 Deutsche Marks. In 1975, Nina Hagen left the band and became the singer for Michael Fritzen's Dampferband. Two years later, she left the GDR with her mother after the latter was stripped of her citizenship following her protest against the stripping of her former partner Wolf Biermann's citizenship. In 2003, it was reported that around 40 percent of East Germans could sing the song's lyrics. 


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Hoch stand der Sanddorn am Strand von Hiddensee
Micha, mein Micha und alles tat so weh
Dass die Kaninchen scheu schauten aus dem Bau
So laut entlud sich mein Leid in's Himmelblau, ha

So böse stampfte mein nackter Fuß den Sand
Und schlug ich von meiner Schulter deine Hand
Micha, mein Micha und alles tat so weh
Tu' das noch einmal, Micha, und ich geh'

Du hast den Farbfilm vergessen, mein Michael
Nun glaubt uns kein Mensch, wie schön's hier war, ha-ha, ha-ha
Du hast den Farbfilm vergessen, bei meiner Seel'
Alles blau und weiß und grün und später nicht mehr wahr

(Hu-hu-hu-hu-hu-hu-hu-hu-hu-hu)
Du hast den Farbfilm vergessen, bei meiner Seel'
Alles blau und weiß und grün und später nicht mehr wahr

Nun sitz' ich wieder bei dir und mir zu Haus'
Und such' die Fotos für's Fotoalbum aus
Ich im Bikini und ich am FKK
Ich frech im Mini, Landschaft ist auch da, ja
Aber, wie schrecklich, die Tränen kullern heiß
Landschaft und Nina und alles nur schwarzweiß
Micha, mein Micha und alles tut so weh
Tu' das noch einmal, Micha, und ich geh'

Du hast den Farbfilm vergessen, mein Michael
Nun glaubt uns kein Mensch, wie schön's hier war, ha-ha, ha-ha
Du hast den Farbfilm vergessen, bei meiner Seel'
Alles blau und weiß und grün und später nicht mehr wahr

(Hu-hu-hu-hu-hu-hu-hu-hu-hu-hu)
Du hast den Farbfilm vergessen, bei meiner Seel'
Alles blau und weiß und grün und später nicht mehr wahr

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Nina Hagen

Catharina "Nina" Hagen (born 11 March 1955) is a German singer and actress. She has performed throughout the world, and has been doing so for over 40 years. more »

2 fans

Written by: Kurt Demmler, Michael Heubach

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


13 facts about this song

Genre
"Du hast den Farbfilm vergessen" by Nina Hagen belongs to the Neue Deutsche Welle (New German Wave) genre, combining elements of punk and rock with an often playful, experimental take on German pop music.
Release
The song was released in 1974, marking the beginning of Nina Hagen’s long and varied career in the music industry.
Challenge to Censorship
The lyrics of the song subtly satirize the dull and colorless life behind the Iron Curtain, making it one of the few protest songs able to bypass East German censorship.
Band Recognition
This was the major hit of the band “Nina Hagen & Automobil.” After Nina Hagen's departure for the West in 1976, the band was unable to replicate its earlier success.
Iconic Line
The song became iconic for its refrain “Du hast den Farbfilm vergessen, mein Michael,” or “You forgot the color film, my Michael.” This line has often been interpreted as a metaphor for the grim monotone life in the German Democratic Republic.
Song Composition
The upbeat melody combined with the subtly subversive lyrics made this song stand out at that time. The song’s music was composed by Michael Heubach, and the lyrics were written by Kurt Demmler.
Cover Versions
Given the song’s popularity, numerous cover versions in German and other languages have appeared over the years. The song has been covered by artists like The Skeptics and Leningrad Cowboys.
Current Recognition
Even today, “Du hast den Farbfilm vergessen” is regularly played on German radio. It is considered a classic of German pop music and a cultural artifact from the time of divided Germany.
Live Performances
Despite the censorship threats in East Germany, Nina Hagen often performed the song live, reinforcing its popularity and message.
Film Appearance
The song also made an appearance in the 2004 movie "Farbfilm" where it was used in the soundtrack.
Characterization of Nina Hagen
This song also set the stage for Nina Hagen’s character as the Godmother of Punk, a title she obtained later in West Germany and the United States.
Song Length
The song duration is approximately 2 minutes and 50 seconds, which was typical for pop music during the time of its release.
Political Implications
Even if not directly political, the song is now often interpreted as a remnant of East German history and its pop culture that tells us a more nuanced story of life behind the Iron Curtain.

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