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Transcript by
Luc Snijers

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Goethes Erben Mailorder
Sabine Seidel
Hans-Schäfer-Str. 3
95448 Bayreuth
Fax: 0921/854044
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Erik Seifert
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06348 Großörner, Germany
Tel: (49) 3476/813451

Last Edit/Update
02 April, 2000

Goethes Erben
Conducted by Luc Snijers,
for RifRaf Musiczine.
August 6, 1997

Goethes Erben stands for 'the heirs of Goethe', one of the most important writers in the German language. Your lyrics are always in a poetic, clear and well pronounced German. Which came first: the name or the style, and why did you choose this name, as it brings a kind of responsibility?

Oswald: Our name is meant to say as much as possible about the artistic work we do. The German language is the main element of our work. The term 'Goethe' is a perfect association to the German language, since the name Goethe" is known all over the world as representing German culture and language. The addition of 'Erben' is meant to be provocative, however we never wanted to raise ourselves to a literary level. In the first place, Goethes Erben represents music theater in the German language, which doesn't conform to any boundaries in style.

The German language is often a handicap out of Germany, although the success of Rammstein proves it isn't always so, and even Das Ich has played in the states. Goethes Erben depends more on the language, the lyrics, and has its own fans, also in Belgium. What is your experience in this matter?

Oswald: If something is innovative and interesting, it will find listeners and an audience. Even if we use the German language, we succeed through our live performance to convey the meaning of our lyrics. German is not a world-wide language, however it is a very expressive language, the ideal medium for theater. I think and feel in German, therefore I express myself in this language, why should I have to translate my thoughts into a foreign language to express myself? Our success in Belgium proves that it's possible for a German-speaking band to have listeners in a foreign country who do not necessarily understand the German language. One doesn't have to understand every word of the whole performance, rather the performance should captivate it's audience and convey feelings.

The cover of 'Schach..' represents a horse-man and holds humor and horror, fun and fear, life and death. How or where did you find this statue? The CD also holds many feelings, from joy to melancholy.

Oswald: The statue was made by a German artist called ESTA. He also designed all of the pictures in the booklet of the 'Schach...' CD. The figure on the cover represents a more life-like version of the knight in a chess game. The whole 'Schach ist nicht das Leben' represents through the lyrics and music various different feelings. 'Gleiten' is about trust, 'Nur ein Freund' about friendship, 'Ein Moment der Ruhe' about lust, 'Nacht der tausend Worte' about love, 'Lillien' about disappointment, 'Seelenmord' about hate, 'Erkaufte Träume' about disillusion, 'Begrüßende Worte' about greed, and 'Rot Blau Violett Grün Gelb' about pain. The prologue, the epilogue, 'Keine Farben' and 'Farblos' create a sort of frame for this fairy tale: A person bored by the monotony of a black and white world without feelings starts on a journey to find that which at one time was lost in his world, colours and feelings. During his journey he encounters various feelings, nice feelings but also uncomfortable feelings. He finds warm but also cold colours. 'Schach ist nicht das Leben' deals with the search for life and for change which isn't always so nice, but rather which is made interesting by the shadowy side.

In your older work the lyrics seemed to be the most important, and the music was mostly a slight piano or violin to strengthen the poetic style. Now the music gets more variation, which results (in my opinion) a richer sound, which can reach a wider audience. How did this grow?

Oswald: Goethes Erben was formed in 1989 and since this beginning we have changed and broadened our artistic horizon. While the music to the 'Trilogy' was kept very minimal, already on our live album 'Leben im Niemandsland' we experimented with additional instruments. On the 'blue album' without a name we gave in completely to an electronic coldness, while with the help of several live musicians on 'Schach ist nicht das Leben' we created an album packed with feeling. We try to open another chapter with each album without giving up our original idea of musical theater. In fact, 'Schach ist nicht das Leben' has turned out to be a very intense music theater piece. Although the lyrics remain in the center of Goethes Erben, the music is also important and more complicated than back then on the 'Trilogy.' Also it is much more interesting to play with a live band on stage, instead of having to comply to pre-programmed sequencer programs.

The album was produced by FM Einheit of my favourite band E.N., Stein and a rich solowork. Did you choose him to put more accent to the music (as in the previous question?) What was his influence? I hear some sounds and songs that go in a E.N. direction like Erkaufte Traume. Was it his idea or yours?

Oswald: FM Einheit was our ideal choice for a producer. In the studio, he supported the band like a director of a play. He did not greatly affect the arrangements of the songs. Rather, he called our attention to some things which were musically not necessary. We had played all of the songs already live before FM joined us as producer - that means all the songs were basically finished. I don't think that Erkaufte Träume sounds like Einstürzende Neubauten. Maybe it's the fact that there are metal percussions on that song, however Goethes Erben has worked with metal since 'Mit dem Wissen' even if only sporadically.

Sitz der Gnade', the cover of Nick Cave's 'The Mercy Seat', was in your live setlist for several years. How come it is released now?

Oswald: The Maxi CD is our thanks to all those who have appreciated Goethes Erben throughout the years und who have constantly asked us to bring 'Sitz der Gnade' out on CD. 'Sitz der Gnade' doesn't fit on any album, for this reason we decided to release it on a Maxi CD. This isn't typical for Goethes Erben, however, we've never conformed to what people expected of us!

You added the sentence 'Nur koenige konnen begnadigen' (only kings can give mercy) and the crown on the cover. What's the story here? I don't see that point of view in Nick Cave's version, so what did he overlook?

Oswald: Nur Könige können begnaden" creates a link to 'Schach ist nicht das Leben', but has nothing to do with the song 'Sitz der Gnade.' With 'Kondition: Macht!' this king will be dead. We only try to create a thread running through our albums, a sort of link, so that our listeners can more easily find their way around in the world of Goethes Erben.

Why do you apologise in the booklet for changing the lyrics?

Mindy: Nick Cave's lyrics in English are very beautiful, a work of art, and to make them sound good in German we had to change them quite a bit and leave out parts towards the end. Therefore, maybe we have not retained the complete meaning that Nick Cave was trying to get across. Butchering" a work of art like this is not always a pleasant thing for the original artist or the people who appreciate his work.

The maxi also features two versions of 'Erkaufte Traume' so it is a dancefloor filling CD. Are you aiming for a wider audience? (I do NOT see this as a sell out!)

Oswald: It is very difficult for Goethes Erben to reach new listeners since our songs are not played on the radio or TV, and we are also not a typical disco band. With the Maxi CD we only wanted to show that we're not always so serious, but that we can also make people dance. We also only play at festivals to gain new listeners, not necessarily because it's fun. Only through our festival performances in Belgium we could lay the foundation for eventually playing alone there and having enough listeners.

You'll be playing in Belgium soon. Your previous shows were quite theatrical and poetical, with the candles, the gothic clothes and the dancers. What can we expect this time?

Oswald: This year in Belgium we will be presenting the music theater piece 'Schach ist nicht das Leben.' Our line-up will include 6 musicians and 3 ballet dancers and together we will represent the search for colours and feelings. Is weird colourful, melancholic, aggressive and dreamy, and the first rows will get something to eat! You can see what on page two of the booklet of the 'Sitz der Gnade' CD.

I suppose the theaterplay 'Kondition:Macht!' will not play in Belgium. What is to be mentioned to your Belgian fans?

Oswald: Because of the cost and expense, we can only present Kondition: Macht!" in a small theatre in Berlin in 1998, since the whole BKA Theater will be our stage. But that doesn't mean that we will never come to Belgium with Kondition: Macht!" Kondition: Macht!" is a musical play in two acts which takes place in the future. Each guest in the BKA Theater next year will become a part of this future since even where the audience sits will become a part of the performance. Kondition: Macht!" can only be presented in suitable theaters specially equipped for the performance. In Germany, the performance will only take place in Berlin. The response so far is incredible, already about 500 tickets have been sold and the performance doesn't take place until Easter 1998! Since we realize that many fans will travel from very far to come to these concerts, the promoter of the concerts has organized reasonably-priced accommodations for staying over night. In addition other events are being planned in Berlin during the time of our concerts, such as a meeting of our fan club where the members of Goethes Erben will also be present, plus readings and exhibitions, even a disco following each concert are being planned. Maybe even a few people from Belgium would like to spend their holidays in Berlin with Goethes Erben.

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