Friday, 10 February 2012

Rammstein/Ramstein

An article in today's Evening Standard about the German pyrotechnicians Rammstein claimed that Rammstein is German for "a battering ram made of stone". That's a new one on me, as there is no such word as "Rammstein", it's like saying "battering stone", it's something that doesn't exist.

When Rammstein first started, it was widely assumed that they named themselves after this foul-up, merely adding the extra "m" for amusement purposes. 'Ramstein' was for some years used as a by-word for "complete and utter f- up":

6 comments:

Tim Almond said...

I'd go and see Rammstein, despite not having any of their records because of this performance of Du Hast: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLp63WBV-Ic

On record, it just doesn't have the same effect. Pop's the opposite - the precision of studio recording is what makes it work.

James Higham said...

Interesting tags.

Martin said...

I've got my ticket for the O2 on the 24th! But why do they always play the UK in February?

Twenty_Rothmans said...

You are calling the ES on a factual error? For shame!

I speak German, but I'm not a native. I asked someone who is, Herr Leo.org:

Für den Begriff 'rammstein' findet sich im Wörterbuch keine Entsprechung. Bitte

Tut mir Leid. Okay, such' mal wieder:
Für den Begriff 'ramstein' findet sich im Wörterbuch keine Entsprechung.

They were, as far as I am aware, only serendipitously named after the eponymous bang and subsequent abrogation of responsibility.

Just like FCUK - no connection whatsoever with what evil minds might think.

I take the Evening Standard on my way home from work. I don't read it, or even look at it. There is a paper collection bin outside my Tube stop. If I have prevented just one person from reading that worthless and discredited pigswill, my job is done.

Mark Wadsworth said...

TS, that sounds nice enough. Bit boring. They're not as offensive as they used to be, my son started listening to them ten years ago when it was just noise. And I don't mean good noise.

JH, they're standard tags. I don't think I'll be needing a tag for "Bands named after air show disasters".

M, to annoy their fans?

20R, but naming yourself after a disaster is the sort of "outrageous" thing which pop stars have always done, it's perfectly normal.

My other son listened to a Munich band called "Lee Harvey & The Oswalds", for example (who are awesome!!).

Twenty_Rothmans said...

MW,

nothing wrong with that - it was topical - e.g., Dead Kennedys (although I would hardly call it a disaster).

Rammstein did come out with an interesting vid a couple of years ago. It was named after a euphemism for a cat.

Recommended viewing. NSFW.