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Was es ist
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Wikipedia article
"'Was es ist'" (What it is) is a song written and recorded by the German pop and rock band MIA., released in 2003 and later included on the album 'Stille Post'. Although only reaching number 50 in the German charts, it caused a fierce controversy within German society because of its underlying patriotic message.
Background
The song's theme is a positive interpretation of the German national identity re-awakening in a positive and tolerant way, thus allowing young Germans to identify with their country: "Fragt man mich jetzt, woher ich komme, / Tu ich mir nicht mehr selber leid" ('If I am asked now where I'm from, / I no longer pity myself').Kruse, Merle-Marie. 'Pop Macht Nation. Affirmationen und Irritationen nationaler Identitt in Texten deutschsprachiger Popmusik'. Lit-Verlag: Berlin, 2013. Page 190. The lyrics, based on a reference to Erich Fried's 1983 love poem of the same name, feature further romantic references to Germany and the colours of the German flag that are also represented by the band's black, red and gold dresses.Schemel, Bianca: "'Das ist schwarz rot gold/hart mit Stolz'". Die Inszenierung von Mnnlichkeit, Nation und Klasse in den Songs und Videos des Rappers Fler". In: Martina Oster, Waltraud Ernst, Marion Gerards (ed.). 'Performativitt und Performance. Geschlecht in Musik, Theater und MedienKunst' [sic!]. Lit-Verlag: Hamburg, 2008. Page 134.
When the song was released on an EP of the same title in 2003, the band was heavily criticized for its patriotic tone which many consider inappropriate due to Germany's difficult history, culminating in accusations of promoting nationalism.[http://www.stern.de/kultur/musik/mia-neue-deutsche-leichtigkeit-566104.html Article] about the controversy by the 'Stern' online. MIA. claim the song was meant to provoke a discussion about Germany as a home and as a place to change and design. Furthermore, they consider themselves politically on the left. The lead singer, Mieze Katz, who was even pelt with eggs, said about the topic: "This was grotesque for we aren't nationalists. I'm a leftist. But I have never fully understood the negation of the German national identity. I was born here, and German is the language I use to express myself. We must never forget the crimes, but this heritage is also a chance to build something good."[https://www.welt.de/vermischtes/prominente/article13902341/Mieze-Katz-greift-in-den-ganz-grossen-Gefuehlskorb.html Interview] with the lead singer in 'Die Welt' online, 5 March 2012. Original German: "Das war grotesk, wir sind ja keine Deutschnationalen, ich bin links. Aber die Verneinung des Deutschseins habe ich nie ganz begriffen. Ich bin hier zur Welt gekommen, Deutsch ist die Sprache, in der ich mich ausdrcke. Die Verbrechen drfen wir nie vergessen, aber dieses Erbe ist auch eine Chance, etwas Gutes aufzubauen."
See also
*German nationalism
References
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