Auf Wiedersehen (song)
Encyclopedia
"Auf Wiedersehen" is a song co-written by Cheap Trick
guitarist Rick Nielsen
and bassist Tom Petersson
and first released on the band's 1978 album Heaven Tonight
. It was also released as a single as the B-side of "Surrender
". Since its original release, it has also been released by Cheap Trick on several live and compilation albums, including Budokan II, Sex, America, Cheap Trick
, The Essential Cheap Trick
, and the 30th Anniversary Edition of Cheap Trick at Budokan, which also includes a DVD with a video performance of the song. Allmusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine
described the song as one of the peaks of Heaven Tonight and as one of Cheap Trick's "stone-cold classics." Since its original release, it has been covered by Anthrax
, John Easdale
and Steel Pole Bath Tub
.
The subject of the song is suicide and is one of two suicide themed songs on Heaven Tonight, the other being the title track. However, different commentators have different views of the Cheap Trick's attitude towards the subject matter. Mitchell Schneider of Rolling Stone Magazine finds some of the lyrics "compellingly moronic," making the song an example of Andy Warhol
's philosophy that "We should really stay babies for much longer than we do, now that we're living so much longer." Dennis Cooper of SPIN Magazine considers the song as virtually extolling the virtue of suicide. Critic Bryan Wawzenek also remarked that the song makes suicide seem fun. Billboard Magazine considered "Auf Wiedersehen" to be a powerful anti-suicide song. And music critic Robert Christgau
described the song as "a sarcastic ditty about suicide."
Like "Surrender," "Auf Wiedersehen" was one of the earlier songs in Cheap Trick's repertory, and a version was originally recorded for the band's eponymous debut album
. It is a powerful, vital song. Some of the music quotes lines from Bob Dylan
's "All Along the Watchtower
". Wawzenek comments that the song requires a "Broadway caliber performance" from Cheap Trick lead singer Robin Zander
to pull it off, and the song is one of Zander's favorites. Heaven Tonight producer Tom Werman
feels that despite his slick production, the subject matter of "Auf Wiedersehen" validated the band's new wave
credentials. Indeed, Bradley Bambarger of Billboard Magazine described the song as being "punkier than thou."
Anthrax
covered "Auf Wiedersehen" as a bonus track on their 1993 album Sound of White Noise
. John Easdale
and Steel Pole Bath Tub
also covered the song.
Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick is an American rock band from Rockford, Illinois, formed in 1973. The band consists of members Robin Zander , Rick Nielsen , Tom Petersson , and Bun E...
guitarist Rick Nielsen
Rick Nielsen
-External links:* * *...
and bassist Tom Petersson
Tom Petersson
Tom Petersson is an American musician, best known as the bassist and sometime guitarist for the rock band Cheap Trick.-Career:...
and first released on the band's 1978 album Heaven Tonight
Heaven Tonight
Heaven Tonight is Cheap Trick's third album, released in 1978. The album was remastered and released with bonus tracks on Sony's Epic/Legacy imprint in 1998. The album cover features lead singer Robin Zander and bassist Tom Petersson....
. It was also released as a single as the B-side of "Surrender
Surrender (Cheap Trick song)
"Surrender" is a single by Cheap Trick released in June 1978 from the album Heaven Tonight. It was the first Cheap Trick single to enter the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 62...
". Since its original release, it has also been released by Cheap Trick on several live and compilation albums, including Budokan II, Sex, America, Cheap Trick
Sex, America, Cheap Trick
Sex, America, Cheap Trick is a 1996 box set by the rock band Cheap Trick. It includes 17 previously unreleased songs, as well as the band's biggest hits...
, The Essential Cheap Trick
The Essential Cheap Trick
The Essential Cheap Trick is the fourth compilation album by Cheap Trick, and part of Sony BMG's The Essential series. It contains at least one song from every album up to Special One , except the commercial failure The Doctor...
, and the 30th Anniversary Edition of Cheap Trick at Budokan, which also includes a DVD with a video performance of the song. Allmusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Stephen Thomas Erlewine is a senior editor for Allmusic. He is the author of many artist biographies and record reviews for Allmusic, as well as a freelance writer, occasionally contributing liner notes. He is also frontman and guitarist for the Ann Arbor-based band Who Dat?Erlewine is the nephew...
described the song as one of the peaks of Heaven Tonight and as one of Cheap Trick's "stone-cold classics." Since its original release, it has been covered by Anthrax
Anthrax (band)
Anthrax is an American heavy metal band from New York City, formed in 1981. Founded by guitarists Scott Ian and Danny Lilker, the band has since released ten studio albums and 20 singles, and an EP featuring Public Enemy. The band was one of the most popular of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
, John Easdale
John Easdale
John Easdale is the lead singer and songwriter for the American band Dramarama.Easdale grew up in Wayne, New Jersey, and graduated from Wayne Hills High School.-External links:*...
and Steel Pole Bath Tub
Steel Pole Bath Tub
Steel Pole Bath Tub was a hardcore punk/noise rock band, formed in 1986 in Bozeman, Montana by Mike Morasky and Dale Flattum .- Band history :...
.
The subject of the song is suicide and is one of two suicide themed songs on Heaven Tonight, the other being the title track. However, different commentators have different views of the Cheap Trick's attitude towards the subject matter. Mitchell Schneider of Rolling Stone Magazine finds some of the lyrics "compellingly moronic," making the song an example of Andy Warhol
Andy Warhol
Andrew Warhola , known as Andy Warhol, was an American painter, printmaker, and filmmaker who was a leading figure in the visual art movement known as pop art...
's philosophy that "We should really stay babies for much longer than we do, now that we're living so much longer." Dennis Cooper of SPIN Magazine considers the song as virtually extolling the virtue of suicide. Critic Bryan Wawzenek also remarked that the song makes suicide seem fun. Billboard Magazine considered "Auf Wiedersehen" to be a powerful anti-suicide song. And music critic Robert Christgau
Robert Christgau
Robert Christgau is an American essayist, music journalist, and self-proclaimed "Dean of American Rock Critics".One of the earliest professional rock critics, Christgau is known for his terse capsule reviews, published since 1969 in his Consumer Guide columns...
described the song as "a sarcastic ditty about suicide."
Like "Surrender," "Auf Wiedersehen" was one of the earlier songs in Cheap Trick's repertory, and a version was originally recorded for the band's eponymous debut album
Cheap Trick (1977 album)
Cheap Trick is the first studio album released in 1977 by the American rock band Cheap Trick. It was their debut album for Epic Records, produced by Jack Douglas.- Overview :...
. It is a powerful, vital song. Some of the music quotes lines from Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
's "All Along the Watchtower
All Along the Watchtower
"All Along the Watchtower" is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan. The song, which has been included on most of Dylan's greatest hits compilations, initially appeared on his 1967 album John Wesley Harding. Over the past 35 years, he has performed it in concert more...
". Wawzenek comments that the song requires a "Broadway caliber performance" from Cheap Trick lead singer Robin Zander
Robin Zander
Robin Wayne Zander is the lead singer and rhythm guitarist for the rock band Cheap Trick.-Early life:Zander was born in Beloit, Wisconsin, the fourth of five children; he has two older brothers, and older and younger sisters....
to pull it off, and the song is one of Zander's favorites. Heaven Tonight producer Tom Werman
Tom Werman
Tom Werman was an A&R man and record producer for Epic Records from 1970 into 1982. He has produced albums by acts including Mother's Finest, Ted Nugent, Cheap Trick, Molly Hatchet, Blue Öyster Cult, Mötley Crüe, Twisted Sister, Stryper, Kix, LA Guns, and Poison. While in A&R at Epic Records, he...
feels that despite his slick production, the subject matter of "Auf Wiedersehen" validated the band's new wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
credentials. Indeed, Bradley Bambarger of Billboard Magazine described the song as being "punkier than thou."
Anthrax
Anthrax (band)
Anthrax is an American heavy metal band from New York City, formed in 1981. Founded by guitarists Scott Ian and Danny Lilker, the band has since released ten studio albums and 20 singles, and an EP featuring Public Enemy. The band was one of the most popular of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
covered "Auf Wiedersehen" as a bonus track on their 1993 album Sound of White Noise
Sound of White Noise
Sound of White Noise is the sixth studio album by American heavy metal band Anthrax, released in May 1993 on Elektra Records. It is the band's first album with Armored Saint vocalist John Bush, and also their last studio album with longtime lead guitarist Dan Spitz.-Overview:The album, produced by...
. John Easdale
John Easdale
John Easdale is the lead singer and songwriter for the American band Dramarama.Easdale grew up in Wayne, New Jersey, and graduated from Wayne Hills High School.-External links:*...
and Steel Pole Bath Tub
Steel Pole Bath Tub
Steel Pole Bath Tub was a hardcore punk/noise rock band, formed in 1986 in Bozeman, Montana by Mike Morasky and Dale Flattum .- Band history :...
also covered the song.