Links 2-3-4
Encyclopedia
"Links 2-3-4" is a song by the Neue Deutsche Härte
band Rammstein
, released on their third studio album, Mutter (Mother).
/nazism
directed at the band. In the song they say "my heart beats to the left, 2-3-4", meaning they are on the left of the political spectrum
. The refrain is an allusion to the revolutionary song
Einheitsfrontlied, written by Bertolt Brecht
for the Communist Party of Germany
in the 1930s and re-popularized by Hannes Wader
in the German Democratic Republic
.
The song uses an alternate pronunciation of the German two, using zwo rather than zwei (tsvy) (used on Sonne from the same album). "Zwo" is more commonly used within the German military, or in the Austrian dialect, and this song presents a strong, militaristic theme, 'left - two - three - four' being a common drill instructor's chant to keep a marching formation in step.
for the song uses CGI
to portray the struggle of an ant
colony
against attacking beetle
s. During the video, the band can be seen playing on a movie theater
screen. There is also a right hand belonging to a body lying near a grave with a cross on it, covered by ants near the end of the video.
A DVD version of "Links 2-3-4" contains the audio tracks, as well as a video portion with the official music video, its making-of
documentary and a photo gallery. Both videos were subsequently re-released on the Lichtspielhaus
DVD.
Video Part
episode "What's Eating Gilbert Grissom?" during a scene in a sex shop.
Neue Deutsche Härte
Neue Deutsche Härte is a genre of industrial metal. The term was invented by the German music press after the release of the debut album Herzeleid by Rammstein....
band Rammstein
Rammstein
Rammstein is a German Neue Deutsche Härte band from Berlin, formed in 1994. The band consists of members Till Lindemann , Richard Z. Kruspe , Paul H. Landers , Oliver "Ollie" Riedel , Christoph "Doom" Schneider and Christian "Flake" Lorenz...
, released on their third studio album, Mutter (Mother).
Overview
The lyrics were written in response to allegations of fascismFascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
/nazism
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
directed at the band. In the song they say "my heart beats to the left, 2-3-4", meaning they are on the left of the political spectrum
Political spectrum
A political spectrum is a way of modeling different political positions by placing them upon one or more geometric axes symbolizing independent political dimensions....
. The refrain is an allusion to the revolutionary song
Revolutionary song
Revolutionary songs are political songs that advocate or praise revolutions. They are used to boost morale, as well as for political propaganda or agitation. Amongst the most well-known revolutionary songs are "La Marseillaise" and "The Internationale". Many protest songs can be considered...
Einheitsfrontlied, written by Bertolt Brecht
Bertolt Brecht
Bertolt Brecht was a German poet, playwright, and theatre director.An influential theatre practitioner of the 20th century, Brecht made equally significant contributions to dramaturgy and theatrical production, the latter particularly through the seismic impact of the tours undertaken by the...
for the Communist Party of Germany
Communist Party of Germany
The Communist Party of Germany was a major political party in Germany between 1918 and 1933, and a minor party in West Germany in the postwar period until it was banned in 1956...
in the 1930s and re-popularized by Hannes Wader
Hannes Wader
Hannes Wader is a German singer-songwriter . He was an important figure in German leftist circles from the 1970s on, with his songs covering such themes as socialist and communist resistance to oppression in Europe and other places like Latin America...
in the German Democratic Republic
German Democratic Republic
The German Democratic Republic , informally called East Germany by West Germany and other countries, was a socialist state established in 1949 in the Soviet zone of occupied Germany, including East Berlin of the Allied-occupied capital city...
.
The song uses an alternate pronunciation of the German two, using zwo rather than zwei (tsvy) (used on Sonne from the same album). "Zwo" is more commonly used within the German military, or in the Austrian dialect, and this song presents a strong, militaristic theme, 'left - two - three - four' being a common drill instructor's chant to keep a marching formation in step.
Music video
The music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for the song uses CGI
Computer-generated imagery
Computer-generated imagery is the application of the field of computer graphics or, more specifically, 3D computer graphics to special effects in art, video games, films, television programs, commercials, simulators and simulation generally, and printed media...
to portray the struggle of an ant
Ant
Ants are social insects of the family Formicidae and, along with the related wasps and bees, belong to the order Hymenoptera. Ants evolved from wasp-like ancestors in the mid-Cretaceous period between 110 and 130 million years ago and diversified after the rise of flowering plants. More than...
colony
Ant colony
An ant colony is an underground lair where ants live, eat and mate. Colonies consist of a series of underground chambers, connected to each other and the surface of the earth by small tunnels. There are rooms for nurseries, food storage, and mating...
against attacking beetle
Beetle
Coleoptera is an order of insects commonly called beetles. The word "coleoptera" is from the Greek , koleos, "sheath"; and , pteron, "wing", thus "sheathed wing". Coleoptera contains more species than any other order, constituting almost 25% of all known life-forms...
s. During the video, the band can be seen playing on a movie theater
Movie theater
A movie theater, cinema, movie house, picture theater, film theater is a venue, usually a building, for viewing motion pictures ....
screen. There is also a right hand belonging to a body lying near a grave with a cross on it, covered by ants near the end of the video.
Live story
The song debuted live in April 2000 on a concert just for members of the fan club. Then it was called simply "Links" and had some minor differences compared to the final version released in Mutter. It was also played during some concerts of Big Day Out 2001. When played live, it usually extends to almost 5 minutes because of added instrumentals. Since its debut, it has been played in virtually every Rammstein concert, exceptions being most of the shows in Big Day Out 2001 and three consecutive concerts exclusively for members of the Fan Area in October 2004.Track listing
The single has a B-side of "Halleluja", a track frequently performed live by the band. It is also available on the Limited Edition release of Mutter, as well as some Japanese releases and Resident Evil Soundtrack.A DVD version of "Links 2-3-4" contains the audio tracks, as well as a video portion with the official music video, its making-of
Making-of
In cinema, a making-of, also known as behind-the-scenes, is a documentary film that features the production of a film or television program...
documentary and a photo gallery. Both videos were subsequently re-released on the Lichtspielhaus
Lichtspielhaus
Lichtspielhaus is the German NDH-metal band Rammstein's second DVD, and was released on December 1, 2003...
DVD.
Maxi-CD
- "Links 2 3 4" - 3:43
- "Halleluja" - 3:46
- "Links 2 3 4 (ClawfingerClawfingerClawfinger is a rap metal band from Sweden and was one of the earliest bands to adopt this sound. Clawfinger is known for aggressive but melodic music and tackling political and anti-racist themes in their songs.-Band history:...
Geradeaus Remix)" - 4:28 - "Links 2 3 4 (WestbamWestBamWestBam, real name Maximilian Lenz , is techno DJs in Germany. His brother is Fabian Lenz, also known as DJ Dick....
Technolectro Mix)" - 5:58 - "Links 2 3 4 (WestbamWestBamWestBam, real name Maximilian Lenz , is techno DJs in Germany. His brother is Fabian Lenz, also known as DJ Dick....
Hard Rock CafeHard Rock CafeHard Rock Cafe is a chain of theme restaurants founded in 1971 by Americans Peter Morton & Isaac Tigrett. In 1979, the cafe began covering its walls with rock and roll memorabilia, a tradition which expanded to others in the chain. In 2006, Hard Rock was sold to the Seminole Tribe of Florida, and...
Bonus Mix)" – 3:43- The 2-track CD features Links 2 3 4 and Hallelujah.
DVD Maxi-Single
Audio Part- "Links 2 3 4" - 3:43
- "Halleluja" - 3:46
- "Links 2 3 4 (ClawfingerClawfingerClawfinger is a rap metal band from Sweden and was one of the earliest bands to adopt this sound. Clawfinger is known for aggressive but melodic music and tackling political and anti-racist themes in their songs.-Band history:...
Geradeaus Remix)" - 4:28 - "Links 2 3 4 (WestbamWestBamWestBam, real name Maximilian Lenz , is techno DJs in Germany. His brother is Fabian Lenz, also known as DJ Dick....
Technolectro Mix)" - 5:58 - "Links 2 3 4 (WestbamWestBamWestBam, real name Maximilian Lenz , is techno DJs in Germany. His brother is Fabian Lenz, also known as DJ Dick....
Hard Rock CafeHard Rock CafeHard Rock Cafe is a chain of theme restaurants founded in 1971 by Americans Peter Morton & Isaac Tigrett. In 1979, the cafe began covering its walls with rock and roll memorabilia, a tradition which expanded to others in the chain. In 2006, Hard Rock was sold to the Seminole Tribe of Florida, and...
Bonus Mix)" – 3:43
Video Part
- "Links 2 3 4 (Video)" - 3:37
- "Links 2 3 4 (Making of)"
- Photo gallery
Popular culture
This song was featured in the CSICSI: Crime Scene Investigation
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is an American crime drama television series, which premiered on CBS on October 6, 2000. The show was created by Anthony E. Zuiker and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer...
episode "What's Eating Gilbert Grissom?" during a scene in a sex shop.