Das Model

This article is about the Kraftwerk song. For other uses, see Model (disambiguation).

"Das Model"
German sleeve
Single by Kraftwerk
from the album The Man-Machine
B-side	"Neonlicht" (1978, Germany) "The Model" (1981, Germany) "Computer Love" (1981, UK)
Released	September 1978 (Germany) December 1981 (UK)
Format	7" vinyl, 12" vinyl
Recorded	1977–1978
Genre	Synthpop
Length	3:38
Label	EMI Kling Klang 1C 00645109 (1978, Germany) EMI Kling Klang 1C 006 78078(1981, Germany) EMI Capitol EMI5207 (UK)
Writer(s)	Ralf Hütter, Karl Bartos, Emil Schult
Producer	Ralf Hütter, Florian Schneider
Kraftwerk German singles[1] chronology "Die Roboter" (1978) "Das Model" (1978) "Taschenrechner" (1981) "The Model" UK sleeve Kraftwerk UK singles[2] chronology "Computer Love" (1981) "The Model" (1981) "Showroom Dummies" (1982) Music sample Kraftwerk - The Model

"Das Model" (spelling on album: "Das Modell"; English version title: "The Model") is a song recorded by the electro-pop group Kraftwerk in 1978; written by musicians Ralf Hütter and Karl Bartos, with artist Emil Schult collaborating on the lyrics. It is featured on the album, Die Mensch-Maschine; English version title: The Man-Machine. It is one of the band's most accessible and melodic songs.

First released as a 7" single in Germany (B-side: "Neonlicht"), under its English translation the song was eventually included on the B-side of the "Computer Love" single released in July 1981, which reached #36 in the UK charts. When radio DJs started playing the B-side, EMI re-issued the single in December 1981 – apparently against the band's wishes – with "The Model" as the A-side. It reached #1 in February 1982 and spent a total of 21 weeks in the top 75 of the UK singles charts.^[3]

Chart performance

Chart (1978)	Peak position
Dutch GfK chart[4]	43
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play[5]	39
Chart (1982)	Peak position
German Singles Chart	7
Dutch GfK chart[4]	41
Irish Singles Chart[6]	4
UK Singles Chart[3]	1

Rammstein version

"Das Modell"
Single by Rammstein
B-side	"Kokain" "Alter Mann"
Released	23 November 1997
Format	Enhanced CD, CD
Recorded	Temple Studios, Malta, 1997
Genre	Neue Deutsche Härte, industrial metal
Length	4:46
Label	Motor Music
Writer(s)	Ralf Hütter, Karl Bartos, Emil Schult
Producer	Jacob Hellner with Rammstein
Rammstein singles chronology
"Du hast" (1997) "Das Modell" (1997) "Du riechst so gut '98" (1998)

German industrial metal band Rammstein covered the German version of "Das Model" in 1997 as "Das Modell". It was released as a non-album single.

"Das Modell" is introduced by a French phrase spoken by film editor Mathilde Bonnefoy:^[7] "Mesdames et messieurs, nous avons l'honneur ce soir, de vous présenter la nouvelle collection de Rammstein" which translates to "Ladies and Gentlemen, tonight we have the honor to present you with the new collection of Rammstein" – something that one would expect to hear about a clothing collection. The beginning sounds like a fashion catwalk. Someone belches then a bump and a scream is heard, followed by laughter and cameras clicking, apparently to sound as if the model stumbled and fell.

The single contains three non-album tracks taken from the Sehnsucht recording sessions. In the special version of "Alter Mann", Bobo (Christiane Hebold) sings alongside Till Lindemann in the chorus. Also included is the computer game "Asche zu Asche" for Microsoft Windows.

Live versions

Despite being a single, "Das Modell" has only been played live once, on 23 October 1998 in St. Louis, MO, USA, during the Family Values Tour.^[8] It had a shortened intro and outro, making it one of the few Rammstein songs to be shortened instead of extended when played live. The second song Kokain was also played in concerts two or three times. Moreover Lorenz stated it was a difficult song to put across live (http://herzeleid.com/en/press/2000-12_flake_chat)

Track listings

Promo CD

• Germany: Motor Music / 569 029-2

Enhanced CD

• Germany: Motor Music / 569 029-2

• Das Modell was rereleased in 2010 as a digital download, but the videogame is currently not available for download.

Chart performance

Chart (1997/1998)	Peak position
German Singles Chart	5
Austrian Singles Chart[9]	18
Swedish Singles Chart[10]	41

Other cover versions

The song was first covered by Snakefinger on his debut LP Chewing Hides the Sound in 1979. Noise rock pioneers Big Black covered the song on their 1987 album Songs About Fucking. It has also been covered by The Cardigans, Terrorvision (with Die Cheerleader), Carter USM, Canasta, The Divine Comedy, Electric Six, Yat-Kha, Balanescu Quartet, Hikashu, Ride, Chris Whitley, Supernaut, Aviador Dro, Eläkeläiset and Zoot Woman, Scala & Kolacny Brothers, Russian experimental surf rock band Messer Chups, Demolition Group, Wunderkind, the Dutch band Treble Spankers, Fink, English folk band Tickled Pink, Sopor Aeternus & the Ensemble of Shadows (sung in Latin, and released under the title 'Modela Est') as well as a French version by Canadian electro pop duo Lola Dutronic. Adrian Edmondson's folk band the Bad Shepherds covered the song on their debut album Yan, Tyan, Tethera, Methera! released in 2009. Brazilian singer Seu Jorge covered the song on his 2010 covers album "Seu Jorge and Almaz", and so did Tangerine Dream in their 2010 album Under Cover - Chapter One.

References

External links

• Das Model at Discogs (list of releases)
• 70 "Das Modell" covers (Russian)