"Auf Wiedersehen"(Germanfor "Goodbye" ) is a song co-written byCheap TrickguitaristRick Nielsenand bassistTom Peterssonand first released on the band's 1978 albumHeaven Tonight.[1][2]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, includingBudokan II;Sex, America, Cheap Trick;The Essential Cheap Trick,and the 30th Anniversary Edition ofCheap Trick at Budokan,which also includes a DVD with a video performance of the song.[3]AllmusiccriticStephen Thomas Erlewinedescribed the song as one of the peaks ofHeaven Tonightand as one of Cheap Trick's "stone-cold classics."[1][4]It has often been used by the band to close their concerts.[5]Since its original release, it has been covered byAnthrax,Cell,John Easdale,andSteel Pole Bath Tub.
| "Auf Wiedersehen" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| SinglebyCheap Trick | |
| from the albumHeaven Tonight | |
| A-side | "Surrender" |
| Released | June 1978 |
| Recorded | 1977 |
| Genre | Rock,power pop |
| Length | 3:42 |
| Label | Epic |
| Songwriter(s) | Rick Nielsen,Tom Petersson |
| Producer(s) | Tom Werman |
The subject of the song is suicide and is one of two suicide themed songs onHeaven Tonight,the other being thetitle track.[2][6]However, different commentators have different views of the Cheap Trick's attitude towards the subject matter. Mitchell Schneider ofRolling Stonefinds some of the lyrics "compellingly moronic," making the song an example ofAndy Warhol's philosophy that "We should really stay babies for much longer than we do, now that we're living so much longer."[7]Dennis CooperofSpinconsiders the song as virtually extolling the virtue of suicide.[8]Critic Bryan Wawzenek also remarked that the song makes suicide seem fun.[6]Billboardconsidered "Auf Wiedersehen" to be a powerful anti-suicide song.[9]Music criticRobert Christgaudescribed the song as "a sarcastic ditty about suicide."[10]Ira Robbins ofTrouser Pressdescribes it as a "cynical" song that "turns farewells fatal,"[11]Tom Beaujour ofRolling Stonedescribed it as "furious hard rocker" that "takes a sneering look at those who chose to end their lives prematurely."[12]
Like "Surrender," "Auf Wiedersehen" was one of the earlier songs in Cheap Trick's repertory, and a version was originally recorded for the band'seponymous debut album.[2]It is a powerful, vital song.[2]Beaujour describes it as "a furious hard rocker."[12]Music critic John Serba describes it as one of his favorite Cheap Trick songs, being "one of their heaviest tunes, dark, gritty, punky, but still catchy as hell."[13]Some of the music quotes lines fromBob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower".[2]Wawzenek comments that the song requires a "Broadway caliber performance" from Cheap Trick lead singerRobin Zanderto pull it off, and the song is one of Zander's favorites.[2][6]Wawzenek praised Zander's "murderous howl" on the "most blood-curdling" moments of the song such as at the words "No Hope!"[14]Press and Sun-Bulletincritic Chris Carson acknowledges that the lyrics are silly but claims that doesn't matter because the "musical power" bowls listeners over.[15]Nielsen sometimes plays part of the song on a 5-neck guitar.[5]Heaven TonightproducerTom Wermanfeels that despite his slick production, the subject matter of "Auf Wiedersehen" validated the band'snew wavecredentials.[2]Bradley Bambarger ofBillboarddescribed the song as being "punkier than thou."[16]But Gary Graff wrote forMusicHoundthat "Auf Wiedersehen" is an "overbearing rocker."[17]
Anthraxcovered "Auf Wiedersehen" as a bonus track on their 1993 albumSound of White Noise.[18]Cell,John Easdale,andSteel Pole Bath Tubalso covered the song.[19][20][21]
References
edit- ^abErlewine, S.T."Heaven Tonight".Allmusic.Retrieved2011-09-04.
- ^abcdefgHayes, M. & Sharp, K. (1998).Reputation Is a Fragile Thing.Poptastic. pp. 39,50–56.ISBN978-0-9662081-0-8.
- ^"Auf Wiedersehen".Allmusic.Retrieved2011-09-04.
- ^Erlewine, S.T."The Greatest Hits".Allmusic.Retrieved2011-09-04.
- ^abNunez, M. (November 7, 2015)."Fun Fun Fun Fest: Cheap Trick: 2016 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees deliver".The Austin Chronicle.Retrieved2015-12-26.
- ^abcWawzenek, B. (September 4, 2010)."Saturday Night Special: Cheap Trick, Heaven Tonight".gibson.com. Archived fromthe originalon January 24, 2013.Retrieved2011-09-04.
- ^Schneider, M. (August 10, 1978)."Heaven Tonight".Rolling Stone.Retrieved2011-09-04.
- ^Cooper, D. (August 1994). "Cheap Trick Live at Budokan II".Spin.pp.90–91.
- ^"Vital Reissues".Billboard.November 7, 1998. p. 24.
- ^Christgau, R."Robert Christgau Cheap Trick".robertchristgau.com.Retrieved2011-09-04.
- ^Robbins, I."Cheap Trick".Trouser Press.Retrieved2015-12-26.
- ^abBeaujour, T. (April 4, 2016)."10 Insanely Great Cheap Trick Songs Only Hardcore Fans Know".Rolling Stone.Retrieved2016-04-05.
- ^Serba, J. (June 22, 2012)."Cheap Trick: Celebrating the band's 8 greatest earworms, in anticipation of its impending Van Andel Arena concert".Booth Newspapers.Retrieved2015-12-26.
- ^Wawzenek, B. (17 June 2014)."Cheap Trick's First Five Albums – Rock's Best Hot Streaks".Ultimate Classic Rock.Retrieved2015-12-26.
- ^Carson, Chris (May 31, 1978)."New disc give Cheap Trick a hat trick".Press and Sun-Bulletin.p. 15.Retrieved2018-12-21– via newspapers.com.
- ^Bambarger, B. (August 10, 1996). "Legacy Box Reintroduces Cheap Trick's Timeless Pop".Billboard.pp. 1, 85.
- ^Graff, Gary (1996).MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide.Visible Ink Press.ISBN9780787610371.
- ^Connolly, D."Sound of White Noise".Allmusic.Retrieved2011-09-04.
- ^"Wild/Auf Wiedersehen - Cell".Allmusic.Retrieved2016-09-05.
- ^Campbell, A."Cheap Dream: A Tribute to Cheap Trick".Allmusic.Retrieved2011-09-04.
- ^"Steel Pole Bath Tub: Auf Wiedersehen".Allmusic.Retrieved2011-09-04.