California Über Alles
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| “California Über Alles” | |||||
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| Single by Dead Kennedys | |||||
| B-side | "The Man with the Dogs" | ||||
| Released | June 1979 | ||||
| Format | 7" | ||||
| Genre | Hardcore punk | ||||
| Length | 3:26 | ||||
| Label | Optional Music | ||||
| Writer(s) | Jello Biafra & John Greenway | ||||
| Producer | Dead Kennedys | ||||
| Dead Kennedys singles chronology | |||||
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"California Über Alles" was the first single by the Dead Kennedys. The record was released in June 1979 on Optional Music with "The Man with the Dogs" as the b-side. The title track was re-recorded for the band's first album, Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables (1980), and the version that appeared on this single, as well as the single's b-side, are available on the rarities album Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death (1987).
The lyrics were written by Jello Biafra and longtime childhood friend John Greenway, and Biafra solely composed the music[1] in one of his rare early efforts when he attempted to compose music on guitar (most of Biafra's musical compositions have been done with him singing the parts into a tape recorder or to the musicians he records with during sessions or rehearsals).[2]
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[edit] Meaning
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The title is an allusion to the first stanza of the national anthem of Germany, introduced after the downfall of the German monarchy at the end of World War I. It has been Germany's national anthem ever since, still sung, though, without this first two stanzas to avoid any expressions of superiority. The anthem, "Das Lied der Deutschen" or "Deutschlandlied" is a nineteenth century patriotic song, the lyrics written by August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben on the then-British island of Helgoland in 1841, with music based upon an eighteenth century string quartet by Joseph Haydn. It begins with the words "Deutschland, Deutschland über alles." The word-for-word translation of this line is "Germany above all," which the author intended to mean that a unified Germany was more desirable than the continued division of the Germanophonic countries (Sprachraum) into independent states. During the days of the Third Reich, anti-German political propaganda claimed the anthem was a typical Nazi expression of racial superiority, something the Nazis did nothing to dispel. To avoid such misunderstanding, only the third verse of the anthem, "Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit" (literally: Unity and Justice and Freedom) is used nowadays. The lines "From the Maas to Memel (rivers), from the Etsch to the Belt" are nowadays understood as a German-expansionist claim. In the formerly communist East German GDR the anthem was forbidden.
The focus of the song is centered on Jerry Brown, the Governor of California between 1975 to 1983, and is sung from what is supposedly his perspective. In it, an imaginary Brown outlines a bizarre hippie-fascist vision for America, in which his "suede denim secret police" kill un-cool people with "organic poison gas" chambers. The song illustrates lead singer Jello Biafra's concern with left-wing politicians mandating liberal ideas to the extent to which liberalism becomes authoritarian, or fascist. Other lines, such as "Serpent's egg already hatched" (a reference to a line from William Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar), simply comment on the corrosive nature of power. The line "Now it is 1984" references the totalitarian regime of George Orwell's novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, which also happens to be the year in which Brown would complete his first term of office if elected President.
The song is an early example of the Kennedys' trademark use of menace and musical tension. It fades in with sinister military-styled drums, which are quickly joined by an ominous bass riff, setting the foundation for the chord changes. Biafra paints the scene in low, sneering tones before bursting in manic chanting chorus: "California Über Alles, Über Alles, California". After two verses and choruses, the song shifts into a slower middle eight section set to a martial drum beat over which Jello Biafra imagines the nightmarish actions of Brown's SS-styled secret police ("Come quietly to the camp; you'd look nice as a drawstring lamp"). The pace gradually speeds up again as it approaches the last iteration of the chorus, closing with a repeated proto-Thrash metal chord sequence accompanied by a final burst of explosive drums.
The song has appeared in the video games Tony Hawk's American Wasteland and Tony Hawk's American Sk8land
German-American author Gero Hoschek was inspired by the song to title a 1988 magazine piece about the state of the so-called "Golden State" in the prestigious German "Zeit Magazin" weekly "Kalifornia Über Alles!" (sic), as well as a never produced screenplay. Biafra complained via personal postcard, got and liked a copy of the movie script, understood that there was no copyright violation, and finally used the same spelling for the song's 2004 remake with The Melvins, Kalifornia Über Alles, 21st Century.
Some have said that the video to the song "Wooden Pints" by folk metal band Korpiklaani matches up with this song and the next song on the album "I Kill Children"
[edit] Alternative versions
There is a different, faster version of "California Über Alles" on Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables, with more strident Biafra vocals and a more garage-like mix.
On their EP In God We Trust, Inc., they recorded an updated version of the song, titled "We've Got a Bigger Problem Now," about then-President Ronald Reagan, including a lounge-jazz introduction, different lyrics, and several verses set at a much slower pace. A live version of the song was also recorded, this time with the instrumentals of the original version of the song.
Jello Biafra has frequently made satirical references to the song in his political advocacy. A speech of his appears on the spoken word album Mob Action Against the State that is entitled "We've Got a Bigger Problem Now: War, Terrorism & Beyond." After the election of Arnold Schwarzenegger as governor of California, Biafra commented, "California Über Alles indeed."
In the 1990s, the song was once again updated by The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, on their album Hypocrisy Is the Greatest Luxury. They replaced references to Jerry Brown with references to Pete Wilson.
Another updated version of this song about Governor Schwarzenegger, called "Kali-Fornia Über Alles 21st Century", was performed live (among a few other Dead Kennedys classics) when Biafra toured with The Melvins to support their collaboration album in 2004. A live recording of this new version appears on their second collaborative effort, Sieg Howdy (2005).
During a show in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, The Jeff Penalty led Dead Kennedys sung a different version of the song, entitled "Pennsylvania Uber Alles". Jerry Brown was replaced by then Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, parodying his conservative politics and calling for fans to vote him out of office next election.
The song was also widely known in Poland (as "Kalifornia Ponad Wszystko") thanks to the cover by Polish rocker Kazik Staszewski with his band Kazik Na Żywo ("Na Żywo Ale W Studio" album 1994)
The band Hasidic New Wave perform a remake of the song on their 1999 album, Kabalogy. In their version, titled "Giuliani Über Alles", Jerry Brown is replaced by former Mayor of New York Rudy Giuliani. The song is an attack on Giuliani's alleged dictatorial style and incidents of police brutality during his tenure.
The Delgados cover the song in their Peel Sessions CD set. Six Feet Under also cover the song in their "Graveyard Classics" album. The black metal band Mayhem also cover the song in first demo. Deceased (band) also covered the song on their punk covers album "Rotten to the Core".
Current hardcore band Ceremony has frequently covered the song.
The Who Boys have done a mashup of the song with "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" by Gil Scott-Heron called "Revolution Über Alles".
John Linnell and his band The Statesmen covered it live at least once during his "State Songs" tour, choosing to perform it because it mentioned the state of California.
Dramarama has recorded a version, updated in 2003 about current California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger..."You will lift weights in school"
Jello Biafra however has said in an interview with Nardwuar that he feels slightly different about Jerry Brown, as it turned out he wasn't as bad as he thought he would be.
[edit] References
- ^ Jello Biafra and The Melvins. Liner notes. Sieg Howdy! San Francisco: Alternative Tentacles. 2005.
- ^ Johnson, Heather. "Dead Kennedys' 'California Uber Alles'". Mix Online. October 1, 2005.
[edit] External links
- Jello Biafra discusses the history of "California Über Alles" on KQED's The California Report, July 14, 2006.
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