Mein Teil (single)

"Mein Teil" is a single by the German industrial band Rammstein from the album Reise Reise.

Related Topics:
Single - German - Industrial - Rammstein - Reise Reise

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"Mein Teil" is the first single released from Rammstein's fourth full-length studio album, Reise Reise. The translation of "Mein Teil" is literally "My Part", slang for "penis." A prominent phrase in the song is "Denn du bist was du isst" ("Because you are what you eat"), and the story is indeed based on cannibalism.

Related Topics:
Rammstein - Reise Reise - Penis - Cannibalism

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The song is inspired by the infamous case of Armin Meiwes and Bernd Jürgen Brandes. In March 2001, in Rotenburg, Hessen, Germany, the two men in their 40s met each other, cut off Brandes' penis and ate it. Afterwards, Meiwes killed Brandes--apparently with his consent--and ate his remains. As a result, Meiwes was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in jail for manslaughter.

Related Topics:
Armin Meiwes - Rotenburg - Hessen - Germany - Manslaughter

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According to Rammstein's bassist Oliver Riedel, the song came about after "one of our members brought a newspaper to rehearsal and it had a story about the cannibal guy in it. We were fascinated, shocked and amused at the same time." Singer Till Lindemann comments that "It's so sick that it becomes fascinating and there just has to be a song about it"

Related Topics:
Oliver Riedel - Till Lindemann

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Mein Teil attracted considerable controversy in Germany (the media dubbed it the "Kannibalensong"), which helped to boost it to second place in the German music charts after its release in early August 2004. Remixes of the song have been done by Arthur Baker and Pet Shop Boys.

Related Topics:
2004 - Arthur Baker - Pet Shop Boys

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