"Auf Wiedersehen"
Single by Cheap Trick
from the album Heaven Tonight
A-side"Surrender"
ReleasedJune 1978
Recorded1977
GenreRock, power pop
Length3:42
LabelEpic
Songwriter(s)Rick Nielsen, Tom Petersson
Producer(s)Tom Werman

"Auf Wiedersehen" (German for "Goodbye") is a song co-written by Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielsen and bassist Tom Petersson and first released on the band's 1978 album Heaven 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, including Budokan II; Sex, America, Cheap Trick; The Essential Cheap Trick, and the 30th Anniversary Edition of Cheap Trick at Budokan, which also includes a DVD with a video performance of the song.[3] Allmusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine described the song as one of the peaks of Heaven Tonight and 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 by Anthrax, Cell, John Easdale, and Steel Pole Bath Tub.

The subject of the song is suicide and is one of two suicide themed songs on Heaven Tonight, the other being the title track.[2][6] However, different commentators have different views of the Cheap Trick's attitude towards the subject matter. Mitchell Schneider of Rolling Stone finds some of the lyrics "compellingly moronic," making the song an example of Andy 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 Cooper of Spin considers the song as virtually extolling the virtue of suicide.[8] Critic Bryan Wawzenek also remarked that the song makes suicide seem fun.[6] Billboard considered "Auf Wiedersehen" to be a powerful anti-suicide song.[9] Music critic Robert Christgau described the song as "a sarcastic ditty about suicide."[10] Ira Robbins of Trouser Press describes it as a "cynical" song that "turns farewells fatal,"[11] Tom Beaujour of Rolling Stone described 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's eponymous 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 from Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower".[2] Wawzenek comments that the song requires a "Broadway caliber performance" from Cheap Trick lead singer Robin Zander to 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-Bulletin critic 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 Tonight producer Tom Werman feels that despite his slick production, the subject matter of "Auf Wiedersehen" validated the band's new wave credentials.[2] Bradley Bambarger of Billboard described the song as being "punkier than thou."[16] But Gary Graff wrote for MusicHound that "Auf Wiedersehen" is an "overbearing rocker."[17]

Anthrax covered "Auf Wiedersehen" as a bonus track on their 1993 album Sound of White Noise.[18] Cell, John Easdale, and Steel Pole Bath Tub also covered the song.[19][20][21]

References

  1. ^ a b Erlewine, S.T. "Heaven Tonight". Allmusic. Retrieved 2011-09-04.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Hayes, M. & Sharp, K. (1998). Reputation Is a Fragile Thing. Poptastic. pp. 39, 50–56. ISBN 978-0-9662081-0-8.
  3. ^ "Auf Wiedersehen". Allmusic. Retrieved 2011-09-04.
  4. ^ Erlewine, S.T. "The Greatest Hits". Allmusic. Retrieved 2011-09-04.
  5. ^ a b Nunez, M. (November 7, 2015). "Fun Fun Fun Fest: Cheap Trick: 2016 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees deliver". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 2015-12-26.
  6. ^ a b c Wawzenek, B. (September 4, 2010). "Saturday Night Special: Cheap Trick, Heaven Tonight". gibson.com. Archived from the original on January 24, 2013. Retrieved 2011-09-04.
  7. ^ Schneider, M. (August 10, 1978). "Heaven Tonight". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2011-09-04.
  8. ^ Cooper, D. (August 1994). "Cheap Trick Live at Budokan II". Spin. pp. 90–91.
  9. ^ "Vital Reissues". Billboard. November 7, 1998. p. 24.
  10. ^ Christgau, R. "Robert Christgau Cheap Trick". robertchristgau.com. Retrieved 2011-09-04.
  11. ^ Robbins, I. "Cheap Trick". Trouser Press. Retrieved 2015-12-26.
  12. ^ a b Beaujour, T. (April 4, 2016). "10 Insanely Great Cheap Trick Songs Only Hardcore Fans Know". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2016-04-05.
  13. ^ 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. Retrieved 2015-12-26.
  14. ^ Wawzenek, B. (17 June 2014). "Cheap Trick's First Five Albums – Rock's Best Hot Streaks". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 2015-12-26.
  15. ^ Carson, Chris (May 31, 1978). "New disc give Cheap Trick a hat trick". Press and Sun-Bulletin. p. 15. Retrieved 2018-12-21 – via nwespapers.com.
  16. ^ Bambarger, B. (August 10, 1996). "Legacy Box Reintroduces Cheap Trick's Timeless Pop". Billboard. pp. 1, 85.
  17. ^ Graff, Gary (1996). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. ISBN 9780787610371.
  18. ^ Connolly, D. "Sound of White Noise". Allmusic. Retrieved 2011-09-04.
  19. ^ "Wild/Auf Wiedersehen - Cell". Allmusic. Retrieved 2016-09-05.
  20. ^ Campbell, A. "Cheap Dream: A Tribute to Cheap Trick". Allmusic. Retrieved 2011-09-04.
  21. ^ "Steel Pole Bath Tub: Auf Wiedersehen". Allmusic. Retrieved 2011-09-04.
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