| "Links 2 3 4" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single byRammstein | ||||
| from the albumMutter | ||||
| B-side |
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| Released | 14 May 2001 | |||
| Recorded | May–June 2000 | |||
| Studio | Miraval (Correns, France) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:36 | |||
| Label | Motor •Universal | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) |
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| Rammstein singles chronology | ||||
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"Links 2 3 4" (also spelled "Links 2-3-4"; English: "Left 2 3 4") is a song by GermanNeue Deutsche Härte bandRammstein. It was released as the second single from their third studio album,Mutter, on 14 May 2001. It is a politically charged song, taking aim at early allegations ofNazism against the band by revealing that they are politicallyleft-wing. The song was a top 40 hit in Germany, Austria, and Finland.
Links, zwo, drei, vier (“Left, two, three, four”) is the usual cadence that German-speakingdrill instructors use to keep amarching formation in step, “left” referring to the left foot touching the ground. The formzwo for “two” (instead of normalzwei) is an old variant that is now used inmilitary andtelephone contexts in order to avoid confusion withdrei (“three”).
The title accordingly represents a militaristic theme. Moreover it is an allusion to therevolutionary songEinheitsfrontlied, written byBertolt Brecht for theCommunist Party of Germany in the 1930s and re-popularized byHannes Wader in theGerman Democratic Republic.[1]
The lyrics were written in response to allegations offascism/Nazism directed at the band. The chorus states “they want my heart on the right, but when I look down, it beats on the left”, implying they are on theleft of thepolitical spectrum.[2]
The music video for the song usesCGI to depict anant-colony, representing leftists, attackingbeetles, representing Nazis. The ants in the video are shown doing human-like tasks such as playing football, watching television, and dancing.
The band can be seen playing on a movie theater screen, a modified version of their logo with two crossed hammers is shown.
During the movie theater scene the beetles attack, killing members of the ant colony. One ant is seen watching what the monstrous beetles are doing.
The same ant then goes underground to rally the other ants and kill the beetles which symbolizes how the left may crush the right if they work together.
The song debuted live in April 2000 on a concert just for members of the fan club. Then it was called simply "Links" and had some minor differences compared to the final version released inMutter. It was also played during some concerts ofBig Day Out 2001. When played live, it usually extends to almost five minutes because of added instrumentals. Since its debut, it has been played in virtually every Rammstein concert, exceptions being most of the shows in Big Day Out 2001 and three consecutive concerts exclusively for members of the Fan Area in October 2004.
The single has aB-side of "Halleluja", a track frequently performed live by the band during theMutter Tour. An early version of it is also available on the Limited Edition release ofMutter, as well as the Japanese edition andResident Evil Soundtrack.
A DVD version of "Links 2 3 4" contains the audio tracks, as well as a video portion with the official music video, itsmaking-of documentary and a photo gallery. Both videos were subsequently re-released on theLichtspielhaus DVD.
Audio section
Video section
| Chart (2001) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[3] | 33 |
| Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[4] | 15 |
| Germany (GfK)[5] | 26 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[6] | 60 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[7] | 65 |
| Albums | |
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| Live albums | |
| Singles |
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| Other songs | |
| Compilations | |
| Videos | |
| Tours | |
| Related articles | |
