Ich spür' es unter der Haut, hunderttausend Kilometer tief
I can feel it under my skin, a hundred thousand kilometers deep – "Geschlossene Augen" by SANTOS and Sido
German singer/songwriter Nico Santos is well-known throughout Europe for both his songwriting skills and numerous pop hits, the majority of which are in English. However, his latest German-language single “Geschlossene Augen”, released under the moniker “SANTOS” alongside German rapper Sido, is currently one of the most-played songs in Germany, presently ranking #15 on the German charts.
The song describes the idea of being deeply in love with who a person is under the surface, beyond outward appearances. Nico professes he would have fallen in love even “mit geschlossen Augen” (with closed eyes).
Ich hätte mich auch mit geschlossenen Augen in dich verliebt
I would have fallen in love with you even with my eyes closed
Ich spür’ es unter der Haut, hunderttausend Kilometer tief
I can feel it under my skin, a hundred thousand kilometers deep
Ich hätte mich auch mit geschlossenen Augen in dich verliebt
I would have fallen in love with you even with my eyes closed
Alles ist schön an dir, auch was man nicht sieht
Everything about you is beautiful, even what you can't see
I have to admit – with an opening line like “Ich hätte mich auch mit geschlossenen Augen in dich verliebt” (“I would have fallen in love with you even with my eyes closed”), I was tempted to make this yet another post about German’s subjunctive mood (Konjunktiv II), used for describing unreal or hypothetical situations. I mean, with previously featured songs highlighting usage of the subjunctive with modal verbs würde and wäre, adding one with hätte would be completing the holy trinity of Konjunktiv II usage, right?
However, as exciting as that sounds, something else caught my attention within the lines of “Geschlossene Augen”, something a bit…deeper.
Ich hätte mich auch mit geschlossenen Augen in dich verliebt
I would have fallen in love with you even with my eyes closed
Ich spür’ es unter der Haut, hunderttausend Kilometer tief
I can feel it under my skin, a hundred thousand kilometers deep
That’s right, the love Nico is feeling down to his very core is felt not in inches, feet, or miles, but in kilometers.
This may seem unremarkable to anyone not originally from the United States, Liberia, or Myanmar, which are the only three countries in the world where use of the imperial system, rather than the metric system, is standard. But when you grew up in a country whose musical landscape includes a band called “Nine Inch Nails” and songs like “One Thousand Miles” by Vanessa Carlton, you can’t help but notice use of the metric system in German music.
For example: in “Leichtes Gepäck”, pop rock band Silbermond tackles the themes of letting go and overconsumption by singing about burning unnecessary items in “ein Feuer in Kilometern noch zu sehen” – a fire that can be seen from many kilometers away. Clueso famously sang about wanting to be so close to someone that there is “Keinen Zentimeter” (not even a centimeter) between them. And Nico Santos feels love kilometers deep “unter der Haut” – beneath the skin.
Usage of the metric system in German music (and of the imperial system in American music) may seem somewhat obvious in retrospect, yet it is details like these which come together to make music a reflection of the culture from which it comes.
Can you think of any more songs which make use of either the metric or imperial system?
Liebe Grüße,
Jessica
P.S. – If you enjoyed this post, please consider clicking “like” and/or sharing it with someone else who may be interested in German music, language, and culture! Ganz lieben Dank!
From the Sprachmelodie Archives 🎵
For more about finding beauty beneath the surface, check out “Schön Genug” by Lina Maly. And for more Sido (as well as a contrast to current gray fall weather), check out “Blau” by Amanda, featuring Sido.
Discover more German Music and Language
Check out Sprachmelodie's Spotify and Youtube accounts for playlists of all songs featured so far on the blog.