Vergiss nicht alles, was wir waren
Don't forget everything we were – "Vergiss mich nicht in fremden Städten" by Max Prosa and Alin Coen
Germany is often called the “Land der Dichter und Denker” (country of poets and thinkers). While some unfamiliar with German may be quick to accuse it of sounding harsh or cold, those who have spent a bit more time with the language often come to recognize its logic, beauty, and poeticism. I’ve personally grown to find the German language quite poetic, which surely plays a role in my love of German music.
While it’s clear that humans are capable of producing lyrical texts in German, is it possible for artificial intelligence (künstliche Intelligenz) to do the same?
“Vergiss mich nicht in fremden Städten” by German singer-songwriters Max Prosa and Alin Coen (accompanied by pianist Stiehler) is a strikingly poetic German Lied with an interesting backstory: the song would not exist without the use of AI.
The two artists were tasked with creating an original piece of music based on lyrics generated by an AI (or KI) songwriting program called Volkslied3000. While they felt the AI’s text left something to be desired, the musicians used it as a starting point for a revised (überarbeitet) version, which can be heard in the video below.
The song’s updated lyrics describe the pain and Sehnsucht (longing) of a Liebespaar (couple) who find they must part ways. The two wish each other well and hope to never forget the other.
Vergiss mich nicht in fremden Städten
Don't forget me in foreign cities
Auch dann, wenn du nie wiederkehrst
Even if you never return
Vergiss nicht alles, was wir waren
Don't forget everything we were
Vergiss nicht, wie du mich berührst
Don't forget how you touch meDeine Blumen sollen nie welken
Your flowers shall never wither
Und Wind dir in die Segel wehen
And let the wind blow in your sails
Was du suchst, ich will's dir wünschen
What you seek, I will wish it for you
Gut soll es dir damit gehen
May it be well with youDu das Stolze, das Warme
You the proud, the warm
Ich die Stille, die See
I the calm, the sea
Wir war'n in allen Himmeln
We've been in all the heavens
Deshalb tut es noch weh
That's why it still hurts
I find this beautiful piece a welcome reminder that while artificial intelligence certainly has a place in modern life and work, it is still no replacement for the human touch when it comes to creating art.
You can listen to the original AI version of “Vergiss mich nicht in fremden Städten” here, and hear the artists describe the project in a bit more detail here.
Liebe Grüße und bis nächste Woche!
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!
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.
Interesting project. Thanks for sharing, Jessica :) Beautiful voices.
I also checked the original version of the song, before the revision. More repetitive in its overall lyrical composition. Now... more "Dichter und Denker", more "human touch" as you write.