Europa Geht Durch Mich

Album: Futurology (2014)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song, whose title translates as 'Europe Passes Through Me,' is a duet with German actress Nina Hoss.
  • The track was recorded in Berlin's Hansa studios with producer Alex Silva, who previously collaborated with the Manics on 1994's The Holy Bible. Silva is the partner of Nina Hoss.
  • Manic Street Preachers previewed the song during their Spring 2014 UK tour.
  • The song was originally titled "European Miracle."
  • The song lifts its opening line ("Europe had a language problem") from "I Travel," the first track on Simple Minds' 1980 Empires and Dance album.

    The Scottish New Wave band were an important influence on Futurology. "I always wanted to make something I thought could live up to the best tracks of albums two, three and four by Simple Minds," vocalist James Dean Bradfield told The Guardian with a self-conscious laugh. "Your love of something is the hardest thing to transfer sometimes. It's like having a parent: you recognise them in you, the older you get. I just kept thinking, 'this has got to come out in the wash.' And it finally did."
  • James Dean Bradfield told Mojo magazine that when he was writing the song's music he was guided by the mood of Nicky Wire's lyrics. "Europa Geht Durch Mich marches to its own logic, " he said. "you have to go with it. Strap on the Teflon and bash the f--- out of it! I was confronted by the presence of the words, which made the music confrontational."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

The Punk Photography of Chris Stein

The Punk Photography of Chris SteinSong Writing

Chris Stein of Blondie shares photos and stories from his book about the New York City punk scene.

Bill Medley of The Righteous Brothers

Bill Medley of The Righteous BrothersSongwriter Interviews

Medley looks back on "Unchained Melody" and "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" - his huge hits from the '60s that were later revived in movies.

Reverend Horton Heat

Reverend Horton HeatSongwriter Interviews

The Reverend rants on psychobilly and the egghead academics he bashes in one of his more popular songs.

Pam Tillis

Pam TillisSongwriter Interviews

The country sweetheart opines about the demands of touring and talks about writing songs with her famous father.

Prince

PrinceFact or Fiction

Prince is shrouded in mystery, making him an excellent candidate for Fact or Fiction. Is he really a Scientologist? Does he own an exotic animal?

Name the Character in the Song

Name the Character in the SongMusic Quiz

With a few clues (Works at a diner, dreams of running away), can you name the character in the song?