Das Boot (song) explained

Das Boot
Cover:Das_boot_-_Kennedy.jpg
Caption:French artwork ("Das Boot" / "Kennedy")
Type:single
Artist:U96
Album:Das Boot
Released:December 1991
Genre:
Length:3:25
Label:Polydor
Producer:Matiz, AC 16
Next Title:I Wanna Be a Kennedy
Next Year:1992

"Das Boot" (English: "The Boat") is the title theme to the film and TV series Das Boot, composed and produced by Klaus Doldinger, and released as a single in 1981. In 1991, the song was covered by German DJ and producer Alex Christensen and his dance music project U96. This techno version was U96's debut single, released by Polydor from the album of the same name (1992).

On the German Singles Chart, the U96 version of "Das Boot" spent 13 weeks at number one in early 1992. It also became a number-one hit in Austria, Israel, Norway and Switzerland and entered the top 10 in Denmark, Finland, France, the Netherlands and Sweden. In the UK, it peaked at number 18 on the UK Singles Chart. The song was the subject of many remixes throughout the years.

Critical reception

Ian Gittins from Melody Maker complimented the song as a "portentous novelty house hit", "complete with marine sound effects, submarine noises and the legendary lyric Techno, techno". He concluded, "Compelling and absurdly addictive."[1] Pan-European magazine Music & Media remarked, "With no significant airplay, this techno version of the theme to the movie Das Boot is number one for the second consecutive week in Germany. It's like Kraftwerk on acid, or plain Front 242."[2] James Hamilton from Music Weeks RM Dance Update wrote, "This Hamburg based DJ's vocoder produced and Asdic pinged techno treatment of Klaus Doldinger's original theme is in basic chugging 0-122.9bpm Techno (with beat losing edits midway), far fiercer smoothly thrumming electro 0-127.1bpm Strings 127, Accordian, Echo Mix, 127 BPM and — fiercest of all — 0-130.9bpm 131 BPM versions. Dive! Dive! Dive!"[3]

Chart performance

"Das Boot" peaked at number one in Germany, Norway and Switzerland. In Germany, it spent 13 weeks atop the chart. The single also entered the top 10 in Belgium (7), Denmark (3), Finland (9), France (9), the Netherlands (3) and Sweden (5), as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100, where it reached number three in May 1992, after 17 weeks within the chart. Additionally, "Das Boot" peaked within the top 20 in Ireland (19) and the United Kingdom. In the latter, it debuted at number 37, and peaked at number 18 in its third week on the UK Singles Chart, on 6 September 1992. Outside Europe, the single was a huge hit in Israel, where it peaked at number-one in April 1992.

"Das Boot" was awarded with a gold record in Austria, with a sale of 25,000 singles.

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Das Boot" was directed by Peter Claridge.[4] It used footage from the 1981 German submarine film Das Boot, directed by Wolfgang Petersen. When the song peaked at number one in Germany, the video had not yet been produced.[5]

Track listings

  1. "Das Boot"
  2. "Das Boot" (Mickey Finn full version)
  1. "Das Boot" (techno version) – 5:14
  2. "Tiefenrausch" – 4:18
  1. "Das Boot" (techno version) – 5:14
  2. "Tiefenrausch" – 4:18
  3. "Das Boot" (trigger version) – 5:14
  1. "Das Boot" (techno version) – 5:14
  2. "Das Boot" (trigger version) – 5:14
  1. "Das Boot / Kennedy" (Megamix – I Wanna Be a Kennedy) – 6:14
  2. "Sonar Sequences – 6:13
  3. "Das Boot" – 3:25
  1. "Das Boot 2001" (radio edit) – 3:41
  2. "Das Boot 2001" (DJ Mellow-D remix) – 8:22
  3. "Das Boot 2001" (Cosmic Gate remix) – 7:41
  4. "Anthem 2001" – 3:19
  1. "Das Boot 2001" (Cosmic Gate remix) – 7:41
  2. "Das Boot 2001" (DJ Errik remix) – 8:05
  3. "Das Boot 2001" (Schiller remix) – 8:23
  4. "Das Boot 2001" (Avancada remix) – 8:12
  1. "Das Boot V2" (D72 Extended Remix) - 6:26

Charts

Weekly charts

"Das Boot"

Chart (1992–1993)Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[6] 7
Denmark (IFPI)[7] 3
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[8] 3
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[9] 9
UK Dance (Music Week)[10] 27

"Das Boot 2001"

Year-end charts

Chart (1992)Position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[11] 4
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[12] 80
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[13] 11
Germany (Official German Charts)[14] 3
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[15] 33
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[16] 35
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[17] 9

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)
GermanyDecember 1991Polydor
United Kingdom17 August 1992[18]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Ian. Gittins. Singles. Melody Maker. 4 June 1994. 33. 7 September 2023.
  2. New Releases: Singles. Music & Media. 15 February 1992. 12. 21 February 2020.
  3. James . Hamilton . DJ Directory: Hot Vinyl . Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert) . 8 February 1992 . 6 . 2 October 2020 . James Hamilton (DJ and journalist).
  4. Web site: U96 - Das Boot (viva tv 1993) HD Audio. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/IPJ8OhdKeWo . 20 December 2021 . live. YouTube. 6 December 2018.
  5. Spahr, Wolfgang; Pride, Dominic (4 December 1993). "After three decades, German dance music still floors the world". Billboard. Vol. 105. Issue 49.
  6. Top 10 Singles in Europe. Music & Media. 9. 19. 29. 9 May 1992. 29800226. World Radio History . 20 September 2021.
  7. Top 10 Sales in Europe. Music & Media. 23 May 1992. 36. 21 March 2018.
  8. Eurochart Hot 100. Music & Media. 2 May 1992. 37. 21 March 2018.
  9. Book: Pennanen, Timo. 2006. Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972. 1st. Tammi. Helsinki. 9789511210535. fi.
  10. Top 60 Dance Singles . . 29 August 1992 . 18 . 29 September 2020.
  11. Web site: Jahreshitparade Singles 1992. de. 22 September 2022.
  12. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 1992. Ultratop. nl. 1 December 2021.
  13. 1992 Year-End Sales Charts. Music & Media. 9. 51/52. 17. 19 December 1992. 29800226. 17 September 2021. World Radio History.
  14. Web site: Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1992. Media Control Charts. de. 21 October 2015.
  15. Web site: Single top 100 over 1992. Dutch Top 40. nl. 14 April 2010.
  16. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 1992. MegaCharts. nl. 1 December 2021.
  17. Web site: Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1992. de. 22 September 2022.
  18. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 21. 15 August 1992.