When I was growing up, I really enjoyed the music of Hanson, Spice Girls, Britney Spears, Jewel, Alicia Keys, Avril Lavigne, En Vogue, and Fiona Apple. ๐
I was very specific about what kind of music I would listen to, and I remember challenging myself to step out of my โcomfort zoneโ before I went to college. I did this by “trying out” the rock station on the radio. ๐
When I got to college, one of the people that I befriended introduced me to a band that I had never heard of before: Rammstein. The first time my friend played a Rammstein song, so I could find out who they were, I didn’t know what to think…The rock station that I listened to before I went to college definitely did not prepare me for that. ๐
He then played me another song that he was sure that I had heard before, โDu Hast.โ
Although before that day, I didn’t know who Rammstein was, I was familiar with the song, โDu Hast,โ as I remember hearing part of the song once before. In my high school German class, I remember one of my classmates singing that song until my instructor gave him the stink eye to stop. ๐
The more that I started listening to Rammstein, the more that I began to like their music. Although I studied German, I am not fluent, so it did require me to often translate what I was hearing. ๐
I really like Rammstein because of their unique songs and the passion in their songs. I really admire the way that Rammstein critiques social norms through their music.
Unfortunately, because some people don’t understand that Rammstein’s music serves as a critique of social norms, some people accused them of being fascist. In response to this, Rammstein wrote the song, “Links 2 3 4,” to express that despite what people are saying about them, their hearts are “on the left.”
I admire them for releasing that song to correct this misconception of them.
Another reason that I really like Rammstein is that their shows are AWESOME!
Prior to seeing Rammstein live, I did not know that musicians shot fire out of their guitars or microphones. ๐
I recently saw Rammstein in concert in June atย Hollywood Casino Amphitheatreย in Tinley Park, Illinois. It had been five years since I last saw them, but they were just as amazing as they were five years ago! ๐
Whenever people find out that I like Rammstein, they usually react in 1 of 2 ways: 1) They are surprised that I would like โthat kind of music.โ 2) They turn up their noses at me.
The latter is always something that I shake my head to. It is interesting to me that some people define others as inferior or superior based on what kind of music they listen to. ๐
I admire Rammstein because no matter what anyone else thinks, they continue to write the unique songs that they write and perform in a really unique way.
If you have an art form that you want to share with the world, don’t worry about what other people think. Share what makes you feel passionate! โค

