Tom: Highlights from the Wikipedia page for the “Fantastic Four”: they were some of the first German rappers, they’ve been going for nearly thirty years, and they’re also the German voices of the penguins from the Madagascar film series.
And I am absolutely unable to tell whether this is tongue-in-cheek German humour, or just… German.
Tim: Going by the ‘charity appeal’ at the beginning for their positivity institute, I’m leaning towards the humour line.
Tom: “Und Los” is literally “And Go”, and the lyrics translate to a general “don’t give up, you’ll be okay” message.
Tim: Well that at least is nice.
Tom: It’s all a bit baffling, if I’m honest, but it’s well-produced baffling, and it’s a rare record that manages to pull off a church organ in its middle eight and not sound more ridiculous than it already is.
Tim: Hmm. I’m not entirely sure I read that sentence in the complimentary manner you intended it (bear in mind that it’s a rare dictator that manages to make all his soldiers wear skulls and not come across as more awful than he already does), but you’re right in that it doesn’t stick out as much as it might in most songs.
Tom: I can’t think of an equivalent English-language act this could be performed by, which is odd, because it seems like we really should have some sort of middle-aged possibly-ironic hip-hop act. Am I missing someone obvious?
Tim: Well, he’s not exclusively hip-hop, but yes. Shame on you.
Tom: Oh, of course. You’re right. You know, I’ve never actually seen the video for– WHAT. THAT’S ACTUALLY GLEN CAMPBELL IN THE VIDEO. HOW DID THEY GET GLEN CAMPBELL INTO THE VIDEO. HOW IS THAT A THING THAT HAPPENED. THEY MUST HAVE FILMED HIM SEPARATELY.
Tim: Umm…
Tom: I’M NOT DONE YET. SERIOUSLY. THIS IS THE MOST ASTONISHING MUSICAL THING I’VE SEEN. HOW DID THEY GET GLEN CAMPBELL? HOW?