First of all, some context: Here in Germany there's currently a campaign to lower the Mehrwertsteuer (Value Added Tax) on female hygiene products. Currently the likes of Tampons and Pads are, for tax purposes, classified as "luxury items" - and thus enjoy the full tax of 19%. Meanwhile all things classified as "items of everyday use" are only taxed with 7% - Among these some curiously non-everyday items, such as cut flowers or quail's egg.
The second relevant bit of context is Rammstein's latest song and Video titled "Deutschland", which caused quite an uproar for both its controversial lyrics and imagery - With lines such as "Germany! My heart in flames / Want to love you and condemn you", and featuring images of a black woman in golden medieval armour, obviously cast as the goddess Germania, as well as imagery of the band clad in uniforms of Nazi soldiers as well as in the uniforms of KZ inmates with yellow stars on their breasts and strings around their necks. Before I waste time on any more detail, here's the link to the offcial video, and for those who want to go all the way here's a detailed one-hour discussion of its content and imagery.
Anyway, back to the song this post is about: The comedian who wrote it is Carolin Kebekus. While she isn't particularly known for political cabaret, she seldom shies away from commenting on social issues on all kinds, usually in the dry but bitingly acid manner more commonly associated with british comedy. In the video she addresses the shame and stigma that is still associated with menstruation today, and she explores this topic using tonge-in-cheek "Menstruation Pride" lyrics, presented in a very Rammstein-esque style of singing, along with a video to match. Without further ado here's is the video along with my english translation of the lyrics.. Enjoy!
Every month, here comes the time
The sacrifice to fertility
You can't do a thing, if you're a broad
Your abdomen will be torn apart
It flows, the blood of half the nation
into pads, cups and tampons
Sisters, in suffering we are united
when the german vagina weeps
Refrain:
Listen to what I'm telling you
Till the end of all days
We're not hiding anymore
We bleed, look at us!
Menstruation! (Mensturation) (4x)
Secretly rummaging for a tampon
and all these sweet euphemisms:
The "Red Aunt" can kiss my ass
"Strawberry week"? I want to spew!
Refrain:
Listen to what I'm telling you
Till the end of all days
We're not hiding anymore
We bleed, look at us!
Menstruation! (Mensturation) (4x)
Chorus:
Every woman knows
This rule is not an exception
So join in for the Ode
to the period
Menstruation! (Mensturation) (4x)
