Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: GUEST,dj ian maiden
Date: 15 May 11 - 12:11 AM

It is definitely 100% positively THE NAFF. The title is actually SPRECHEN SIE DEUTSCH. It was an Australian novelty sone released on EMI in 1981, it is not a regular looking EMI label though and may have been an EMI custom pressing, as they were pressing most independent releleases at that time. Written by a J.Gillard (although I suspect not the Julia Gillard who is currently Prime Minister). I first heard it in Adelaide on the 5UV Student Radio 12 in 1981 and took me about 15 years to find a copy. I am currently not set up for digitizing vinyl, but when I am, I will post it on this forum so you can all experience the glory of The Nazz. My favourite line is "If you want people to say Howdy Doody, Change your name to Dieter or Rudy"

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: GUEST,Judith Gabriel, Mittagong
Date: 12 Sep 11 - 07:27 PM

Adrian Carter, you first asked the question in August 1997, and today you get an answer.
Clive Robertson did indeed play SPRECHEN SIE DEUTSCH by THE NAFF on his ABC radio programme.
After playing the record (yes, I still have the single), to the best of my reckoning these are the lyrics:

If you want people to like you, learn German
If you want love and affection, whisper "ja, ja"
If you want people to say "howdy doody"
Change your name to Dieter or Rudi
Give them something to think about
Stand up straight, talk in kraut
"Danke schon, bitte schon, ja, ja, ja"

If you want people to like you, learn German
You'll make so many friends when you SPRECHEN SIE DEUTSCH
'cause smiles break out at the sound of kraut
When a german voice is heard (achtung)
'cause today it's a frankfurter sausage, tomorrow the world

Oh, if you want people to like you, learn German
Wear a monocle and a jewelled(?)spur(?) (all the way from Heidelberg)
And if you want that popularity
Try to speak your Deutsch with clarity
Swig that beer, drink that wine
Make the trains all run on time (toot, toot)

If you want people to like you, learn German
You'll make so many friends when you SPRECHEN SIE DEUTSCH
So act real merry, sing in Gerry
And chat up all the girls (hello Schatze)
Because today it's a frankfurter sausage, tomorrow the world

(music)

Then you'll come back from Paraguay
(but next time no more Mr. Nice Guy)
Drive around in a big Mercedes
Enjoy interrogating terrified ladies (You vill answer ze qvestion)

If you want people to like you, learn German (whoa)
You'll make so many friends when you SPRECHEN SIE DEUTSCH
So have some fun, talk in Hun
When the German flags unfurl (ticketty poo)
'cause today it's a frankfurter sausage, tomorrow the world.

Oh, if you want people to like you, learn German
Girls will let you kiss them upon the neck (you're djoking)
Germany will become a power again
If you annex Czechoslavakia
Fly Stuka (?), drive tank
Put your Deutschmarks in the bank

If you want people's love and admiration
Then try to assimilate them two-ton traits (that's what the people like)
So shine your boots up, brush up your goose-step
Get them Panzers oiled
Because today it's a frankfurter sausage, tomorrow (x3)
There's so much love you really can't knock it
For the guys who invented the B2 rocket
Today it's a frankfurter sausage, tomorrow (x3)
If you're going to London today
Fly Lufthansa (ve know ze vay)
Today it's a frankfurter sausage, tomorrow the world (vody-o-doe)

That should satisfy those who couldn't quite remember the song.
It was a good one.

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: michaelr
Date: 12 Sep 11 - 08:14 PM

Why is this below the line?

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: GUEST,JohnB
Date: 25 Oct 11 - 04:18 PM

Hi dj ian maiden,

Having listened to Clive Roberston on many occasions on Drive too, getting an mp3 (or equivalent) of The Naff "SPRECHEN SIE DEUTSCH" would be awesome! Please post a link here if you ever get around to digitising the vinyl! Rgds, JohnB

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: GUEST,Don Wise
Date: 26 Oct 11 - 06:42 AM

Ach Du lieber Scheiße, das ist ja voll Krass!

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: GUEST,JSL
Date: 28 Dec 11 - 11:39 PM

Hello Shatzi
I was looking for the MP3 of this and came up with this site. Along with 'Christmas Countdown' John Bird's 'Dah selekerted Works Of Idi Amin' Jeremy Taylor and of course Brunswick Heads Revisited, this is an all time favourite. I have the single (or my parents do) but too lazy to get a digital recording happening. I will at some stage - too good not to preserve. Given the euro and some favourable political winds, who knows? Manybe it will become topical again:)

Couple of lines not quite right above.
'Fly a Stuka, drive a tank - Put your deutschmarks in the bank'
'for the guys that invented the V2 rocket' (history people, history!)
The line 'all ze vay from Heidelberg' keeps playing in my mind, but I can't remember the earlier line.. It will come to me and it was clever:)
two-on traits is clearly meant to be 'teuton traits' as in tuetonic traits - wandering over europe in springtime, that sort of thing:)

Thanks for the info...

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: GUEST,Peter McCallum
Date: 05 Nov 13 - 04:42 PM

Thanks so much for the lyrics

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Dec 13 - 12:22 AM

I remember the flip side of the single, it was called "Darling,I Lope You"

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Dec 13 - 04:19 PM

I randomly heard this on the radio twice, many years ago; probably in 1988. This is the first time I've ever heard of anyone else knowing about it. The chorus goes "If you want people to like you learn German. Your friends will all like you when you sprechen sie deutsche. You will win such popularity, when you speak your Deutsche with clarity; today it's Franfurt sausage, tomorrow the world" There were funny references to 'the guys who invented the V2 rocket and answer ze questions. It is hilarious. I even publicly recounted this radio experience at a business breakfast, where the head of Newcastle ABC radio was speaking. After I had everyone in the room wondering where this was going, I asked 'Could play it again?' This brought the house down. I now have my record player working again and have a great collection. But that is the Lynch pin I could do with to make it complete. So if anyone, anywhere knows details, I'd be delighted. I'll go over this enormous thread when I'm not rushing out for work and see what I can extract.

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: GUEST,Sanity, TAS
Date: 18 Aug 15 - 07:44 PM

I found a link to the Vinyl on Discogs.com
http://www.discogs.com/Naff-Sprechen-Sie-Deutsch/release/7167123
Unlucky that there is no stock/ no one selling it

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: GUEST,Peter McCallum
Date: 09 Mar 16 - 05:26 AM

Here's the track on https://youtu.be/LN-SRLsrc4E

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: GUEST,Peter McCallum
Date: 09 Mar 16 - 05:29 AM

Here's the link on Youtube https://youtu.be/LN-SRLsrc4E