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

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

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,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
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
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,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,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,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,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: 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,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: 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,Patsy
Date: 15 Dec 10 - 04:01 AM

My father taught me some he is still pretty fluent after all these years after being held as a POW. Yes I would like learn it again because I found it was quite easy to pick up, I still remember how to count and say please and thank-you which is a good start.

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 15 Dec 10 - 12:19 AM

I would love to get a recording of this, I can only remember some of the bits and the chorus. It was played on the BBC world service in 1980 after the goon show.


If you want people to like you, learn german,
Girls will let you kiss them on the lips. ("Ach Really!")

*chorus*
So buff up your goose steps, get them panzers on.
vun two three..
'cause today its a frankferter sausage, tomorrow the world!!
*da da da da da da* - mouth organ solo


If you want people to like you, learn German,
We can get you to london most times of the day,
("fly lufthansa, ve know the way")

*chorus*
So buff up your goose steps, get them panzers on.
vun two three..
'cause today its a frankferter sausage, tomorrow the world!!
*da da da da da da* - mouth organ solo

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: GUEST,Gerhard
Date: 11 Oct 10 - 06:02 PM

Arnie, the best witness hitherto seems to be that anonymous GUEST on 09 Oct 10 - 11:06 AM. However, that version might be a parody of an affirmative original.

You'll have a ball when you're spreken der Deutsch - not while learning, to be sure. If the last three words of this line are original, they are deliberately wrong German, somewhat self-contradictory. (A well-known variant is "I wish I could sprechen Sie deutsch".)

I googled quite a bit and found no further evidence of the song; the question is still open.

Actually, learning any foreign language is very difficult. To aid your memory, learn songs (or arias) by heart, and read books you really like.

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: Arnie
Date: 11 Oct 10 - 12:45 PM

This thread started over 13 yrs ago - is it the oldest current thread? I haven't read it all, but was the original query ever answered? I speak a bit of German and found that the only people this made me popular with were Germans who appreciated the effort I made. Unfortunately it probably sounded like an effort too!! Case endings, split infinitives - learning this language is not for the faint-hearted!

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: Jeanie
Date: 11 Oct 10 - 04:33 AM

Shakespeare is German ! Go on....take a look...

- jeanie

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: GUEST,Gerhard
Date: 10 Oct 10 - 06:35 AM

contd.

Generally, ambitious learning adds to someone's reputation, unless it's combined with a snobbish or geekish attitude. Learning difficult languages (i.e. any foreign languages) for cultural reasons is a worthy cause, like learning to play instruments etc.

Gerhard (a German trying to learn a number of languages - and feeling to be liked for that.)

PS: Here is the clicky for The Awful German Language.

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: GUEST,Gerhard
Date: 10 Oct 10 - 06:32 AM

There we are: it's pure irony.

However, quite a number of American and British writers boasted their effort to learn German, so they clearly hoped to be liked for that by their

fellow-citizens. Mark Twain, to name one, was quite critical of German society, but simultaneously very eager to learn about it. His critique on
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Awful_German_Language">The Awful German Language is a rejected lover's lament. Mark Twain is certainly well-liked

by Americans, Germans, and elsewhere, though not all he wrote is marked by his best wisdom.

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Oct 10 - 11:06 AM

yES, Clive Robertson did used to play it on his breakfast show on 2BL. The only bits of the lyrics I can remember are:

If you want people to like you, learn German
Girls will let you kiss them upon the neck
Fly a stuka, drive a tank, put your deutchmarks in the bank.

....and

...If you going to London today: "Fly Lufthansa 'we know the way"

(the last line was a pun on the German national airline's marketing slogan at the time!!)
Glenn

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: cookster
Date: 16 Jul 07 - 03:32 PM

It really is.

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: cookster
Date: 15 Jul 07 - 11:39 AM

History is alot of fun.

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: cookster
Date: 10 Jul 07 - 05:16 PM

I know history.

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: beardedbruce
Date: 10 Jul 07 - 11:08 AM

"BTW, Little Hawk loves history (he hates war)"


Just remember, those who do NOT know history are doomed to repeat it.

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: Little Hawk
Date: 10 Jul 07 - 10:22 AM

That's not "history", Wilfried, that's war! I never said war was fun. One of the good things about knowing your history well is that it may make you wise enough not to be so much in favor of going out and fighting more wars.

That's how it has affected me, anyway.

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn Ger
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 10 Jul 07 - 10:10 AM

History fun? Have you been in the target area of Katyushas or screaming Minnies? Not so funny.

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: Little Hawk
Date: 09 Jul 07 - 02:25 PM

Yeah, it is. I've loved history since I was, oh, maybe 6 years old, and my love for it certainly helped me get good marks in school.

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: cookster
Date: 08 Jul 07 - 10:37 PM

History is fun!!

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: cookster
Date: 08 Jul 07 - 03:44 PM

OK thank you.

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: Little Hawk
Date: 07 Jul 07 - 09:34 PM

I looked it up. Here's a good Wickipedia article about the Nebelwerfer rockets.

Nebelwerfers


The G.I.'s called them the "Screaming Mimi" or the "Moaning Minnie". They were deadly against infantry or unarmoured targets.

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: cookster
Date: 07 Jul 07 - 07:02 PM

OK I just wanted to know what they called them.

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: Little Hawk
Date: 07 Jul 07 - 06:59 PM

I'm not sure I remember that, Cookster. The Germans had a multi-rocket-firing thing on wheels called a Nebelwerfer. The G.I.'s may have called those rockets "Screaming Mimi's" but I could be wrong about that...that might be the name for the American rocket devices which were mounted on some vehicles, like tanks or halftracks. The Russians also had rockets...Katyusha rockets, mounted on trucks. The Katyushas are still used today by a variety of Russian-supplied forces. Many of the Muslim fighters in the Middle East have employed them.

Seems to me that the generic German words for "rockets" is "raketen" or something like that, but I can't swear to it.

As you suggested, "tank terror" is a good enough translation of Panzerschrek, and it has a better ring in English than "armor fright", I'd say.

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: cookster
Date: 07 Jul 07 - 06:48 PM

well......

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: cookster
Date: 07 Jul 07 - 06:34 PM

OK Little Hawk....What did GI's call german rockets?

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: Peace
Date: 07 Jul 07 - 06:24 PM

BTW, Little Hawk loves history (he hates war) and he knows lots about WWII. There are some interesting sites you could find about tank warfare by Googling

panzer tanks

and others by Googling

armored warfare

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: Peace
Date: 07 Jul 07 - 06:20 PM

Nope. I hope tomorrow. Have a few snags.
How are you?

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: cookster
Date: 07 Jul 07 - 06:17 PM

Thanks Peace.Are you leaving today?

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: Peace
Date: 07 Jul 07 - 06:16 PM

Function: noun
Etymology: German Panzer tank, armor, coat of mail, from Middle High German panzier, from Old French panciere, from pance, panche belly — more at paunch
Date: circa 1939

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: cookster
Date: 07 Jul 07 - 06:14 PM

Thank you Little Hawk.

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: cookster
Date: 07 Jul 07 - 06:13 PM

I thought it meant,"tank terror."

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: Little Hawk
Date: 07 Jul 07 - 03:16 PM

Panzer, literally translated, means "armor". Tanks were called "panzers" because they are armored vehicles. The whole word for "tank" in German is "panzerkampfwagen", meaning "armored fighting vehicle". Panzer is the colloquial abbreviation of panzerkampfwagen.

Panzerfaust means "armor fist". It was a weapon meant to punch holes through the armor of tanks.

Panzerschrek means "armor fright". It was a weapon similar to a bazooka, meant to destroy tanks.

The Germans supplied their infantry with a very large number of excellent short range tank-killing weapons. They had good reason to. They were outnumbered by the Allies to a factor of at least 20 to 1 in tanks after 1943.

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: cookster
Date: 07 Jul 07 - 02:50 PM

Does anyone know?

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: Ebbie
Date: 28 Jun 07 - 07:53 PM

Interesting bit, there, Cookster. Schreck does indeed deal with something awful or frightening. So what does Faust mean? In the story, Faust was a man who made a bargain with the devil.

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: cookster
Date: 28 Jun 07 - 06:54 PM

I think shrek means terror.

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: Ebbie
Date: 28 Jun 07 - 06:23 PM

Well, I know who Faust is/was and I know Shrek; I just don't know a way to tie them all together.

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: cookster
Date: 28 Jun 07 - 05:58 PM

That's OK.No where I'm right here.By the way "panzer" means tank.

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: Ebbie
Date: 28 Jun 07 - 05:46 PM

Wondered where you'd gone to, Cookster! (Sorry I can't answer as to Panzer Faust and Panzer Shrek.)

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: cookster
Date: 28 Jun 07 - 05:40 PM

What does Panzer Faust and Panzer Shrek mean?

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: KB in Iowa
Date: 25 Jun 07 - 09:11 AM

I read my messages, I responded a couple of times. I have to go to the welcome thread now to make it official.

Subject: RE: Req: If You Want People to Like You, Learn German
From: goatfell
Date: 25 Jun 07 - 09:08 AM

only kiding