Godlike (song)

"Godlike" is a song by industrial rock band KMFDM from their 1990 album Naïve.

"Godlike"
Single by KMFDM
B-side"Friede"
ReleasedAugust 1990
Recorded1990
GenreIndustrial metal
Length14:25
LabelWax Trax! Records
Songwriter(s)Sascha Konietzko
Producer(s)KMFDM, Paul Barker, Lee Popa
KMFDM singles chronology
"Virus"
(1989)		 "Godlike"
(1990)		 "Naïve/The Days of Swine & Roses"
(1991)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic [1]

Background

According to KMFDM frontman Sascha Konietzko, the song made its debut during KMFDM's 1990 tour with industrial metal band Ministry, being based on the lyrics by Patti Smith. When Koneitzko's bandmate En Esch, who had been singing the song live, was injured during a fire, Konietzko had to use new lyrics, as he didn't know the original words. He translated a German spoken word piece the band had been using at their live shows into English, and used the translation as the new lyrics.[2]

After the tour, the band recorded a version for their album Naïve with a group of performers from other Wax Trax! Records bands. Later, Konietzko re-recorded a more electronic version for the single.[2]

The track heavily features a sampled guitar riff from "Angel of Death" by Californian thrash metal band Slayer.[3] This sample is looped from the beginning of "Godlike" and is heard almost continuously throughout the track. The same riff has been sampled by many other artists including Public Enemy for their track "She Watch Channel Zero".[4][5]

Release

"Godlike" was originally released as a single in 1990. In 2008, KMFDM Records re-released it as a 7" vinyl single, limited to 250 copies. On September 14, 2010, Godlike 2010, including new mixes of the song, was released, commemorating the single's 20th anniversary.[6]

Reception

"Godlike" was ranked No. 8 on COMA Music Magazine's 101 Greatest Industrial Songs of All Time.[7]

Track listing

1990 release
No.TitleLength
1."Godlike"6:35
2."Friede"4:47
3."Crazy Horses" (cover of The Osmonds, only on CD)3:03
Total length:14:25

2008 7" reissue
No.TitleLength
1."Godlike (12" Mix)"6:34
2."Friede (12" Mix)"4:44
Total length:11:18

Godlike 2010
No.TitleRemixerLength
1."Godlike 2010"KMFDM4:58
2."Godlike 2010 (Crash & Burn Mix)"Koichi Fukuda3:28
3."Godlike 2010 (Security Forces Mix)"The Melvins5:17
4."Godlike 2010 (Gabberlike Mix)"Prong3:29
5."Godlike 2010 (Phoenix Mix)"3kStatic5:19
Total length:22:31

References
  1. "KMFDM: Godlike". AllMusic. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  2. Konietzko, Sascha (August 24, 2010). "Kaptain's Log". Archived from the original on June 14, 2011.
  3. Howell, Amanda (February 11, 2015). Popular Film Music and Masculinity in Action: A Different Tune. Routledge. p. 125. ISBN 9781134109340.
  4. "Metal Insider's Top 5: Slayer Items Not Directly Related To Slayer". Metal Insider. August 8, 2011. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  5. "KMFDM's 'Godlike' - Discover the Sample Source". WhoSampled.
  6. "KMFDM News: Transmission 4.784". August 21, 2010. Archived from the original on February 12, 2012. Retrieved August 31, 2010.
  7. Schock, David (March 9, 2012). "Feature: 101 Greatest Industrial Songs of All Time – # 20 – # 2". COMA Music Magazine. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved August 27, 2012.
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