First Time Hearing | Laibach - Opus Dei (Life is Life) Reaction

[@bobanristovski]

Laibach is more than pop band. It is complex art project

[@dj_ath]

It's even deeper than that. Take the name Liabach it is the name of a town durning Nazi occupation ( name changed by the Nazis and changed back after) This town saw a massive economic boom from mining and manufacturing. Once communism took over it became a sh!t hole. If you truly know history back to the bolshevic revolution and what happened from that period till the end of ww2 even to this day then you would understand. Esoteric symbolism with nationalism propaganda type art really pushes the points they try to make. If your in the know of course. Today's simps would think this is some Nazi stuff but it's not at all. Industrial music at its best. FYI Laibach is the only western band allowed to preform in North Korea hence the sound of music score

[@axolotl-guy9801]

​Lol its even deeper then that. Laibach always was a name for the city in austrian hungarian times.​@@dj_ath and in times of the habsburg empire since centuries. Stop spreading nazification.

[@cesarin1968]

@@axolotl-guy9801 Laibach era el nombre de la capital de Eslovenia (Ljubjiana) durante los Habsburgo y restituida en el III Reich

[@dushmanmardom]

Oh so glad to see you try Laibach. Definitely some backstory would help, however. They are a Slovenian (and used to be Yugoslav) band from Ljubljana (Laibach in German). So they are like a musical branch of a grander art collective, or movement that emerged in Slovenian SSR in the eighties, called NSK - Neue Slowenische Kunst, or New Slovenian Art. Yes, they deliberately used German names and some of their lyrics are in German as well - in opposition to the Yugoslav socialist regime, but also because German culture used to play a major role in Slovenia's history. As well, they deliberately use totalitarian aesthetics (both visual and musical) and mix it with popculture, leaving you pondering, whether the good-hearted dance pop song could actually bear a meaning close to fascism, for example. And to subvert such assosiations. And look, spot on, with your interpretation of this song as a national anthem of sorts, and then as definitely NOT a national anthem :D Besides, they did a ton of covers, claiming that they are not avant-garde, but retrogarde and they do not believe that anything trurly original could ever be made.

[@commanderkruge]

The history of Laibach is really interesting to check out, their story is quite unique in so many ways.

[@fifi23o5]

One correction, if you don't mind. Slovenia was SR (Socialist Republic), not SSR (first S would be Soviet), since Slovenia, or Yugoslavia, for that matter, was never part of Soviet Union. I know that, you most probably also, but for other folks could be confusing or misleading, so, let's just be accurate. And, BTW, they were not opposition to socialist regime, they are opposition to any regime. There just happened to be a socialist regime at the time. Sorry, I said one, there were actually two corrections. Cheers!

[@dushmanmardom]

@@fifi23o5 Why of course I don't mind, thank tou for clarification!

[@fifi23o5]

@@dushmanmardom I was commenting it in good spirit and that is exactly how you accepted it. I like that, of course. I also know you know the difference, but some people, especially the ones on the other side of the of the big, salty water could interprete it in a wrong way. It is, clearly, not about you and me, it is for the people who don't know. That is why it is important to be accurate on the, seemingly, most banale things. Accuracy reduces the chance of misunderstanding or manipulating. Unfortunately, it can not eliminate that, human, well, human stupidity has no limits. On the other note, there is an old Latin saying: ''Nomen est omen''. In your case it is quite the opposite. I don't see you as a dušman in any way. I know the meaning of the word, obviously. It's a very big difference in how you write 'd'. Capital D is your name, low key d is something else, completely. And let's educate people even more, the more we know the less chance for wrong interpretaton or manipulation. Greetings from Slovenia, brother (I might be wrong, but I presume you're Serbian)!

[@mikasalo13]

I'm sorry for correcting you, but the band is from Trbovlje originally.

[@katstorm13]

They covered The Beatles Let it Be, almost in its entirety. That version of Across the Universe is hauntingly beautiful. Tanz mit Laibach gets played quite a bit at what Goth/Industrial clubs still remain.

[@katstorm13]

Also, if you saw the movie Iron Sky or it's sequel, they did the music for them.

[@cutthr0atjake]

...and don't forget their Sound of Music!

[@TheAbashta]

I have 3 laibach tattoos. Their Sound of Music is great introdyctory music too

[@Thorrific6969]

"I think I may prefer this one" Yes! All Laibach's covers are better than the originals

[@paulyearley1084]

I am a HUGE Laibach fan, but even I'll concede that everything about them is baffling. I saw them live in 2015, and at the end of the show, my ex wife looked at me and said, "That was the most wtf thing I've ever seen." They ended the show with this, but in German. It was a magical experience. Their cover of "Sympathy for the Devil" is on a whole other plane.

[@TJDious]

I'm a huge fan BECAUSE everything about them is baffling.

[@80Jay71]

I really suggest you try Laibach's version of "One Nation" by Queen! "Geburt eine Nation". The lyrics are a direct translation from the original into German. It really takes on a whole different view what the song really is about!

[@koko-it8in]

The song was played for the first time in 1897. I'm glad that you like the song and the Laibach group. They are already a legend, not only in Slovenia or EU

[@TimoBreunig]

Laibach are Avantgarde Legends. There are several Phases to their work. Just seen their Alamut Concert in Germany - with Orchester and a choir.

[@oddiebacca]

Wow! Props to you for wading in the less traveled end of the music pool. Caught one of their shows 20 years ago, still feel lucky to have seen them live. More please😎

[@33ordie]

Sympathy for the Devil live!!! A must!! Thanks for this reaction of course so few souls know Laibach even exists.

[@Missiformationflanangan]

if you know them, you love them.

[@Roddy1965]

There are books, and philosophical lectures about this band. It's a while 'thing', Laibach. I saw them live in the mid 2000s and it was one of the best concerts I ever saw.

[@johnmince6311]

I got to see them in concert in LA. We were all standing in line when a van pulled up, and who I assume was a manager said "The band wants to go try American coffee and we have room for three more." We didn't make it, but very classy!

[@MarcioSilva-ssiillvvaa]

Didn't know coffee was grown in the U.S.

[@Gaetano.94]

Much love from this Slovene/Canadian. Happy to see this. Triglav Forever.

[@FeldmarszaekDuda]

This is not "a parody". This is beyond parody. Actually the whole aesthetics was built on over-identifying with the system, sinve a mere parody of the Yugoslavian regime would be too obvious and too easy to censore.

[@СанктПетербург-ю7ж]

грандиозная славянская группа. Высокая эстетика, блистательный нордический стиль.

[@teprasyura]

I LOVE LAIBACH, high aesthetics

[@georgesomeone7725]

Nice to see this reacted to. They sang this song in german too, I prefer that version. It's far from my favourite Laibach song though, you may want to try one or more of the following: Drzava, Tanz Mit, Das Spiel ist Aus, No History, Die Liebe, National Reservation, We Are Millions, Yisra'el (or anything from the Volk album, your own national anthem is there) and Bruderschaft. Their body of work is quite broad, difficult, much of it is amazing. The same song is often released in very different versions, for instance the live version of Ti Ki Izzivas (with a length of 7:12) far surpasses the other versions IMO. Then there's the comedy and philosophy, that's a rabbit hole far too deep for a KZbin comment, even the documentary "Predictions of Fire" only scratches the surface.

[@osiris4457]

I still think this one is a paraphrase of the WWII experience from the German perspective. It just makes sense. The blind following of the leader, disregarding the rest, everyone perished; we thought it would last, but now we are glad it's over, etc.

[@dirklorenz7976]

Love Laibach. Cool reaction video!

[@commanderkruge]

"This is obviously parody" - Your first encounter with Laibach and you get that facet of their work just like *that*? Sir, I'm impressed. Took me some years, actually. :D one of their tools certainly is satire - only not the "haha, funny" kind. More the biting kind. When I heard my first Laibach track ever - "Geburt einer Nation" - I was pretty convinced that one guy who put on the record snuck Nazi music onto my birthday party. I'm German and there is this voice singing in German about "One race, one direction, one religion" - using basically marching feet as the rhythm. And to make things worse, there's a swastika made out of 4 axes on the cover. oO You see how I came under the impression I might have to not invite that guy to my parties any more... It was over a year later I got that one. The lyrics are "One Vision" by Queen - translated into German quite correctly. "One man, one goal, one mission, One heart, one soul, Just one solution, One flash of light, Yeah, one god, one vision (...) One flesh, one bone, one true religion, One race, one hope, one real decision - Give me one vision!". And the tune is there, you only have to listen for it. I then got, that, Laibach play with context a lot. And Freddy Mercury's lyrics sound outright evil just by changing them to German. That's brilliant. The moment when I finally got that Laibach are also satire, funny enough, was their live performance of Opus Dei on the "Lords of Independence" festival here in Bonn in 1986 (I was 15 then). Their stage setup had Milan in front, a guitarist a bass player and I think a keyboarder - and to the left and the right one single snare drum with one guy drumming 4/4 beats to most tracks. Wearing something like in this video. That's from those days. For Opus Dei they went outside for a minute and came back with bare chests, wearing long, straw blonde wigs and on top cartoon style Viking helmets with ridiculous horns on them. I have been a fan since. They still manage to surprise me with their projects, always come up with something new while also still remaining recognizable. And not just because of Milan's voice. :D

[@commanderkruge]

You hear the marching snares in the track actually. :) The clothing and hairstyles they wear here is quite old fashioned - 1930's fashions...

[@commanderkruge]

Aaaaaand here they also change the context - I remember the original, it was one of those tunes played at parties where people were drunk and they all go "Lalaaa - laaalalaaa!" together. It's Ooompah-Ooompah drinking music from Austria. And they give it gravitas. And it suddenly sounds like something important. :D

[@basmekpetransky4385]

Demasking and recapitulating. Whole point of Laibach. They take a term, idea, then they strip it bare naked. And on end, they are taking it as their own. Like One Vision/Geburt... They made remake in german language. Word by word. And now your brain starts to work... Queen on Wembely - good. The same thing Hitler in Nurnberg - bad. Or??? This is what I love about Laibach. They are forcing you to think. And more you do, more WTF things get. Ps I have met them over 20 years ago. Very nice people, and Fras (Milan, the singer), he sound nothing like he sings.

[@commanderkruge]

@@basmekpetransky4385 I can totally confirm the "very nice people". :) I once mailed a question about the band to their "informbureau" contact email address - and Ivan Novak answered himself. Quite humble and friendly. We exchanged a bunch of mails a few times since then and when they were in Cologne the last time he put me on the guest list, just like that. :D (I would have gone and paid for the ticket anyways, this was a really nice surprise). Met him there and got to shake hands and talk a little, but sadly my "driver" (the friend I was there with who had the car) needed to leave because of work - otherwise, who knows, I might have met the rest of the band as well...

[@paulsutherland1277]

The axe swastika is a direct reference to an artwork by John Heartfield from 1934, which was made as a criticism of the Nazi regime.

[@Cybrludite]

Check out their cover of "Sympathy For The Devil".

[@katstorm13]

That was the first thing I heard of theirs

[@Hoobyj]

Wow. Didn't expect to see Laibach here. Maybe the only thing more interesting than their music (Jesus Christ Superstar going from upbeat anthem to sardonic questioning, brilliant) is their wiki. Quite a lot of strange situations they've been in. Calling them a band is a bit of an understatement.

[@dorianleakey]

The original Jesus Christ superstar musical, despite the chorus sounding upbeat, was never an uplifting anthem and was not intended as a peice of religious music to make people more devoted. It was always questioning, "Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ, Who are you? What have you sacrificed? Jesus Christ Superstar, Do you think you're what they say you are?" look at all those question marks, its nothing but questions. It was contraversial and religious groups tried to suppress it.

[@stb6668]

Laibach? Fucking respect. ❤

[@mikeharry1799]

LIFE IS LIFE!!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! saw them last year live... man... everyone should see them at least once... BTW you should do whistleblowers!!!!

[@mirtilif2793]

its great song, especially those of us who were born in old federation and were getting our own countries ... you have to understand that many of our bands from that period praised independance ... and took all seriously when reediting songs like these into ... our stuff ... to boost the morale or state some truth we saw living in the period as well ... and it is not a parody but music here was best expression of political opinion or you could get easily arrested in Yugoslavia ;)

[@EiriUesugiKun]

Man, how did I miss this reaction! I saw this group in Helsinki in February. Man.. They are great!

[@David-210]

This is the national anthem of Yugoslavia... that still exists in another world. A world above this one!

[@RazorRamonMachismo]

where tito is in an open relationship with khurschev lol

[@Gea2222]

LOL 💝

[@davidcohen4518]

btw these guys did a concert in North Korea, they are something else

[@sebastiansustersic8]

Grown-up with them in 80'

[@Dreddloxx]

As I did! Happy to see that someone else appreciated them too!😁

[@dvdeus1]

I'd love to see you doing "Die Liebe". 😂OMG I love this song. It's from another reality. German hell.

[@OneTheBlue]

You might enjoy the video of Laibach performing in North Korea. The audience seems both fascinated and very confused. It's here on KZbin of course.

[@Missiformationflanangan]

Laibach is probably the best "band" ever. I've seen them lots of time, even travelled to their home town, Trbovlje and learned their history. Fantastic back catologue spreading over 40 years for you to explore, if your interested. Their live shows are nothing short of sensational and outstanding visuals. To watch Laibach and enjoy, I think you need to also be quite academically versed, politically aware and understand sarcasm, juxtaposition and appropriation. Hope that helps dude. I've seen better Laibach reviews for sure. Those who pick from the surface are surely confused 😂

[@davidbaker231]

"Obviously a parody..." It's way more complicated than that. To analyze it solely on a musical basis and say things like, "it sounds stately... anthemic... ooh, a dark turn..." is to miss the point. Not that I could really tell you what the "point" is. You could say that Laibach explore the symbolic origins of the psycho-sociological forces in group-identity/nationalism. It does get dark.

[@grimdiscotech98]

My brother liebach has so many great "songs" but they are a sound and visual experiment more then just a band. But if I was going to list any one song or group of songs it would go like this Taz MIT liebach Threw the universe Any of the sound of music songs The whistle-blower Eurovision Geburt einer Nation (great cover )

[@JohnElliottphotos]

Respect to you for covering this song. I would love to see a reaction video to Skynd - Elisa Lam

[@greenghost2008]

4:15 fun fact Laibach created their own microstate.

[@NoahSpurrier]

Now listen to their cover of “The Sound of Music”. I actually really enjoy the original, but the Laibach cover is equally awesome.

[@antezdrilic3334]

Ex Yugoslavia liberal comunist country, listen Yugoslavia punk rock Azra, Pankrt, Paraf and legend Satan Panonski

[@nittosantapaola.8350]

There was no need to do this shit😊 Laibach superlatives anyway

[@benvanwessel1984]

cool man! nothing more to add to that, just , cool!

[@EiriUesugiKun]

"Tanz mit Laibach" is a song you should check out as well. :)

[@Dreddloxx]

Laibach have been accused of being Facsist but as a mixed-race man that has loved this band since the 80's,I suggest otherwise...

[@erikempire318]

Parody is the wrong interpretation, Laibach are 200% serous mirroring things, they are above everything. Like when they started a concert with readings the fascist manifesto over the soviet anthem. They are philosophy, research them more

[@carolinebarlow4795]

You should really stop interrupting this wonderful piece of music and save your comments until the end!

[@nerveclinic]

Top 5 band of all time for me.

[@aikitnx]

The stately tone for me. Puts this entire take on a song, as something that would come out of state propagandist's mouth telling people that "things are they way they should be" and they should resume living their mundane lives

[@renataszalai481]

Laibach is a legend, if you don't know what you're talking about, don't do.

[@gilgameshlornezhad57]

honest reaction👌👌👌👌

[@rodirij9655]

I'd suggest you check out their sound of music album, "Sound of music" video is made from their visit and concert in North Korea, "Lonely goatherd" is meant to raise some red flags on exposure of teens, "So long, farewell" is better if you know some history from end of WW2 about Goebbels family. Other songs and videos of note are: "Tanz mit Laibach", "The Whistleblowers", "Across the universe" and videos from Iron sky movie. I think these are best for reaction channel like yours, there may be others I missed or left out, but others can fill those gaps.

[@kolonelfranz31]

Listen to their song "das spiel ist aus" and although I've been a fan for a few decades, it is so weird to see how they kind of warned us for this mess we're in for the past year with the Russian/Ukrainian war. They were visionary whilst being judged as if they were nazi's.. This is art in it's purest form!

[@somthingbrutal]

the funny thing is you can get a Libach NSK passport

[@raycremers]

The most controversial and intresting cover they did is called, Geburth einer Nation (Birth of a Nation), its best not to know what the original is, listen first and be amazed what they covered and how it feels so far of from the original. They have do have an album full of Anthem covers called ‘Volk’ including a anthem for their own NSK state, you could even get a pasport for it!

[@yurisgherri6656]

Whats the original Song?

[@basmekpetransky4385]

One Vision - Queen

[@Staniii2360]

If you listen to it, it sounds like nationalistic. Until you realize you know the original song.

[@jablanbukvovski]

Opus Dei

[@thothammon1361]

So long, farewell is a good one, check that out. 😁

[@butterbagboy]

Calling it a parody is selling it short and not getting it

[@richardjones7984]

You got this straight away. This is a spoof of the original, the complete opposite.Very funny.

[@lemmyserajamaismortmickael7931]

🎉conard de black

[@zaaa6854]

They actually have their own country! You can even become it's citizen and get your own passport!

[@primozbutina]

They've been co-creators of new country decades ago - Neue Slowenische Kunst state - kind of ...

[@Hellseeker1979]

Man, this is martial industrial. Of course it will be anthem like. We should not consider it as a direct cover of opus' original. It is more like a different genre transcription.

[@arcstamp]

Damn! I went crazy on dancefloor in 1985! They always played the gernan version. Some said, Laibach were Neonazis. OOK, when you look at their old cover-arts and listen to tje songs that were sung in german. Too creepy to be meant honest!

[@MrVorpalsword]

You need to see the video and the costumes, its not a 'national anthem' but it is clad in 'nationalistic' accoutrements. Germanic nationalism at that. But are they nationalist, what's going on? They have solemnised Euro-Trash pop-hits a number of times ... God knows they needed it. Germanic nationalism is of course provocative the other band that broke that aesthetic taboo though in a downplayed way was IMO Kraftwerk.

[@sebastiansustersic8]

Please check their Blind Lemon Jefferson cover See that my grave is kept clean

[@mollymcallister1671]

There is just something unspeakably Teutonic about this.

[@sebastiansustersic8]

Please don't forget to check out iron sky and b-mashine

[@acidbubblebath77]

Comparing the original with Liabach's version is like comparing a soft cuddley pillows and Teletubbies with razor wire and rabid wolverines. The original version imo, is weak and cheesy.

[@garysands3147]

Try goodtime Alan Jackson

[@РадиоПхеньян]

my favorite band 🤚

[@ДмитрийСтариков-п9д]

вы негры- негры живут в африке .. - вы живете в америке ? значит американца .. что неч\ясно ?

[@sebastiansustersic8]

Check across the universe

[@sebastiansustersic8]

Check nothing wana change my world

[@nerveclinic]

Please watch their North Korea vids

[@sebastiansustersic8]

Posted 2 month ago I can not believe

[@dinopivcic2287]

Just U don' know nothing abaut inverse world

[@drp1bb856]

The first time I heard them I actually thought they were German until I researched them. They are Slovenian. The name Laibach is the way a German would say it and how it was said when the Nazis occupied their country. It’s indicative of military marshal music.

[@karlvonwestphalen3092]

Wasn't Laibach also the name of the xity during the 600 or so years of Habsburg rule?

[@lemmyserajamaismortmickael7931]

Tu critique

[@garysands3147]

Ya not feeling it

[@MaximumCarne]

Yeah, who suggested this? Blegh. Even for a jokey, goofy song this is dull as dirt and sounds awful.

[@paulyearley1084]

@@MaximumCarne Laibach has been doing this continuously since 1980. They're definitely not for everybody, to be sure (I happen to be a big fan), but they're a ton of fun if you don't take anything they do too seriously.

[@MaximumCarne]

@@paulyearley1084 I wish it was more extreme or funny is all. This song goes nowhere.

[@80Jay71]

@@MaximumCarne With all respect; Their brilliance only goes as far as your understanding.

[@MaximumCarne]

@@80Jay71 with all respect I understand it and it sucks

[@ThinkerOnTheBus]

I haven't begun viewing this video yet. I have seen a few reaction videos by this creator, so I am slightly familiar with his video personality, and therefore, I am looking forward to viewing this reaction . . . for Laibach is definitely not a band for everybody, and many people just don't get them. That's okay, I'm fine with that. I actually enjoy the fact that there is much music out there in this world that I enjoy on some level where most others do not. I wouldn't want everyone to have the same tastes as me, not in music, not in food preferences, not in clothing, not in cars, not in home decor, not in a whole slew of various stylistic aesthetics, and definitely not in women! What a boring world it would be if everyone else all possessed the same preferences as me!!! Sure, because of an affinity for things that are more on the rare side for the lack of others' appreciation, it may not be often that one should come across them, but in some ways that is exactly what makes them so special to me!!! TL;DR I am looking forward to seeing this creator's reaction!

[@ThinkerOnTheBus]

I was rather pleasantly surprised by his reaction. Cool!