Rio Reiser's 'König von Deutschland' turns 40: The satirical 1986 hit that became German folklore

The song and its chart run

In summer 1986, Rio Reiser released his solo debut album "Rio I.", featuring the single "König von Deutschland". Produced by Annette Humpe, the album entered the German charts in mid-June and climbed to a peak position of 26 in early July. The song's whimsical lyrics imagined a world where the singer was king, with absurd decrees like turning the army into a hit parade and predicting lottery numbers a week in advance.

Every night at half past midnight, when the television hisses, I lie on my bed and imagine what it would be like if I weren't who I am, but chancellor, emperor, king or queen.

Satire of 1980s West Germany

The lyrics skewered the political and media landscape of the mid-1980s. Reiser name-checked then-Chancellor Helmut Kohl, US President Ronald Reagan, and former Chancellor Helmut Schmidt, as well as TV personalities like Robert Lembke and the hosts of "Verstehen Sie Spaß?". The song also referenced composer Antonio Vivaldi and singer-songwriter Reinhard Mey, weaving a tapestry of West German pop culture.

A folkloric legacy

Over four decades, "König von Deutschland" has transcended its chart run to become a piece of left-wing folklore. Theatre productions frequently incorporate the song, often altering the lyrics to reflect current politics. The line "I think, what Kohl can do, I can do too" has been updated for Gerhard Schröder, Angela Merkel, Olaf Scholz, and Friedrich Merz, keeping the satire fresh.

I have no empathy for migrants, for short-time workers, and not for climate activists; I don't want any poor people here, if I were chancellor, I'd only care about the shareholders.

Cover versions and parodies

The song's adaptability has spawned numerous cover versions, including those by Daniel Küblböck, Bill Kaulitz, Bela B., and Roger Cicero. In 2021, the NDR satire show "extra 3" released a full parody titled "Wenn ich Kanzler von Deutschland wär", targeting CDU leader Friedrich Merz with biting lines about empathy and shareholder interests. Rio Reiser himself revisited the song in 1994 with an updated version.