The German indie rock band calls for us to take a closer look and show solidarity.
With “Munich” Kettcar release their first single in seven years. In it they address everyday racism from the perspective of someone who is not affected. In the accompanying music video, the Hamburg-born band remembers the nine victims of the NSU who were murdered by right-wing terrorists between 2000 and 2006 because of their migration history.
“I say I was born in Munich-Harlaching”
“Munich” is about the racist experiences of a young migrant man named Yachi. It is not Yachi himself who speaks about the experiences, but rather his friend, who was not affected. He describes the different treatments the two receive and his observations of everyday racism: “Then the first application for your first apartment/Under my name – because yours didn’t work.” Through the metaphor of the “killed baby seal,” which appears several times, the rock band wants to describe the helplessness in the face of the larger system.
A call for empathy and a statement against racist behavior patterns. Lines like “The two of us in the kiosk and the woman behind the counter said: “I don’t mean you! There is no stealing here! Can you translate to your friend: I have my eye on him!” remind us that people can still be differentiated today based on optical characteristics. Finally, Kettcar reminds us in their track how quickly racism can become serious: “Maybe you would also be a victim of the NSU / Maybe you would also be a victim of the police / Maybe you would also be a victim of the justice system”. “Munich” conveys a message that pop culture should emphasize more often, especially in the current shift to the right: solidarity instead of hate.
Kettcar has used her music in the past to draw attention to political issues. In 2017 they released their song “Sommer ’89”, which tells the story of a protagonist who travels from Hamburg to Mörbisch am See and helps a total of 14 people escape from the GDR.