AnnenMayKantereit's nostalgic track "Als Ich Ein Kind War" is like opening a scrapbook of the 1990s. The singer fondly recalls a pre-smartphone childhood: a phone with a cable, a bedroom without a glowing screen, and mail trucks painted yellow because no one had heard of DHL. Life moved slower; if you wanted to watch TV, you asked permission, then waited for your after-school ritual of RTL2 at 3 p.m. instead of losing hours to endless scrolling.
The repeated line "Es gab kein Insta" (there was no Instagram) versus "dafür jeden Tag ab drei RTL2" (but every day at three RTL2) humorously highlights how social media has replaced simpler pastimes. Shout-outs to Linda de Mol, ICQ, and memories of green meadows and friendly-looking cops turn the song into a playful time capsule, while the closing image—news flying by like a horse race—reminds us how today’s information gallops at breakneck speed. Ultimately, the song invites listeners to smile at the quirks of the past and wonder whether faster has truly become better.
AnnenMayKantereit is a German rock band from Cologne, formed in 2011. Its three founding members, guitarist Christopher Annen, singer Henning May, and drummer Severin Kantereit, met at school and built the band's name from their surnames. They started out as street musicians in Cologne before growing into one of the most popular acts in the German-speaking world.
The band is best known for Henning May's raw, gravelly voice and their plainspoken, emotionally honest German lyrics. Their 2016 debut album Alles nix Konkretes was a number-one hit in Germany, and the single 'Pocahontas' became one of their signature songs. With little more than guitar, drums, and that unmistakable voice, they turn everyday feelings into anthems that fans sing back word for word.