Stripped is a cover song by Rammstein. It is the first track on the Stripped single.
Background
The original song was recorded by Depeche Mode in 1985.
Rammstein were asked to contribute a song to the tribute album "For The Masses" and were able to choose any song they wanted.[1]
The recording was done at Vox Klangstudio in Bendestorf, Germany from 27 January to 1 February 1998.[2]
The original chorus line is "Let me see you stripped down to the bone". Apparently, Till was not able to sing "down to the bone", which is why the band left it out of the song.[1] However, Charlie Clouser's "Heavy Mental Mix" does feature the original chorus.
Depeche Mode actually like Rammstein's cover version.[1]
Debuting during the 1999 North American leg, the song would start off with an extended synth intro, with Flake being the only member visible on the stage. When Till started singing, a lightbox at the front of the stage would make him visible as well. Till would be wearing the flammable robe previously used during performances of Tier and Wilder Wein. After singing the last "Let me see you stripped" after the first verse, Till would spread his arms and flames would go up the robe. Simultaneously, the main lights would go on and the other members would start to play. During the second verse, Till would usually take the robe off and throw it on the ground, where a crewmember would come and grab it. Whilst singing the first "Let me see you stripped" after the instrumental break, flames would shoot up in front of Schneider's drum set. Paul and Richard would provide backing vocals throughout the entire song. Till would also make humping motions throughout the performance and headbang after every verse.
On 6 June, Till did not wear the robe, instead, the flames in front of Schneider's drums went off after the last "Let me see you stripped" after the first verse. This also meant that the flames did not go off later in the song. On 20 June, no flames went off in front of the drums.
Stripped would return to the main setlist on 26 May 2001. The song would be performed without any stunts or effects from May to August. Starting from November, the song would again receive dedicated effects and stunts. After singing the last "Let me see you stripped" after the first verse, Till would rise his arms and multiple tall flames would shoot up from the front of the stage. During the instrumental break, crewmembers would bring a rubber boat to the front of the stage, which Flake would enter in order to be passed onto the crowd, similar to earlier performances of Seemann and Heirate mich. The other band members, except Schneider, would gather in a line at the front of the stage in order to watch the boat being passed around. After a while, Flake would return to the stage and the instrumental break would continue, with the guitars now also joining in. When the boat returned, Richard, Paul, and Till would encourage the audience to clap before singing the last verse.
In 2002, the song's performance remained the same, albeit with Olli now taking the place of Flake in the rubber boat.
The basic performance would remain the same as the previous tour, but there are now more flames that shoot out at the beginning of the song. Olli also kept his role as the "captain" of the boat, with an even longer instrumental break. Flake claims this change was due to him being injured too often when performing the stunt.[3] At the very end of the song, after singing the last line, a big explosion would go off at the lighting rig.
In 2016, the normal intro part was kept the same, with even more flames being used at the start of the song. After the second verse, Paul and Richard would head over to the center of the stage and play opposite of one another, they would head back to their normal spot afterwards. The instrumental break would follow, with the audience being encouraged to clap, but the boat was no longer used. There would also be no explosion at the end of the song.
In 2017, the performance was slightly changed again. Now, during the instrumental break, Paul and Richard would start using the guitar-mounted flamethrowers. Even after the break, they would continue to shoot flames above the stage until the song ended. The song was also performed in this manner during the New Year's Eve shows.
Come with me into the trees
We lay on the grass and let hours pass
Take my hand, come back to the land
Let's get away, just for one day
Let me see you stripped
Let me see you stripped
Metropolis has nothing on this
You're breathing a fuse I taste when we kiss
Take my hand, come back to the land
Where everything's ours for a few hours
Let me see you stripped
Let me see you stripped
Let me hear you make decisions
Without your television
Let me hear you speaking just for me
Let me see you stripped
Let me see you stripped
Let me hear you make decisions
Without your television
Let me hear you speaking just for me
Let me see you stripped
Let me see you stripped
Let me see you stripped
Let me see you stripped
Come with me into the trees
We lay on the grass and let hours pass
Take my hand, come back to the land
Let's get away, just for one day
Let me see you stripped
Let me see you stripped
Metropolis has nothing on this
You're breathing a fuse I taste when we kiss
Take my hand, come back to the land
Where everything's ours for a few hours
Let me see you stripped
Let me see you stripped
Let me hear you make decisions
Without your television
Let me hear you speaking just for me
Let me see you stripped
Let me see you stripped
Let me see you stripped
Let me see you stripped
