Willst du mit mir gehn

Background

Artistically Willst du mit mir gehn is arguably the most significant studio album in Nena’s career since it ended the dominance of her discography by the 1980s songs which had both made her famous in the first place and then rekindled her career at the start of the new millennium. Although since 2002 Nena had had modest chart success as a featuring artist with Tok Tok, Sam Ragga Band and WestBam she had not been a contemporary force with new material in her own name. In 2005 Willst du mit mir gehn, and in particular its first two tracks to be released as singles, changed that for the remainder of the decade and beyond.

"Liebe ist"

"Liebe ist" was written by Nena and lyrically is a straightforward celebration of a loving relationship which musically alternates between slow, intimate verses and its uptempo, anthemic chorus.

In contrast to Nena’s other German No.1 single, 99 Luftballons, which stalled at No.2 for a massive 7 weeks before reaching the top position, "Liebe ist" entered at No.1 on 14 March 2005. This, being 22 years after 99 Luftballons, set a new record, which still stands, for the longest span between first and last number one in German chart history. After just 1 week on the top slot, "Liebe ist" was displaced for a week by Sarah Connor’s “From Zero to Hero”, returned to the number 1 position the following week before once again being knocked off by the Sarah Connor song.

Title track

Throughout her career, Nena’s songs have typically been written by various combinations of past and present band members. The title track to Willst du mit mir gehn was jointly written by Nena and the keyboard player from the former band, Jörn-Uwe Fahrenkrog-Petersen, the same combination that had written a number of the band’s most successful 1980s tracks including “? (Fragezeichen)”. Like "Liebe ist" the song has a positive message (about moving forwards and not looking back). Musically it is very different, being a high-energy, disco track, which immediately installed itself as a permanent feature and highlight of Nena’s live concerts. The promotional video unveiled the look which Nena was to stick to for the next few years - longer straighter hair, black and white striped dress and Converse trainers. During the summer of 2005, the single yo-yo’d in the German charts, peaking at No.6.

A third single “Lass mich” was released from the album in October 2005 but only peaked at No.44, its sales probably undermined by the success of the album which reached No.2 on the German album charts, achieving triple gold status.de:Nena/Diskografie

Track listing

CD 1

1. Willst Du mit mir gehn (Do you want to go with me) – 3:45
2. Lass mich (Let me) – 3:29
3. Und jetzt steh ich hier und warte (And now I'm standing here waiting) – 4:47
4. Liebe ist (Love is) – 4:55
5. Ich komm mit dir (I'm coming with you) – 4:08
6. Immer weiter (Always going on) – 4:13
7. Ohne Liebe bin ich nichts (Berlin Version) (Without love I'm nothing) – 3:46
8. Vitamine (Vitamins) – 4:06
9. Wir fliegen (We're flying) – 3:47
10. Neues Land (New land) – 4:55
11. Der Anfang (The beginning) – 8:27
12. Ich will was Neues (Berlin Version) (I want something new) – 3:41 (deluxe edition bonus track)

CD 2

1. Ja kann man denn da überhaupt was machen / Ich will was Neues (Can you even do anything in this situation / I want something new)– 9:03
2. Es ist noch nicht zu spät / Das ist der Anfang (It's not too late yet / That's the beginning) – 7:55
3. Ohne Liebe bin ich nichts (Without love I'm nothing) – 3:15
4. Machs doch (Do it) – 11:05
5. Hey Pauli, ein neuer Ton (Hey Pauli, a new tone) – 3:42
6. Wenn die Sonne scheint (When the sun shines) – 4:39
7. Das verträgt sich nicht mit uns (That's not good with us) – 3:46
8. Hochzeit Je t’Aime (Wedding I love you) – 6:38
9. Die Tür geht zu (The door is closing) – 3:46