“Peacemaker” by Scorpions
Scorpions have been classified, by DW even, as the most-successful rock band in Germany’s history, and second on that list is Rammstein. And the reason we bring that up is because “Peacemaker, in a way, reads a lot like a Rammstein outing. That is to say that the vocalist isn’t shy about resorting to some sanguine imagery in the name of getting his point across. Maybe this has something to do with Deutschland’s violent modern history.
But that said, this song isn’t about Germany per se. Rather, as described by vocalist Klaus Meine, it speaks to the current, shall we say warmongering state of the world at large. And the events behind this sentiment not only include actual armed conflicts but also the likes of random killings and even, of course when we’re talking about present-day death, the COVID-19 pandemic, which has taken masses of lives.
“Peacemaker”
So the way the word “peacemaker” is utilized in this song is reminiscent of how the same term is the name of a popular gun. Or let’s say how that new HBO series entitled Peacemaker utilizes it, as the name of an antihero who carries a gigantic gat and shoots people.
So in the case of this song, the “peacemaker” referred to in the chorus reads like an individual. And we can further say that it is the personification of death. And in the first chorus it may seem as if the vocalist is welcoming such a fate, but such is not the case. Rather, he is recognizing the inevitability of such an outcome.
Or using more artistic language, it can be said that the way he perceives the current state of the world is as a situation where all of our lives are at risk. So what the Scorpions are actually doing, with references to “black horses” and all, is speaking to the deadly seriousness of the times we live in.
“Peacemaker” and Scorpions
Although “Peacemaker” was released as recently as 5 November 2021, the Scorpions have actually been around since the mid-1960s. And unlike most bands who have been active for decades on end, they didn’t take a hiatus in between. That is to say that the group has consistently dropped standard LPs during every decade from 1972 going.
And this particular track is the lead single from their 18th studio album, 2022’s Rock Believer.
Scorpions trace their group origin back to the city of Hanover, in the days when West Germany was still intact. And as to be expected of a band that’s been around for over 50 years, their membership has experienced some changes.
However one of the group’s founders, guitarist Rudolf Schenker, is still around to participate on “Peacemaker”. And two of his bandmates, vocalist Klaus Meine and guitarist Matthias Jabs, have been down with the Scorpions since the 1970s.
Meanwhile bassist Pawed Mąciwoda and drummer Mikey Dee are more recent additions. They respectively joined the group in the aughts and 2010s.
The Scorpions were also reportedly involved in the production of this track. And as designed, the sound of “Peacemaker” is meant to be reminiscent of the band’s heyday of the 1980s.
The directors of the official music video to Peacemaker are listed below:
- Jörn Heitmann
- Hinrich Pflug
