“Ich Bin Gott” (English: “I Am God”) is a single by German musician Guido Dossche featuring Steve Harley, released in Germany on the Supermusic label in February 2004. The song also appeared on Dossche’s 2005 album Vulnerabel. It was written by Dossche (lyrics) and Jan-Martin Schlotterbeck (music), and was produced by Schlotterbeck.
Background
In 2003, Dossche contacted his idol Steve Harley and asked him whether he would consider recording one of Dossche’s songs together. Harley agreed and the recording session for “Ich Bin Gott”, which was written by Dossche and Jan-Martin Schlotterbeck, was booked in October 2003 at the ATM-studio in Cologne. In a November 2003 diary entry for his official website, Harley revealed, “Just got back after a trip to Cologne. Recorded a track with a fine German techno musician and writer, Guido Dossche. Had good time. I am singing parts in German and parts of the lyric in English. My German ain’t that brilliant, but they spoke the words to me and I took them down totally phonetically. Looked ridiculous, but it did the trick.”
Harley has described the song as a “really fine electro-techno rock record”. In a February 2004 entry, he said, “It’s getting a good response in Germany from press and club DJs. I love the record. It is euro electro-pop – the sort we hear little of in this country – and yet has a depth, an emotion, and Guido’s cover of ‘Innocence and Guilt’ is a revelation!”
Release
“Ich Bin Gott” was released as a CD single in Germany only on the Supermusic label in February 2004. It features German and English versions of the song, two remixes of it, and “Unschuld Und Schuld”, which is Dossche’s version of Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel’s 1976 track “Innocence and Guilt” from the album Love’s a Prima Donna. Speaking of the song to the Harley Fan Zone in 2005, Dossche said it has “always meant a lot to me” and described it as being about “a grown up son hidden by his mother cause she won’t let him go because she’s afraid to lose him. She wants to keep him for herself.”
Although it was only officially made available in Germany, copies of the CD single were also made available to buy on Harley’s official website for the benefit of his fans. The song went on to appear on Dossche’s 2005 album Vulnerabel.
Music video
The song’s music video was directed by Manfred Esser and edited by Henning Oppermann. It contains footage shot by Esser of Dossche and Harley recording the track in the studio. Dossche explained to the Harley Fan Zone in 2005, “When putting it together for release, I thought it was too documentary like. Therefore some scenes were added, developed by Henning Oppermann, who mixed this material with the stuff Manfred Esser had filmed during the recording. So it became a colourful trip… I like it a lot and so does Steve.”
Track listing
CD single (Germany)
- “Ich Bin Gott” (German Version) – 4:28
- “Ich Bin Gott” (English Version) – 4:28
- “Unschuld und Schuld” – 3:02
- “Ich Bin Gott” (Eberhard Arctic Remix) – 5:50
- “Ich Bin Gott” (Stefan Böhm & Pee Wee Vignold Remix) – 4:23
Personnel
- Dossche – vocals
- Steve Harley – vocals
- Jan-Martin Schlotterbeck – keyboards, drum programming, guitars
- Alex Gunia – additional guitar
- Toshi Trebes – additional guitar
- Eva Gronbach – female voice (“Unschuld und Schuld”)
Production
- Jan-Martin Schlotterbeck – producer, recording
- Tom Meyer – mastering
Other
- Manfred Esser – photography
