Das Boot (song)

"Das Boot" ("The Boat") is the title theme to the film and TV series Das Boot, composed and produced by Klaus Doldinger, and released as a single in 1981. In 1991, the song was covered by German DJ and producer Alex Christensen and his dance music project U96. This techno version was U96's debut single, released by Polydor from the album of the same name (1992).

On the German Singles Chart, the U96 version of "Das Boot" spent 13 weeks at number one in early 1992. It also became a number-one hit in Austria, Israel, Norway and Switzerland and entered the top 10 in Denmark, Finland, France, the Netherlands and Sweden. In the UK, it peaked at number 18 on the UK Singles Chart. The song was the subject of many remixes throughout the years.

Critical reception
Ian Gittins from Melody Maker complimented the song as a "portentous novelty house hit", "complete with marine sound effects, submarine noises and the legendary lyric Techno, techno". He concluded, "Compelling and absurdly addictive." Pan-European magazine Music & Media remarked, "With no significant airplay, this techno version of the theme to the movie Das Boot is number one for the second consecutive week in Germany. It's like Kraftwerk on acid, or plain Front 242." James Hamilton from Music Week's RM Dance Update wrote, "This Hamburg based DJ's vocoder produced and Asdic pinged techno treatment of Klaus Doldinger's original theme is in basic chugging 0-122.9bpm Techno (with beat losing edits midway), far fiercer smoothly thrumming electro 0-127.1bpm Strings 127, Accordian, Echo Mix, 127 BPM and — fiercest of all — 0-130.9bpm 131 BPM versions. Dive! Dive! Dive!"

Chart performance
"Das Boot" peaked at number one in Germany, Norway and Switzerland. In Germany, it spent 13 weeks atop the chart. The single also entered the top 10 in Belgium (7), Denmark (3), Finland (9), France (9), the Netherlands (3) and Sweden (5), as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100, where it reached number three in May 1992, after 17 weeks within the chart. Additionally, "Das Boot" peaked within the top 20 in Ireland (19) and the United Kingdom. In the latter, it debuted at number 37, and peaked at number 18 in its third week on the UK Singles Chart, on 6 September 1992. Outside Europe, the single was a huge hit in Israel, where it peaked at number-one in April 1992.

"Das Boot" was awarded with a gold record in Austria, with a sale of 25,000 singles.

Music video
The accompanying music video for "Das Boot" was directed by Peter Claridge. It used footage from the 1981 German submarine film Das Boot, directed by Wolfgang Petersen. When the song peaked at number one in Germany, the video had not yet been produced.

Track listings

 * 7-inch single
 * 1) "Das Boot"
 * 2) "Das Boot" (Mickey Finn full version)


 * 12-inch maxi
 * 1) "Das Boot" (techno version) – 5:14
 * 2) "Tiefenrausch" – 4:18


 * CD maxi
 * 1) "Das Boot" (techno version) – 5:14
 * 2) "Tiefenrausch" – 4:18
 * 3) "Das Boot" (trigger version) – 5:14


 * Cassette
 * 1) "Das Boot" (techno version) – 5:14
 * 2) "Das Boot" (trigger version) – 5:14


 * CD maxi – Remixes
 * 1) "Das Boot / Kennedy" (Megamix – I Wanna Be a Kennedy) – 6:14
 * 2) "Sonar Sequences – 6:13
 * 3) "Das Boot" – 3:25


 * CD maxi – 2001 remixes
 * 1) "Das Boot 2001" (radio edit) – 3:41
 * 2) "Das Boot 2001" (DJ Mellow-D remix) – 8:22
 * 3) "Das Boot 2001" (Cosmic Gate remix) – 7:41
 * 4) "Anthem 2001" – 3:19


 * 12-inch maxi – 2001 remixes
 * 1) "Das Boot 2001" (Cosmic Gate remix) – 7:41
 * 2) "Das Boot 2001" (DJ Errik remix) – 8:05
 * 3) "Das Boot 2001" (Schiller remix) – 8:23
 * 4) "Das Boot 2001" (Avancada remix) – 8:12


 * D72 Remix
 * 1) "Das Boot V2" (D72 Extended Remix) - 6:26