Proud Like a God

Proud Like a God is the debut album by the German alternative rock band Guano Apes. The album was released in Germany on 6 October 1997 via GUN/Supersonic Records, internationally on 24 December 1997 via GUN/Supersonic and BMG International, and finally in the US on 28 September 1999 via RCA Records and BMG International. Two of Guano Apes' most popular and enduring songs are included on this album: "Open Your Eyes" and "Lords of the Boards", which peaked at #5 and #10 on the German charts, respectively.

Proud Like a God
Studio album by
Guano Apes
Released6 October 1997 (1997-10-06)
Recorded1996-1997
Studio
Genre
Length51:45
Label
Producer
  • Wolfgang Stach
  • Guano Apes
Guano Apes chronology
Proud Like a God
(1997)		 Don't Give Me Names
(2000)
Singles from Proud Like a God
  1. "Open Your Eyes"
    Released: August 25, 1997
  2. "Rain"
    Released: January 15, 1998
  3. "Lords of the Boards"
    Released: July 15, 1998
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
RockHard7.5/10[2]

The album has been certified Platinum for shipping 200,000 copies in both Germany[3] and Switzerland.[4]

Background

After winning the "Local Heroes" talent contest in 1996, Guano Apes entered Horus Studio in Hannover to record their debut album, and signed a record deal with GUN Records, a division of BMG. In the documentary Planet of the Apes, drummer Dennis Poschwatta called the recording process "a really bad experience", since the band hadn't realized that recording an album is substantially different from performing live. Vocalist Sandra Nasić, on the other hand, found working in the studio "interesting" and remembered how it made her feel respected as a singer, while guitarist Henning Rümenapp described it as "on-the-job training".

In August 1997, "Open Your Eyes" was released as a single, followed in 1998 by "Rain" and "Lords Of The Boards".

Track listing

All tracks are written by Guano Apes.

No.TitleLength
1."Open Your Eyes"3:09
2."Maria"3:47
3."Rain"4:35
4."Lords of the Boards"3:42
5."Crossing the Deadline"3:25
6."We Use the Pain"2:32
7."Never Born"5:17
8."Wash It Down"3:06
9."Scapegoat"3:22
10."Get Busy"3:25
11."Suzie"2:53
12."Tribute"9:14
13."Move a Little Closer" (Hidden Track)2:50
Total length:51:45
Limited edition bonus disc
No.TitleLength
1."Maria" (live at Melkweg, Amsterdam)4:07
2."Rain" (live at Melkweg, Amsterdam)4:40
3."Lords of the Boards" (live at Melkweg, Amsterdam)3:42
4."Crossing the Deadline" (live at Melkweg, Amsterdam)3:21
5."Get Busy" (live at Melkweg, Amsterdam)3:24
Total length:19:12

20th Anniversary Edition
Proud Like a God XX
Artwork for Proud Like A God XX
Studio album
ReleasedOctober 2017 (2017-10)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
laut.de[5]
metal.de9/10[6]

October 2017 saw the release of Proud Like a God XX, a revamped 2CD version of the original album containing remixed versions of 10 songs, plus the previously unreleased track "Score". The second disc contains thoroughly rearranged "2017 versions" of six songs from Proud Like A God, and three newly recorded cover songs. The track "Lose Yourself" was released as a single.

Proud Like a God XX 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition (Disc 1)
No.TitleLength
1."Open Your Eyes" (2017 mix)3:09
2."Maria" (2017 mix)3:43
3."Rain" (2017 mix)4:36
4."Lords of the Boards" (Remastered)3:43
5."Crossing the Deadline" (2017 mix)3:24
6."We Use the Pain" (2017 mix)2:30
7."Never Born" (2017 mix)5:18
8."Wash It Down" (2017 mix)3:05
9."Get Busy" (2017 mix)3:27
10."Suzie" (2017 mix)2:53
11."Score" (2017 mix)2:30
Total length:38:23
Proud Like a God XX 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition (Disc 2)
No.TitleLength
1."Open Your Eyes" (2017 version; featuring Danko Jones)3:04
2."Lose Yourself" (Eminem cover)2:50
3."Rain" (2017 version)4:29
4."Crossing the Deadline" (2017 version)2:35
5."This is Not America" (Pat Metheny Group & David Bowie cover)2:41
6."Never Born" (2017 version)2:56
7."Precious" (Depeche Mode cover)3:47
8."Suzie" (2017 version)2:40
9."Get Busy" (2017 version)3:11
Total length:28:20

Personnel

Band
  • Sandra Nasić - Vocals
  • Henning Rümenapp - guitars
  • Stefan Ude - bass
  • Dennis Poschwatta - drums, vocals

Additional musicians
  • Afam - scratches
  • Geo Schaller - keys, programming
  • Smoke - cello
  • Michael Wolpers - percussion

Production
  • Wolfgang Stach - production (except "Lords of the Boards"), engineering
  • Guano Apes - production ("Lords of the Boards")
  • Ronald Prent - mixing
  • Anyway Wölfle - additional engineering

Reception

CMJ gave a favourable review, praising Sandra Nasić's vocal range and calling the album a "well-blended mix of sweet pop and bruising rock, with a little bit of electronica-informed loops and ambience thrown in for good measure."[7]

Charts
SingleYearChartPosition
"Open Your Eyes" 1997 Germany 5
Austria 10
Switzerland 11
Netherlands 19
Belgium 14
Italy 8
2000 US Mainstream Rock Tracks24

Year-end charts
Chart (1998) Position
German Albums Chart[8] 13
Chart (1999) Position
German Albums Chart[9] 30

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Austria (IFPI Austria)[10] Gold 25,000*
Belgium (BEA)[11] Gold 25,000*
Germany (BVMI)[12] Platinum 600,000[13]
Italy (FIMI)[11] Gold 50,000*
Netherlands (NVPI)[14] Gold 50,000^
Poland (ZPAV)[15] Gold 50,000*
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[16] Platinum 50,000^
United States — 80,000[17]
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)[18] Platinum 1,000,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. Huey, Steve. "Proud Like a God - Guano Apes | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  2. Schleutermann, Marcus. "GUANO APES - Proud Like A God". Rock Hard (in German). Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  3. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Guano Apes; 'Proud Like a God')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 2009-08-23.
  4. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Guano Apes; 'Proud Like a God')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
  5. Klug, Alex. "Stolz? Etwa auf die Defragmentierung des eigenen Erbes?". laut.de (in German). Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  6. Grönecke-Preuss, Jeanette. "Guano Apes - Proud Like A God XX Review • metal.de". metal.de (in German). Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  7. Sciaretto, Amy (October 4, 1999). CMJ New Music Report. p. 25.
  8. "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
  9. "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
  10. "Austrian album certifications – Guano Apes – Proud like a God" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  11. "Guano Apes Multi-Platinum Award 2001" (PDF). Archived from the original on 16 April 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2020.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  12. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Guano Apes; 'Proud like a God')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  13. "Planet of the Apes" (PDF). Billboard. 21 August 1999. p. 16. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  14. "Dutch album certifications – Guano Apes – Proud like a God" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved 17 April 2020. Enter Proud like a God in the "Artiest of titel" box.
  15. "Polish album certifications – Guano Apes – Proud like a God" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  16. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Guano Apes; 'Proud like a God')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  17. "Platinum Proof: Europe Rocks" (PDF). Billboard. 20 May 2000. p. 86. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  18. "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 2000". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
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