Having thoroughly enjoyed my first experience with the 2015 Volkswagen Golf last summer, I was looking forward in particular to driving the new VW Golf GTI, so much so that I could not get the “Kleiner GTI” song out of my head en route to its launch in the Bay Area. It’s hard to believe the GTI is turning 30 this year in the States.
Kleiner GTI is a song from the commercial for the 1984 Rabbit GTI (the first-generation Golf was called the Rabbit in the States). The commercial features jumping GTIs and a German-language sendoff of Ronny and the Daytonas’ song “Little GTO,” itself part of a series of muscle-car themed songs from the 1960s. (Others included “Hey, Little Cobra” by the Rip Chords, “Boss Barracuda” by the Surfaris, and the Beach Boys’ “409.”)
The lyrics are short and to the point: Kleiner GTI / Du siehst prima aus / Ich liebe, dich zu fahren / Hol’ die Leistung raus. Literally translated it’s Little GTI / You look great / I love to drive you / Get the power. Sounds much better in German....
