Top Ten German Language Songs by Popular Artists to Play to People Who Think German Music is All Static and Cold
Kraftwerk and Rammstein are two especially great artists who just happen to be German. Kraftwerk were pioneers in popular electronic music and influenced artists far across the German borders, and Rammstein are one of the most lyrically advanced acts I know whose songs always have something hidden deep inside. The two bands are not unlikely the most famous German artists who sing in German (Scorpions are probably bigger, but perform in English) on an international scale. As brilliant as they might be, they might give a wrong impression of what German music sounds like, which was further supported by the song "Da Da Da ich lieb dich nicht du liebst mich nicht aha aha aha" by Trio. The music is static, based around strict pounding kick drums, and often sounds kind of cold on an emotional level. But German music is very varied and covers many genres, and actually not too many artists sound like this.On this list I want to compile songs from popular German artists that can serve as a perfect example that German music can be warm, gentle, alive, melodious, beautiful, and much more. The songs are more about the music than the lyrics.
And before someone adds a song by him: Falco is Austrian.
German chanson singer Annett Louisan has an entire discography full of petite songs that have a certain attitude. Her sweet voice and appearance are deceiving: she's just playing with you and relationships are a game. But on "Das Liebeslied" off her 2004 debut album, she is the one in love, though she doesn't like it, not being in full control.
I am a massive fan of German metal music and for this reason I never thought German Music is static and cold. Because at least German metal music is not - it's actually the opposite of static and cold.
With almost 18 million sold copies Herbert Grönemeyer is the most successful music artist in Germany of all time, and 2002's "Mensch" is the most successful album in Germany. When it was released, he already could look back at a hugely successful two decade career, which earned him success and praise for his touching songwriting and characteristic singing. "Mensch" is not only an earworm, it is also a deeply beautiful song on which you can hear a certain melancholy.
RnB singer Xavier Naidoo is known for his soulful, melodious and poetic songs which enchant people since the late 90s, and since then each of his albums managed to top the charts. He might be a terrible conspiracy theorist, but when it comes to emotive soul, no one can keep up with him. "Dieser Weg" from 2005 is his signature song.
Ich + Ich were a genre bending duo consisting of 80s rocker Annette Humpe from Ideal and soul singer Adel Tawil from The Boyz, who came from different genres and generations and in combination created an alive, but often melancholic sound. "Du erinnerst mich an Liebe" is their saddest song. The version on the audio sample is an acoustic live version though, the album version, which is dominated by a violin, is better.
Silbermond are a very popular German rock band of the 21st century. Their musical style started off fairly punk-ish, and later switched to indie rock. This album is right in between and contains some of their most melodious material, such as the powerful rock ballad "Alles Gute".
The successful soul and RnB singer Sarah Connor usually sang in English but in 2015, she wrote and sang a more nostalgic, German language album called "Muttersprache", and it became a blockbuster. "Deutsches Liebeslied" is a colorful old fashioned soul song, with a certain swing and power.
Andrea Berg has been the queen of the schlager genre for very long, and while she also has some of the typical, light hearted schlager songs she also has several more melancholic, romantic or heartbreaking songs. "Splitternackt" is one of her most melodious, vulnerable moments.
Helene Fischer kind of dethroned Andrea Berg as the schlager queen, especially with her massive 2013 hit "Atemlos durch die Nacht" that still gets airplay on the daily. Fischer is a better singer, but Berg usually has the better songs. But "Ich will immer wieder... dieses Fieber spür'n" has this cool Latin vibe and a snappy attitude that makes it an addictive summer hit.
Why do the iTunes audio samples not play in the last few days? I don't want my lists to be without listening samples. Especially when it's specifically about a certain sound and emotion the songs have.
Wir sind Helden were an alternative pop band in the 2000s and early 2010s (they're on hiatus now) who had several hits and were partly responsible for a boost in popularity of German language music (in the 90s and early 2000s even German pop musicians sang mostly English). "Gekommen um zu bleiben" is a swing inspired song with a light hearted groove that brings back a certain oldschool vibe.
So beautiful. I almost want to cry.