The Germans' taste in music
- 27 Jun 06, 05:10 PM
HANNOVER - We haven鈥檛 really discovered a theme tune for this World Cup while driving Svan up and down the autobahn, possibly because while one of us drives the other is often in the back working.
My introduction of Nena鈥檚 鈥 the original German version 鈥 on the stereo yesterday was just met with bemusement from Fletch, so I think it鈥檚 a non-starter.
That said there are certain songs which have followed us around Germany and we hear at least two or three times a day.
Prime culprit is the terrace-chant version of 鈥淚 will survive鈥 by the 鈥 who we were lucky enough to catch live at the Stuttgart fan fest.
You know the one you are encouraged to sing along to in the middle.
There is a bastardised version of 鈥淔ootball鈥檚 coming home鈥, sung in a German accent without the reference to that tackle by Moore, and what I think might be the official World Cup anthem but I couldn't tell you the words.
This morning we were awoken by our French neighbours on the campsite playing 鈥淲e are the champions鈥 and something by Ricky Martin.
At all of the fan fests the pre and post-match analysis is turned off the big screen in favour of that town鈥檚 particular MC trying to get the crowd going.
These have varied in success - I鈥檒l just give you my personal highlights.
Our host in Dortmund was extremely energetic, giving us a two-hour set not singing the songs 鈥 all late 80s and early 90s guitar classics - but instead performing perfect air guitar and screaming the odd 鈥渃ome on鈥 into the microphone.
In contrast, the moustachioed fellow in Dresden attempted to liven up half-time of the England v Ecuador game by playing a simple dice game in the sparse crowd 鈥 with prizes such as a key ring and a small plastic fish which squirts water to be won.
I鈥檝e been impressed with the musical accompaniment in the build-up to the Spain v France game in Hannover.
Next to what looks like the main church in the centre of town is a stage where Swiss Eliana Burki was performing jazz, rock and blues on the alpine horn.
We missed out on concert the night before the World Cup started but hope to catch the festival on Berlin鈥檚 fan mile the Friday before the final 鈥 with Germany鈥檚 biggest artists such as and .
Our main disappointment has to be the lack of any action 鈥 shame on you Germany.
Don't forget to for the chance to win some fabulous Sport Relief prizes, including a Pele-signed table football and our very own Shevchenko-signed Fletch and Ricco t-shirts.
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I was in Germany for 2 weeks and had a great time. I was told that this song - "54, '74, '90, 2006" by Sportfreunde Stiller was the German equivalent of "Fusballs Coming Home". It's not the "official" song but I think it's great and it seems to be the song that all the German fans are singing at the games and Fan Fests. It's great for a drunken dance too after tagging drunkenly along on a German stag-do. No, don't ask. :-)
Check it out here:
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You can't have managed to avoid hearing last year's Eurohouse hit 'Love Generation' by DJ Bob Sinclar since you've been in Germany - I was in Berlin at the weekend and heard it in the Olympiastadion, between halves on the Fan Mile for the Germany game, in the 'Holland hosts the world' hospitality centre, and just about everywhere else. It's the one with the whistling in it...
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I know about that Bob Sinclair song. But there really is another song based on the Scotch anthem brought to us by Coca Cola with even more whistling...
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Yes Graham
In fact as I read your comment the person behind me's mobile went off with that exact ringtone.
It's the song I find myself whistling without realising it
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I was quite surprised when mediocre German comedian Oliver Pocher pulled a decent world cup anthem out of his sleeve.
Check it out:
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You're absolutely right, the "Hermes House Band" is terrible, but it's not a German accent - they're Dutch... ;)
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Than there is SEEED who played during the World Cup opening ceremony, but also at the POP KICK in Berlin Treptower Park on 9. June and 9. July.
(public viewing + concerts)
(I like the "jungle of Berlin")
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I did like "99 Balloons" by Nena but I would like to say that the segment dedicated to Swiss Alp Horn Great Eliana Burki was great.
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After the 80s Hasselhof never was very famous among people above the age of 12 in Germany. Of course if you just look at the LPs sold he was much more popular than in the US in the 90s. But a good part of them where suondtracks for childrens movies and the likes.
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tIt is a great chance to share the music of different nation among the fans from different countries. Fans are singing their inspirational music as if they are doing it for their gladiator fighter or for the fighters to make them inspired to fight heart and soul to save their country. It is not a blood shedding fight but it is a fight for their passion, art and aspiration.
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I would like to use this opportunity to accuse Fletch & Ricco of false advertisement. The 鈥楩LETCH & RICCO鈥 logo depicts an artist鈥檚 rendition of your likeness鈥 AND a 1960 something VW bus. What happened to the bus? What happened to truth in advertisement? You two are traveling through Germany in a late model recreational vehicle with modern amenities and not a beat-up VW bus as advertised. If your logo already contains the untruth, how can we unsuspecting and gullible readers believe anything you write? For all we know, Herr Schmidt (The strangest campsite in Germany?) was really some lovely Fraeulein you don鈥檛 want your wives or girlfriends to know about and your racing experience was not at Hockenheim but some abandoned factory parking lot. In fact, the punt at Hasselhoff may like have been a diversion to distract from you - in truth - driving on the Autobahn happily humming to his tunes. And I was really beginning to like you guys.
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Good Morning,
Maybe the Germans could adopt the following songs for their world cup song.
I Kahn't Stop Loving You by Phil Collins: a dedication from Oliver Kahn to Jens Lehman.
Frings are getting better by the Kinks: dedicated to Torsten Frings as he improves as the competition goes on.
Klose (closer) by the Corrs: To encourage the German striker to grab more goals
Any others??
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Sounds like Fletch needs an introduction to some quality 80's music! 99 Redballons is a classic!
And don't forget Germanys most successful 80's duo - Modern Talking.
Remember their song Brother Louie?
Give that a whirl... ;-)
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'99 Red Balloons' by Nena! Was it not former sports presenter Frank Bough who got himself into a libidinous lather about Nena's performance of that song on a programme called 'Nationwide'. Well, if it got Frank going then -- and he did a lot of naughty things later -- it is certainly good enough for me.
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Hi
I just wanted to tell that NOBODY in Germany likes Modern Talking...and everybody laughs when someone says that he likes David Hasselhof!
I think you need a little update of german music ;-)
There are much better bands than Modern Talking(I know, it's easy to be better, but these bands are grat!) like "Wir sind Helden" or "Die 脛rzte"
Well, I have to know it, I am german.
And an other thing: The Sportfreunde Stiller have a new version of "54, 74, 90, 2006", it's called "54, 74, 90, 2010"!
You can get if for free on ther homepage.
Greetings to UK!
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