Funky Guys From Germany
A couple of months ago I put the spotlight on France, now it’s time to hear some very cool German songs. The title of the mix refers to Afrika Bambataa who once called Kraftwerk ‘those funky guys from Germany', but he could have said 'those funny guys from Germany', because I like their humour in their songs. I believe I once read that the last track of the mix, ‘I'm In Love With A German Film Star’ from the Passions, is about the crazy German actor Klaus Kinski. He's shown on the picture above which is from the excellent movie 'Fitzcarraldo', that was directed by Werner Herzog (who also directed 'Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans', the best movie of 2010). Klaus Kinski is the father of beautiful actress Nastassja Kinski (ex-wife of Quincy Jones). One of the best German songs ever is ‘Theo, Wir Fahr’n Nach Lodz’ from Vicky Leandros. She was the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest in 1972, taking part with 'Après Toi' for Luxemburg. I haven’t the faintest idea what ‘Theo, Wir Fahr’n Nach Lodz’ is about (something about going to Poland?), but the beginning is so good with the shouting, hand clapping and shattering glass. And when the song is coming to and end, Vicky seems to leave on horseback with a trumpet player on her side!
American born Donna Summer started as a professional singer in Germany as shown in a classic Dutch tv-performance from 1974 when she greets the stumbling host with ‘Guten Tag’. When she became very successful in her home country, she went back and launched the career of her producer, synthesizer genius Giorgio Moroder as well. Donna herself was called the queen of disco from the mid to the late 1970s. Her success slowly went down in the 1980s.
Nowadays she is still in the business and she is occasionally making records too. One of the bands that were heavily influenced by Donna and Giorgio were the Human League (picture), led by Colin Farrell look-alike Phil Oakey. Last month they released a very cool new single, called 'Night People'. Don't forget to watch their very nice new video. Their new album 'Credo' (their first since 2001!) will be out in March 2011. That is surely something to look forward to!
Amanda Lear began as a fashion model in the mid-1960s and was also the muse of Spanish surrealist painter Salvador Dalí. In the early 1970s she dated David Bowie and Roxy Music singer Bryan Ferry. Being the girlfriend of Ferry she was pictured on the cover of Roxy Music's album ‘For Your Pleasure’ in 1973. By the end of the decade, when she was already in her late thirties, she became a disco diva, mainly on the European continent with smashes such as ‘Queen of Chinatown’, ‘Follow Me’, ‘Enigma (Give a Bit of Mmh to Me)’ and ‘Fashion Pack’. She has sold 15 million albums and over 25 million singles worldwide.If you like this kind of music check the album ‘Funky Fräuleins part 2’ will be out next month. And if you can't wait that long, my brand new (explicit) Euro Disco mix will be available for download on For Disco Play Only the 15th of December!
Tracklist:
Su Kramer – You've Got The Power [part 1] (1976)
Silver Convention – Get It Up (1981)
Boney M – Ma Baker [‘Ma Bakes’ Edit] (2008)
Vicky Leandros – Theo, Wir Fahr’n Nach Lodz (1974)
Jan Delay – Rave Against The Machine (2009)
James Last – Rise (1979)
Peter Herbolzheimer Rhythm Combination & Brass – Feedback Brother (1978)
Amanda Lear – Laziness: Hollywood Is Just A Dream When You're Seventeen (1981)
Kraftwerk – Showroom Dummies (1977)
Señor Coconut Y Su Conjunto – Homecomputer (2000)
Eruption – Runaway (1980)
Can – Vitamin C (1972)
Giorgio Moroder – If You Weren't Afraid (1979)
Lotte & Leherb – Irre Gut (intro) (1974)
Donna Summer – Down Deep Inside [Eddy’s Extended Edit] (2010)
Rheingold – Dreiklangsdimensionen (1980)
The Passions – I'm In Love With A German Film Star (1981)
Enjoy!
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