Roots

[redbaron]

Musicians around the world have one thing in common: American and British Rock'n'Roll. No matter if you're from Sweden, France, Brasil, India - you will know Hotel California and Stairway to Heaven.That's the music that's been played on my high school parties, too.

Nevertheless, none of those made me pick up the guitar 25 years ago. What got me started as a musician was that I just HAD to know how to play the lead riff of a song called "Verdamp lang her" by a German band called BAP. No-one outside Germany will know that band. But if you fellows from the Anglo dominion ever throw a party with some German guests present and put this song on for them, I guarantee you will see grown men cry:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKkVV3QGJpA

You will notice the subtitles on this video - they translate this German song into, er, German. BAP are from Cologne and sing in the local dialect that's so strong that people from outside Cologne need translation. As always with German music, the lyrics are moving and thoughtful, but all that counted for me back then was the guitar riff. When I play it in a music store today, checking out some new gear, all heads turn, some guys nod, everyone smiles.

Seeing grown men cry - you'll get the same effect with Karat, "Der Blaue Planet".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ru12PkPGN8s

For many Germans, the memories connected with this song have an urgency that no foreign song could match. Karat was a band from East Germany, and when this song came out, tensions were still high, the Cold War was still on. And then, all of a sudden, this song was everywhere. The lyrics spoke to everyone, the melodies gave everyone goosebumps. How could "the enemy" come up with a song that touched us all, that spelled out what we felt, that we all wanted to listen to, on the school yards, on the bus home, on the radio after dinner? "Does our earth dance with herself in a fever? Do we find happiness only in a play of neutrons? That kiss and the word that I gave you yesterday - shall it be our last yet?" - that was powerful stuff in the early 80s when international relations were counted in nuclear warheads.

And no-one could grow up in Germany in the past 30 years without the soundtrack provided by a guy called Herbert Grönemeyer. Some of you might know him from the movie "Das Boot" - this is how he looks these days:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUg3yP2f7gw

Why am I writing all this? Firstly because it's always interesting to think about where one's coming from, what we all have in common and what differences there are. But secondly, I know for a fact that also in France, Sweden, Brasil and India there are these bands and songs that no-one knows but the locals and which are as powerful as Hotel California and Stairway to Heaven. I'd like to hear about them!

[Wizzelteats]

Sweet RB! If weren't for the Colognese they sound like they could be from anywhere. But I always love hearing new things... so thanks for that!

[JouniL]

And the only germans I listened to was Kraftwerk and Die Toten Hosen (and that was only for the cool band name)

[Wizzelteats]

haha... All that I thought there was was Nina and Hasselhoff! (I'm joking... no one get upset please!)

[Wedgebill]

It was Nina and Frederick for me and I think Nina was the one with a beard :rolleyes:

[pbbobkanobi]

OK I will give you the Germans can make good rock. I love the Scorpions.

Someone please show me a funny German comedian...just one...I'm just saying. (No offence intended.....it's just American humor....remember...my last name is Sweigart)

[Wedgebill]

I thought your last name was Lucci :rolleyes:

[redbaron]

Someone please show me a funny German comedian...just one...I'm just saying.

...and how would you recognize a funny German comedian if you don't speak a word of German? Well, let's try with Hape Kerkeling:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xdS9pa1esY

So what do you think?

[JouniL]

Swedish comedian: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2ez11LkUwM

[scott]

British comedians: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VaP1HB7Vew&feature=related

[JouniL]

Some swedish roots for me:

Ebba Grön - Staten och Kapitalet, swedish punk classic from late 79's. These guys lived very close to the same Stockholm suburb where I was raised. Punk was a major thing for me when growing up and also very present.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfN0MiRiMtI

Imperiet - Var e vargen. Classic post punk (same singer as the previous one) from mid 80's. This clip is pretty recent though. It simply kicks ass. German translation of the chorus: Wo ist der Wolf - ist er schon tot ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcz3abOmsIU

Finally the Weeping Willows - Touch Me. The singer is my age and we knew each other in school and had some friends in common. Nowadays they are a major act in sweden and produce amazing songs inspired from bands that we listened to when we grew up in the 80's (the Clash, Depeche Mode, the Smiths, Echo & the Bunnymen etc).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZAFQFgIuFY

[pbbobkanobi]

Someone please show me a funny German comedian...just one...I'm just saying.

...and how would you recognize a funny German comedian if you don't speak a word of German? Well, let's try with Hape Kerkeling:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xdS9pa1esY

So what do you think?

See....that's what I mean. Completely un-funny. I mean he talks funny but he just isn't funny. Rememeber, David Hasselhoff is a huge singing star in Germany.

[trikloretylen]

some more swedish roots
jouni already said ebba grön

so i give you easy action a glam rock band from the early 80`s


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUz2CjMlUM4


and an artist every swede have listen to magnus uggla


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6i_gTNAvug&feature=related





and of course yngwie malmsteen


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNOa5Gjh2lc

[redbaron]

...I don't get it, Bob. Try switching off the sound when watching a Seinfeld or Louis CK clip. You honestly think that they're still funny when you don't understand a word? Hmmm...

[JouniL]

and of course yngwie malmsteen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNOa5Gjh2lc

Yeah I loved Black Star! But what's about that sloppy playing on that fake acoustic? It was terrible, amateur stuff. And I honestly hate the sound of those fake acoustic guitars, totally sux. But Yngwie's strat playing is godlike.