April 24th 2015: English Raop On Top

Still at number 1: See You Again by Wiz Khalifa Feat. Charlie Puth taken from the movie score to Furious 7.
As with lead appearance of rapper Wiz Khalifa the song should be a sap song–indeed it is more a romantic ballad–let's have a look on rap no1s: the last one occupied the top almost exactly a year ago in May 2014 in the face of CRO and his Traum holding firm for a full month. It is for sure no coincidence having Traum as a so called Raop-Song something that is basically Rp but with a strong pop appealing.
And even the last US-American rapper at no1 was a combination of rap and pop as Pitbull duetted with KE$HA on Timber that had a three weeks run at number 1 on the change of 2013/14.

Also highest new entry is a pop song combined with some rhymes. Norwegian MADCON duetting with Ray Dalton launch their Don't Wory directly at number 3. It is the third Top3 hit coming from Norway within 14 months. Adding the number 6 hit Wicked Wonderland by Martin Tungevaag the Scandinavian country seems back in global pop business.
For the MADCON duo Don't Worry marks a new peak in its chart career. So far its biggest chart success was the Eurovision flashmob song Glow that gained number 4 in 2010. All in all the duo has five Top 10 hits under his belt starting in 2008 with Beggin.

DJ Felix Jaehn serves as best selling German act since February due to his remix of OMI's Cheerleader. Still the track sits pretty at number 4 in its 16th chart week. Three ranks behind follow up Ain't Nobody (Loves Me Better) (featuring Jasmine Thompson) enters the Top 10 and eclipses the success of Rufus & Chaka Khan in 1989 who reached number 9 back than.
Also in Switzerland the new version is the most successful ever as the original never entered the list.
With Felix Jaehn entering the Top 10 we have four German productions inside–a feat last seen in September 2014 when Robin Schulz, Mark Forster, Andreas Bourani and Helene Fischer had songs under the first ten..


Casting show impacts
Once again DSDS ain't the show with the biggest impact on sales. It is this current week The Voice Kids. The second show was aired on Friday April the 10th 2015. Most impressive performance was shown by Elinor, Liv and Cosma. The three interpreted Angel originally recorded by Sarah McLachlan. The song re-appears at number 72–it is the fourth chart week for the song. All of them were achieved after a performance on a casting show.

9th of May 2014: Andreas Bourani goes No.1

There is a brand new no.1 in Germany this week. Released digital and as a CD Auf uns by German singer songwriter Andreas Bourani storms the top directly. It is the first song going straight to number 1 since October 2013 and the first in 2014. So we do have the situation that for a fourth year in a row May is the month when a longer period (at least 6 months) of growing number 1 hits is interrupted by a rocket hit.

For singer Andreas Bourani it is the first number 1 hit. He started his chart career three years ago as one of a bunch of new German singer songwriter. Tim Bendzko, Phillip Poisel, Mark Forster and the likes are a new generation of sensitive stars that seems very back to musical craftsmanship.

Right at number 3 there is the next German song worth mentioning. Although it is a well known and long running hit Atemlos durch die Nacht by German schlager queen Helene Fischer once again reaches its peak position. After 29 weeks and 15 weeks inside the Top 5 the song is going to become the most successful chart hit of 2014. In Austria the song reached the Top position for three weeks in February this current year.

New at number 6 British DJ Calvin Harris launches his second Top 10 hit in Germany with Summer. In his home country he is a superstar having six number 1 hits under his belt. In Germany he was number 1 once as a featured artist on Rihanna's We Found Love in late 2011. As a main artist he came close to the Top 10 a year ago accompanied by Ellie Goulding. Back than I Need Your Love stopped at number 13. Now he reaches the Top 10 by digital sales easily. Will this get him a star in Germany too?

Deep house still sells strongly. Next hit is One Day (Vandaag) by Dutch Bakermat. The track climbs 12–9 in its 7th chart week and is the third deep house saxophone track. Well–if the crowd is pleased...

With Waves (Mr Probz remmixed by Robin Schulz) at number 5 and Riptide (Vance Joy remixed by Flic Flac) we have three tracks of the same flavour inside the German Top 10. The fourth deep house track My Love by Route 94 feat. Jess Glynne at number 7 luckily defines the sound in a much different way.

Having Bakermat and Mr Probz simultanously in the Top 10 Dutch music has a real strong presence inside the German charts. On the opposite the highest US-American production sits as low as number 8 in the face of Pharrell Williams and his Happy. Both feats ain't seen for a long while.

Casting effects
With approaching the final the crazyness about contestants on The Voice Kids becomes a new quality. On April 29th finalists from team Nena were elected. The big favourite (but not at all the winner of the whole season) was Richard who performed All Of Me in the battle round. As an effect the original recording by John Legend jumps 61–19 in its 12th chart week which is of course much much better than its peak a few weeks ago.


The all eclipsing star of the moment doubtlessly is Pharrell Williams. Three number 1 singles in a row, the album G I R L peaking at number 2 (and topping the lists worldwide), a collaboration with adidas for a fashion line … On April 23rd the video for Marilyn Monroe–the opening track of his album–was released. The track so far is not released for a standalone release in Germany. Meanwhile it goes number 43 as an album cut.

The second single taken from the upcoming Coldplay album Ghost Stories (to be released on May 16th) is Midnight. It was released on vinyl on 19th of April, the digital release in Germany followed on May 2nd not affecting the current list. In fact a week before a remix by master Giorgio Moroder was available bringing the track to number 44. Some further remixes by Tiesto and Kygo are around also but not official releases at all.

2nd of May 2014:

Still it is Rather Be by Clean Bandit Featuring Jess Glynne that sits pretty at Nr.1 in Germany. It is already the fourth week for that track. Well–the top is very calm. And so are the ranks 2, 3 and 4.

The track bringing some change in the list is Budapest by British new comer George Ezra. After his song is released on CD the track shoots 12–5 in its 9th chart week. It is so far the second highest peak worldwide for the song. Only the Dutch charts report a current number 3.

Three places below the highest new entry comes in. It is the new single by Mando Diao Black Saturday that anounces the new album Aelita. It is the second Top 10 single in Germany for the Swedish band and its first chart entry since four years (of course the chart success for Caligola ain’t included).

Two German acts are jumping directly into the Top 20. And they together stand for the sound currently very successful in Germany. The first one comes in at number 10 and it is the third prerelease for Kollegah's upcoming album King. This week the title trackenters the list as the highest track Kollegah ever had launched in the single's charts. It really seems that he is the new king of German gangsta rap. His both predecessors Alpha and AKs im Wandschrank also made it up in the list climbing 30 places each.
The second new German song comes in at number 18. After its release as a full digital track She Moves - Far Away jumps from number 70. DJ Alle Farben is the latest of deep house inspired producers who make their luck on that sound invading the music scene since few months.

Casting Show Battle
The question is: Which one is the casting show with most influence. Usually one refers to the TV rates which sees Deutschland sucht den Superstar (DSDS) at number 1. But hard on the heels The Voice Kids follows. Both emerge around 3 Mio. viewers every show aired. But what do TV rates really mean for highly commercial products? What do they mean if the sales of music do not correspond with the rates. That's the question raised against DSDS. RTL so far answers: it doesn't matter anything – there will be a season 2015 for sure. Meanwhile the market celebrates The Voice Kids as the more attractive show. This week a song returns to the list that already had a very proper chart career. Strong by London Grammar spend 23 weeks inside the charts since November 2013 peaking at number 33. On April 18th Saphira, Carlo & Hanna performed the song and propelled it back to the list–up to number 28. This late peak makes the song the slowest burner of 2014 so far–and compared to past three years it is a slow burner indeed. One or two tracks per year did take a similar time. Of course Paul & Fritz Kalkbrenner's Sky And Sand are the far and away the longest sleeping hit peaking in its 83rd chart week in November 2011.


Still on the rise the American Authors can reach the Top 50 with their Best Day Of My Life. The remix by Just A Gent counts in the next chart issue. The full release of the CD single follows May 9th.
It took John Newman's current single Losing Sleep also a while for catching fire and becoming hit status. This week the song rises 82–57 although it is available for more than a month.

Hot Spot 11-15-13

A third week for Klingande and their Jubel at number 1. Last French act occupying the Top spot for at least three weeks was Bob Sinclar and his inofficial WM anthem Love Generation that spent five weeks at the very Top in spring 2006.

King of the week is EMINEM. His latest album The Marshall Mathers LP 2 goes straight to number 1 inside the album list. Current single The Monster featuring Rihanna rises 7–3 giving the rapper his sixth Top 3 hit in Germany. Accompanying Rihanna is a little more succesfull. The Monster already is her 12th Top 3 song. Seven of them she had within the past four years – so she is by now the most succesful artist of the current decade. Not alone that. With 170 weeks inside the Top 10 she now overtakes Madonna's record as the female artist with most Top 10 weeks. Now Rihanna is heading for the record of The Beatles. The fab four stand with 227 weeks at the Top of the All Time List.

Once we're talking 'bout Rihanna one should recognize her latest single What Now climbing up the list also due to it's release in some more remix versions. The first edition of remixes brought her to a mere number 83. With the new release she achieves number 49. Predecessor Right Now (featuring DJ David Guetta stopped at number 43 five months ago.

Back to EMINEM once again and for very short: also single Survival rises and lands at number 20 while Berzerk goes 28–24 again after being Nr.10 back in September. Rap God goes 44–33. – Propelled by the new album also Lose Yourself from 2002 can made it back to the list. It sits pretty this week at number 85 almost exactly 11 years after it appeared first in the survey.


Pitbull Feat. Ke$ha are entering the Top 10 with their single Timber. The song enters the stores as physical release today – so we will see it higher than number 7 in 14 days. By entering the area Pitbull gains his third Top 10 hit in 2013 – he is only the third main artist doing so. KE$HA only manages a third Top 10 hit at all. This weeks she ends a three years long abstinence.

LORDE finally also becomes a Top 10 artist by entering Nr.9 with Royals. Since Kimbra almost two year ago no act from New Zealand was seen that high. The last main artist from New Zealand inside the German Top 10 was Brooke Fraser in June 2011.

British X Factor winner 2012 – James Arthur – gains some more attention this week by releasing his debut album. In his home country he proves to be a superstar by landing at number 2. In Germany the album lands only at number 25. As an effect his two singles rise up the list once more. Impossible climbs back to number 45, follow up single You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You bounces back 77–55.

Damien Rice already is a secret star. His (or his band's) tunes were used in several TV serials or public events. But nobody knew the man and his band so far. Now the label 14th floor released one of his most popular recording 9 crimes again. And finally it can make it into the charts as a single hit landing at number 61.

By releasing a new song every single week Canadian teen star Justin Bieber now became the artist with most charting songs in one year. This week's Bad Day is already the 9th song in 2013 that can appear on the list. The man now overtakes such big names like Pitbull, Flo Rida and Helene Fischer who stuck with "only" eight different songs. To get some better impressions of what this feat means: David Guetta had 14 charting tracks in 2012 and even 16 in 2011. So there is some more to do for becoming a real super star.

Also Avril Lavigne offered a new album. According to critics and sales figures the collection of songs is much less than retro. Number 15 means this is the worst performing album ever for the lady. Also re-entering single Let Me Go (alongside with husband Chad Kroeger) only can reach number 70. Never a charting single stopped lower.



Casting show effects
As always one can find some tracks in the list that benefit from the performance of hopeful aspirants. Mostly the songs disappear after a single week – so one could ignore them very well. But very often well known tunes appear on stage - so we could call them classics also. Recognizing them might tell some stories 'bout the current cultural mood in Germany.

This week we can watch Korean YIRUMA returning to the list with his composition of River Flows In You. It was written and recorded in 2001 but had a long long wait to become famous. First wider recognition came with the use of the melody within a Twilight fan video. Some months later DJ Jasper Forks recorded an own version. Than also the original by YIRUMA had a chance to chart as a single track too. Now it belongs to one of the most loved pieces for all who study classic instruments like piano. The track lands this week according to a performance on Das Supertalent by young piano player Thomas Krüger. I guess we will watch the song again when the show airs its final.

Song number 2 is Under by Alex Hepburn. The song was performed on The Voice Of Germany on October 31st by Yvonne Rüller. In March this year it had a 14 weeks long chart career peaking at number 34. Now it re-enters at number 79.


Songs To Watch
Might be an upcoming hit: Strong by the London Grammar. The band released its album digitally in October. A full physical release is available right now. In between the single can gain some attention and enters the charts at number 83.

Full three weeks before its release on CD Unconditionally by Katy Perry starts its chart life at number 86.

23-12: Eurovision Fever

Boom! There she comes. Swedish Loreen won the Eurovision Song Contest on 26th May and afterwards storms the charts all over Europe. Also Germany is infected by the eurodance production. Euphoria immediately storms to number 1 on the singles charts. It is the first non German winning song at the top of the sales charts since 1974. Back then it was also the Swedish entry that charmed the Europe wide audience and caused the very first success for ABBA. Euphoria is only the third Eurovision winning song not coming from Germany that can reach the top of the singles list. Only Sandy Shaw in 1967 managed that feat with her Puppet On A string. Of course the two wins of German entries reached the top in Germany as well. It was in 1982 Nicole and her Ein bisschen Frieden (A Little Peace) and two years ago Lena with Satellite.

The number one statistic concerning Euphoria is interesting in another way too. Loreen is the first woman to top the charts since Lana del Rey in December last year. And she is the first Swedish act doing so since Eric Prydz who entered the top in November 2004 with Call On Me – a dancefloor hit too. By the way Euphoria is the 88th song that can enter the German charts straightly at number 1.



Well–all that tells one fact: the Eurovision Song Contest is back as a big mainstream event in Germany. To underline that statement we should risk a look further down the survey: Seven of the 26 Eurovision finalists can launch a chart hit in Germany. Never before that many songs of the contest made it into the list.

Of course German participant Roman Lob benefits from the event aired on TV. Standing Still jumps 39–11 after his performance in Baku. Best entry not winning and not coming from Germany is surprisingly Ivi (eevie) Adamou and her song Lala Love. Her chart success is quite strange considering the fact that the German audience gave no point to her on the competition itself. Seems that people who vote are completely different to the people who buy songs. By the way the song charts in Austria and Switzerland as well–same picture here: no points within the voting on Eurovision but strong sales. Ivi Adamou is–as far as I could find out–the first Cypriot singer who can reach the German charts.

Runner up song Party For Everybody by the Бурановские Бабушки / Buranovskiye Babushki can enter the list easily. It starts chart life at number 44 as the third best non German participant–in the Eurovision voting the song got seven points meaning it landed at rank 4. It is the first time since 2007 that the Eurovision second can reach the sales charts. 5 years ago it was Ukrainian Verka Serduchka with Dancing Lasha Tumbai. There are some similarities between these two songs. With number 44 Party For Everybody is the highest second place since 1977 when Lynsey de Paul & Mike Moran reached number 4 with their song Rock Bottom (and became the secret winner of that year’s contest).

Further down one can find the Eurovision number 23 from Denmark. Soluna Samay got five points from the German voters. Her song Should’ve Known Better lands at number 51 as the fourth best sold Eurovision song. And of course also Irish JEDWARD can sell enough units for charting in Germany. On the votes the fan crowd was not strong enough (or was already done into bed)–the twins only made number 19. Eleftheria Eleftheriou from Greece at least got one single point from the German audience, lands at number 17 in Baku and sees her Aphrodisiac enter the sales charts at number 77. And finally Romanian Mandinga ending up 12th in Baku is sneaking into the charts at the very end with Zaleilah.

The big TV presence around the Eurovision show supports even bands that performed live before and right after the transmission. MIA. is the one that benefits the most seeing its Fallschirm (Parachute) jump 89–66 after the performance at the Reeperbahn live party.



Besides the big European TV event also other shows can again crowd up the charts with new material. But it is more the second row that can get attention. So let's call this week the week of the runner up singers. daniele negroni–the second of Deutschland sucht den Superstar–presents his debut album and a second single. Crazy is a surprisingly sparkling pop tune landing at number 15. So he's one of the very few runner ups who can really launch a second hit. Of course he had a big support by staging with his new song at the final show of DSDS Kids on 25th of May. Maybe he will become the real superstar of the season. The winning song of the DSDS season Don’t Think About Me this week is more sold in Daniele’s version than in the one of the winner Luca Hänni.



Also the runner up of X-Factor (do really somebody remember the show?) comes with an own single. Raffaela (formerly staging as Raffaela Wais) offers an electro infected pop track called Going Crazy. Also this production is surprisingly infecting. Having now the second song inside the German sales chart also Raffaela seems to be commercially more successsful than the winner David Pfeffer.




Back to Europe
In the week of Eurovision more European sound is new in the shelves–especially from Belgium. A new DJ and producer talent starts its way to international fame in the face of Laurent Wery who remixed a track for Swiftkid & DEV. That one brings him worldwide at the dancefloors and in the charts. Hey Hey Hey (Drop Another Bottle) is about party life. But in a much more simple way than most of similar dance productions. It is about pure fun, people look like people on the video and the sound is far away from over produced. I would call it even kind of oldschool. A big part of the crowd loves that. It starts chart life at number 27.



Last week Swedish singer Lykke Li launched their very first chart hit I Follow Rivers. The success was kind of a surprise. Right now the first cover version charts inside the Top 100. It is an unplugged version by Belgian rock band Triggerfinger. In its home country the band already achieved number 1. Now the band starts to take Germany as well. Number 58 is a good start I think.





The last story for today about a very specific German story. Everywhere in the world British/Irish boygroup One Direction tops the lists. In Germany? Nothing. The album Up All Night was available since February. Nobody cared. Now the label released a deluxe version especially for the German market which combines the CD with a DVD. Suddenly there is an interest. The album enters the album list at number 16 and lifts the single What Makes You Beautiful to a new peak. Number 65 is of course a very low peak. Probably the song suffers that lack of interest cause it is not available on youtube in Germany.

15-12: DSDS Returns To Power

It is only one week missing for Michel Teló and his hit Nooossaa! Ai Se Eu Te Pego! to match the all time record of being the longest running Number 1 hit in Germany coming from South America. This week the track rebounds to the top sum up its total to 10 weeks there.


After some weak episodes of recent DSDS season the casting show returns to old power. All of the significant moves at the top end of the list are somehow related to the show aired on 31st of March.

The strongest impact comes from a performance by contestant Daniele Negroni which generates an instant Top 5 hit. He staged with Forgive Forget–the recent single of Mando Diao side project CALIGOLA. It storms 26–4 giving the Swedish boys their second Top 10 hit in Germany after Dance With Somebody stalled at runners up position in 2009.

Highest new German production coming in at 13 is the new offering of cascada. Singer Natalie Horler one of the jurors of DSDS. Her dance project uses that advantage and is gonig to bring a new album in shops. Summer Of Love is the official single teaser. All in all it uses heavily well known dance formulas which makes the track a bit boring.



Although Summer Of Love is the highest new German track it is only the fourth most sold German productions. The small “invasion” of the last days emerged a strong presence at the top end of the survey led by Die Toten Hosen and their 30 anniversary single Tage wie diese (Days Like These) at number 6.

A big climber into the Top 20 is Gambling Man by Irish-British band The Overtones. It is used as the signet song for the new launched TV channel RTL Nitro. Right before the start of the channel the band performed on DSDS. As result the single jumps 30–16 in its second chart week.


Further stuff coming from Germany
UNHEILIG released the title track of the album Lichter der Stadt (Lights of the City) as full CD single. The song so far sneaked around as digital album cut. Now it jumps to number 31 in its third chart week. It is so far the second worst performing single of the band. Only the very first single An deiner Seite (On Your Side) released in 2008 before the big success of Geboren um zu leben ranked lower (position 49).

Sometimes it takes a little longer for gaining success. German-Swiss female duo BOY is the lates example of how a TV commercial campaign can bring broader attention. Theiy released their debut single Little Numbers back in September last year. It was highly anticipated by blogs and newspapers. A lot of people added the song to their playlists but the song never made it being a hit. It stalled at number 71 vanishing after four short weeks from the list. Instead the album Mutual Friends rose to number 9 inside the album charts. I guess that’s what one should call a good start. A few weeks ago German airline Lufthansa launched their new TV campaign linking the line with sweet owls and the sound of BOY. With airing the spot demand in the song rose again. Last week Little Numbers re-entered the list at 88 after an half year absence. This recent week the track climbs to number 71 matching the peak of last September.



The longest selling single of now is Sky And Sand by Paul & Fritz Kalkbrenner coming from the movie Berlin Calling. The track became kind of an anthem of recent club life and made the brothers popular even to a mainstream audience. Paul turned that stardom into a number 2 album last summer. Fritz seems much more being a single star. His instrumental club tune WES was spread to the floor last November. It took a long long way for reaching the masses. This recent week it starts officially its chart life entering the list at number 73. Besides the title track the full EP contains also a track called Layer Cake.



Probably the most successfull femal German star is Helene Fischer. So far she sold over 2 million albums, she got her own TV show and her wax copy was raised at Madame Tussauds Berlin in last November. The single for upcoming summer is Die Hölle morgen früh. The song starts at number 74. Usually that kind of Schlager sound disappears very fast.





A significant new European production comes from the singer of a-ha. Morten Harket releases a second album named Out Of My Hands which is in shelves right now. The single teaser Scared Of Heights was released two weeks ago. With bride TV promotion the single lands at number 48 which is the best solo ranking for the Norwegian singer so far.

10-12: UNHEILIG Is Back

Nothing new at the Top of the German singles charts: Brazilian Michel Teló holds the crown as Nooossaa! Ai Se Eu Te Pego! is the most sold single track for a sixth week now. In statistic terms it is now the longest running number 1 since New Age by Marlon Roudette that had an eight weeks hold at the Top spot back in September and October.

The story of the week is about the new offering coming fromUNHEILIG. So wie du warst (As You Were)–the pre-release to album Lichter der Stadt (Lights Of The City)–storms to Number 2 equalling the result of Geboren um zu leben that is still the most succesful single of the band and which is entering number 61 in its 99thchart week. That total of weeks narrowly misses to be the best result for a German song. Best German production counts this recent week 100 weeks–it is Sky And Sand by Paul & Fritz Kalkbrenner. And one song still has seven weeks more under his belt. It is Ein Stern (der deinen Namen trägt) by Austrian duet DJ Ötzi & Nik P. that so far holds the crown of most collected chart weeks. Let’s wait till the end of May–than that survey could be completely changed.

UNHEILIG is one of the most present German project of the recent decade. Only Berlin culcha candela appeared more often in the charts within the last two years. But UNHEILIG beats the dancehall ethno-group due to the fact that So wie du warst is already the fourth Top 10 hit. Only Lena Meyer-Landrut has had that much tracks inside the Top 10 in the past two years.

New single So wie du warst is a ballad where one is offering support and shelter for difficult situations. As mostly in the case of UNHEILIG there is a strong relation to the situation when people have to die–of course it is lyrically wrapped, so everybody can listen to the track singing along the lyrics and don’t felling disturbed.



By starting at number 2 So wie du warst is the most successful German track this week. Still at runner’s up position is surprisingly Ivy Quainoo and her Do You Like What You See outselling the new MIA. single Fallschirm (Parachute). That track announces the new album and it is bubbly pop celebrating the life and the fun of starting things again and again.



A certain big hit in the next future is Deichkind’s Leider Geil (Sorry, Wicked). So far the track is only available as an album cut. In it’s third week it reaches number 17. And finally a video was released plus the anouncement that Leider geil is the next official single of Deichkind. Probably the track will become the first Top 10 hit for the Hamburg quartet. So far Bück dich hoch (Stoop Up) holds at number 12 meaning Deichkind has two simultanous hits inside the Top 20.



All in all we find 22 German productions inside the Top 100. That is a comfortable situation.


Casting show hits and further TV related re-entries
February 25th the first live show of 2012 season of Deutschland sucht den Superstar (Germany Looks For The Superstar; German version on Idols) was aired. And of course it propells some tracks back up the list. Biggest gainer is The A Team originally recorded by Ed Sheeran.. On TV the big show favourite Luca Hänni from Switzerland performed the song which boosts the original 23–14. Two weeks ago the track already was propelled to number 9 for a single week after a performance of Ed Sheeran. at the final of The Voice of Germany.

Next favourites–at least for the semi-final– seem to be Dennis Richter and Jesse Ritch. Both convince the (female) audience by chosing romantic ballads. Dennis’ performed I Won’t Let You Go which lifts the original recording by James Morrison back in the list. It reaches number 54 in its 22nd chart week, back in October it surprisingly stalled at number 11 denying the singer a second Top 10 hit in Germany. Anyway it is the second biggest seller for the British singer.

Jesse chose a Number 1 hit from the year 2005. Let Me Love You was the only real hit for USAmerican MARIO. Believe it or not–the track only spent 15 weeks inside the charts in 2005. Such short careers were quite common 7 years ago. Now the song is back at number 66 in the list–certainly it will leave very soon again.

With much more rhythm and soul Daniele Negroni offered his version on Forget You / F**k You. The original recording by Cee Lo Green was a hit in 2010–it is back now at number 94. The only girl generating an instant re-entering hit was Fabienne Rothe who performed Just Hold Me originally recorded by Norwegian Maria Mena. The song was her biggest hit sneaking 52 weeks through the list. Now it clings on at number 95.


Casting shows are generating hits for teenies (and maybe some few twens)–Carmen Nebel does the same with her show for older ones. Last year she spotted on Andreas Gabalier who is now a well known act in Germany too. The show aired on 25th February featured the band Santiano from North Germany. A month ago they were totally unknown–meanwhile they have a Top 3 album launched. After their performance at the show also the title track Santiano enters the singles list. Number 76 is so far not the huge impact but one should take in account the full release of the CD single which is scheduled for March 23rd.




Mentioning hit making TV appearances this week a third show makes an impact. The new season of Die ultimative Chartshow (The Ultimate Chart Show) counted the most successful German male singer. German was probably ment as the language used for the lyrics. Winner according to the show is Austrian Falco, a week before it was Sarah Connor who was crowned as the most successful German female singer. In the show on 24th February Joachim Witt performed his hit Die Flut as the 19th most successful German singer–the recording enters the list after a two years pause at number 92.The singer now does have a 30 year long chart career. In 1982 he started with his Der goldene Reiter (The Golden Horseman). – Duetting partner on Die Flut Peter Heppner by the way has announced a new album for April.


Further releases from DE / CH and NL
Swiss Stefanie Heinzmann also is back with a new album. First single Diggin’ In The Dirt is available since February and enters at number 28. The song is one of her strongest. Unfortunately the big media hype is over and so the huge success keeps waiting in Germany. In her home country the single performs much better and is right after the start the second biggest success for her.



German gangster rap scene is very active these days. Of course Bushido and Sido are still the leading the pack in commercial terms. But there are almost every week another release from the crowd appearing. More or less the quantity of these recordings stalls somewhere in the downer regions of the charts. Though it is a sign of the popularity of the genre.

This week it is FLER accompanied by SILLA (more known as Godsilla) who offer the leading single to their new album Südberlin Maskulin II (South Berlin Male II). The single includes two tracks Bleib wach (Stay awake) and Pitbull. The new sound of the rappers includes some autotune effects and is slightly party oriented. Simultanously the lyrics become kind of softer. I never would call it mainstream or clever but there are some phrases modifying the well known macho attitude. Anyway it is music for a very narrow market. Starting at number 79 clearly underlines that fact.



Finally Dutch Bingo Players deliver the dance track of the week. Rattle is a club tune sneaking around for some months. It is available as a download track since end of January and now climbs into the list at number 91.


Last trivia on the chart: M.I.A is back with her only solo hit Paper Planes which reached number 76 in 2008. The new single Bad Girls so far did not chart. Will the year 2012 bring the big breakthrough for her?

09-12: Baku Contest at Carnival Season

Seems that Brazilian Michel Teló starts writing chart history. A fifth week at the Top makes Nooosssaa! Ai Se Eu Te Pego! the third most successful Number 1 hit coming from an act of South America. Only 2010 football anthem Waka Waka (This Time For Africa) and 2001 Whenever, Wherever–both recorded by Columbian Shakira–sold a longer span most copies in Germany. Equalling the 5 weeks run at the Top of predecessor Somebody That I Used To Know the survey repeats a situation last watched in summer 2010 when We No Speak Americano by Yolanda Be Cool & Dcup was the most sold track for seven weeks after dethroning six weeks queen Shakira and her (again) Waka Waka.


Biggest impact of the week was the final of die national selection casting for the Eurovision Contest. The two finalists are swashing up the list. It is Our Star For Baku winner Roman Lob who naturally performs better. He enters at Number 3 with his winning song Standing Still. It is a powerfull rock ballad–probably well done for the western Europe market. Whether the eastern part will catch fire …?



Also the two other songs presented at the final show are in the list. Alone lands at Number 42 and Conflicted at 51. Runner’s up at the show Ornella de Santis brings her three songs into the survey too. Best–of course–her pre-chosen track Quietly at 24. Alone stops at 69, Standing Still at 77.


Another Top 20 story: entering at number 6 with his new single Wild Ones Flo Rida is right now the most successful chart act at all. He has three singles inside the Top 20. His closest combatant still is Taio Cruz holding two singles inside the Top 20.


German releases:
The one and only truly new release in German comes from a rapper: KAY ONE–known as one of the pupils of Bushido–announces a second album. On the first lifted single a big name as duetting partner appears: Mario Winans. Both together confess I Need a Girl–it is already part 3 of the story. Certainly the need is very deep. Why it is so hard to find the right girl is answered in the song itself. KAY ONE ultimately says: “Most of the girls just wanna have my money. I need a girl without LV bag or Cavalli top.” – All that is offered within a luxury setting of champaign and Versace interior. Hmmm – KAY ONE needs luxury but his girl should abstain from all that blingbling? Wish him good luck for his search.



KAY ONE’s Austrian colleague RAF 3.0 tries a very similar way. His new album is out now–leading track Wie kannst du nur (How could you) reaches the single’s list by itself. It is a classic frustration speech of a macho who ditched his girlfriend for whatever reason. Of course there is no doubt left that the girl was the bad one. With number 91 Wie kannst du nur performes five places better than it’s first track Fallen four weeks ago.





This recent issue of the charts reflects sales between February 17th and 23rd–so it includes the peak time of carnival season. Due to that fact the German hit of the season Schatz, schenk mir ein Foto by Mickie Krause reaches a new peak with number 27. It is again 12 places higher than the week before . By the way the track reaches it in its 37th chart week which is the fourth longest run in chart history (counted by chart weeks).

A new hit arrives finally at number 56. Kasalla is a Cologne band founded by Florian Peil. Their Pirate (Pirates in Cologne dialect) is the first track from the debut album Et jitt Kasalla! (literally: It got trouble / more common: You’ll Be In Trouble)–as I found out the track wasn’t planned asa full single release. Probably that will change next season. Founder Florian Peil and band member Sevastian Wagner had two chart hits before with their band Peilomat. Their biggest success so far was Allemann (All Together) that climbed to number 26 in early summer 2008.



Cologne band BRINGS launches its 12th chart hit with latest single Dat is geil (It’s wicked). It is the title track of their last album released in 2011. 2010 hit halleluja also re-appears for a week at number 87.



Of course a carnival classics is back in the list too. Viva Colonia entered the list for the first time nine years ago. It reached its peak at number 20 in 2007. Now it is listed at number 96 again.



Finally I am kind of proud to tell you that the Grammys also have a (kind of tiny) influence on German music market too. Decorated with three awards L.A. based DJ and producer Skrillex enters number 100 with his tune Weekends!!!. Yeah, there is a small crowd enjoying dubstep sound in Germany. But I guess it will take a long long march till he is as popular as in the States. In Austria Skrillex yet has a first hit under his belt with Bangarang reaching number 25.

08-12: The Final of TVoG

It is the fourth week at the top for Michel Teló and his Nooosssaa! Ai Se Eu Te Pego! and probably it will stay for another week there as it is the biggest carneval party hit right now. Statistically we now have two consecutive singles spending at least a month at the top. The last time we whitnessed such a feat was back in late spring past year. Than back it was JLO feat. Pitbull spending five weeks at the top with On The Floor before German Superstar winner Pietro Lombardi hold the crown for four weeks with Call My Name.

At the runner’s up position the winner of The Voice of Germany lands. It is–you already know it–20 years old Ivy Quainoo. It might have surprised some fans due to the fact that none of her performances had charted before. Obviously she was kind of a sleeper overtaking all contestants with her amazing Do You Like What You See which is a great pop song at all. Honestly it could be the title song for any James Bond Movie. Her coaches–The BossHoss– doubtlessly did a good job. It’s really a pity that a casting winner song never has the chance of getting a real hit in Germany. Number 2 says everything. And the performance at iTunes after a week is ... devastating.



The four competitors of Ivy Quainoo also storm the list. Michael Schulte–the third on the show–can make it into the Top 10 too. His ballad Carry Me Home lands at a proper number 8. It is already his third chart entry. He also lifts British Ed Sheeran. into the Top 10. After he performed with the newcomer star the song The A Team at the final show the original single jumps to number 9 and the just released album + enters the album list at number 12.

I’m only allowed to embed the acoustic version of „Carry Me Home“ sung at a private radio channel –sorry!


Also the runner’s up on the show Kim Sanders can launch with her final song a third chart entry in 2012. As she had a career as a singer already Haunted is her eighth track at all that can reach the Top 100. By halting at number 13 it is so far her best performing song. I would add: it is really the best and most ambitious song she ever recorded.



Fourth candidate Max Giesinger performed a more rock oriented song, but obviously that style wasn’t the favourite one of the audience. Nearly 18% of votes was a clear result. Sales afterwards speak a different language. Dach der Welt (Roof Of The World) starts its chart life at number 14. (No video or soundclip available, sorry) His duet with Katie Melua gives the guest star a re-appearance of her hit Nine Million Bycicles at number 97. It’s the first time since Ovtober 2007 that the song can reach the charts.



The strong impact of the show and their appearance inside the Top 20 results in a complete number of six German productions in the upper fifth of the chart. Such a feat was last seen in late October the past year. The question is: How sustainably that German power can establish itself?

Having the four finalists in the list ain’t everything TVoG can achieve. Also two participants kicked off at the semi final a week before bring their own songs into the survey. The tracks were not available before the final show and of course all the attention spotted to the Big Four. Hence it is more than impressive watching Mic Donet flying to number 36 with Losing You. That result corresponds with the voting of the show–more than 56% wanted him to stay, coach Xavier Naidoo instead chose Max Giesinger. Maybe Mic Donet can attest himself as the really big winner of the show. Just let’s wait til all candidates have released their albums. So far Losing You is at least as strong as winning song Do You Like What You See. It’s soulful, packed with power and simply overwhelming.

The official recording is blocked at all platforms, so I can only refer to following beat remix by DJTabou


Second semi finalist having a chart hit with a personal song is Sharron Levy. Her version on Somebody That I Used To Know still is in the list, now Drowning can appear also. Starting its chart life at number 87 it certainly will disappear soon. Whether Sharron Levy will have a life as a (commercially successful) singer is still in question.




Well, the casting show was the big hitmaker of the week. But there are still some further action going on. Let’s have a last look back at the Top 10: Turn Me on is the next big hit for French DJ David Guetta. End of January new remixes were released, a few days later a proper video appeared on TV and internet and the full CD single is announced for March 9th. Meanwhile the track jumps 23–10 giving David Guetta his first Top1 0 hit in 2012 but his 11th within the past three years. He is so far the most successful chart act of the recent decade. Featured singer Nicki Minaj adds a third Top 10 hit to her account. Two of them she achieved alongside David Guetta. Since the start of February she additionally is the new face of the MAC Viva Glam campaign that collects money for some charity activities–probably she’s on the way to become a really big superstar.



The recent list reflects the time span starting February 10th ending February 16th. On February 11th a big star of the 80ies died. You already know about whom I’m talking–it is Whitney Houston. So we see five hits of her re-appearing in the list. Her best known and probably her signature song I Will Always Love You is also the one purchased by most people remembering her. The song originally recorded by country star Dolly Parton in 1974 became a hit for Whitney Houston in 1992/93 as the main title for the movie Bodyguard. It occupied the number 1 spot for six weeks in early 1993. Another song from the movie Run To You can appear at number 98 again this week.

Further down the list one can find also the (inofficial) anthem for the Olympic Games in 1988 One Moment In Time that made it for two weeks in October to number 1. The number 2 hit My Love Is Your Love from 1999 enters at number 64 and her latest chart track I Look To You released in 2009 appears once again at number 84.


Besides these top stories there are some German news yet left.
Rosenstolz offers a second single from their recent album Wir sind am Leben (We’re Alive). Lied von den Vergessenen (Song Of The Forgotten) tells about the ones besides the main society. The video reflects on migrant people in poorness but the lyrics are much more open so almost everyone can be a lonely, misunderstood and a forgotten one. The single comes as a double A side featuring also Wie lang kann ein Mensch tanzen? (How Long A Human Could Dance?)
If you’re located outside Germany you can watch the main video here. If not: the youtube/GEMA struggle is to be solved in court in April 2012–keep fingers crossed)

In the album list Hamburg based Deichkind shots to number 2 with their album Befehl von ganz unten (Order From Far Below). It is absolutely the best sold album of their whole 12 year long career. As an effect the track Leider geil (Sorry, Wicked) lands at number 38. Promised, that electro rap track will sweeten a lot of summer parties this year for sure.



Try the Decalicious Mix also



I warned you for several weeks of the approaching carnival season. Also this week we see some typical moves of very simple Schlager tracks. The winner this issue is Mickie Krause who sees his Schatzi, schenk mir ein Foto (Darlin’, Give Me A Photo) rises twelve places to number 39 reaching a new peak. So far the track peaked at number 40 in past summer as one of the big Mallorca party hits. Now in its 36th week at all the track counts as one of the slowest riser (if you refer to the weeks spent in the charts). Only four songs had a longer run before reaching their peak, Schöne Maid (Pretty gal) by Tony Marshall in 1972 had a 39 week climb, Belgian Vaya Con Dios needed 40 chart weeks and a remix by Milk&Sugar to rocket up to number 7 a year ago, the Christmas anthem Last Christmas by Wham! took 72 weeks before it peaked at number 4 in 2008 and finally Paul & Fritz Kalkbrenner saw their sleeping hit Sky And Sand appearing 83 times inside the charts to reach a number 29 in November 2011 as their highest rank ever achieved. Appeared for the first time in the list a year ago Schatzi, schenk mir ein Foto is kind of a fast riser–we’ve seen already three tracks this year reaching their peaks three years or more after their first entry.

Also cologne band HÖHNER. (Chicken) sets kind of personal records. Re-entering with Schenk mir dein Herz (Give Me Your Heart) and 6 bis 8 Stunden Schlaf (6 To 8 Hours Of Sleep) they right now appear for a 15th consecutive year in the charts. From all acts listed in 2012 so far only two have a longer unbroken presence in the charts. It is again Wham! with their seasonal anthem and singer Xavier Naidoo solo or as part of Söhne Mannheims. Both count 16 consecutive years of having at list one chart entry inside the German charts.

Finally also Tim Toupet sneaks again into the list with his So ein schöner Tag also known as Fliegerlied. The song was the hit of carneval season 2009–it attracts once again a lot of fools partying around these days.

07-12: Three Big News & A Lot Xavier Naidoo

One might call it longing for summer–the two most sold singles of the week carry a warm caribbean feeling. At number 1 still stands Brazilian Michel Teló and his Nooosssaa! Ai Se Eu Te Pego!. It is the third week at the top spot and now–after finishing the airing of Dschungelcamp–the track might loose a bit of its charme. On the other hand it is exactly now carnival time … Anyway Michel Teló is far and away the most successful male artist coming from South America. Only once a singer from there topped the charts in Germany. It was Juanes who did so in 2005 for a single week with his La Camisa Negra. Of course the most succesful act of the continent is Shakira having four number 1 hits under her belt so far.

The second “tropical” hit is new in the Top 10. It is Sean Paul who starts with his new single at runner’s up position. It is the fifth regular Top 10 hit (the sixth if you count the collaboration with Blu Cantrell in 2003) and the highest position ever for the Jamaican boy. And it is the highest entering track so far of the still young 2012. In Switzerland Sean Paul now sees his second number 1 hit in a row–seems that the new style of the star is attracting continental Europe much more than North America.

The biggest new start of a German production is provided by Silbermond (Silver Moon). Himmel auf (Heaven Open) is the leading single of upcoming same titled album. The video includes many statements of people what luck is meaning to them. A project reflecting the state of (East) German society. It gives the band a number 5 startwhich is the fourth time in an eight years long career that they can reach the Top 5.



Funny trivia at the upper end for the last of only three new entries in a week: Madonna sets her 60th chart hit with Give Me All Your Luvin’ landing at number 8. It is her 26th hit that can reach the Top 10 which equals the result of The Beatles. Only German Austrian Peter Alexander had more Top 10 hits–35 countied on him.


We only have three new entries but there are 12 songs re-entering the charts. A whole bunch is caused by the release of Xavier Naidoo’s best of album Danke fürs Zuhören (Thank You For Listening). It starts right at number 1 on the album’s list and simultanously his biggest hits swap back into the list. Best selling and most loved single track is ich kenne nichts (das so schön ist wie du) (I Don’t Know Anything That is Beautiful As You Are)–the former number 1 collaboration with rapper RZA from 2003 which a month ago attracted a new audience after the singer presented it at the TVoG show. Ich kenne nichts actually jumps back up the list 90–36 in its 41st chart week. The longest running hit of Xavier Dieser Weg (This Path) re-appears as the second most loved track at number 69 collecting an 80th chart week. His last Top 10 hit Alles kann besser werden (All Can Get Better) from 2009 is also back at 85 and his very first big hit Sie sieht mich nicht (She Doesn’t See Me) from 1999 can manage a re-appearance at number 96. At the very end of the list lands Was wir alleine nicht schaffen (What We Can’t Make Alone) finally.


As usual some casting show related hits are back in the list. This recent week it is the new season of Deutschland sucht den Superstar (DSDS) (Germany’s version of Idols) that grabs the crown of being the most influental to the list. On recall number 2 Luca Hänni, Jesse Ritch, Robin Lau and Thomas Pegram had performed Lighters–last year’s hit for Bad Meets Evil. As the DSDS marketing is slightly different than the one of TVoG the performed versions are not available as download tracks. Fans have to buy the original recording. And they do. Lighters re-appears in th elist at number 46.

A further DSDS hit was promoted by Jana Skolina. She propels A Night Like This by Caro Emerald back to number 52. It is already chart week number 49.


The semi final of The Voice of Germany on February 3rd only can launch two direct hits. Nena’s Liebe ist (Love Is) re-appears after she performed it in the show and the biggest hit of British The Verve–Bitter Sweet Symphony–appears back at number 95 after Max Giesinger and Mic Donet (both favourites at that time) duetted the song on the show. Of course one have to count Rolling In The Deep too. It was performed by Michael Schulte and Jasmin Graf and can make a little rise 43–35 afterwards. Also the signature song Heroes/Helden by the complete coaching team is back at number 76


Finally thecasting show for Eurovision Song Contest Unser Star für Baku (Our Star For Baku) launches a hit. At the fourth show final winner Roman Lob staged with Drops Of Jupiter originally recorded by USAmerican train. After that performance the song can climb back into the list at number 83.



And there is carnieval season knocking at the door visibly through the rise of typcal Schlager hits. Austrian Andreas Gaballier reaching number 30 with i sing a liad für di and the version by DJ Ötzi also climbs back up the list taking a break now at number 41. I guess these both tracks will rise much further the next days. Classic party tracks such as Alexandra Stan’s Mr. Saxobeat also benefit from the so called fifth season rising 88–73 again.

06-12: TVoG still spills the charts

Michel Teló stands as the number one star with his anthem Nooosssaa! Ai Se Eu Te Pego! for a second week.

The big impacts once again are brought by The Voice of Germany. Two weeks before the final the power of the show is still unbeaten.

Bouncing back into the Top 10 and reaching a new peak at number 6 Troublemaker by Taio Cruz benefits heavily from his appearance on the show on January 27th. He opened the Live Show number 5 with all twelve contestants that were in the race back than.

Coach and juror Rea Garvey launched his new single two weeks before the final and of course he was performing the song Colour Me In on the show too. As a result the single flies to number 12–the highest rank Rea Garvey could achieve as an solo-artist ever. And the highest since his band Reamonn reached number 6 in 2008 with Through The Eyes Of A Child. Of course once he was (unofficially) credited for a number 1 hit when his voice appeared on a version of All Good Things (Come To An End) with Nelly Furtado that was available in Germany on the single CD as a bonus track.



Best performing candidate from the show was surprisingly Sharron Levy. The Israel native staged with the number 1 hit Somebody That I Used To Know turning it into an rock driven ballad that brings her a number 26. Maybe that’s the start of an career besides a big major deal.



All others from the show end further down. Kim Sanders–finally the runner’s up finalist–sets her second show entry as number 54. Empire State Of Mind (Part II) was a sleeping hit originally recorded by Alicia Keys. It reached number 35 back in 2010 and spent so far 48 weeks inside the charts. Of course that version is back in the list too. It comes in short of Kim Sanders’ take at number 58. Part I featuring JAY-Z & Alicia Keys together re-appears at 84.

Third at the end–third two weeks before the final contestant Michael Schulte seems to be one of the most constant participants on the show. He performed Video Games still at number 3 in the version of Lana Del Rey. His take can reach number 66 giving him a second chart entry.



Behnam Moghaddam was a big aspirant for the final until he performed Eleanor Rigby as an explosive rock piece which made coach Xavier Naidoo shooting him off the show. A lot of fans were shocked according to many sites and forums–commercially the take on the well known tune of The Beatles ranks at number 75–indeed a weak result for Behnam. The song itself had a hidden chart life in 1966. Officially the track was released in combination with Yellow Submarine as a double A side single in Germany too. The official charts list only Yellow Submarine although.

A very similar story can be told about Percival–the second big aspirant. He staged Beautiful on the show January 27th. The song made famous by Christina Aguilera reached number 4 in Germany in 2003. The version of Percival is much more a rough ballad. Coach Rea Garvey was not really convinced–neither was the audience. Beautiful stucks at number 77.




Best CD start without TV show support comes from Marlon Roudette. His Anti-Hero (Brave New World) was available before as digital single and now jumps 19–7 with physical sales counting.

German Deichkind is back. After the release of their last album Arbeit nervt (Work Sucks) producer Sebi Hackert died and there was a uncertainty about the further existence of the project. Fortunatly the guys decided to continue. Bück dich hoch (Stoop Up) is the pre-release from upcoming album Befehl von ganz unten (Order From Down Below) – it continues the story of Arbeit nervt forcefully. In my opinion it critisizes actual politics and financial crisis in a much smarter way than other pop products try to do. Starting its chart life at number 17 after released online the single is so far the second best performing of Deichkind and only the second to reach the Top 20. 12 years ago they managed to do so with their chart debut Bon Voyage.



Supported by the release of their twelfth album named simply Volume 12 The Disco Boys see their cover of Around The World rising to number 31.

Also the winner of Das Supertalent 2011 Leo Rojas offers an album. Spirit Of The Hawk storms the album list at number 2. Leading single Ele condor pasa (only available digitally) can enter the singles list at 82. The tune became popular in 1970 when Simon & Garfunkel added some lyrics and recorded that version. It entered the Number 1 in Germany for 7 weeks and ended as the most sold single of the year. The same year a few instrumental versions charted also–most known probably the one of Facio Santillan that reached number 9 in September 1970.



Last new entry is the new single of De Randfichten (The edge spruces). They try to get some attention in carneval season with Du kleine Fliege (You, little fly). It is a very simple song for drunken people who love singing stupid lyrics while drinking more … Number 96 is the result so far.




In The end let’s tell you about the strangest chart move of the week at last: Wiz Khalifa drops back 91–71 with his hit Black And Yellow for what reason ever. I can’t explain but I like it.

05-12: German Dark Pop, Hard Pop & Hip Hop

After two weeks at the runner’s up position football related Nooosssaa! Ai Se Eu Te Pego by Brazilian Michel Teló can gain the chart crown. It took the track eight weeks to become the most sold single in Germany. It probably is connected with the start of the second half of the Bundesliga that had its first match on January 20th.
Michel Teló is the first artist from Brazilia to reach number 1 in Germany.

The list is speeding up. There are 15 new entries inside. That’s a feat las seen late November past year.

The highest new entry is a download only single. Finally a major company has the beef promoting two British super acts in Germany too. I’m talking ’bout Olly Murs feat. Rizzle Kicks and their hit Heart Skips A Beat. Both are big names in the UK – why did SONY wait so long marketing they to continental Europe? Anyway – Heart Skips A Beat seems to be the first huge hit for 2012. The proper CD release is scheduled for right now.

New in the Top 10 and finally becoming really stars The BossHoss harvest their media presence on the show The Voice of Germany. As coaches and part of the jury they presented actual single Don’t Gimme That on January 20th. As an effect the song jumps 18–8 and it is the very first single climbing that high. Of course The BossHoss grab the crown of being the best sold German act this week.



Following the appearance of German productions culcha candela just misses out the Top 10–their Wildes Ding (Wild Thing) lands at number 11 in its third chart week. – Still inside the Top 20 Udo Lindenberg feat. Clueso see their take on the song Cello as the third most sold German track. It is now the 12th chart week and certainly the duo will slide down continously next weeks.

The best new German track comes in at number 29. It is the new single of Eisblume (Frosting – in German language it is very poetic–literally translated: flower of ice). In 2009 the band had its breakthrough with Eisblumen that rose to number 3. After a three years break the band is back. The sound changed hardly. The first single Für immer (Forever) uses a well known melody–it is YIRUMA’s piano tune River Flows In You that reaches the German charts now for a third time. Taking in account the heavy advertising for the single on TV rank 29 is kind of disappointing. It matches the result of the third single release from predecessor album Unter dem Eis (Under The Ice). Probably the band has to re-invent itself a little more next time.



Eisbrecher (Icebreaker) is back with new single and album. Two years ago they made their singles charts’ premiere with Eiszeit (Ice Age) for a lonely week. The same titled album performed much better giving the band its first Top 10 position ever. Now a new album is scheduled and the single Verückt should work as an appetizer. It is New German Hardcore at its best–the video comments actual financial crisis. Number 43 in its first chart week might show several people’s agreement on Eisbrecher’s analysis of the society.



One of the most active German artists of the past years launches a second hit from the soundtrack of his recent movie Blutzbrüdaz. I’m talking ’bout SIDO. For recording of Hol doch die Polizei (Go For The Police) he collaborated with B-Tight. It is the 9th track this decade that could chart and sees SIDO somehow involved. It is also one of the weaker ones–in chart terms. Lyrically it is once again ’bout being criminal caused by social circumstances. Raising up as a poor kid means one can’t blame on you but you can have a lot of fun. As always SIDO tells the story as part of his own ghetto legend. So take it for fictional …



Sido actually is very visible in Austria leading there the TV casting Sido macht Band (Sido makes band). One of the coaches in the show is Austrian Nazar. His recent single Fallen (alongside Austrian RAF 3.0) reaches the list at the very end. It is number 96 now.




Back to upcoming German stars: Behnam Moghaddam won’t be The Voice of Germany. He was kicked out on January 27th at the end of the fifth live show. A week before that the audience voted him for staying in the show after performing the song Hurt which was a small hit in the version of Johnny Cash. Originally the song was written and recorded by Nine Inch Nails. Johnny Cash later made the song popular. In commercial terms it was only the second single of the country legend that could reach the German list. Number 82 in 2003–that it was. In September 2010 the recording re-appeared for a single week in the list after airing of a TV documentary on Johnny Cash. Leona Lewis recorded a version at the end of last year becoming a Top 10 hit in Britain and Ireland. Now the song also catches (commercial) fire in Germany. Behnam Moghaddam can launch his version at number 31 on digital sales. He is the second best performing candidate so far in chart terms–of course the picture will change in a few days completely. Johnny Cash benefits from the casting show post mortem also. His version of Hurts re-enters the list at number 68–it is the highest rank the recording ever achieved.



Also Percival was kicked off the show on January 27th–a very emotional statement followed in the yellow press. Well, the week before the American singer was one of the big favourites of the audience. His version on Seven Nation Army enters the list at number 45. The song itself had an delicate chart career. When it was first released as a single in 2003 it became a hit in Britain only–German youth radio and music TV loved the song too and it became a kind of independent hit but never reached the commercial charts. The track-–more precise the guitar riff–became popular by its use during football matches. Finally the song was used as team entry anthem at European Championship 2008 in Austria and Switzerland. Then finally the song charted in German speaking countries reaching number 3 in Switzerland and number 4 in Germany. It is the one and only charted hit for the White Stripes in Germany.



A real hot candidate for the win and actually qualified for the final singer Kim Sanders can enter the charts for the first time with an song performed in the show. Of course Kim Sanders is the most experienced candidate of the whole season having already five chart hits under her belt. Additionally she was the voice of dance project Culture Beat in 1998/99 when she achieved three more (uncredited) chart hits. Now she appears with the song Killing Me Softly With His Song that she performed on January 20th and is landing at position 57. It is so far the second highest rank a song can reach crediting her name.



For the first time Killing Me Softly With His Song entered the German charts in 1973 when Roberta Flack released a version on single. It became a huge hit in the version of The Fugees in 1996 when it held for nine weeks the number one spot. The version of Kim Sanders is the third that can enter the German charts.

Last of the actual candidates (and also kicked off at the semi final) who can launch a hit is Jasmin Graf. She sang Stark (Powerful) at the show. The original is well known through German project Ich + Ich that brought the song to number 2 in 2007. Now the tune has a short appearance at number 76 again.




A former casting contestant also is again in the list. Sebastian Wurth – fifth at last year’s DSDS can launch a second hit. With that feat he is commercially the third successful act of last year’s season. The really big career is still missing.




A short look at one new European track entering the list. INNA finally hits the German charts with her track Club Rocker. It is the remix version featuring Flo Rida which is available for a few weeks. As in her home country and in France the track so far can not continue the success she had with her predecessors.

03-12: Hits Made By TVOG

A casting show blows several hits in the single’s charts. We do have 13 new entries – 12 of them are related to the show in question. The 13th hit also has support by a TV series. If there were no TV the music industry would still sleep.

And this recent week shows impressively how stars are made. It’s not about clever songwriting or performing in an unbelievably cool way. Not at all. It is all about BEING performed in a casting show. That’s the way how German singer songwriter Philipp Poisel became popular. He had his first success with single and album Wo fängt dein Himmel an? (Where does your heaven start?) in 2008. In 2010 he had even more success mainly albumwise. In October his single Eiserner Steg (Iron [Landing] Stage) made the first significant impact to the charts after prominently provided by the German movie What a Man. But still – number 21 was the end of the line. Now – after that same track was performed by Benny Fiedler at casting show The Voice of Germany – the tracks jumps 100–4 giving the original artist his first appearance at the very top of the single’s list. Simultanously the version of Benny Fiedler is entering the list at number 25 too. It is the first time in German TV and music history that the versions recorded at the show are available officially as a single track. I guess it will change the drive of the show dramaticly as everybody knows right now who is the big favourite of the casting. In the case of TVOG it is Benny Fiedler. How do the fans of other contestants react right now? And is it really about the good voice that one is crowned? Or just a simple act of mobilizing a lot of people via web2.0 applications? – Certain is the fact that the original artist profits much more of an performance than the contestant itself. Comparing both it is hard to decide which one is the more heartful.

The original by Philipp Poisel and the version by Benny Fiedler


Meeting Philipp Poisel at number 4 marks the end of an seven weeks abstinence of German songs in the Top 5. The last seen that high was Rammstein’s Mein Land at the end of November.

Same story for a song that is famous already but never made it into the German charts. I’m talking ’bout radiohead’s debut Creep which was a Top 10 hit in the United Kingdom in 1992. In the Friday issue of the show Michael Schulte sang the song. His version enters the charts at number 62 – 12 ranks above him the original comes in and gives British Radiohead their highest place ever reached in Germany. It is only their fourth track that can hit the German charts – the last one appeared eight years ago. So this is the very first come back of the year – caused by a casting show.

I guess you all know the original – this is the version from the show


The show enabled a lot of other tracks to enter the charts (again). Sorted by popularity Ich kenne nichts (das so schön ist wie du) (I Don’t Know Anything (As Beautiful As You)) is the big gainer. The track was performed by Xavier Naidoo and his candidates during the voting. The original recording from 2003 was number one for a single week in June that year. According to different sources the track collected already 29 to 36 chart weeks – actually it had several chart runs since it’s original appearance and probably is one of Xavier Naidoo’s signature tracks. Last time it was seen in the lists was back in 2010 when it had a four weeks run reaching number 47. Now it re-enters at an impressing number 20 – the highest rank since its first chart run in 2003.

Rea Garvey opened the show one day later with his candidates by performing his recent hit Can’t Stand The Silence. As an effect the single jumps back up the charts 69–46 in its 18th chart week.

The performance at TvoG: Ich kenne nichts Team Xavier / Can’t Stand The Silence Team Rea


10 of the 24 contestants can reach a rank in the charts. Leading the pack is – as I told before – Benny Fiedler at 25. Percival and Behnam Moghaddam follow with their takes on Hedonism originally recorded by Skunk Anansie in 1997 and The Sound Of Silence. The first one was the only proper hit for Skunk Anansie. Now it comes in at 40 in the new version. The Sound Of Silence was a hit for Simon & Garfunkel in 1966 when it reached number 9. The song is back at number 41.



Further contestants arriving: at 70 Max Giesinger with the Coldplay song Fix You – originally released in 2005 reaching number 65 back then. Mic Donet performed Ain’t No Sunshine and gives the famous song its second chart appearance of all time. Only once in 1998 the US American band 4 the Cause brought its version into the list at number 52. The original by Bill Whiters never charted in Germany. Rüdiger Skoczowsky had to leave the show after his first live performance – the audience loved his version of Without You anyway. It can enter at number 80 – the original by David Guetta feat. USHER still holds at number 16.

The most loved girl/woman of the two shows was Jasmin Graf. Her version on Wovon sollen wir träumen climbs to number 81 – the more pop oriented original by Frida Gold already is 41 weeks in the charts rising softly 55–51 this week. Seeing the ladies entering only at the end of the survey underlines the old rule: Gents are the big deal in casting shows – they do have tons of female fans who spend money on downloads and whatsoever and they love to call several times for their adored idol. The male audience is much more reserved. They probably would go crazy airing a soccer casting.

Katja Friedenberg also is in the charts. Her interpretation of Adele’s Turning Tables stops at 86 – probably she was disadvantaged by choosing an almost unknown song. We will watch her in one weeks time.

The last candidate who turns into a chart act is Dominic Sanz. He performed With Or Without You known in the version by Irish U2. Like Rüdiger Skoczowsky also Dominic Sanz had to leave the show – probably his chart career ends before it really started with a number 98 rank.
Please find the videos of all the performances at the official TvoG-Site

Of course not only the songs of the candidates made a remarkable impact to the survey. Also the songs presented in between got a small push. The new Snow Patrol single This Isn’t Everything You Are enters after the band performed in the show. Coming in at number 52 it isn’t the really big start. So a performance in the show isn’t an immediately given hit. That had to accept Söhne Mannheims too. They performed – including juror Xavier Naidoo their latest single hit Für dich (For You) – only clinging on at number 65.


The only new entry not related with The Voice of Germany this week is culcha candela’s new single Wildes Ding (Wild Thing). It lands at number 12. If there were only one person left finding the Berlin multicultural band innovative – this recent release should immmediately stop that kind of ideas. The track is a proper hit produced single lending all the key catchers of past hits – in the end you listen to a softened version of Atzen Pop successful a year ago. The lyrics are about the male dreams of a perfect woman. And – surprise surprise – it is a princess that turns into a vamp at night. No wonder the track was chosen for being the title track of just started TV show Dschungelcamp which has unbelievably high rates.

At the very top there is nothing new. Gotye stands a fourth week there. Somebody That I Used To Know is the first single since Rihanna’s We Found Love that does so. Of course Rihanna took three runs at Number 1 for collecting four weeks. The last song holding at least four consecutive weeks as the best sold single was New Age by Marlon Roudette in autumn past year.
Michel Teló is still on the rise with his Nooosssaa! Ai Se Eu Te Pego! gaining 3 places and stopping at number 2. Will the football anthem reach number 1 in teh next days? According to most recent iTunes lists it will. That might be the first Brazilian number 1 in Germany.

With the invasion of German artists the density of German productions at the upper end increases. We do have four German productions inside the Top 20 – that sounds much, although back in October there were four porductions alone inside the Top 10. Right now there is a strong demand in songs in German. The four German songs inside the Top are sung in German – end of october we’ve seen a similar presence but none of the tracks were inside the Top 10.

German language always has a heighth when Après Ski season is coming up – meaning we face the usual stupid hits sneaking through the charts. This week Markus Becker enters the list with a rework of his last single Heli-Heli Helikopter. For the Après Ski version Markus Becker invited Austrian Marco Mzee of The Mountain Brothers to join him. The new version can be found at number 67 – the video might show you what the party is about.

Beste CD-Starts der Woche: K'NAAN, Adam Lambert, Die Fantastischen Vier

Laut Pressemitteilung von media control, starten in dieser Woche gleich drei CD-Neuerscheinungen mit Platzierungen in den Top 10. An erster Stelle – natürlich – K’NAAN mit seiner Fußball-WM-Hymne Wavin’ Flag. Fußball-Songs sind in gewisser Weise eine besondere Kategorie und meist sowieso über Kritik erhaben. Sie müssen funktionieren, indem sie einen hohen Wiedererkennungseffekt haben, in Massen-Situationen zünden und am besten auch noch einen möglichst mitsingbaren Refrain haben. Das hat in der Vergangeheit dann häufiger auch dazu geführt, dass diese Hymnen mit einem gehörig volkstümlichen Charakter daherkamen: Hauptsache mitgrölen und besinnungslos auf der Stelle hopsen können …

In den letzten Jahren hat sich da allerdings eine besondere Wendung ergeben, oder sagen wir besser: ein neuer Farbton hat sich dazugesellt. Ich würde sagen, spätestens seit der WM 2006 gehört zum Leitthema des Großereignis auch ein irgendwie völkerverbindendes, ethnohaftes Element. Herbert Grönemeyer holte sich deshalb Amadou & Miriam aus Mali an seine Seite; 2008 zur Euro 2008 gab es mit Shaggy feat. Trix & Flix ein nicht minder weltumspannendes Exotik-Feeling. Natürlich, die alte Variante mit Massenbegeisterung und Stadiongefühl gibt es ebenfalls noch, auffallend ist der Trend dennoch. Besonders da in diesem Jahr nun der erste Titel mit Verbindung zur WM genau diesem Schema wieder folgt. K’NAAN stammt laut wikipedia aus Somalia, lebt aber seit 20 Jahren in Kanada. In der Vergangeheit war er besonders aktiv im Umfeld humanitärer Aktionen. Jetzt ist er dem Ruf des coca cola-Konzerns gefolgt und nutzt die Chance für globale Medienpräsenz. Wavin’ Flag ist somit wenig verwunderlich der beste CD-Neustart der Woche. Und wenn man den digitalen Läden glauben darf, erscheint demnächst eine weitere Version (featuring Fefe) und mich würde nicht wundern, wenn da in wenigen Wochen nicht auch noch besondere Mixe und Abmischungen zu haben wären. Mit allergrößter Wahrscheinlichkeit entert K’NAAN in sehr naher Zukunft ohnehin den Spitzenplatz der Charts, bei iTunes ist dies ja seit nunmehr zwei Wochen schon der Fall.

Neustarter Nr.2 ist seit etwa der gleichen Zeit ebenfalls sehr gut in den iTunes-Charts zu finden, hatte einfach einen eher verhaltenen Start und landet so auch in der eher physikalisch geprägten media control-Liste ganz knapp hinter K’NAAN. Die Rede ist von Adam Lambert, Zweiter der letztjährigen American Idol-Staffel. Bisher hatte das US-amerikanische Pendant zu DSDS hierzulande kaum Auswirkungen, auch wenig Interesse. Lediglich die Siegerin der ersten Staffel Kelly Clarkson konnte sich dauerhaft einen Namen machen. Für Jordin Sparks, Siegerin im Jahr 2007, brauchte es zunächst mal ein Duett mit Chris Brown (No Air), ehe sich auch drei ihrer Solo-Titel in den Jahren 2008/09 den Weg zu ein paar mehr Hörer_innen in Deutschland bahnten. Mittlerweile ist es aber auch um sie schon wieder reichlich still geworden. – Warum das amerikanische Format hier nicht so richtig einschlägt, lässt sich vielleicht mit den streng geteilten TV-Märkten erklären. Die Superstars oder Casting-Bands leben ganz wesentlich durch ihre mediale Präsenz. Wir können sie über eine recht lange Zeit begleiten, erleben mit ihnen Höhen und Tiefen, wir haben Anteil und die Stars werden ein Teil unseres Lebens. Darin funktionieren alle Casting- und Talente-Shows gleich. Und das ist auch der ganz wesentliche Reiz und Grund für ihren Erfolg: Emotion. Wenn ich die Show aber nicht mitverfolge, dann bleibt eben nur noch das musikalische Resultat: die Stimme, die Melodie, die Produktion. Egal ob die nun am Ende besonders ausgetüftelt oder nachlässig daher kommt – die Gesamtkombination muss schon einigermaßen außerordentlich sein, um zum Hit zu werden, denn – geben wir es ruhig zu – von diesen Produktionen und Acts gibt es so viele … da höre ich doch ziemlich schnell weg, wenn es nicht irgendetwas gibt, das mich sofort fesselt. Und das wissen offensichtlich auch die Labels. Sie investieren dementsprechend lieber in die nationalen Shows und Acts, bevor sie sich mit unvorhersehbaren Produktionen eindecken und eventuell sogar noch finanzielle Flops landen.

Das einzig krude an dieser sonst gut nachvollziehbaren Haltungist, dass sich trotz aller sonstigen Globalisierung und Gleichschaltung die nationalen Musikmärkte extrem voneinander abkoppeln. Dazu kommen dann noch die unterschiedlichen Handhabungen in Sachen Urheber- und Leistungsschutz – et voilá: das was in Großbritannien ein Riesenhit ist, kann in Deutschland zum Beispiel völlig unbekannt bleiben. Der rumänische Top-Hit aus Frankreich, spielt in Norwegen gar keine Rolle usw. Gerade mal, dass noch die deutschsprachigen Länder so halbwegs aneinander gekoppelt sind – zumindest hat der große Bruder Deutschland es gut im Griff seine Formate auch in der Schweiz und Österreich zu vermarkten. Umgekehrt sieht es da ja schon wieder ganz anders aus.

Lange Rede, kurzer Sinn – mit qualitativer Musik (oder auch mit Hitqualitäten – was immer das heißt) hat der Musikmarkt nur am Rande was zu tun. Eher ist es ein Resultat gezielten Marketings. Dass dann trotzdem immer wieder mal Spontanhits auftauchen und den Weg zu Massenruhm schaffen, ist wunderbar.

Adam Lambert allerdings – um mal wieder auf den Ursprung zurück zu kommen – wäre vermutlich ohne großangelegte Strategie ebenfalls in der Unbekanntheit versunken. Aber, die Leute bei Sony sind natürlich nicht dumm – Adam Lambert ist sozusagen für den deutschen Markt wie geschaffen. Beim ersten kurzen Blick auf das Cover fällt auch auf, warum. Der Junge passt genau in die Tokio Hotel-Nische, in der das Original im Moment nicht mehr so ganz 100% das an Erfolg abwirft, was es könnte. Auch musikalisch gibt es genügend Berührungspunkte: rockige Attitüde, trotzdem nicht zu weit vom Pop-Markt entfernt. Whataya Want From Me gehört sozusagen auf den mp3-Players jedes weiblichen Teenagers. Das er außerdem auch noch der erste offen schwule Superstar aus den USA ist (zumindest der erste, der von Beginn seiner Karriere an nichts anderes behauptet hat), das ist ja dann sogar noch ein bisschen extra süß. Jetzt bleibt dann nur noch zu beobachten, wie dauerhaft der Erfolg ist. Zunächst steht zu vermuten: neue Gesichter verkaufen sich erstmal besser – und nur Teenie-Pop ist es am Ende auch nicht.

Der dritte CD-Neustart dieser Woche ist ärgerlich. Nicht, dass ich Die fantastischen Vier blöd finden würde. Ganz im Gegenteil. Aber lasst euch mal folgende Geschichte erzählen: Ich erfahre also von der neuen Single Gebt uns ruhig die Schuld, den Rest könnt ihr behalten, ich freu mich und surf grad los um mal zu hören wie das Teil so klingt. Bei iTunes, amazon und Konsorten kann ich in 30 Sekunden-Snippets reinhören. Naja, das ist schon mal ganz possierlich, aber was weiß ich schon? Da sind ja mindestens noch 3 Minuten Sound drumrum … Also segel ich weiter zur nächstbesten Videoplattform, wir kennen alle den Marktführer, und dort: „Dieses Video enthält Material, welches der Firma SONY gehört.“ Ähm, ok, ja, ich wollt’s ja nur mal kurz hören. Und überhaupt, hatten die Fanta 4 nicht mal extra ihr eigenes Label gegründet, um unabhängig zu sein und eventuell genau so was zu verhindern? Is sowieso komisch, denn der Account läuft genau auf den Fanta4 Namen, aber gut, das kann ja wohl jeder so anmelden. Dann find ich in der Tube einne Reihe von Verarschungen und Remix-Zerstückelungen. Interessiert mich jetzt aber grad nich so, ich will ja erstmal das Original hören. Ein Video macht eine putzige Weiterleitung zu tape.tv … immerhin, da könnte ich es in ganzer Länge hören … wenn meine Leitung schnell genug wäre. Aber ich sitz grad in der Pampa mit zu Fuß-Anschluss und höre immer nur 10 Sekunden Sound – Rebuffering – 10 Sekunden Sound – Rebuffering … Auch eine coole Version des Titels. Wiederholen geht auch nicht ganz so einfach … die Tube hat’s da irgendwie doch besser drauf. Ganz ehrlich. Nächste Anlaufstelle: die Homepage der Künstler selber. Auch dort … nicht der ganze Song, und Streaming-Probleme wegen zu schwacher Datenübertragungsrate. Ich verlier allmählich die Lust und auch das Interesse an dem Titel. Letzter Versuch: vimeo – da gibt es auch ne Version, versehen mit einem Hometape-Video. Naja … is gar nich so schlecht, nur einfach nicht, das was ich gesucht habe. Und der Sound ist auch eher dürftig. – Also, was mache ich: ich höre weiter das was ich kriegen kann. Zum Beispiel Sebastian Tellier … is eh viel cooler.

PS: Schlaumeier sagen natürlich – mensch, der Titel läuft doch im Radio und TV hoch und runter. Kann sein, aber das Radioprogramm halt ich nich aus, soll ich mir wirklich 5 bis 10 Stunden Müll reinziehen um einmal die Fanta 4 zu erwischen? Und MTV + VIVA … naja, scheiß Shows und Soaps … nee nee …

Die Fantastischen Vier sind trotzdem der beste deutsche Act, der in dieser Woche startet und landen laut media control auf Platz 10 des Single-Rankings. Schön. Sie waren sogar fast auf den Tag genau vor zwei Jahren das letzte Mal bei media control platziert – auch ne schöne Zahl. Und es ist überhaupt der erste Top 10-Erfolg seit 2004. Erstaunlich. Ich bin trotzdem irgendwie sauer … vielleicht nicht auf die Jungs, aber mal wieder auf das Business. – Ich hoffe ihr hattet bessere Erfahrungen.

Ach ja – was ich dann schon finde, und was wirklich nützlich ist: es gibt genügend Anleitungen, wie ich meine IP-Adresse faken kann und nicht mehr als jemand erkannt werde, der sich von Deutschland aus einwählt. Und schon kann ich auch die Fanta 4 in voller Schönheit und Länge bewundern. Und jetzt nach ein paarmal hören hab ich tatsächlich Bock, mir auch noch die CD in echt zu kaufen. Wenn sie optisch was hermacht …

Nochmal PPS: bei amazon gibt es jetzt doch den kompletten Videoclip zum anschauen – super – es ist nicht alles blöd auf dieser Welt. Warum nur auf amazon ist auch relativ schnell klar … wem gehört dieser Laden eigentlich?