Feb 10th 17: Ed Sheeran Under Pressure

First Ed Sheeran gains the crown a fifth week with Shape Of You. So far the list seems stable and quiet. As long as we don't look at #2. There the signature song of the second Fifty Shades Of Grey movie jumps. I Don't Wanna Live Forever (Fifty Shades Darker) is the highest peaking release of both artists involved so far. ZAYN had his highest appearance a year ago with his solo debut Pillowtalk peaking at #5 (and immediately dropping out of the top10 the next week)–well as part of the Band Aid 30 cast he had a disguised #2 visit in the end of 2014 already. Taylor Swift herself really never touched the top 3 before. Her best selling single Shake It Off peaked at #5 for three weeks in autumn 2014. With her ninth chart entry she finally can come close to real chart honours.
The growing interest for the song comes exactly a week before the movie is in cinemas. Just today it is released–so there might some trouble take place at the very top of the charts.

At #9 a new entry inside the top 10 arrives with a 21 places jump. It is Steady 1234 and it brings Jasmine Thompson a third time to top 10 status. Again she appears as featured artist alongside the US-American producer VICE. She already has a #1 hit under her belt with 2015 massive hit Ain't Nobody (Loves You Better). Her solo releases did not catch any fire–the best selling Adore only managed to reach a #91 in 2014.

Again it is a week without any German production inside the top 10. The highest German still ist Mark Forster sliding down with Chöre two ranks to #13. It is this the lowest presence of German songs since October 2013 when Willst du by Alligatoah was the highest performing song at #14.

Jumping 19 places in its third chart week Loin by Maitre Gims enters the top 20 at #18 and surprisingly performs better in Germany as in all French speaking countries including Switzerland.
A further new top 20 hit comes in two places deeper. And it also is an ethno inspired song as Chantaje by Shakira Feat. Maluma presents a pure raggaton beat. It is Shakira's first top20 performance after more or less three years. Back in 2014 she had two hits: Can't Remember To Forget You (featuring Rihanna #8) and Dare (La La La) (#12).


The highest new entry this week comes in at #29. It is the leading single from upcoming album Spirit by Depeche Mode–the 14th album. For Depeche Mode the anouncement of a new album always caused some rush. Where's The Revolution in contrast completely fails. It is the first time since 1983 (album Construction Time Again) that a pre-release of an Depeche Mode album misses the top 20. Maybe it will change in next weeks time when the full effect of the video release drops some more demand in the song. So far it is the 52nd chart entry for the band–a feat done by only a few acts in chart history.

The gainers of the week are:
Despacito by Luis Fonsi Ft. Daddy Yankee going up 46 places (second biggest jump this year so far) to #47
Weak by AJR leaping 26 places to #52 in its second week
Dancing On My Own in the version of Calum Scott rising 16 places to a new peak at #64 in its sixth chart week

April 17th 15: Record Breaking Jump To No 1

As the German charts appear weekly since 1971 one might assume that everything has been seen. It isn't like that. Times change and so do the charts and movements inside. This week we witness a record breaking jump to number 1. Of course the biggest jump to the top is the one from outside the list. Before the late 90s that feat wasn't seen on the list. Nowadays it is kind of common having songs start their chart life directly at the Top. So far there were 103 songs doing so.
Most of songs of course reach the top from inside the charts. Mostly it happens with a rise from inside the Top 5. This week we see See You Again by Wiz Khalifa Feat. Charlie Puth storming to Top in its fifth week coming from number 39 which breaks the record setting feat of the Pet Shop Boys in July 1987. Back then the duo had its heydays bringing new releases to its peak very fast. It's A Sin started by going 26–1 in 1987 followed by Always On My Mind with a 20–1 jump in January 1988 and Heart in April same year going 17–1. Only YMCA by the Village People and Pump ab das Bier by Werner Wichtig managed to hold tight with that feat. The first one shot 24–1 in December 1978 the latter one 18–1 in February 1990.

The new record comes due to the arrival of Furious 7 in cinemas on April 2nd. See You Again features as the closing song referring to the death of actor Paul Walker. As the movie still leads the box list it is certain seeing the song on Top next week too.

Another trivia can be told: See You Again is the third movie related number 1 in 2015.

Talkin' 'bout the impact of Furious 7 also six other songs taken–four of them originally taken from the Soundtrack–perform well as there are:
Ride Out by Kid Ink, Tyga, Wale, Rich Homie Quan 45–21–all four artists involved reach a new career peak
G.D.F.R. by Flo Rida Featuring Sage The Gemini and Lookas 38–25 in its 18th chart week
Go Hard Or Go Home by Wiz Khalifa & Iggy Azalea 98–47
How Bad Do You Want It (Oh Yeah) by Sevyn Streeter new at number 67–first charting single of the American singer.
Get Low by Dillon Francis / DJ Snake new at number 79
Turn Down For What by DJ SNake and Lil Jon re-entering at number 84 adding a 41st chart week–the song appeared first time in the survey exactly one year ago


Robin Schulz delivers the highest new entry at #7 with Headlights (feat. Ilsey). The singer is known so far as song writer for Pitbull and JLO. Headlights is the second Top10 hit in 2015 for the German superstar DJ and fourth since the beginning of his chart career almost exactly a year ago.

At number 11 second German superstar DJ is launching a follow up to his debut. Felix Jaehn sits still pretty at number 3 with his remix of OMI's Cheerleader while Ain't Nobody (Loves Me Better) (feat. Jasmine Thompson) enters the list. It is this a cover version of a song originally recorded by Rufus & Chaka Khan in 1983. The original never got chart success but since than the song entered in six different versions peaking at number 8 in 1989 in a remix version of the original. The take by Felix Jaehn now is the second most successful.


DSDS effects
The 12th season of Deutschladn sucht den Superstars is on air with recalls and re-recalls. One first hiatus was the performance of Severino Seeger, Antonio Gerardi, Christoph Cronauer and Kevin Spatt who performed Caruso on April 8th 2015. The song was recorded originally by Italian Lucio Dalla in 1986 but became mostly popular in 2012 after the singer died. Than it reached number 2 in Italy and got certain attention by participants on casting show contestants. In Germany popularity rose due to schlager star Helene Fischer who recorded a cover version on her 2014 album Farbenspiel- live.
After it was performed on TV the song enters the charts for the very first time at number 61. It is only the second chart entry for the Italian singer–17 years after his debut appearance–and it is a new career peak.

6th of March 2015: Ellie Goulding Better Than Adele

It is the third week at number 1 for Love Me Like You Do. Since Rather Be by Clean Bandit feat. Jess Glynne 11 months ago no British act did so.
Much more sensational is the fact that the last British solo female with at least three weeks at number 1 in Germany was Leona Lewis in early 2008 when her Bleeding Love occupied the top for four weeks.

Also other songs from the movie score of Fifty Shades Of Grey gain some more attention. The Weeknd goes 24–17 with Earned It launching his biggest hit to date and Annie Lennox sees her take on I Put A Spell On You rising 81–63 in its second chart week. Finally Vaults can gain 11 ranks too landing at number 85 with One Last Night.

Talking 'bout movie scores this is a good week as the highest new entry is featured by Fast & Furious 7. It is Ride Out by Kid Ink, TYGA, YG, Wale & Rich Homie Quan that starts chart life at number 34. Another track comes in at number 60 in the likes of Go Hard Or Go Home recorded by Wiz Khalifa & Iggy Azalea.



Norwegian KYGO rises another three places arriving now at number 3 with his Firestone. Exactly one year ago the last Norwegian act entered the Top3 in the face of Nico & Vince and their Am I Wrong. A better performance for an act coming from Norway was not seen for five and a half year. Back than it was Marit Larsen who launched a number 1 hit with If A Song Could Get Me You.

At number 10 there is the one and only new song inside the Top 10. It is Meghan Trainor who finally can launch her second Top 10 hit with Lips Are Movin. It took her nine weeks to come so far.

Philipp Dittberner & Marv can enter the top 20 with their Wolke 4. It is the sixth chart week for that song that lands at #16 falling only one place short of becoming best selling song in German. That one still is Flash Mich by Mark Forster rising again one single place to #15.


The longest running hit at this time is Atemlos durch die Nacht by Helene Fischer. The single still sits pretty at number 37. With 68 consecutive weeks inside the survey it now belongs to the ten hits with the longest chart runs. All in all the song has 72 chart weeks under its belt. Enough for being one of 28 hits with more than 70 weeks.
Hard on the heels is Ed Sheeran with his I See Fire. The song stands in its 64th week at number 39.



Watch the whola list hier

20th of Feb 15: First Straight No1 of 2015

The fast change of number 1s continues. This recent week we do have a new one again–a brand new additionally. It is Ellie Goulding who rockets straight to the top with her contribution to the Fifty Shades Of Grey soundtrack. The song in question is Love Me Like You Do.
It is this the sixth number 1 song in 2015 and the second for the singer. A month ago she achieved the top for the first time alongside with Calvin Harris on the track Outside. The success back than took only a single week.

Some statistics for Ellie Goulding: Last female artist having two number 1s in the same calendar year was Lady Gaga in 2009. It was her record breaking Poker Face that occupied the top spot for 13 weeks followed four months later by her Paparazzi. The latter one only flashed for a week at the top.

As I mentioned before Love Me Like You Do is the first straight number 1 of the year. It is quite early having this situation. Usually it takes at least till March or April when the TV superstars are chosen that a single rockets straight to the top. The last early nr.1 shooter came in January 2009 when James Morrisson & Nelly Furtado duetted on Broken Strings. That recording held firm there for five consecutive weeks.

A full bunch of six different tracks appearing at number 1 by 20th of February never before took place in chart history. So we are on a good way to fight the record of most number 1 tracks in one calendar year that was set in 2001 with full 23 different songs. Well–it is still a long way to go for that and next week can already change a lot…

30th of Jan 15: A Historical Moment in January

There is really something going on. The fifth issue of 2015 and we have the fourth song invading nr.1 position. Never before a year started that busy. The song in question right now is The Hanging Tree coming from the movie soundtrack The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part I by James Newton Howard.

Three times in chart history we came close to such a fast turnover of nr.1s in January. In 2001 it were EMINEM & Dido who dethroned Big Brother star Christian for a week but being pushed from the top a week later by Outkast and Ms. Jackson. That rush took place in late January.
1993 saw the first two weeks More And More by The Captain Hollywood Project at number 1 followed by Charles & Eddie and their Would I Lie To You for a week just before Whitney Houston climbed to the top with her I Will Always Love You that held firm for six weeks.
The most similar turnover of number 1 hits in January took place in 1985. Given that the last week of December 1984 (that actually had no official list) saw Duran Duran and their Wild Boys as best sold single the succeeder at the Top was Band Aid with the first recording of Do They Know It's Christmas? for two weeks followed by Murray Head's One Night In Bangkok for another two weeks just before Tears for Fears started their four weeks run at the top with Shout on the first issue of February. That's a bunch of four different number 1 hits within 6 weeks.

Worth noting the three new number 1s of 2015 each took more than two months to reach its hiatus. So we see the complete second row of the Christmas sale now standing in the first line. It might result due to the lack of infecting new releases on the market. The Hanging Tree definitely cashes in cause of the release of the Rebel Remix which boosted the demand the past days.


Highest new entry comes in at number 7. Charli XCX launches her second top10 hit with Break The Rules. Her first appearance (alongside Swedish Icona Pop) two years ago stopped at number 4.

New comer OMI now arrives inside the Top 20. His Cheerleader lands at number 16 in its fourth chart week.


Almost a full year after its first appearance in the survey Let It Go by Demi Lovato returns for a week and sets a new peak. Number 65 is 18 ranks higher than her so far peak. All this happens in the sixth chart week of the song.

12th of Dec 2014

The German Band Aid 30 still is number 1 with its take on Do They Know It's Christmas?

James Newton Howard feat. Jennifer Lawrence go 7–2 with their patriotic anthem The Hanging Tree taken from the movie The Hunger Games: MockinJay Part I

New inside the Top10 and highest new entry comes from Jessie J. Masterpiece is only her second Top10 hit and the first time that high since Price Tag shot to number 3 in May 2011.

Habits by Swedish Tove Lo is what we call a sleeper hit. In its 29th chart week the song reaches its so far peak at number 16. The last song with such a long taking rise peaked two and a half years ago. It was Ma chérie by DJ Antoine which stopped at number 6.

Hot Spot 06-14-13

Well–it’s done. Robin Thicke feat. T.I. + Pharrell climbs at Nr.1 after their highly infecting Blurred Lines is out on CD too. That was the last push to overturn Get Lucky which sits pretty at number 2 this week. With Blurred Lines occupying the top spot newly we have a kind of a premiere in chart history. Pharrell Williams is the first artist (since the charts are issued weekly) who has two back to back number 1 hits. So far we only had Max Martin as a composer in autumn 2008 and Dieter Bohlen as a producer in June 1986 who handed out the chart crown to themselves. A performing artist who did so until now could be found only once in chart history: In October 1963 Gitte (duetting with Rex Gildo) topped the charts with Vom Stadtpark die Laternen and so dethroned herself.

Further statistics: Blurred Lines climbs to number 1 in its 8th chart week. It is as slowly as spring number 1 Let Her Go by Passenger. Last time a track took more time to peak at the Top was back in April 2012 when Olly Murs Feat Rizzle Kicks needed 10 weeks for their Heart Skips A Beat getting crowned.

The highest new entry comes from Prince Kay One Feat. The Product G&B. By entering at number 4 V.I.P. gives the German rapper a new peak position in his career and makes the USAmerican duo come back after 13 years of chart abstinence.

The newly released Xavier Naidoo Album Bei meiner Seele enters the album list at the top and propells tht title song to Top 10 status again. So we finally do have three songs again inside the Top 10 that are produced with German acts. In past autumn we had the last invasion of very successfull commercial songs coming from Germany. Best result was a Top 10 with 5 hits from Germany. Meanwhile the euphoria for national productions had a short time break–will it turn back for a new season with strong German releases?

PSY profits a second week from his performance at the final of Germanys Next Top Model. Gentleman jumps 25–12 eclipsing its peak from 7 weeks before. Gangnam Style gets a boost again landing at number 47.
Also Bruno Mars can watch a big effect of his performance at the show. Treasure goes 91–25 almost eclipsing the result of predecessor When I Was Your Man but still is two weeks ahead of its official release as a single cut.


Beyond TV made hits there is a soundtrack visible with two tracks in the upper half of the list. The Great Gatsby can send A Little Party Never Killed Nobody (All We Got) by Fergie • Q Tip • GoonRock and Young And Beautiful by Lana del Rey into the list. Both still rising in its third chart week.

Back in the list Carlprit is on the way launching his first solo hit. Fiesta now stands at number 53. A little renaissance for I Follow Rivers brings Lykke Li back to some success too. Number 57 in its 53rd chart week is very impressive.

Kid Ink is completely new to the German market. From his freshly released album Almost Home the track Money And The Power is especially beloved and enters the singles charts at number 70.

Hot Spot 05-31-13

Here they are: Daft Punk (Featuring Pharrell Williams) climb to number 1 with Get Lucky after their album Random Access Memory was released and shot to number 1 on the album list also. It took the French men five weeks to land their worldwide smash at the top in Germany also. And it took them a whole 16 years to gain Nr.1 for the first time. So far they reached only once the Top 10 with One More Time in 2000.
The last Nr.1 coming from a French artist was back in summer 2011 when Lucenzo infected the country with his take on Danza Kuduro.


This week the survey counts 24 new entries–it is far and away the most amount of new songs in a single week for years. This result comes due to a big event taking place in Malmö on 18th of May. Most successive act ain't a Eurovision contestant but a band performing in Hamburg after the screening of the event. Frida Gold presented their new single Liebe ist meine Rebellion live. The party was broadcasted nationwide–so the track lands now at number 4. It is the first Top 10 hit for the band starting its career two and a half year ago.

Right behind Frida Gold the winner song Only Teardrops by Danish Emmelie de Forest lands. It is right now commercially more successful than the last winner song coming from Denmark Fly On The Wings Of Love in 2000. Additionally Only Teardrops is the best performing song coming from Denmark since March 2012 when Aura Dione released her single Friends.

The third new entry inside the Top 10 again is a song presented at the after show party in Hamburg. Madcon had their biggest success in 2010 when they delivered the soundtrack for the Eurovision flash mob dance. In 2013 the song One Life is more down to earth–the connection to the Contest seems be kept.

All in all there are 12 songs from the contest entering the list this current week. Never before the contest had that much impact on the sales charts. Except places 2 and 3 the whole Top 10 of the contest finds its way into the media control survey. The German entry Glorious by cascada completely failed in Malmö. It ended up at a low 21st place–the worst result since five years. Even the German audience was not really convincend. When the song was chosen it landed at number 6–not that bad. Now after it was performend in Malmö it can only reach number 33 in its second chart run. A sad result.

The song voted most in Germany on the night of the show was Kedvesem performed by Hungarian ByeAlex. A real surprise. On sales the song comes in as the third at number 39.


What else goes on in the list? A week before The Fast & Furious 6 started at theatres the first track from the soundtrack enters the list. It is We Own It by 2 Chainz feat. Wiz Khalifa. The track starts at an impressive number 28.

In theatres on May 16th The Great Gatsby sends two cuts of his soundtrack onto the list. Most loved song is A Little Party Never Killed Nobody (All We Got performed by Fergie • Q Tip • Goonrock. The track goes straight to number 41. At nubmber 74 lands Lana del Rey with Young And Beautiful.

After My City was re-released as a CD on the new label Epic Germany Follow Your Instinct see their track re-entering the list. The track starts its second chart run at number 42. The first one back in March propelled the track to number 24.

Finally the announced upcoming single Counting Stars by OneRepublic rises up the list and lands at number 51 in its second chart week. The official release date so far is not scheduled properly.

39-12: Germany loves German music (and some Austrian tunes too)

A new Number 1 offered by a new trio: MARTERIA • YASHA • MISS PLATNUM are the new stars starting with their new single Lila Wolken (Violet Clouds) right at the Top. It is the third single in 2012 starting chart life at the highest position. And it is the third Number 1 coming from a German act. After the superstar and the DJ remix it is the probably most important style that finally can gain the Top spot: German HipHop reaches it’s commercial zenit.

Having the third German production at number one means we really have German music back to it’s success. In 2011 there was only one act from Germany topping the weekly charts – probably the bottom of the “crisis” of German music. The last heydays from the early 2000s when at least five track each year topped the list seems still far and away. All in all we watch five German productions inside the Top 10 which is quite an impressive fact. In the whole Top 100 there are 31 tracks produced by German acts. I really do not know when we had such a situation the last time.


Back to the song starting at number 1: Lila Wolken is a soft hymn for free night life. It tells about the search for having the choise and the luck seeing the morning sky. It lifts Marteria and Miss Platnum with their third chart hit to number 1. For the latter on it took almost exactly five years getting here. – A second track from the EP of the trio can enter the charts on single downloads. It is Feuer which reaches position 52.




The next new entry comes due to a performance at new season of Das Supertalent. Jean-Michel Aweh performed Wie soll ein Mensch das ertragen originally recorded by Philipp Poisel–right after the show the two years old song shoots to number 5 reaching a new peak. It is the second song of Philipp Poisel reaching the Top 5 after being performed in a casting show. And it is his third Top 5 hit in 2012 making him the most successful German act this year. Rapper CRO only had two Top 5 hits this year so far.

Supported by the new demand also the latest single Wolke 7 alongside Max Herre jumps back up the list and lands at number 9. In the same manner (but slightly more dimmed) Eiserner Steg rises 67–46 in its 40th chart week and Ich will nur comes back for a short appearance at number 97. So we see four tracks of Philipp Poisel inside the recent list.

Also the other song performed by the candidate Jean-Michel re-enters the charts. It is Revolverheld’s Halt dich an mir fest recorded with Marta Jandová of Die Happy. The song was a long time seller in 2011. Now it comes back at number 60.


And yet another Top 10 story: Carly Rae Jepsen spends a twentieth week inside the Top 10 and is so far the longest Top 10 runner of the year. Hard on the heels follows I Follow Rivers by Lykke Li which so far collected 18 weeks.


A late summer tune comiong from Austria is gaining more attention. Klangkarussell is a Salzburg based duo. Its track Sonnentanz was released a year ago. It found some first lovers in spring this year and reached broader popularity during the summer. Now a single is full released on CD which gives the track a last boost climbing into the Top 20 in its sixth chart week. In Austria and Switzerland the track also can reach Top 20 status. It is the first Top 20 hit comiong from Austria since two years.



German dance music much more plays the easy and direct way. The Michael Mind Project Feat. Dante Thomas does not experiment a lot. Nothing Lasts Forever sounds like all the last offers of the project. The audience still can deal it–the new single starts at number 40. It is the 12th single so far for Michael Mind–none of them reached ever the Top 10.

The first white/northern soul act from Germany is Leslie Clio. The singer lives in Hamburg and right now released her debut Told You So. The song starts at number 41 but it might have the power of spending some more weeks inside the list.




Silbermond has announced a new single. Immediately the hard core of fans is buying the track in question Ja as an album cut which makes it entering the charts at number 70. Compared to the last single of Silbermond it is quite doubtful seeing the new one rising much further after the release of the single in late October.

Back with new material after a seven years break Joachim Witt has released the single Gloria. A dark song about our complicated life.




Number 1 on the DVD charts is French movie The Intouchables. The main title Una Mattina reaches the song charts though not in its original version played by Ludovico Einaudi. Instead a version played by Swedish Jonas Kvarnström is listed at number 77.

24-12: Speed Up The Charts For The Soccer EM

A second week for Eurovision winner Loreen at Number 1 position and an almost completely static Top 10 – that’s the situation this week. But we do have 16 new entries inside the Top 100 which means the summer turnover started two weeks ago continues lower down the list. By the way: It is the week with most new entries in 2012 and 2011 at all. The last time we had 16 or more new entries is exactly two years ago. That's impressive. Could it mean that a very slow chart phase comes to an end? A reason could be the renewed chart rules ... read about it further down this text.

Let’s start our litlle flight through interesting moves and entries at the Top: The only one significant mover in the upper regions is Burn It Down by Linkin Park which jumps after full release as CD single and launch of a video 20–10. After nearly 3 years the band is back inside the German Top 10. More and more Austria and Germany establish as the market where the band is most succesfull worldwide.

The effect of having a video available is seen twice in this current list. Also Coldplay & Rihanna take a leap with Princess Of Cgina after the video is online (and on TV) since 4th of June. In its sixth chart week the single reaches the upper half for the very first time.


An European summer hit starts at number 11 as the highest new entry in the list this week. Tacatà by Italian TACABRO already is Top 10 in Denmark, France, Switzerland, Finland and Belgium. Now it starts in Germany also.




One of the big fire makers in the list is approaching EURO 2012. With the start of the event also the official anthem of this year’s championship Endless Summer by German singer Oceana catches fire. The single jumps 38–13 in its fourth chart week. In Poland the track already holds number 1. It is more than possible that we see the song climbing to the top in Germany as well in a few days. The matches are highly anticipated from the beginning of the tournament.

Public TV channel ZDF had chose another song for surrounding its reports and matches broadcasting meanwhile. Ukrainian band Los Colorados became popular by covering famous pop songs in polka style. For advertising the EM the band (or the chanel) took the song I Like To Move It by Reel 2 Real from the year 1994. It is the fifth time for the song that a version can reach the charts. Last time we heard it one year ago when Markus Becker offered his German cover which had a one week run on the survey. I guess the new version will have a slightly longer life.



And also the national football association DFB is offering an own fan song for the EM. It is Für nichts auf dieser Welt (For Nothing On This World) by Roger Cicero which can right after release on CD enter the list. So far Mr. Cicero only had once a really hit in the singles list. It was his Eurovision attempt in 2007 Frauen regiern die Welt that reached number 7.



When we speak right now about soccer and match anthems: Do you remember the big soccer hymn of the year? Nooossaa! Ai Se Eu Te Pego! is still in the charts. But we do have already a succeeder with Balada (Tchê tcherere tchê tchê) which is offered by Brazilian Gusttavo Lima. In Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy and France the single already reached the Top of thecharts. Now it is sold in Germany also. The song so far is available as download only–physical sales will count from next week’s chart on. And Brazilian star Neymar also provided a new dance ...





Let's have a look what comes new from German acts. Singer CHIMA has the honour of being the German newcomer of the week. With Morgen (Tomorrow) he is listed for the first time as an solo artist inside the charts. As member of Brothers Keepers he already know what it means of having a chart hit. In 2001 the project reached number 5 with its hit Adriano. The new single is about planning a new beginning, a change of life–but tomorrow. So it is probably both: optimistic and tragic.




Ole ohne Kohle (Ole without bucks) is the next newcomer. He is known as actor of the soap Berlin Tag und Nacht (Berlin Night And Day). His first single Ich bin kein Model und kein Superstar (I’m not a model or a superstar) is a typical Mallorca sound denying the celebrated life style on casting TV shows.



There are a few hits coming from Israel in the history of the German charts. These days it is Asaf Avidan who gets a little more attention. His folk song Reckoning Song was remixed by a Berlin DJ called Wankelmut. The remix became very popular on soundcloud under the name One Day. Finally this mix is available as digital single provided by Four music. As artists appear Asaf Avidan and DJ Wankelmut both.



The original recording by Asaf Avidan


Alongside with the album Karton the single Auf dem Weg (On the way) by German singer Mark Forster enters the sales charts again with a new peak at number 71.

Finally we should add a category called Casting stars updated. Do you remember Popstars season 2008? No. Of course not. Well–winner were four ladies who were put together in a girl group called Queensberry. Already the first single No Smoke / I Can’t Stop Feeling failed dramatically. In 2009 the girls had two Top 10 hits followed by a lot of trouble inside the group. Two ladies left, two new came in, the deal with the label UNIVERSAL was cancelled at the end of last years and earlier this year Selina Herrero left the band … now they are three and start a new chapter. Chapter 3 as their album is called. The first single Timeless is in shelves now. It can reach the German sales charts. That’s good news. It lands at number 90. That’s deflating for some ex-popstars. The song itself sounds very plastic and non-emotional. Probably chapter 3 is over soon.




A movie is causing a further chart entry in Germany. With the screening of Snow White & The Huntsman in German theatres also the title track can enter the sales charts. Florence + the Machin were inspired by the movie’s characters and recorded Breath Of Life. Although the movie was successful in English speaking countries as well the song couldn’t chart there at all.






From June the 1st on there is a change in the way the German charts are compiled. Now all songs available digitally or on CD are automatically eligible for the list. Before June tracks had to be registered for becoming chart eligible. The full rules are here.

This tiny policy already had influence on the charts. Last year Eurovision stars JEDWARD were everywhere the most sold act in download shops for a full week–but did not appear on the “official” sales charts by media control due to the fact that the label UNIVERSAL did not register their song Lipstick for being chart eligible.

The first artist/track that benefits from the change is German rap superstar CRO. His song Hi Kids already is a hit on platforms like youtube for months. It did not appear in the list cause t was not ment to be a single. Now the track enters the list as it is automatically chart eligible at number 72. Considering the time the track is already available and that it was given for free in autumn last year this rank must be seen as a very high new entry.



Second beneficiary of the new chart rules are KiD CuDi Feat. MGMT & Ratatat with their track Pursuit Of Happiness which is available as a download track since April this year. The track became popular mostly due to a remix version by Steve Aoki. As different versions and remixes are summed up to a single rank in the charts position 85 reflects both the sales of the original and the remix.

Somehow also Swedish AVICII might thank the new policy. His track Silhouettes finally can make it into the list. But the full promotion in Germany did not yet start. Let’s wait till the full video is released officially.

Christmas Carols And TV Castings

The last chart week of the year and we do have a new number 1. As some digital sales analysts reported a week ago Australian Gotye climbs to number 1 in Germany. Somebody That I Used To Know is the 15th and last number 1 single this year. So we had two number one hits more than in 2010 and the same amount as in the two years before. It is also the sixth debut single of an artist that can climb to number 1 in 2011. And it is a number one coming from an Australian act after a one year break. In December 2010 it was Empire Of The Sun who reached the top spot with We Are The People after its use as a commercial soundtrack. Taking in consideration that Gotye is a native Belgian he is the first Belgian artist at number 1 since March 2010 when Stromae occupied the top position for two weeks with Alors On Danse. By the way: it was the debut single for Stromae also – since his number 1 hit nothing more from him poped in the list. Accompanying Kimbra is the first artist from New Zealand reaching the German top.

The success of Gotye comes due to the release of the physical CD single on Decmeber 16th as well as due to the use of the track for advertising the Christmas programme of TV channel Pro7.

A significant move is made by Lady Gaga Superstar. She is more a performance and video star than a musical genius. The video for Marry The Night was released beginning of December simultaneaously with the CD and finally the track sales increases slowly. This week it reaches number 17 giving her a 10th Top 20 hit – it’s only the third to miss the Top 10.


The recent list is reflecting sales in the week just before Christmas, so let’s have a look at the annual Christmas carols. There we can witness a change: the most popular Christmas song this year is in fact All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey. It beats out the long time favourite Last Christmas by Wham! narrowly as it sits one place ahead of Wham! at number 24. It is the highest rank the song can reach since 2008 when it rose to number 18. The past two years it stalled at number 28 respectively number 38. The new interest is caused by a newly recorded version featuring Justin Bieber as duetting partner. Unfortunately the charts do not list the versions separately due to te fact that the duet is only a B-side. Anyway according to iTunes the original version recorded in 1994 is the still the most popular. Number 3 of the Christmas anthems is – like the years before – Wonderful Dream (Holidays Are Coming) offered by Melanie Thornton.


Looking at the list we can see that well known hits of the past months rise again up the list. Rosenstolz Wir sind am Leben reverts 55–45, Still by Jupiter Jones rises 59–46 . It is given that next week this trend will be even stronger.


German hits: Most sold German song is still Cello performed unplugged by Udo Lindenberg feat. Clueso (number 9). All other German productions are far and away behind that leader. Tim Bendzko ranks with Nur noch kurz die Welt retten (Just To Save The World) at 27 in its 30th chart week, Glasperlenspiel (Glass Bead Game) with Echt (Pure) rises again to number 28.

The highest new entry is a German one although it comes in only at number 48. It is the winner of talent casting show Das Supertalent. In fact Leo Rojas is a street musician from Ecuador. On the TV final the reunion with his mother was well set – the TV nation spent all emotions and voted the nai (pan flute) player for the win. As an effect his winning track Einsamer Hirte / The lonely shephard can enter the sales charts too.



It is kind of cynical that Leo Rojas is the celebrated one – hundreds of similar musicians ain’t recognized in German daily life. Probably that’s part of the business. Back to the music itself: Einsamer Hirte is a well known tune. In 1977 it became popular by James Last & Gheorghe Zamfir and reached number 22 in Germany. In 2003 the recording was used as the closing track in Quentin Tarantino’s movie Kill Bill Vol.I.

With Leo Rojas entering the list Germany sees two South Americans within the list. Brazilian Michel Telé jumps 49–26 with his soccer anthem Nooosssaa! Ai Se Eu Te Pego!.


Casting fever still burns for The Voice Of Germany. The live show from Friday, December 16th saw Lena Sicks battling against Heiko Schmidt. Both had to perform Eisberg (Iceberg) originally recorded by newcomer Andreas Bourani. The track re-enters at number 59. – Battle number two with huge emotional potential: Lisa Martine Weller versus Marijana Vuckovic. The song to perform was Another Way To Die made famous by Jack White & Alicia Keys for the soundtrack of the James Bond movie Quantum Of Solace from 2008. Winner of the showdown was Lisa Martine Weller – the track surprisingly re-enters the list at number 65. It is the 19th chart week for the song that climbed to number 8 in late 2008. I call that re-appearance surprisingly cause the track is mentioned as very inconvenient and hard to love since it was presented for the first time. Plus it is a three years old track – usually older songs only have a chance in the sales charts if they are performed by an very adored participant or the winner itself. Well, that might be a sign for meeting Lisa Martine again at the final shows…

Another movie track was the most touching a day before at live battle show number 1: Falling Slowly from the 2006 Irish movie Once that was awarded with an Oscar for the Best Song in 2008. Michael Schulte was the one who one the battle in the TV show with the song – the original was recorded by Glen Hansard & Markéta Irglová who both are now newcomer to the German charts – well, Glen Hansard had came already once in touch with the list as cast member of 1992 movie The Commitments.

Battle number 2 on that Thursday: Alicia Emmi Berg versus Kim Sanders. Both had to perform Only Girl (In The World). Kim Sanders (known from collaborations with Culture Beat, Schiller or Heppner) was chosen as the winner – original interpretation by Rihanna is back at 100.

Last TV influenced re-entry. Friday 16th again – different channel – completely different audience. The NDR Talkshow is watched by more older and intellectual people. Within the last show French ZAZ perforemde her hit je veux and unbelieveably as it seems – there are still enough people who didn’t had the song in their collection. So a new demand arose throwing ZAZ back in the list at number 60 which is her 41st chart week at all.


And now ... for all you – especially the many Russian speaking readers – I wish you a Happy New Year – С новым годом

What a Man, Supertalent & Oktoberfest

A German movie still has the biggest impact on the German music chart. It is very successful What A Man – the comedy by and with new German darling Matthias Schweighöfer. So far one and a half million people watched the movie – it is still Number 4 at the movie charts after one months in theatres. Inside the singles chart three songs of the soundtrack appear. At Number 1 Marlon Roudette still stands. It is the sixth week at the top for New Age. Last male artist holding six weeks at the top was Bruno Mars who went Number 1 with grenade back in March and April. Due to the fact he had a two weeks break in his Number 1 run when Lady Gaga stormed to the top with her Born This Way the last male act spending six consecutive weeks at the top spot was Israel IZ Kamakawiwo’ole almost exactly one year ago. Over The Rainbow just disappeared out of the German list last week. It spent a whole 54 weeks in the charts.

The highest new entry at the German single’s chart is also related to the movie. It is the fresh released CD single Eiserner Steg by German singer Philipp Poisel. Like the number 1 track this one is a ballad too talking about how life could go on after a split. The previously unreleased track ends up with the demand of a last moment together.

Entering the German list at Number 21 it is the most successful single of Philip Poisel. So far he had two minor hits never reaching the upper half of the list. This song could be the breakthrough reigning him in a line with young and successful German singer songwriters like Tim Bendzko or Andreas Bourani.



Lena’s version on What A Man tumbles down the list 48 – 65 in its fourth chart week.

Hitmaker number 2 is newly aired Das Supertalent (German version of Britain’s Got Talent). Last week it was You Raise Me Up which found its way back into the list after being performed inside the TV show. This week it is Mama Do originally recorded by British Pixie Lott. The track had a 9 weeks chart run in 2009 climbing to Number 37 – not really a big success compared to the Number.1 run it had in Great Britain. Anyway – 13 years old Marlene Wenzig chose the song for performing at the show. Her applicating version available at youtube is of course only half that convincing like her singing on stage. Right after her performance the original shot back in the iTunes charts and finally can gain position 30 at the whole week survey. It is the highest ranking the song ever reached in Germany.


Hitmaking event number 3: the seasonal Oktoberfest. It is the chance for promoting Mallorca hits from last summer again. One of the surprising Schlager/Discofox hits of the year so far was I sing a Liad für dich (I Sing A Song For You -– in a very regional kind of spelling) by Austrian Andreas Gabalier. The single was a hit in his home country already summer 2010. The German audience first noticed it in March, when Carmen Nebel presented the young singer in her TV show. I sing a Liad für dich immediately hit the charts. It was a short visit cause the single was not available officially. It took the company till late July to launch the CD version. Last week the version by Andreas Gaballier rose to number 63 – the peak so far. This recent week the song climbs up 3 further places. Additionaly there is a new version entering the list offered by big Austrian Schlager star DJ Ötzi. Of course that new version of DJ Ötzi is much more a commercially produced tune. If one can find the song of Andreas Gabalier somehow authentic and candid – the recording of DJ Ötzi is completely calculated. It is just a song meaning nothing – all he needs is the beat and a melody. Even his outfit worn at the video tells you: that’s not the real live of DJ Ötzi – it is a costume.

The market again rewards the more obliging production. DJ Ötzi’s version enters the list at number 35. Honestly I suspected much more – seems the Schlager genre needs a little break or a re-invention.

More "What A Man"

Marlon Roudette holds firm at number 1 with the ballad New Age. It is the third consecutive week and he now as a solo artist matches the result achieved in 2006 as part of duo Mattafix. This recent week his debut album Matter Fixed enters the album list at number 6 – a feat never reached with his former project. To tell some more stories: Marlon Roudette is the first British act staying at number 1 for at least three weeks since late 2009. Back than Robbie Williams brought Bodies to top the singles’ list for four weeks.

A second track from the original Soundtrack of the Matthias Schweighöfer movie What A Man enters the German list this recent issue. It is the title track performed by Lena. The song had a chart career already 17 years ago when the version of Salt’n’Pepa with En Vogue hit the charts and climbed to number 39. The newly recorded version is far and away the most popular by entering directly at number 21. The original sung by Linda Lyndell never reached the charts here.




Rising one place to number 2 MAROON 5 Featuring Christina Aguilera reach a new peak with Moves Like Jagger. MAROON 5 already had been announced having their biggest hit for all times. Christina Aguilera by now enters a position last seen in 2006 with her single Hurt.

Highest new entry is a so far download only track. It is the first lift from Sean Paul’s upcoming yet untitled album which is announced for early 2012. Got 2 Luv U is the first single of the artist touching the Top 10 since We Be Burnin’ climbed to number 5 in autumn 2005. In his whole 9 years long chart career Sean Paul only collected 4 Top 10 hits. Entering the survey at number 9 this week the star seems back to known power. Let’s wait till the full CD release at 16th September will have effect of the list .

Got U Love U features guest vocals by Alexis Jordan – one of the new comers of the year. She oddly missed the upper ranks with her debut Happiness -– to me one of the most catching pop songs this year. Alongside Sean Paul she finally becomes a hit singer. Whether she can stand alone and gain hits is a question for the future.

European Hits

Indeed a busy week. The German chart counts 13 new entries – three of them inside the Top 10. When did we really had this last time?
13 new tracks (I mean REALLY new tracks – not only Re-Entries) entered the list at the end of July for the last time. It was somehow the last working week in music business. Three new entries inside the Top 10 happened right after the end of the DSDS superstar casting show in May. You see – it is not that unusualhaving a lot of good new music in the shelves although it feels like after a four months break.

I’ve already talked about the new Number 1from Marlon Roudette. Let’s drop some words ’bout the other new entries inside the Top 10. MAROON 5 featuring Christina Aguilera can land with Moves Like Jagger on downloads only at number 3. Impressive! CD sales count from next week’s list on – I’m curious about how high they can rise. So far Moves Like Jagger reaches the highest position a MAROON 5 track ever had. Only This Love reached number 5 in 2004. Christina Aguilera is much more used to find herself inside the Top 10. Moves Like Jagger is the 11th track naming her as an artist and doing so. But also her had to wait for more than four years since her last appearance that highhappened. It was Tell Me alongside P.Diddy that went number 5.

The third Top 10 new entry is the summer hit coming from Spain. If you were this summer somewhere in Europe at a party you for sure danced to Loca People (What The F**K!) served by DJ Sak Noel. The track is a hit in almost whole Europe. Just right now it started having a life in Canada too. Finally the track is available in Germany also and enters on downloads only at number 9. Again we will see next week where the track can rise when the CD is fully released. By the way: exactly one year ago the last track from a Spanish artist went Top 10. It was I Like It by Enrique Iglesias.



Having two European productions entering the top end of the list we count eight tracks of the Top 10 with at least one European artist involved. US-American artists are still the most present even in Germany with four tracks at least featuring an US act. Talking ’bout big European hits I must add that David Guetta launches his next promotional single Night Of Your Life at number 12. The predecessor Lunar – a completely instrumental dance track produced with Dutch Afrojack heavily using the Daft Punk formula – is entering the list at a very low position 84. It makes David Guetta having 11 tracks charted in 2011. Last year he had 9 respective 10 tracks if you count his role as a producer of Kelis’ Acapella too. Don’t know exactly when one act did something similar before. Michael Jackson had 23 tracks charted in 2009 – the year he died. A still living act with more than 10 tracks charted in a year were nobody else than The Beatles. The boys from Liverpool had 14 songs in the German charts in 1964. David Guetta is hard on the heels of that feat – there are more than 3 months left for him.

Another European act paid some attention to in German speaking countries is Dutch Caro Emerald. Her overwhelming hit A Night Like This still crowds up the upper ranks of the list – this week sliding 21–24 in the 27th chart week – so new single Stuck stands in the shadow of the predecessor. The swing inspired track enters at 41 on full CD release and gives her a third chart hit in Germany.



German tracks
Strong European track doesn’t mean a similar impact from German artists. Tim Bendzko still leads the German pack with Nur noch kurz die Welt retten softly sliding 5–4. Next best sold German track is Still – the long burning hit by Jupiter Jones still noted inside the Top 20 and also Andreas Bourani with Nur in meinem Kopf (Just In My Head) is selling well sliding 23–25. The acts following are Frida Gold, Casper and new in the shelves doreen aka Doreen Steinert. She had her first big success with casting band Nu Pagadi in 2004 but started quickly a solo career. Most recently she duetted with her boyfriend Sido and his enemy-friend Fler in 2009. Finally she offers a full album titled vorsicht zerbrechlich (Attention Fragile). Leading single is wie konntest du nur (How the hell could you) – a heartfull ballad about a broken love. All we know from doreen are ballads like this – probably the album is the right one for fully „enjoying“ heart aches. The CD so far performs cautious – I guess only fans of doreen bought the track. But she is the first contestant of upcoming Bundesvision Song Contest that will held 29th september in Cologne. This year there will perform a lot of big German acts – it will be a tough struggle for sure. And the impact on sales will be huge as well. It is certain even doreen will see her track rising in the list too – I’m curious whether she can launch her best performing track at all. We’ll see it.



Next song competing at BuVi Song Contest and getting first attention is Zum Laichen und Sterben ziehen die Lachse den Fluss hinauf (For Spawning And Dying Salmons Migrate A River Upwards). The song is brought by Tomte singer Thees Uhlmann. With the track he announces his first solo album that is titled after him. The lyrics tell the story of a whole life starting somewhen in childhood and expressing permanently the certainty that pain and fun are always close to each other. One of the significant words are „Life is like fire. It burns and gives warm.“ Very poetic.



Significantly the most successfull German productions have German lyrics too. Highest non German track is Hi-A Ma Pata Pata by Milk&Sugar feat. Miriam Makeba & Jungle Brothers dropping 41–53. German language seems gaining new popularity in pop business. Matching that thesis Geboren um zu leben (Born For Living) by UNHEILIG this week counts its 82nd consecutive week in the charts which makes it the longest running German track at all – overtaking Die längste Single der Welt by Wolfgang Petry from 1996. If we count all chart weeks – even those that were collected after a break – Geboren um zu leben is so far the third longest runner in German. It is hard on the heels of Das Beste (The Best) by Silbermond (Silver Moon). Leading the survey is still (and probably never be overtaken) Ein Stern (der deinen Namen trägt) (A Star (Named After You) by DJ Ötzi & Nik P. released in 2007.

Further German releases performing at the very down end of the list:
A new rock band coming from Berlin is Haudegen (Mortuary Sword). Well, band seems to be a little wrong – it is actually a duo. Both have been active as rap singers a few years long. To bring some more emotion into their tracks they decided to rename and change the style. Since last summer they appaer under the new name. An first EP and an album followed in autumn last year and May this year. The third single from that album is Zu Hause (At Home). It is – as most of their new tracks – a soft rock song about coming home and finding the right place for living – the place where you born. Seems strange to me in a world changing more and more into global and mobile one. It is a reaction to that new world made by people who can’t effort the luxury of travelling and working everywhere. No money means every place in the world is a wrong place. What counts in that situation is the home feeling, the place one is used to, the place of childhood. In that sense Haudegen is kind of a political rock duo – by the way a more right wing oriented. The world shown in their video is kind of creepy too.



Supported by the release of her album Frei (Free) LaFee can see her single Ich bin (I Am) having a boost in sales and reappearing in the German list. Nonetheless it is one of her worst performing singles – the album stalls at number 14 which is also a poor result for her.


Two oddities of German music business (and chart) at last today:
Killer Love the debut of Pussycat Dolls’ singer Nicole Scherzinger had its release back in March in Europe – except in Germany (and Austria I guess). Why? Nobody really knows. In the UK the singer launched three simultan Top 3 hits from that album including Nr.1 single Right There. In Germany nobody cares. Finally the album is announced and is in stores since the end of August. As leading single in Germany Right There was chosen (after that track was the biggest success in the UK and the U.S.). Release date was somewhen in June – but without any big promotion and as a download single only. Two weeks before the album the bigger promotion started – another official release date was reported still as download only single. Well – the effect: Right There enters at a low position 61. Seems that UNIVERSAL as the company of Ms. Scherzinger doesn’t see her as a single star at all or even worse doesn’t act for the singles’ market anymore. The big money can be milked only with album releases … I guess such focus ain’t what pop music lives on.

The recent Number 1 in Germany comes with support by a German movie. Even the last German movie that had such an impact titled Kokowäh (Coq au vin – in a acoustically written translation) brings a track back in people’s mind after released on DVD. Snowflakes by US-American White Apple Tree had a life as a medium hit back in march. Now the track sells again in bigger figures bringing Snowflakes again in the official German list at 65. The band is right now much more popular in middle Europe than in their home country.

Second track of the movie’s soundtrack Stay by British HURTS can rise up the list too. It lands at 77 this week. The DVD of Kokowäh meanwhile storms to Number 1 at the official lending charts and to Number 2 at amazon’s list.

Back To Life With Marlon Roudette

Summer laziness is definitely over. Again Germany celebrates a new Number 1. It is Marlon Roudette who enters the list directly at the top. It is only the second Number 1 hit starting his chart run right at the highest possible position. Last one that did so was Call My Name by Superstar winning Pietro Lombardi back in May. Last year we also only had two instant chart topper – the year before there were 7 and in 2008 eight. What we are really witnessing is a slowing down of the charts. The big hit right away from the start is what it should be – a special feat.

The recent track in question calls New Age and is the main track of the new Matthias Schweighöfer movie What A Man that was premiered last weekend and instantly topped the German movie charts. It is a soft and romantic ballad – matching the recent taste of German music buyers. The soundtrack was choosen by the director and actor himself and includes a very surprising collection. German acts like Lena and Philip Poisel appear at the track list like Booka Shade or Ben L’Oncle Soul.

Marlon Roudette by the way is no unknown to the charts and to Number One. As one half of the duo Mattafix he topped the German charts in early 2006 with Big City Lights. The track spend three weeks at number one and 15 weeks inside the Top 10. It got number 7 within the chart of the year 2006.



Also new according to media controls press release from tuesday are Maroon 5 feat. Christina Aguilera with Moves Like Jagger at number 3. In most of the weeks this year that would be the highest new entry. Not so this very moment. Finally the business is back alive.

Having two new entries inside the Top 10 overshadows all other movements a little. There are two climbers worth to notice. Dutch singer Caro Emerald rises two places to number 4 after her song A Night Like This was presented within the TV show Let’s Dance. The plot of the show is watching VIPs trying to do standard dances like rumba, cha cha cha, waltz et al. A Night Like This was used as the music for the Cha-cha-cha. For Caro Emerald number 4 is the highest place she ever managed to climb on. It took the song 11 weeks to get here.

The second climber is the all star crew around Pitbull. Give Me Everything in its second chart week can „break“ into the Top 10 giving leading Pitbull a follow up to his recent Number one On The Floor (alongsides main star JLO) and a fourth Top 10 hit as a credited artist. NE-YO after an almost three years break can return to the Top 10. Give Me Everything is no more than his second chart hit climbing that high. For the really first time Afrojack & Nayer can reach the upper 10 ranks.

A big jump up the list is done by Aloe Blacc. After Loving You Is Killing Me appeared as a background track at Germany’s Next Top Model the song climbed to number 16 two weeks ago. The interest in the song died soon – last week Loving You Is Killing Me tumbled down to number 30 again. Until it was performed in the semi final of DSDS by Ardian Bujupi – the looser of that almost last episode. Suddenly a huge fan base of the TV show recognised the song as worth of be buyed. Loving You Is Killing Me ranks now at number 12 – making it the best performing song of the show within the chart. And I really wonder why Ardian had to leave the show ...



Final winner Pietro Lombardi only can propell Wenn das Liebe ist (If it is love) by Glashaus (Glass House) to position 61.

A future hit is arriving within the Top 20 this recent week with Set Fire To The Rain by Adele is climbing four further places to number 20. Set Fire To The Rain is set to be the third single from her album 21. In Belgium, the Netherlands and in Italy the song already went to top hit status climbing into the Top 5. In Germany the interest for the song is grewing steadily finding ist way to the Top 20 as an digital album cut without any officially announced release date. That’s in fact a very unusual chart career. Most of the tracks listed are proper set and supported by commercials, TV adverts or similar presence in the media. Not so Set Fire To The Rain – probably another sign of possible democratization of the charts.


The German acts
Finally they did it! Jupiter Jones grab with their ballad Still the crown of being the most sold German production. It took the band 9 weeks and of course the four guys benefit from the lack of very strong German releases. In the official list by media control they slide 18 – 19 being the only German track within the Top 20.

Number 2 of the interne German tracks sales chart is Groove Coverage and their take on Angeline. I dropped a few words about it already last wednesday.

Leading the survey for six weeks the heydays of Strobo Pop are history right now. Die Atzen mit Nena drop 17 – 23 officially standing here as the third best sold German track.

The most successfull album by a German artist is still Schiffsverkehr (Ship Traffic) offered by Herbert Grönemeyer. New in the list is Cassandra Steen with her third album Mir so nah (So Close To Me) which lands at position 5 in the album chart. Supported by this success the leading single Gebt alles (Give All) is jumping back the singles list up to position 36.

These days Europe is looking at Dusseldorf. The Eurovision Song Contest takes place and the attention of the medias is huge. Since it was announced that Dusseldorf will host the contest some articles have been wrote why that boring city? Is it really the capital of pop music? – Probably it is not the German capital, but it aint at all a no go area for popular music. Probably most known the synth electro band Kraftwerk that had a few hits in the 70s and early 80s. These days a further band is bringing Dusseldorf back to the musical map of Germany. Broilers (meaning broiler / roast chicken but is used in Germany only regional; funny: the English plural S) are a fun punk band playing music for more than 15 years. 2011 they moved to a new label: JKP – and now finally entering their first chart hit. Harter Weg (Hard Way) starts its life at position 41. Probably real punk fans might say the new sound of Broilers is too fun, too commercial … well, real punk never made its way into German charts. It was always a funny or ironic version … or even worse, a mainstream adapted cleansed kind of punk. I am not here to judge about that – find your own opinion:



After start of the movie Kids Turbo the soundtrack of it also rises up the list. Though Scooter’s Friends Turbo can’t impress that much jumping only 59 – 43. It is so far the lowest charting track in their whole career.


Assuming that there is something like a continental connection and productions from Europe should have a stronger link to Germany than others I always have a special look at European releases. In the case of Romanian INNA the link to Switzerland, France or the UK seems much stronger than the one to Germany. At least what the official charts can tell. Sun Is Up is listed in the dance charts and in the iTunes charts for weeks . It never made the way into the official charts. After being used on TV in the Germany’s Next Top Model show the track can enter the list. Sun Is Up jumps to number 26 on downloads only. It is this the highest place INNA made in her two and a half year long chart career.



Norwegian duo MADCON released a third single from their album Contraband. For Outrun The Sun they took also Maad*Moiselle into the studio. The single starts right now at position 27 just in the moment when Freaky Like Me slides down 34 – 46 in its 24th chart week. Even last year’s Glow is still appearing in the charts tumbling down this week 49 – 65. Certainly the new track will not match the success of its two predecessors.

Who loves German music?

Germany’s music lovers are lazy or tired of buying always the same sound. Or lazy of buying new CDs at all. Why do you spend money for music? Cause you are crazy about it, you want to listen to it again and again, you want to own it. Mostly you need no longer then a few days and you are looking for some new stuff. That’s how the music market all over the world works. It doesn’t work so well right now in Germany. We do have an almost static Top 15 this week. The newest song inside the Top 15 is number 2 – Sweat by Snoop Dogg vs David Guetta which is in the list for four weeks. A complete month without any attracting new release.

Highest new climber to the upper regions sits at 16 with Aloe Blacc jumping 17 places and finally pushing his Loving You Is Killing Me to Top 20 status. In its fourth chart week the track shows as a real successor of huge hit I Need A Dollar that climbed up to number 4 last autumn. The new track appears at some compilations such as BRAVO Black Hits 24 or the soundtrack of Germanys Next Top Model. Due to that TV show the track finally attracts some more people than it could as a pure CD single. By the way – CD market in Germany seems more and more under pressure. The Aloe Blacc single is not available everywhere. Even the biggest online seller amazon only lists the digital download version. That is a reason too why the track does not show up higher in the list. The rule of chart compiling media control of counting the amount of money spent on musci sales turns into a clear detriment for online singles. Probably this policy will be skipped very soon.

Almost the same story to tell about German production. We had to welcome in the last few weeks a lot of new German music – but the most successful track is still Strobo Pop by Die Atzen mit Nena which goes no higher than number 18 this week.
Number 2 of the German only list is occupied by Jupiter Jones and their first single hit Still. The band had some TV appearances – all outside the classic music industry shows. Finally they also appearedin the soap opera Hand aufs Herz (To be honest / Hand on your heart) which reaches a more younger audience. That constant presence made the single Still kind of a slow burner. In its seventh chart week the track reaches the Top 20 – right at number 20.


The TV performance at INA’s night – unplugged

Back as one of the three most popular (most sold) German tracks is Berlin City Girl by Berlin culcha candela. The track slides one place down in the official chart to number 32.It is already the14th chart week.

Talking bout German music we should have a look to the album charts. Highest new entry there are The Baseballs. Their second album Strings’n’stripes enters the list at number 6. Sounds good isn’t it? But let’s have a look outside Germany. In Austria the album starts at number 3, in Switzerland even at number 1. Topping the story their debut album Strike hit the list in the UK at number 4 – Germany only saw it at number 6. You probably know what I am going to tell you: German music is not that popular in Germany as it is outside. No wonder the single of The Baseballs Hello only enters the list at 100. In Austria it already climbed to number 41, Switzerland reports number 68. The original by Martin Solveig + Dragonette reigns in Germany still at number 11.

New entry at number 18 of the album chart are Frida Gold. Their debut single Zeig mir wie du tanzt (Show Me How You Dance) was highly promoted in November last year. Now the album Juwel (Jewel) follows and can gain number 18. Simoultaneously the second single Wovon sollen wir träumen (Of What We Should Dream Of) is climbing back the singles list to number 48.

Back in the charts after a one year break is the most successful act of the past two decades Scooter. Friends Turbo is the 45th chart entry for the trio. As they were a closed phenomenon always existing completely besides all trends and hypes they finally start to self-reference. Friends Turbo is nothing less than a cover of their number 3 hit Friends released in 1995. The honour of bringing Scooter back to life (although they never were dead in between) goes to a Dutch movie which just now came to German theatres: New Kids Turbo. The movie broke end of last year the Dutch record of people watching it at the very first weekend. In Germany the movie shot to number 1 at the first week too. So – be aware Friends Turbo jumping up the list in two weeks also. Meanwhile Scooter does have an 18th consecutive year at least one chart hit per year.


„Friends Turbo” and the Original of 1995

German track invasion

Sorry for being delayed. There is so much action going on in this world right now that one could mention mainstream pop as the most unimportant topic to talk about. Even in Germany polititians and blogging journalists are arguing heavily about what the accident in Fukushima after the earthquake and tsunami means to technological development in Germany. Nuclear energy or even better the end of it is a highly discussed topic in Germany since last summer. The world of pop meanwhile does not really take notice of the event.

The actual list of Friday 11th March is referring to sales within the week 25th February to 3rd March. One of the significant actions going on is the rise of hollywood hills offered by Sunrise Ave. The soft rock track of the Finnish band is one of the most played at German radio stations. So the physical release on 25th February gives the track a boost in sale making it rise 11 – 6. It is the second timethat Sunrise Ave can reach the upper places within the German list. Their only Top 10 hit before Fairytale Gone Bad went #3 in early 2007 – it is one of the tracks spending most weeks in the charts by collecting 70 weeks till today.

Having a second top10 track here Germany becomes the area where the band is most popular. Even in their home country Finland they only had two top 10 tracks. hollywood hills so far did not go further than #13. Expect the song staying within the German top 10 – the iTunes list notes the track at #4 (13th March) after they performed it live at Stefan Eaab’s WOK WM 2011 on 11th March.

Another Scandinavian act is gaining increasing popularity in Germany. Swedish Roxette climb with their comeback track She’s Got Nothing On (But The Radio) to #10. After 19 years they have finally a new track inside the top 10 in Germany. It is their ninth doing so. The recent album Charm School is listed at #7 in its 3rd chart week.

All in all we do have five European tracks inside the German top 10. The other half is completely occipied by US American acts.
Most popular (saying: most sold) German track is still Taken by a Stranger by Eurovision star Lena. The complete single’s ranking sees her falling 2 – 7 in its second week. Finally a video is available also:



Talking about German tracks – the most successfull new CD coming from Germany is another of the type: former GDR star gets its first commercial single hit more than 20 years after Germany’s unity. The artist I’m talking about is Ute Freudenberg. In the early 80s she was one of the most popular female artists in East Germany. In 1981 she had accompanied by her band Elefant a huge hit with Jugendliebe (Early Love). It is till today her most popular song. A voting by magazin Super Illu a few years ago proved it. In 1984 Ute Freudenberg exiled to Western Germany. She worked still as a singer but never managed to have broader success. Now in 2011 she finally can reach the masses. Accompanied with Christian Lais who had a small hit two years ago she tells the story about the life in cold war times. Auf den Dächern von Berlin (On The Tops Of Berlin) is kind of a romantic memory about youth life in East and West. Avoiding any critic look at the former times it heavily recalls the feeling of „At that time everything was much better …“ – a typical attitude of so called Schlager (the German term for soft pop songs sung in German and listened to mostly by an elder audience). After Silly one year before and Puhdys just two weeks ago Ute Freudenberg is now the third artist of the GDR who gets a first chart entry. Only Silly managed to do so on her own power (but not in original cast – cause former lead singer Tamara Danz died in 1996). The question is now: will more acts follow? Is 20 years of German unity enough to refer back to both cultures? I will keep watching it.



Next new track of a German producer comes at #45. DJ Ronny Rockstroh was creating kind of a new style in dance music. He combined electro dancefloor with German vocals – not only short screams but real lyrics. His first offering Licht (Light) gave him an entry at #75 in 2009. Last year he had success with Tanzen (Dancing) which was licensed by a major label blowing the track up to #37 as CD release. Now the new track Wolke 7 (Cloud #7) is available. As I found out the Kick Fresh label has released the track digital and on vinyl so far. A proper physical release on vinyl is not officially announced. Entering #45 this week the releae schedule will be re-written probably. Simple lyrics and a cliché serving video will help the track finding its way to the masses. The DDC dance chart lists the track at #4, the ODC dance chart show #8 and the Dance 50 have Wolke 7 at #2.



Back in German chart is band Wir sind Helden (We are Heroes). Singer of the band Judith Holofernes just had unintended promotion. Leading yellow press paper BILD requested her to give a personal statement for an ad campaign. She declined with an open letter calling the papaer a „dangerous political instrument”. Nonetheless BILD used the letter for an advertisement. That episode was discussed heavily within the German blogosphere. The mainstream market aint that impressed in contrast. New single of Wir sind Helden Alles auf Anfang (Back to square one) enters the German list at #63.



And yet another German release. To be more precise: a release under German participation. The USAmerican-Canadian-German band The Black Pony had its chart debut in December last year. Boys Are Crazy spent two weeks in the list climbing to #69.Scars And Bruises now has to promote the upcoming album Launched In The Pool scheduled for 18th March. The single enters the chart at #72.



Lower down between rank 80 to 100 a lot of other German releases are crowding into the chart. New tracks and older ones all are related to carnival – the so called fifth season which is very important to the German music business. You will see projects like Bläck Fööss (Black Feet) or Räuber (Bandits) rising much higher next week. This issue is with 21 tracks not listed a fortnight before the most turned around of this year so far.

Not a German production but popular right now in German speaking countries only cause of its use within the German movie Kokowäh (German transliteration of „Coq au vin“) is Snowflakes by White Apple Tree. The US American synth pop trio aint well known even in their home country. They had their album debut almost one year ago with the Velvet Mustache not including the 2008 single Snowflakes. Now – with long lasting success of the movie (in its fifth week Kokowäh still holds #2 within the movie charts) UNIVERSAL decided to release the track as a full CD single including a new remix by movie maker and actor Til Schweiger. Two weeks ahead the download only track enters the chart at #31. It seems to be certain having the track soon much higher – probably top 10. Chances of getting similar success in the US are quite small. The very 80s influenced sound attracts European music lovers much more. Snowflakes is by the way the third track of the Kokowäh sound track which enters the charts. Predecessors were HURTS and The Script.



Last story about German specific chart actions: there were a few older pop tracks re-entering the charts in the last few weeks. Most of them were caused by a performance within the DSDS – Deutschland sucht den Superstar show (Germany is searching for superstar – German version on Idols). The first proper show backing the battle of the last 10 favourites was aired on 26. February featuring the topic „Super Hits”. Although some blogs saw Sebastian Wurth as the best performer the song attracting most viewers was With You performed by 18year old Pietro Lombardi. The original version by Chris Brown was a medium hit in 2008 reaching #33. Now the track appears again at #51.



You Raise Me Up performed in the show by Sebastian Wurth is back at #75. It is the second succesfull track in Germany of Irish band Westlife. In 2006 it ranked no higher than #11. Since then it came back four times – always as an effect of interpretations in casting shows. Now the track starts its sixth chart run with a position he had not seen since two years. It is the 31st chart week for the song.

Song number three from the DSDS show is In My Head by jason derülo which can reappear after a three months break at #80. In the show the song was interpreted by Ardian Bujupi

Find more about the DSDS show of 26th Feburary.