music

For German language learners, Alligatoah may well be an appealing musician. It’s difficult to label the solo artist more specifically with a single title. He raps and he sings. He’s hip hop and he’s indie. He’s very poppy. Fans of Kraftklub might want to take notice and give Alligatoah a listen. And this month, we’ll […]

After last month’s German music feature of VSK with some old school hip hop, this month let’s practice German with some modern rap by way of the duo Audio88 & Yassin. The Berlin-based pair may already be familiar to fans of KIZ, as they made an appearance on the trio’s stellar last album (Hurra die

This month we’re going old school to learn German with the rap stylings of Das Verbale Style Kollektiv. Dust off your boombox, your turntable, and maybe grab a piece of cardboard for breakdancing! The group swears off popular trends and styles in order to return to the roots of hip hop. The sounds that, undoubtedly,

Often, bands with a female frontwoman receive attention for all the wrong reasons: but not so with Silbermond. The longtime German pop rock quartet have made a name for themselves with a sound that is power pop but not without an edge. It’s a formula that has made Silbermond a favorite among German speakers. So

For German indie pop band Die Höchste Eisenbahn less is more. The band is strategic with their carefully crafted melodies. In a world where more is more and we’re constantly being inundated with ever greater and more self-indulgent ideas, Die Höchste Eisenbahn is the antithesis. German language learners will find their clear, precise music ideal

If you’re into rock and punk then you should look no further than one of Germany’s popular and current bands, Feine Sahne Fischfilet. These days, rock and punk are (sadly) not at the top of the charts, no matter where you look in the world. But Feine Sahne Fischfilet’s punk and ska sound is cool,

After last month’s focus on Austrian Volks-Rock’n’Roller Andreas Gabalier, I thought we’d keep the Schlager vibe going. This month let’s learn German with the music of Helene Fischer. With her blending of pop music and Schlager, Fischer is Germany’s biggest artist, best-selling singer and the most downloaded German artist of all-time.

If my previous posts featuring German musicians in the rock, punk, and rap arenas didn’t speak to you, then maybe the music of Andreas Gabalier will be more your speed. For the last decade, Andreas Gabalier has been topping the music charts in Germany and in his native Austria with his modern pop take on

The classics are always in style. Nowhere is that more true than in music. A good song is timeless, whether it’s classical symphonies or rock tunes that get your toes tapping. This month to learn and practice German with music, I’m featuring a classic German rock musician: Marius Müller-Westernhagen. From his roots in the 1970s

It is difficult to find anything unlikable about German singer Clueso. For years the clean cut singer has been making memorable pop music. And unlike some of the pop music out there, this is a musician who is all about substance not gimmicks. Quite simply, he can sing. He makes the kind of music that

The solo albums of German singer-songwriter Thees Uhlmann have those ideal qualities that make them perfect for those of us who are learning the German language. Uhlmann’s delivery is clean and crisp. What makes many of his songs special is the understated simplicity; which, for a language learner, makes it easier for us to understand.

If you follow German music, hip hop or just culture, then you’re likely already familiar with Sido. He was, or depending on your point of view still is, a gangsta rapper with songs about Berlin’s seedy underside of drugs, sex and money. But he’s also a pop favorite with some catchy hooks that have wide