The love parade is a mega techno music even in Germany event that started about 20 years ago. That also shows me how old I got in the meantime. Since then it attracts every year, with some interruptions here and there, up to 1.6 million people from all over the world who have the largest techno party in the world. The event has moved from the Ku’damm in Berlin to the Ruhrgebiet to cities like Essen in 2007, Dortmund in 2008 and now Duisburg in 2010.
Before every love parade there is a traditional Kampf (struggle) between the organizers of the event and the potential city venues. Nobody wants to take over the Kosten (the cost) of the more than necessary clean up after the event. The parade has turned more into a techno related “sehen und gesehen werden” (to see and to be seen) with people trying to out do them in craziness and creativity depending on your own personal view.
The Love Parade has turned into a very commercial oriented music event after it was being used by only a few people 20 years ago when techno was less than popular and was mostly laughed due to the lack of musical understanding and technical limits of the people who produced the techno songs. Comparable to the second Woodstock we have seen in New York years ago the development goes more into a mainstream happening proven by the growing numbers of participants every year. The initiators “DJ Westbam” and “Dr. Motte” are ready for a well deserved retirement but can still be found at the love parade when it takes place.
Because of the trance like atmosphere at the love parade the mostly younger crowd is also know as the “Techno Jünger” (Techno disciple/follower) who cheer their favorite DJs on while they drive very slowly through the crowded streets on their converted trailer which function as individual party stages. If you are ready for a lot of unusual fun, watch out for the love parade in Duisburg in the summer of 2010.
Ruhrgebiet – Ruhr area
Der Kampf – the struggle, the fight
Die Kosten – the cost
Sehen und gesehen werden – to see and to be seen
Der Jünger – the disciple / follower
Friede, Freude, Eierkuchen – peace, joy and pancakes (German saying for everybody being happy and in agreement)
Comments:
ronin:
thanks alot
wish icould be there 🙂
Martin:
Very interesting post…I hadn’t heard about this event previously. But poorly written; this blogger needs an editor….
holger:
Yes, me too. I just saw an article today in a German newspaper that they are still fighting about the cost. Just like every year….
Marita:
That sounds like so much fun! I’ve never been to one – just watched it on TV – but I thought the Love Parade was always in Berlin – I guess not…