{"id":5004,"date":"2014-06-13T23:17:40","date_gmt":"2014-06-13T23:17:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/?p=5004"},"modified":"2014-08-29T01:40:37","modified_gmt":"2014-08-29T01:40:37","slug":"andreas-gabalier-spices-up-german-folk-music","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/andreas-gabalier-spices-up-german-folk-music\/","title":{"rendered":"Andreas Gabalier spices up German folk music"},"content":{"rendered":"

It is an open secret. German folk music is not very popular among young Germans. Women in dirndl dresses. Men in leather pants and Tyrolean hats. Someone is playing the accordion. Another one is playing any other folksy instrument, for example, the tuba or the bugle. All dressed up they sing about love in a way … and this takes getting used to it.<\/p>\n

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German folk music OR Embarrassment knows no limits<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Take a look at the song Ein Kreuz und eine Rose<\/strong><\/em> (lit. A cross and a rose) by the Kastelruther Spatzen<\/a> (lit. The sparrows of Kastelruth). This song is sung by\u00a0a mature man who has recently been abandoned by his beloved. Unfortunately, the lovelorn one had a tattoo done while he had been living in peace and harmony with his dream woman. Now, after the brak-up the symbol of his love is everything that has remained.<\/p>\n

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Abstract of \u201cEin Kreuz und eine Rose\u201d by the Kastelruther Spatzen<\/strong><\/h2>\n
[\u2026]<\/pre>\n
Und das Kreuz bedeutet Liebe, \u2013 And the cross means love<\/pre>\n
und die Rose, das war sie. \u2013 and the rose, it was her.<\/pre>\n
In die Haut gebrannt \u2013 Burned into the skin<\/pre>\n
vergesse ich sie nie. \u2013 I will never forget her.<\/pre>\n
[\u2026]<\/pre>\n
Wie oft hat er es zu l\u00f6schen versucht, \u2013 How many times has he tried to erase it,<\/pre>\n
wie oft hat er dieses Fernweh verflucht? \u2013 How often has he cursed this distance?<\/pre>\n
Und ein paar Tr\u00e4nen fallen \u2013 And some tears are falling down<\/pre>\n
herab auf sein Tattoo. \u2013 upon his tattoo.<\/pre>\n
[\u2026]<\/pre>\n
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The reason why\u00a0German folk music so unpopular among younger Germans<\/strong><\/h1>\n
The reason why most \u2013 mainly younger \u2013 Germans do fremdsch\u00e4men<\/em> (to feel ashamed for someone else who has done or is doing something embarrassing) could be:\u00a0The obvious maturity of the artists does not match their juvenile-like portrayal of romantic topics.<\/p>\n
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Andreas Gabalier: The Elvis Presley look-alike of German folk music<\/strong><\/h1>\n
He is wearing the most beautiful pompadour since Elvis Presley. Andreas Gabalier shows that German folk music can also be funky. Of course, it is still a matter of taste whether you like or don\u2019t like this kind of music but in comparison to other German folk musicians I am sure that many young Germans have, at least secretly, sung along\u00a0his songs.<\/p>\n
Andreas Gabalier sings in Austrian German since he was born in Graz. More precisely he sings in Styrian, which makes his music special once more. He also sings about love but uses a rather subtle choice of language.<\/p>\n
I chose his hit \u201cI sing a Liad fia di\u201d and translated it into standard German and English. I hope you like the song as much as I do.<\/p>\n
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