10 Amazing Songs to Learn German
Learning a new language is fun and exciting, but it can also be tough — and German is no exception! One of the hardest parts for many German learners is speaking and getting the pronunciation right, which can make you feel frustrated and unsure. However, don’t worry! The 10 songs to learn German we’ll explore in this article are a great help in learning the language. They are not only fun to listen to and sing along with but, because they are authentic learning resources, they also help you understand how the language works in real life and give you a peek into German culture.
Here are 10 amazing German songs that will help you to learn the language and pick up some of the linguistic nuggets hidden within.
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1. Monotonie (1981) by Ideal
Monotonie in der Südsee / Melancholie bei dreißig Grad / Monotonie unter Palmen
“Monotony in the South Seas / Melancholy at thirty degrees / Monotony under palm trees”
If you’re looking to practice German locative prepositions such as in, bei, and unter, this song is a perfect choice. “Monotonie” features straightforward lyrics set to a relaxing reggae rhythm, mentioning various distant holiday spots, including foreign countries, cities, and islands. Moreover, it opens up the floor for discussions on travel, making it ideal for intermediate to advanced learners. If you’re studying German with a friend, consider using this as an opportunity to talk about your travel highs and lows – naturally, in German!
2. Nur ein Wort (2005) by Wir sind Helden
Ich sehe, was du denkst / Ich denke, was du fühlst / Ich fühle, was du willst / Aber ich hör’ dich nicht
“I see what you think / I think what you feel / I feel what you want / But I don’t hear you”
“Nur ein Wort” is an engaging pop-rock track that delves into the uncertainties of unreciprocated love. The lyrics, as shown above, are composed of straightforward, short phrases in the present tense, filled with slang commonly used by young people. Moreover, the music video is particularly accessible for beginners in German, as the band presents the key lyrics on large signs.
3. Für mich soll’s rote Rosen regnen (1968) by Hildegard Knef
Mit 16, sagte ich still / ich will groß sein / will siegen froh sein / nie lügen
“At 16, I said quietly / I want to be big / I want to be happy / and never lie”
“Es sollten rote Rosen regnen für mich” (It Should Rain Red Roses for Me) is a classic song from the 60s, during a period when Germany was still in search of its unique musical style. Post-war German music often combined foreign melodies with German lyrics, as seen in this song, inspired by French chanson. The lyrics are filled with modal verb constructions and offer a rich tapestry of tenses, reflecting the singer’s contemplations on life and how her perspectives shift with age. For advanced German learners, this song offers a chance to delve into the historical period of the 1960s, serving as a trigger to do a bit of research on the cultural and musical landscape of post-war Germany.
4. Die da?!? (1992) by Die Fantastischen Vier
Hallo Thomas (Hallo, alles klar?) / Es ist schon wieder Freitag / es ist wieder diese Bar
“Hello Thomas (Hello, everything alright?) / It’s Friday again, it’s that bar again”
Die da?? is a cult classic from Germany’s first hip-hop band. The two rappers sing about having met a girl around the same time. But, for some strange reason, the girl is never available on Fridays. One day, they find out that they’re dating the same girl who goes out with yet another boyfriend on Friday. The lyrics aren’t too difficult but, being a rap song, beginners or intermediate learners probably need the lyrics to follow along. The chorus is perfect for learners thanks to the use of demonstrative pronouns (die da: that one) and relative clauses.
Plus, it’s also a great starting point to talk about cheating!
5. Warum? (1997) by Tic Tac Toe
Wir kannten uns seit Jahren, sind zusammen abgefahren
Uns gehörte die Welt und dafür brauchten wir kein Geld
“We’ve known each other for years, we went down together
The world was ours and we didn’t need any money for it”
Another hip-hop song, Warum (Why) is a 1997 hit by an all-girl rapper trio who loved to take on important social and cultural topics. This is about losing a best friend to drugs, missing the signs, and how easy it is to get angry at a loved one for choosing that path. As you can see from the lyrics above, this is one of the best German songs to practice various past tenses.
A companion German film that addresses similar themes is “Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo,” (We Children from Zoo Station) which portrays the dark realities of drug addiction among teenagers in Berlin. Using both the song “Warum?” and the film “Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Zoo” could form the basis of an impactful and educational session with friends.
6. König von Deutschland (1986) by Rio Reiser
Ich würd’ Vivaldi hören tagein, tagaus / Ich käm’ viel rum, würd’ nach USA
“I would listen to Vivaldi day in and day out / I would get around a lot, would go to the USA”
König von Deutschland, which means King of Germany, is the perfect song to practice the German conditional tense. Since this is about all the different things the singer would do if he were king of Germany, the lyrics are full of lines in the conditional form. Do you see how German songs can be great learning resources?
7. AWG (Alles wird gut) (2014) by Farin Urlaub Racing Team
Wozu sind wir hier und was ist eigentlich der Sinn des Lebens?
“Why are we here and what is the meaning of life?”
German songs do not only help you improve your pronunciation, but they are also great for cementing your knowledge of grammar. This song, for example, is great for practicing WH-questions such as wozu (why) and was (what).
But, what is the song about? Basically, the singer uses the song as a platform to criticize people who are unable to live in the ‘here and now’ and prefer to focus on the future. He tells them to loosen up and take each day as it comes. Not a bad tip, right?
8. Kein Liebeslied (2012) by Kraftklub
Weil ich mag wie du tanzt und du tanzt ganz allein
Und ich mag wie du dich bewegst, mag wie du redest
“Because I like how you dance all alone
And I like the way you move and the way you talk”
How can you tell someone that you love them without feeling embarrassed? By making a song, of course. In Kein Liebeslied, the singer gives all the reasons why he is in love while saying how awkward he feels revealing his emotions like that. Since the song is a list of reasons why the singer is in love, it’s one of the best German songs on our list if you want to learn how German people present arguments and explain things.
9. Berlin (2021) by Olympya
Sie saßen im Park an ei´m Nachmittag / Zu Zweit / Da hat sie gesagt / wir sind fast wie ein Paar
“They were sitting in the park one afternoon / The two of them /Then she said, ‘we are almost like a couple.'”
The rich history and vibrant culture of Berlin have inspired countless songs throughout the ages, such as “Berlin” by Lou Reed and “First We Take Manhattan” by Leonard Cohen. This 2021 tune is one of the newer ones and it tells of a tender love story that takes place in the summer. The song has a true summer feel to it, as well as simple lyrics that even beginner learners will be able to enjoy.
10. Rock Me Amadeus (1985) by Falco
Lastly, from Austria, we have the iconic “Rock Me Amadeus” (1985) by Falco, a tribute to the legendary composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Austria’s pride. The song, mainly in the present tense, consists of concise lines and uses many adjectives to depict the famed musician. Mozart is portrayed as both an enfant terrible and a wunderkind, terms signifying a young, unconventional talent and a child prodigy, respectively. Beginner learners will find this song particularly approachable, as roughly 40% of its lyrics are in English.
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The songs to learn German we’ve explored today are an effective and enjoyable method for learning the language. They allow you to improve your pronunciation, expand your vocabulary, and grasp grammatical structures, all while engaging with the cultural and linguistic subtleties of the German language. Each track listed in today’s blog serves as a unique gateway to understanding German better.
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And while music is a fantastic starting point, why stop there? If you’re eager to deepen your understanding of German, LovLan is here to help elevate your language skills. On our platform, you can connect with experienced tutors tailored to your learning needs. We invite you to explore the profiles of our German tutors and find the perfect match for you, based on their availability, experience, and teaching style.
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