German music, dancing and songs.

Das Leben ist ein Wuerfelspiel:

Oh well, "Zum Wohle"!

Ein Jaeger aus Kurpfalz:

Im Wald, Im Grünen Walde:

Die freie Republik.

Back in 1990 I was in Germany, and to make a long story short, there I was, a 15-year-old, thinking we were going to have a formal supper.

And next thing everybody goes:

"Hand uf de Tisch, hand uf de Tisch ...".

Eventually they're crawling on the floor.

"Tra-la-la laa".

Then they're on the chairs reaching up to the ceiling.

And then everybody sits down for a fairly formal dinner.

And that was a normal apartment, not a weird cult or anything.

But then again people of their generation (grandparents now, after the war) had to make their own entertainment.

Stella Maris

Hoch auf dem gelben Wagen:

Gebrüder Blattschuss - Kreuzberger Nächte (ZDF).

Daniel Buckvitch - Symphony no. 1 (Dresden).

I didn't know that eagles could dance! But as satellites are mapping every inch on Earth, I didn't know that the Chinese still uses balloons either...

So Lang Der Alte Peter:



Unofficial anthem of Munich.

Nimm Diese Roten Rosen

Gluek Auf:

I think I was 7 or 8.

At that time Germans in Cape Town had an expat culture, and the German Club in Cape Town.

Speaking like late 1980's (long gone now).

And we went for this Mother's Day lunch, and every German in town was present.

But they clearly overbooked or something, because nothing was coming out of the kitchen.

Finally Frau T. (who did my granny's and mom's hair at the time) has had enough, and barges into the kitchen to help herself.

She returns with a triumphant plate of Eisbein, with dollops of mash and sauerkraut.

"Ah so" ... next thing there's an orderly line to the kitchen and everyone is fed.