Euro Music Talk

The beer-luvers have said it all and gone home. The Oktoberfest 2007 unfolded yesterday but it set brand-new records and amusing surprises.

This year, Munich in Germany might have received less visitors but my, they consumed more liters of beer!

Of all the 6,2 millions of visitors, 300.000 didn’t show up compared to 2006. Nevertheless the beer consumption was more than everybody expected.

No wonder the fair stall owners were satisfied: the people were thirsty.

German-speaking local musical heroes of course dominated the music/entertainment scene like the Austrian folk rapper DJ Ötzi, whose catchy “Hey Baby” became No. 1 in Britain and Australia years ago. His song “Ein Stern der Deinen Namen trägt” (A star that your name carries) landed No. 1 before “Lasso-Song” from Olaf Henning.

But the big surprise went to newcomers Kaiser Chiefs. The English rock band from Leeds whose hit “Ruby” off their second album “Yours Truly, Angry Mob” was clearly the drunken crowd’s favourite.

Kaiser Chiefs, you have arrived!

Hear your song being played on German TV, celebrated at the most famous Bacchanalia in the face of the planet Earth.

A short backgrounder, the original Oktoberfest is a three-week festival held each year in Bavaria, Munich, starting from September till October.

It first happened in the year of 1810 in honor of the Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig’s (Ludwig I) marriage to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. It began on October 12, 1810 and ended on October 17th with a horse race. In the following years, the celebrations were repeated and, later, the festival was prolonged and moved forward into September.

To accommodate Germany’s reunification in 1989 the schedule was modified so it will go on or touch the October 3rd (German Unity Day).

The festival is held on an area called the Theresienwiese (Wiese being meadows in German and Theresia is either Theresa or Therese). The Germans call it “d’ Wiesn” for short. Beer plays a central role in the fair, with every festival beginning with a keg of beer tapped by the mayor of Munich who declares “O’zapft is!” (Bavarian: “It’s tapped!”).

According to the facts and figures, only local Bavarian breweries are allowed to serve this beer in a Bierzelt, a beer tent which is large enough for thousands.

Not only they consume beer but also the visitors consume large quantities of food, such as sausage (Wurst), hendl (chicken), käsespätzle (cheese noodles), and sauerkraut, along with such Bavarian delicacies as roast ox tails and pretzel.

The average visitors might not wear the traditional clothing but men and women of prominence and other enthusiasts either wear a lederhosen (for the males) or Dirndl (for the women). Paris Hilton showed up in 2006 adorning her own rendition of golden modern Dirndl while happily proclaiming that she loves German beer in front of the amused crowd.

This year the Bavarian mayor Christian Ude said that everything was in order. Even the Red Cross and the police reported that the fair was mainly positive this year. It didn’t leave huge accidents but minor ones. Around 7.363 visitors had to be treated, 504 cases lesser than last year. Though last Saturday, the police had to interfere when at least 100 people were arrested.

Other cities around the world also hold their own Oktoberfest. Next year, it will happen again on September 20 till October 5.

To know more about the fair and the region of Munich, check this out.

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Oktoberfest, Kaiser Chiefs, Ruby, DJ Ötzi, Christian Ude, Paris Hilton, dirndl, lederhosen, Olaf Henning

Austropop should live on. But in the eyes of the Austrian radios, there’s not much to offer so what’s the big deal?

More and more imported music is in and it comes from the United States.

Statistics show that Austrian musicians don’t get enough airplay in their own country in spite of the many “cultural contracts” they have from the Austrian main broadcasting company, the ORF, which pretty owns many TV and radio stations here.

The ORF works like a monopoly until it loosened up its grip a few years ago. But despite the many attempts of private individuals to establish their own stations, ORF still gets the higher ratings and audience number. That’s why it makes sense that many local musicians are looking up to ORF to promote their work.

ORF’s pop radio station Ö3 in particular plays less and less Austropoppers. Compared to its sister station, the indie/alternative FM4, still regularly promotes domestic musicians or German-speaking bands/musicians. Still, the news isn’t flowery.

And no, present darling Christina Stürmer can’t save it too.

While the portion of Austropop amounted to 1997 still 23.3 per cent, the Austrian ratio sank to .06 to 14.3 per cent … As of 2005 and 2006 the portion of Austropop sank from 6.2 per cent to 4,97 per cent.

“An obvious discrimination,” said the trade unionist and musician Peter Paul Skrepek.

Not only the the musicians complain of the radios it is rare that their songs used as jingles or background music. One politician from Graz suggested that all radio stations should allot 40 per cent of the airplay to the local artists.

Perhaps the lounge pop Saint Privat is the exemption. A couple of the band’s singles are used as musical accompaniment–from Austrian women’s magazine to coffee.

The band’s music appeals to non-Austrians as well. And no, they don’t sing a lot of times in English. In fact, singer Valerie Sadjik croons often in French. But they have style and they don’t use the tied-and-tried formula unlike other musicians who refuse to explore beyond their limits.

Sample “Tous les Jours” from Saint Privat.

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Saint Privat, Austropop, Christina Stürmer, Valerie Sadjik, ORF

Does “Rock Me Amadeus” ring a bell? How about “Vienna Calling” or “Der Kommissar”?

It was 1986. I was 13. Pop music was at its finest. Sometime, somewhere there was an odd-sounding pop singer rapping in a strange staccato manner about the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The melody was fun, repetitive and most of all annoying but fun nonetheless.

Falco was the name. And he was considered to be a rising star that time. Though in his hometown Vienna, he had lots of fans and was revered, he had also some share of people mocking about his newfound fame. Especially, his former band, the members of Drahdibawerl. Though in the English-speaking countries he is considered to be a one-hit wonder, he certainly managed to get to the top of his career enjoying two Top 20 songs (US) and two Top 10 songs (UK).

Before Christina Stürmer became a hit, there was Falco. Born Johann “Hans” Hölzel in Vienna, Austria, he was considered a prodigy. He graduated from the world-renowned Vienna Music Conservatory in 1977. For a short while he lived Berlin, West Germany, singing in a jazz-rock band. From 1978 to 1983, he served as the bassist for the Austrian punk band Drahdiwaberl, headed by retired high school art teacher Stefan weber. The only Viennese band who got to play at the legendary CBGB in New York. The feedback was insane and the band became notorious of their elaborate stage acts that didn’t satisfy the audience.

Before Falco left the group he penned the song “Ganz Wien” with the band. Throughout the ’80s, Austria and the rest of Europe had become his stage. While other musicians such as After the Fire (”Der Kommissar”) and Laura Branigan (”Deep in the Dark”) translated his songs to English.

He reached the top then came the downward spiral. There were failed singles, lukewarm audience reception and drug use. His appeal waned. After numerous attempts to revive his sleeping career, on February 6, 1998, the singer had an accident. He died of severe injuries after he Mitsubishi Pajero collided with a bus near the resort of Puerto Plata, in the Dominican Republic. According to autopsy, his blood showed high blood levels of alcohol and cocaine. He was working on a new album when he died. Some said it was a suicide. His body lies at the Zentralfriedhof (Central Cemetery) in Vienna, Austria.

Austrian director Thomas Roth is planning to release a film bio just in time for Falco’s death 10th anniversary. Titled, “Falco - Verdammt, wir leben noch!” (Damn, we are still alive!), after several actors /artists denied to play the tragic singer, Manuel Rubey of the Austrian band Mondscheiner eventually landed to portray Falco.

The singer still lives on. At least in Vienna.

Falco, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Christina Stürmer, Drahdiwaberl, Laura Branigan, Rock Me Amadeus, Mondscheiner, Thomas Roth, Manuel Rubey

Usually music festivals happen during summer but not so often. If you happen to be somewhere between Vienna, Austria and Reykjavík, Iceland, starting from this month till the middle of October you might want to check out Kulttour Rocks Vienna and Iceland Airwaves 2007.

Kulttour features Austria’s shooting pop/rock star Christina Stürmer, who is the current darling of Austropop, will be there along with Germany’s Nevada Pop and Sorgente. Sugababes from United Kingdom is the highlight tonight at 5:30 p.m.

While Iceland Airwaves 2007 takes place starting October 17 every year till the 21st. GusGus will be one of the featured bands.

Kulttour, Iceland Airwaves, Sugababes, Christina Stürmer, Sorgente, Nevada Pop, GusGus