If you are reading this article in Germany, please forgive me for delivering old news. Here in America, we do not hear about the Puhdys every day. My personal opinion is that they are one of the greatest rock bands of all time, and that American rock fans should have an open mind about music in languages other than English.
Back in 1973, I remember picking up a copy of "Neues Deutschland", the East German Socialist Unity Party official mouthpiece. The odd thought occurred to me that the weather report would be identical for East and West Berlin, despite the fact that they seemed to be separate worlds.
I have the same feeling about the Puhdys, who spent the first two decades of their stardom under East German rule. They composed soulful lyrics about everything from marriage to divorce to their feelings about Germany. There were even times that it seems that they used allegory to get around censorship. They had top quality music that sounded like it came from a real band and not from a computer. They had great lyrics, all of which csn be found on their web site. I wrote them a fan letter years ago and they sent me back a nice post card.
The Rolling Stones and the Beatles are all in their sixties. The Puhdys are in the same age range. Their band is together but the country (German "Democratic" Republic) broke up. I was worried about how they would adapt to the change of living in a united, capitalist Germany. They have done just fine.
How well have they done? I just heard a song they released in 2009, which was almost 20 years after their country (not their band!) went belly up. I was worried that they would get all modern and put out music that sounded like it was spit out by a computer. With "Hier Oben", a song that deals with flying above Africa, they had the old "real rock band" sound that has had me hooked since the 1970's. I was delighted of course that they have the freedom to fly over Africa that was largely unavailable to the average East German before the wall came down. The lyrics were well worth the trouble of translating them (As always) Please excuse my rough and unpoetic translation
Ich sitz im flieger schau ins all (I sit in an airplane and look at everything
Sterne scheinen so nah (Stars look so close)
Der mond scheint mir wie ein kristall (The moon looks like a crystal)
Und unter mir liegt afrika (And under me is Africa)
Erinnere mich an episoden aus meiner jugendzeit (I remember incidents from my youth)
An wilde träume und illusionen (Of wild dreams and illusions)
Vom fliegen um die welt (of flying around the world)
Erwachsen werden hatte zeit ((There was time to grow up)
Und jetzt bin ich hier oben (And now I am up here)
Vom boden abgehoben (plucked off the ground)
Und fliege durch mein leben (and fly through my life)
Dem neuen tag entgegen (to meet the new day)
Ich war als teenie schon ein rock´n roll star ( As a teen I was already a rock star)
Und elvis sang in meiner band (Elvis sang in my band)
Brigitte bardot hat mich geliebt wunderbar (Brigitte Bardot loved me dearly)
Doch leider ohne happy end (Sadly, it did not end happily)
Und jetzt bin ich hier oben (And now I am up here)
Vom boden abgehoben (plucked from the ground)
Und fliege durch mein leben ( and fly through my life)
Dem neuen tag entgegen (to meet the new day)
Und jetzt bin ich hier oben
Vom boden abgehoben
Und fliege durch mein leben
Dem neuen tag entgegen
Und jetzt bin ich hier oben
Vom boden abgehoben
Und fliege durch mein leben
Dem neuen tag entgegen
Dem neuen tag entgegen
Dem neuen tag entgegen
It is so good to hear new music from the band a generation of East Germans grew up with and to know that they are still doing well. Here is one Ami (German slang for American) who wishes them all the best. Thank you Puhdys. Ich Danke Euch. ( I thank you)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkjvDXQa8iQ&feature=related
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