Alphaville - Did You Know?

March 8, 2018

Music facts, music trivia, interesting stories and much more. Introducing the "Did You Know" page about German synthpop/new wave band, Alphaville.

Enjoy!

 

 

Alphaville is a German synthpop/new wave band that was formed in 1982 in Münster, Germany.

Alphaville was founded by Marian Gold (singer, real name: Hartwig Schierbaum), Bernhard Lloyd (real name: Bernhard Gössling) and Frank Mertens (real name: Frank Sorgatz).

The band achieved chart success with their singles "Big in Japan", "Forever Young", "Dance With Me", "Sounds Like a Melody", "Jet Set", "Romeos" and "Jerusalem."

The interesting fact of the day is about one of Alphaville's most successful and popular songs, "Big in Japan," that was released in 1984. It seems that the title big in Japan is kind of a joke. Many rock bands that are well past their prime, continue to be "big in Japan" long after they cannot draw a large audience in the US or UK.

The song really tells about a couple of lovers who are trying to get off heroin. The two imagine how great it can be to love without the drug: No clients, no stealing, no ice age on in the pupil, real emotions, true worlds.

"Big in Japan" was Alphaville's only UK Top 75 hit, as it reached the No. 8 spot on the UK Singles chart, but did top the Hot Dance Club Play in December of 1984.

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On the surface, the song "Forever Young" by Alphaville is a hopeful song celebrating the virtues of youth, but if you listen closely, you'll hear that the song is actually about the fear of aging and death.

"Forever Young" was written during the cold war, where the singer is "hoping for the best, but expecting the worst; are you gonna drop the the bomb or not?"

Compare ticket prices to Alphaville concerts

 

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