Professor Römhild, why has German pop become so varied?
Germany has been an immigrant society for years now, and this is also reflected in its cultural life – from everyday culture to music. Our society still associates migrants far too much with problems and difficulties with integration. Yet this ignores how much young migrants in particular are contributing to the development of Germany’s culture. For example, a huge variety of international musical styles are being combined with German influences. The younger generations are much less fixated on such categories as nationality or musical niches. Although many people have been using their music to come to terms with the political situation in Germany.
In what way?
Advanced Chemistry, the pioneers of German hip-hop, had a hit in 1992 with Fremd im eigenen Land (Stranger In Your Own Country), a single that explicitly addressed the problems of immigrants in Germany. And a star like Xavier Naidoo has been a committed opponent of racism since 2000, working with Afro-German rappers in the Brothers Keepers music network.
Xavier Naidoo became known through the rap scene, but he’s long-since arrived in the mainstream ...
Many musicians with a migrant background have developed in that way. But also a music-loving filmmaker like Fatih Akin has become very popular. Akin, who DJs in clubs, uses a lot of different of musical styles in his films – from Afro-American soul to Turkish rock. This is also why people abroad see him as a representative of a new Germany.
For many years German pop music looked very much to American role models for ideas.
People have a much wider range of influences these days. Balkan Beat plays an important role. So does Greek and Turkish pop. Another example is the successful Orient Deluxe Parties on the Frankfurt club scene, where Mediterranean and Turkish-Oriental house music is played. In Frankfurt’s Global City in particular, it’s the migrants who are influencing the club scene – as musicians and club owners. Many have moved on to Berlin, too, which is a magnet for creative people worldwide. And successful groups like Seeed and Culcha Candela are walking advertisements for what the city has to offer.
Professor Dr. Regina Römhild researches and teaches at the Institute of European Ethnology of Humboldt-Universität, Berlin.
