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Wir sind Helden

About:

Wir sind Helden is a band from Berlin. While it is difficult to categorise, the group's style has often been considered similar to that of the Neue Deutsche Welle. Other comparisons have been made to Rio Reiser and the music of the Hamburger Schule. Songs such as 'Denkmal' ('Memorial') bear resemblance to 'Nur ein Wort' ('Just one Word') evoke New Order. The video for 'Nur ein Wort' was an imitation of Bob Dylan's famous 60s 'Subterranean Homesick Blues' "video". The sense of humour evident in many Wir sind Helden lyrics and videos sets them apart from the more earnest end of Indie music, however.

In 2002, Wir sind Helden broke onto the German music scene with their song 'Guten Tag' ('Good day'), which reached no. 53 on the German singles charts and got significant airplay on MTV Europe, even though the band did not have a record deal. The band's debut album 'Die Reklamation' (2003) entered the German album charts at number six and eventually reached number two. Their popularity was significantly increased when Judith Holofernes appeared on television on the Harald Schmidt Show, which led their small club tour to immediately sell out. Their second album 'Von hier an blind' (2005) entered at the top of German and Austrian charts and remained in the top ten for twenty weeks.

Wir sind Helden often supports other bands by giving them the opportunity to open at their concerts. In particular, Astra Kid and the two-man-band Olli Schulz und der Hund Marie had significant exposure during tours with Wir sind Helden.

In late 2006 singer Judith Holofernes and drummer Pola Roy took time off from the band to have a baby. The band returned in 2007 with the album 'Soundso' ('So and So') and a series of concerts across Germany. They have sinced announced another break following their 2008 tour and the conclusion of their recording contract with EMI. In 2010 they sign with Sony for their fourth album. Inbetween singer Judith Holofernes. gives birth to her second child. The second single of the album 'Bring mich nach Hause' is the titlesong for the movie 'Die kommenden Tage'. In 2014 Judith presented a solo album.

On the web:

- The Wir Sind Helden website: http://www.wirsindhelden.com

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What do we think:

DB: Compared to acts like MIA, Rosenstolz and Tocotronic, WSH did succeed to expand to countries outside Europe. Helped a bit by the Football championships where their song 'Wenn es passiert' was played a lot. I doubt if they can keep that popularity since their music is still very German pop. They are a good band but to me they don't have a unique thing i don't find with the other named bands. Or they should decide to do a Tokyo Hotel and rerecord their music in English (God forbid). If they do that they probably will sound like an easy version of the Guano Apes (iieeew). And that's bad. Let's just keep 'm as they are. A good German pop-rock band

PR: XXXXX

Recommended:

♪♪♪ - Die Reklamation - 2003

♪♪♪♪ - Von hier an blind - 2005

♪♪♪ - Soundso - 2007

♪♪♪♪ - Bring mich nach Hause - 2010

Judith Holofernes solo:

♪♪♪ - Ein Leichtes Schwert - 2014

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♪♪♪♪♪ = outstanding album, an absolute must-have
♪♪♪♪ = great album, highly recomended
♪♪♪ = nice album
♪♪ = be careful, requires listening before buying
♪ = best to be avoided