by Lea Hauke
Updated on October 15, 2024
5 German love songs that will make your heart melt
German culture isn’t famous for big emotions and public displays of affection. And yet, the lyrics to popular German love songs are filled with aching hearts, desire and romance. There are the absolute classics that almost everyone in Germany is familiar with. And then there are the new hits, which are popular with a younger audience but have also won the hearts of older music lovers.
So light those candles, because we’re taking a dive into the softer side of German culture with these five German songs about love.
Before Rio Reiser left this world too early at the age of 46, he wrote one of the most hauntingly beautiful German love songs of all time. “Für immer und dich (Forever and you)” tells the story of deep devotion, a topic that often risks drifting into kitsch.
Not many singers would be able to sing lyrics like “Ich sing für dich / Ich schrei für dich / Ich brenne / und ich schnei für dich (I sing for you / I scream for you / I burn / and I snow for you)” without sounding corny. But the combination of Reiser’s distinctive Berlin slur with the song’s simple lyrics and melody only ever gives listeners goosebumps — and never leads to skin-crawling embarrassment.
Here comes a young band with a singer whose voice has often been compared to that of legend Rio Reiser. AnnenMayKantereit’s song “Oft gefragt (Often asked myself)” is a different kind of love song. It’s not dedicated to a lover, but rather describes the love between parent and child and the pain of growing up.
The way in which the closing lyrics, which echo Reiser’s “Für immer und dich,” mix with the melancholic piano are sure to bring a tear to your eyes: “Ich hab keine Heimat, ich hab nur dich / du bist zuhause für immer und mich (I don’t have a home, I only have you / you’re my home forever and me).”
There’s no proper list of German love songs that doesn’t mention Nena at least once. The singer is one of the few who have made a name for themselves across national borders. While she’s best known for her hit “99 Luftballons (99 red balloons),” “Irgendwie, irgendwo, irgendwann (Anyplace, anywhere, anytime)” might be her most iconic love song.
Be prepared to storm the dancefloor at the next wedding when you hear these lyrics: “Gib mir die Hand / Ich bau dir ein Schloss aus Sand / Irgendwie, irgendwo, irgendwann / Die Zeit ist reif für ein bisschen Zärtlichkeit (Give me your hand / I build you a castle made of sand / anyplace, anywhere, anytime / It’s time for a little bit of tenderness).”
A lot has happened in the Austrian music scene since Falco. Wanda is a band from Vienna known for clever lyrics, good guitar riffs and their favorite topic, Amore (love).
“Columbo” is one of Wanda’s slower songs. It’s about a couple that decides to spend the day between the sheets watching old Columbo movies: “Heute gehen wir gar nicht raus / wir bleiben im Pyjama zuhause / nur wir zwei, wie im Traum / und Columbo schauen (Today we’re not going out / we stay at home in our pajamas / just us two, like in a dream / watching Columbo).”
However, in keeping with the tradition of Viennese art, something dark is always in the room while this couple tries to shut out the world: “Deine Angst und meine auch / alles liegt auf deinem Bauch / nur wir zwei, wie im Traum (Your fear and mine / everything lies on your belly / just us two, like in a dream).”
Not many German bands have a fanbase as loyal as Pur’s. The band from Baden-Württemberg still fills huge stadiums. While many of their fans are now in their fifties, you can be sure that everyone at the party will sing along, preferably while standing arm in arm, when “Funkelperlenaugen (Sparkly eyes)” starts to play.
You don’t need to remember the whole song to blend in. The most important part is the following: “Du blitzt mich an mit deinen Funkelperlenaugen / Das tut so gut, da ist so viel für mich drin / Das hilft besser als jedes Reden, jedes Denken / Nur noch fühlen, nur noch Spüren macht jetzt Sinn (You’re blinking at me with your sparkly eyes / it feels so good, it gives me so much / it feels better than talking, thinking / only feeling, only touching makes sense now).”
Just like in any other culture, the world of German pop music is full of songs about love and romance. Even though Germans are famous for being emotionally reserved, German love songs definitely hold their own when it comes to big emotions and heartfelt lyrics.
From classics like Nena and Pur to contemporary bands like AnnenMayKantereit and Wanda, love songs come in as many forms as love itself. If you want to impress your Schatz with your German skills, a language course can help!
