A band you might like: Die Happy - VI

When we listen to music we all have different songs that attract us more or less. I, for myself, love rock in general. But to say I love rock doesn’t tell anyone much more than that simply that I love instruments in my music. Rock is such a wide field. So I should be me specific by telling you what I like and what I don’t. I love Alternative Rock. I love Pop-Rock. I also like the more hard kind of Rock, but I wouldn’t want to miss a catching melody. I’m not into Screamo because I simply don’t enjoy it.

Actually, if you really want to know what my type of music is, you only have to listen to one band: Die Happy. They have everything I need: hardcore, popcore, ballads, catching melodies and a lot of energy. On top of it all they have a frontwoman who will catch your breath with her power and charm.



To start with, I think you need to know who Die Happy actually are. Die Happy are (from left to right) Jürgen Stiehle (drums), Marta Jandová (vocals), Ralph Rieker (bass) and Thorsten Mewes (guitar). They formed in 1993 and had their first big chart success in 2001 when their single Supersonic Speed hit the Top 100 charts.

Die Happy are known for their energetic and powerful live shows. If you have seen them live once, you will want to see them again and again. I, for example, was taken to one of their concerts and immediately loved them and went to see them live again and again. The nice thing about the concert is not just that they are unforgettable, but also that they are small concerts in clubs with fair prices. What really amazed me was that when I saw their Unplugged show, it was just as energetic as normal “hardcore” concerts and they didn’t need amps to rock the club.


On Friday they released their 6th Studio Album ”VI”. The limited edition is a two disc edition with a bonus DVD of their Unplugged Concert in Hamburg and some special behind the scenes bonus material. The album is 100% Die Happy how we love them: energetic, romantic, cheeky and most of all: full of power. And I have to say, I have never experienced an album that I can relate to so much. Thanks Marta for the amazing lyrics. On www.myspace.com/officialdiehappy they put up the whole new album for a pre-listening.



Tracklist:
1. Around The World
2. Still Love You
3. Don't You
4. Peaches
5. Easy Come Easy Go
6. Sweet Sensation
7. You'll Never Know
8. Hysteria
9. NY - Tokyo
10. Wannabe
11. Genuine Venus
12. Coming Home
13. The End


The first song is Around the world. Its starts with a soft guitar solo then turns into an animating song that makes you want to dance and sing along.

Searching all around the world
I was gone for a long time
I have seen them rise and fall
Between whiskey and wine

The songs Still love you, Don’t you and You’ll never know deal with break-ups and the millions of emotions someone is going through.

I've been lost in a desert
Since you left me here
Will it ever get better?
Will you disappear?
I would try to get away
But you're always near
And I still love you

The fourth song, Peaches, to me, is the most catching song on the album. The song is the typical Die Happy f-you song. But listen yourself and form your own opinion…



Wannabe is also such a kind of song and shows a big middle finger to all the “wannabes” in this world.

I don't wanna be a wannabe like you
It feels fine just to be myself
I don't wanna be a wannabe like you
I'm sinner, that's good to me
A.S.S.H.O.L.E.
I don't wanna be a wannabe like you
A.S.S.H.O.L.E.
Read my mouth

Sweet sensation, is a totally new kind of Die Happy song. In the song the band experiments with electro beats - maybe referring to the topic of the song: clubbing in Berlin. It’s a good mixture of electro sounds and guitar power. But also generally, Die Happy seem to experiment a little with electro sounds without actually making it sound electro.

Hysteria, NY- Tokyo and Genuine venus are also typical jump around songs that raise the roof.

Easy come easy go is the typical laid back Die Happy song with a strong chorus and maximum guitar power. In Coming home and The EndMarta shows her full vocal potential in all her variety and power. She makes every Die Happy song one of a kind and gives the Die Happy sound a special touch that I haven’t found in any other band.



As a bonus, you will also find a hidden track on the CD.

I’ve first seen Die Happy live about 5 years ago and from than day they were my favourite band. There are so many reasons why I simply love this band. Their live shows are an experience one of a kind and it’s so much fun to dance, to jump and to sing to the songs that mean so much to me. Also, it is simply Marta who makes this band so special. Her broken German is really cute, she talks a lot of random funny stuff on stage and she overpowers everyone. She gives the band the special something. You just have to love her. Without her Die Happy wouldn’t be what they are now.

The music is everything that I am and carries meanings that I can relate to and that characterize me very good. The band may seem kind of rough on the outside with songs like Supersonic Speed or Mannequin.

I don't wanna be your mannequin
I don't wanna be your pretty girl
So pull the trigger - Baby - if you can
It won't make you a better man (no no!)

But they also have very vulnerable and cute songs, too.

I am a flower
in the sun - in bloom
I am a flower
I grow for you

People who know me maybe already noticed that on every album there is at least one song that I can 100% relate to. Some of you might remember Cherry Girl. Now it’s Still love you. Those songs perfectly characterize my feelings from that time, or now. It’s a perfect fit. This band is the perfect fit for me. I don’t think any other band will ever get as close to my heart as Die Happy.



http://www.diehappy.de (English/German)


I know this blog has gotten really long but it’s my most favourite one I’ve ever written because that band means a lot to me. I wonder if anyone actually read it. This is also my first try for a CD review so I’d love to get some feedback on it.