петък, 24 май 2013 г.

German Chart Comments - Issue Date 24.05

No one should be surprised by the new number one in Germany as the latest winner of Deutschland sucht den Superstar, or DSDS, or the German Music Idol, debuts directly at the top. The difference this year is that we have only for a second time in DSDS' history a female winner (next to the long forgotten Elli, who even didn't get a #1) and for the first time it is a schlager singer. And as schlager music is so hot right now, especially in the album charts where Helene Fischer and Andrea Berg are selling huge amounts of CDs, it was expected this trend to influence the single countdown as well. Over the last 10-15 years it were only DJ Ötzi and Die Höhner who scored #1 singles with schlager songs. So, congratulations for Swiss Beatrice Egli, whose "Mein Herz" (a typical Helene Fischer song, but unlike Egli, Fischer has no top 20 single on her account) has no problems entering at the summit. 
Short Video  

In another DSDS-related news, the show's runner-up this year, the somewhat surprisingly successful Lisa Wohlgemuth, debuts with her finale song "Heartbreaker" at #8. 

Audio 

Last week's #1 single "Safe and Sound" of Capital Cities slips this week to #2, while Daft Punk's "Get Lucky", which is extremely successful in the UK, moves up one to #3.

Video - Capital Cities
Audio - Daft Punk 

It's also a new peak for James Arthur's "Impossible", which advances four to #5. Once again Arthur should be thankful to DSDS contestant Ricardo, whose music career, if such ever appear, would be interesting to be observed. 

Video
 

As German music is definitely on the rise currently (which is always welcomed by me), Tim Bendzko's pilot single from his sophomore album debuts just outside the top 10. As "Am seidenen Faden" is a great song, it definitely deserves to be a big hit such as "Nur noch kurz die Welt retten" and "Wenn Worte meine Sprache wären", Bendzko's top ten singles from 2011. 
Video
 

At #13, up from #19, Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" is undoubtedly becoming one of the hits of the approaching summer, while at #14 we have comedy star Fresh Torge with a new entry. "Superstar" acts as a parody for all the casting "stars" for whom I've talked at the beginning, and is the first single of the YouTube comedian in the chart. Oh, and the credited Sandra is not the 80s legend...
Video - Thicke
Video - Fresh Torge

It's also great to see Depeche Mode, whose recent concert in Sofia was simply amazing, following the #2 debut of "Heaven" scoring another top 30 track with "Soothe My Soul", the second single taken from the "Delta Machine" album, which enters at #22. Yes, Germany's single buyers still love them.
Video

The next new entry is the latest offer of Jennifer Lopez and (of course) Pitbull as "Live It Up" makes an early debut at #43. 

Video 

Also entering the top 50 this week is "Pompeii" by British band Bastille. The UK hit has been slowly gaining in momentum in Germany as well and in its four week moves nine to peak at #46. This is the first song of the group in the German countdown.

Video 

French singer Zaz has been absent from the charts after her debut "Je veux" peaked at #22 in 2011. Now she is back with a new material and her latest singer "On Ira" shoots itself to #47, up from #91.

Video

And the other new entries this week:  


#52 Hurts - Blind
Video
#54 R.I.O. ft. U-Jean - Ready or Not

Video
#70 Gleis 8 - Wer ich bin

Video
#81 Andrea Berg - Ich liebe das Leben

Live
#82 OneRepublic - Counting Stars

Audio
#83 Helene Fischer - Und morgen frueh kuess ich dich wach

Live
#93 Carlprit - Fiesta

Video
#96 Youthkills - Time Is Now

Video

The Album Chart

The album chart this week has a completely new top three plus Helene Fischer bringer three titles back in the top ten following the exposure made by Beatrice Egli. The #1 however belongs to German band Santiano, who are fast to release their sophomore album "Mit den Gezeiten" after last year's "Bis ans Ende der Welt" also reached #1 selling in platinum quantities. At #2 French singer Zaz brings her second album "Recto verso", which beats the #3 peak of Zaz' self-titled debut from 2011. Also new at #3 is Agnetha Fältskog and her album "A", which turns the most successful solo project of the former ABBA singer in Germany. And as Helene takes the positions 5, 7 and 10, German duo Glasperlenspiel manage to beat the #15 peak of their debut album with second effort "Grenzenlos", which comes new at #8.

New in Bulgarian/German cinemas from 24.05

New in Bulgarian cinemas this week:
 
Fast & Furious 6
Trailer

Epic
Trailer 

New in German cinemas this week: 
Fast & Furious 6
(BG Status - Released the same week)
Trailer

The Words
(BG Status - Despite the presence of Bradley Cooper does anyone ever heard of this film?)
Trailer

11 Freundinen - Germany/documentary
Trailer

Freier Fall - Germany/drama
Trailer

Canim Kreuzberg - Germany/Turkey/UK/documentary
Trailer 

5 Jahre Leben - Germany/drama
Trailer 

Todos tenemos un plan - Argentina/Spain/drama
Trailer - German 

Leviathan - UK/France/US/documentary 
Trailer 

Das Märchen von der Prinzessin, die unbedingt in einem Märchen vorkommen wollte - Germany/kids
Trailer 

Pozitia Copilului - Romania/drama
Trailer - German 

Die Ostsee von oben - Germany/documentary
Trailer 

Slow - Langsam ist das neue Schnell - Germany/documentary
Trailer 

vierzehn - Germany/documentary

Trailer



петък, 17 май 2013 г.

German Chart Comments - Issue Date 17.05

It's a second (and probably last as someone called Beatrice Egli is approaching) week for Capital Cities on top of the German charts with "Safe And Sound". Proving that he is one of the best loved German singers Xavier Naidoo brings yet another top three hit with "Bei meiner Seele" debuting straight at #2. This is Xavier's fourth single to peak at #2 and he was last in the top 100 with "Bitte hör nicht auf zu träumen (live)" (peak at #22) in 2010. The top three is rounded by Pink and former #1 "Just Give Me A Reason". 
Video - Capital Cities
Video - Pink
Video - Xavier Naidoo  

The sensation that is the comeback single of Daft Punk moves up two and "Get Lucky" peaks at #4, becoming the first single of the French duo to enter the top five in Germany.

Audio

Luckily, this week also sees the successful return of perhaps the best German band active right now at #7. Sportfreunde Stiller (whose Unplugged concert in Vienna is one of the best I've been) bring new material with "Applaus !! Applaus !!", which becomes the third top ten single of the boys next to #1 football anthem "’54, ’74, ’90, 2006" and the #6 peak of "Ein Kompliment (Unplugged)".

Lyric Video

And finally for the top 20 Robin Thicke has made it this week with his first ever hit "Blurred Lines", which rises eight and is at #19. It comes with the support of Pharrell, who is also providing vocals for Daft Punk's top ten hit.

Video 

Further down the countdown, Wankelmut & Emma Louise advance three in the second week for "My Head Is A Jungle" and are this time at #29.

Video 

The third and last new entry straight into the top 50 also belongs to a German act, coming from legendary trio Fettes Brot. "KusKussKuss" is their first song to enter the countdown after the disappointing performance of 2010's singles "Amsterdam" and "Kontrolle". An entry at #35 is a relatively good one but still a far cry from the success of modern German classics "Bettina, zieh dir bitte etwas an" and "Emanuela". 

Video

And the other new entries this week:  

60. Tyga - Rack City
Video
91. Zaz - On Ira

Video
99. Josh Groban - Brave

Video 

The Album Chart  

In the album chart veteran local musician Reinhard Mey has his third #1 album as "Dann mach's gut" storms the chart directly at #1. Also new at #2 is rapper KC Rebell's second album "Banger rebellieren" (outperforming the #33 peak of his debut from last year). After her debut album peaked at #6, Dutch star Caro Emerald's sophomore effort comes fresh at #3, followed by Rod Stewart's latest "Time" at #4 (the rockstar has no #1 album in Germany) and Deep Purple's last week's #1 "Now What ?!" at #5.

New in Bulgarian/German cinemas from 17.05

New in Bulgarian cinemas this week:
 

The Great Gatsby
Trailer 

Aftershock
Trailer 

She Monkeys - Sweden - Limited
Trailer 

Hummingbird 
Trailer 

New in German cinemas this week:

The Great Gatsby
(BG Status - Released the same week)
Trailer 

Evil Dead
(BG Status - Not to be released by Alexandra Films) 
Trailer

Epic
(BG Status - To be released next week)
Trailer 

Fidaï - France/China/Algeria/Germany - Documentary
Trailer 

Love Alien - Germany - Documentary
Trailer

MansFeld - Germany - Documentary 
Trailer

Paradies: Hoffnung - Austria/Germany/France - Drama
Trailer

Het Meisje en de Dood - Netherlands/Germany/Russia - Drama
Trailer

неделя, 12 май 2013 г.

German Chart Comments - Issue Date 10.05

The power of advertising and especially of a radio-friendly hit should never be underestimated as Germany has a new number one in the singles chart in the face of US duo Capital Cities. "Safe and Sound", which is used as a soundtrack for the latest Vodafone ad, rises six positions and takes the crown. Three years ago We Are The People's "Waling On A Dream", which was as well used by the same firm for popularising its products, also hit the number one spot.  
Video 

Thus, Pink and Nate Ruess' "Just Give Me A Reason" slips one to two, while Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' "Can't Hold Us" is also down one to #3.
Video - Pink
Video - Macklemore

The highest new entry this week can be found at #9 coming from local pop/electro duo  Glasperlenspiel. "Nie vergessen" is the pilot track from their "Grenzenlos" album and matches the #9 peak of "Echt" from 2011. It's always good to see quality German music in the upper reaches of the countdown. 
Video 

At #24, up from #36, the official release of "Play Hard" of David Guetta, Ne-Yo and Akon is currently gaining in momentum, while the second new entry lands at #26. Last week we had TV host Olli Schulz entering the chart at #29, now we witness radio comedy series Frühstück bei Stefanie, with the help of Udo Martens, scoring a chart hit with the title "Summerfeeling pur (Ich bin bräuner wie du!)".
Video - David Guetta 
Audio - Udo Martens 

The chart career of Robin Thicke dates back from 2002. Unfortunately this is also the year when the US singer had until now his only single in Germany's Top 100 with "When I Get You Alone" peaking at #55. Now, 11 years later, Robin is on his way of having his first ever hit as "Blurred Lines" shoots itself from #56 to #27 and by the looks of it is going to be huge. 
Video 

One of the biggest hits in Europe last year was Asaf Avidan's "One Day/Reckoning Song", which however was never going to be so successful without the mix of German DJ Wankelmut. Now the latter has a follow-up single entering at #33. "My Head Is A Jungle", heavily used by music channel VIVA for its ad blocks, comes with the support of Emma Louise.
Video 

And finally Jam & Spoon, on whose account I can attribute one of my favourites dance tracks from the past, have released a new version of their biggest hit - the 1994 classic "Right In The Night", which peaked at (the rather low) #6 first time around. With the help of original singer Plavka and freshly remixed by David May and Amfree (Mark Spoon sadly died in 2006), the 2013 version enters at #38. 
Video 

And the other new entries this week:  
 

54. Michael Wendler feat. Anika - Honey Kiss 
Video 
70. Moses Pelham - Wenn der Schmerz nachlässt
Video 
72. Ryan Sheridan - Jigsaw
Video 
99. Armin van Buuren feat. Trevor Guthrie - This Is What It Feels Like
Video 

The Album Chart  

In the album chart Deep Purple score their sixth #1 studio album with "Now What?!". Last the legendary rockers were at the summit in 1987 with "The House of Blue Light". Finnish band HIM may lack any hit singles lately but their latest album "Tears On Tape" becomes the seventh consecutive to reach the top 5 in Germany by entering at #2.

петък, 3 май 2013 г.

German Chart Comments - Issue Date 3.05

(THE VIDEOS ARE BACK)

It's a second week on top for Pink and Nate Ruess with "Just Give Me A Reason". Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' "Can't Hold Us" comes next at #2, up from #3, while Passenger's former #1 "Let Her Go" is down to #3. 
Video - Pink
Video - Macklemore
Video - Passenger

At #4 "Radioactive" of Imagine Dragons cements its position as one of the hits of the year by advancing from #9. 
Video

The highest new entry can be found at #6 in the shape of the comeback single of Daft Punk, which has set the global music charts on fire. "Get Lucky" is just the second Daft Punk track to make its way into the German top 10 next to "One More Time" from 2010, which peaked at #7. Last the French duo were with their own material in the chart in 2005 with "Technologic", which reached #82.
Audio

A position behind, Capital Cities move up three with their Vodafone advertising anthem "Safe And Sound".
Video 

Just outside the top 20 Psy's "Gentleman" inches up a position in its second week and is this time at #12, while Calvin Harris' "I Need Your Love" is up three to #17. The song is now officially his best performing in Germany, beating the #19 peak of "Sweet Nothing". (Rihanna's "We Found Love" not included).
Video - Psy 
Video  - Calvin

Down the list, Nelly's "Hey Porsche" rises by one notch to mark a new peak at #25, while the second new entry comes at #29. It belongs to local TV host and singer Olli Schulz and "Rangel Song" is the second single of Olli to enter the top 100 after "Mach den Bibo" reached #38 in 2008.
Video - Nelly 
Audio - Olli Schulz 

Better late than never as Avicii and Nicky Romero's "I Could Be The One" re-enters the top 50 at a new peak at #37, an increase from #53. Sam & The Womp's "Bom Bom" is also on the rise, this week at #38, up from #48 where it debuted last week.
Video - Avicii
Video - Sam and The Womp 

Jason Derulo has three top 10 singles on his account but has been absent from the charts since "Breathing" reached #5 in 2011. Now his comeback single "The Other Side" debuts at #48. 
Video 

And the other new entries this week: 


51. will.i.am feat. Miley Cyrus - Fall Down 
Audio 
78. Snoop Lion feat. Collie Buddz - Smoke The Weed 
Audio
79. Sam - Wir

Video
85. Hindi Zahra - Beautiful Tango 
Video 
88. Le Kid - We Are Young 
Video 
94. Bastille - Pompeii 
Video 
99. Black Sabbath - God Is Dead? 
Audio 

The Album Chart  

German (Austrian) acts dominate the album chart this week led, thanks to a re-release as a Gold edition, by the re-entry of Frei.Wild's "Feinde deiner Feinde" at #1. Metalcore band Heaven Shall Burn have their best performing album as "Veto" comes new at #2, while Fler's latest "Blaues Blut" enters at #3. Christina Stürmer debuts this week at #4 with "Ich hör auf mein Herz" and Gentleman's "New Day Dawn" appears at #6.

New in Bulgarian/German cinemas from 3.05

New in Bulgarian cinemas this week:

Jurassic Park 3D
Trailer 

Pain and Gain
Trailer 

Blancanieves - Spain/France - Limited
Trailer 
 
New in German cinemas this week:

Iron Man 3
(BG Status - Released last week)
Trailer 
  
A Glimpse Inside the Mind of Charles Swan III
Trailer 

Frohes Schaffen - Ein Film zur Senkung der Arbeitsmoral - Germany - documentary
Trailer 

I, Anna - UK/France/Germany - drama
Trailer 

The International Criminal Court - Germany - documentary
Trailer 

Ohne Gnade - Germany - comedy
Trailer 

Passion - France/Germany - drama
Trailer 

A Late Quartet 
Trailer 

Le grand soir - France - comedy
Trailer OV

Verliebte Feinde - Switzerland - drama
Trailer 

La terre outragée - France/Germany/Poland - drama
Trailer OV