The German Earworm
The German Earworm is a podcast where an American expat dives into Germany's wildest, weirdest and catchiest songs-from party schlager to rock anthems you've never heard.
Each week (usually Tuesday), discover the tracks that get stuck in German heads (and maybe yours, too).
Episodes
32 episodes
Geiles Leben — Instagram Dreams and Electro-Pop Reality with Glasperlenspiel
This is ‘Geiles Leben’ by Glasperlenspiel, a track that dominated the charts, filled dancefloors, and sparked debates about whether pop music could still be profound.Today on The German Earworm, we’ll explore the b...
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8:52
Skandal im Sperrbezirk — Rock ’n’ Roll, Red Light, and Radio Scandal
This is ‘Skandal im Sperrbezirk’, the breakout hit from the Spider Murphy Gang — a track that defined Germany’s New Wave era, got censored on public radio, and became a cult classic that still packs dancefloors today.Today on ...
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Episode 31
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8:34
Verdammt, ich lieb’ dich — The 16-Week Love Affair with Matthias Reim
Verdammt, ich lieb’ dich, ich lieb’ dich nicht was Matthias Reim’s breakthrough, a heartbreak anthem so catchy it stayed at the top of the German charts for an unbelievable 16 weeks. Today on The German Earworm, w...
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Episode 30
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7:47
Engel — A Hangover Hymn with Heavenly Hooks
Willkommen zurück to The German Earworm! Today we’re diving into Ikke Hüftgold’s ‘Engel’—a 2023 Partyschlager missile that turns a very mortal pub crawl into a tipsy trip to heaven. Released as a single on November 3, 2...
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Episode 29
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9:32
Da Da Da – Trio’s Minimalist Anthem and the Power of Simplicity
Grüß Gott and hello to The German Earworm! Today’s episode explores an underground hit that became a global sensation: Trio’s ‘Da Da Da (I Don’t Love You You Don’t Love Me – Aha Aha Aha)’. This song thrives on minimalism...
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Episode 28
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7:42
Das geht ab – Die Atzen and the Rise of German Party Revolution
Hallo und willkommen zurück bei The German Earworm! Today we celebrate a song that single‑handedly shaped German party culture: ‘Das geht ab (Wir feiern die ganze Nacht)’ by Die Atzen—Frauenarzt and Manny Marc. It’s loud...
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Episode 27
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8:40
Jeanny – Obsession, Outrage & the Dark Side of Falco
Hallo und willkommen zurück bei The German Earworm! Today’s episode dives into one of German pop music’s most famous controversies: ‘Jeanny’, released by Austrian superstar Falco in December 1985. It’s a chilling narrative set...
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Episode 26
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6:41
Regenbogenfarben – Celebrating Love & Pride with Kerstin Ott
Hallo und willkommen zurück bei The German Earworm! In today's episode we celebrate love in all its forms. Our featured song is ‘Regenbogenfarben’ by Kerstin Ott—a joyful, inclusive anthem that asks us to paint the world in al...
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Episode 25
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7:22
Die Nacht von Freitag auf Montag – Hangover Horror by SDP & Sido
Hallo und willkommen to The German Earworm! Today we’re rewinding to 2012 for one of Germany's wildest party-wake-up songs: ‘Die Nacht von Freitag auf Montag’ by SDP featuring Sido. It’s about a legendary weekend you can’t rem...
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Episode 24
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8:22
Olivia – Wild Nights at Ballermann with Die Zipfelbuben & DJ Cashi
Grüß Gott and welcome to The German Earworm, the podcast that dives deep into Germany’s most addictive hits and reveals the culture, language, and stories behind them. Today we’re diving into a 2022 summer anthem that lit up Ballermann...
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Episode 23
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6:23
Stoff und Schnaps – Dutch Vibes, German Clubs, and a Cloud of Controversy
Hallo und herzlich willkommen to The German Earworm, the podcast where we dive deep into the most memorable, infectious tracks from the German-speaking world and beyond.Today, we're shifting slightly west to explore a Dutch-lang...
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Episode 22
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9:15
Bauch, Beine, Po – Shirin David and the Sound of Empowerment
Welcome to The German Earworm, the podcast that dives deep into the catchiest songs from the German-speaking world. Today we’re getting bold, glamorous, and just a little bit cheeky.We’re talking about "Bauch, Beine, Po" ...
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Episode 21
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7:33
Cordula Grün – Love, Lies, and Lagers
Hallo und herzlich willkommen to The German Earworm, the podcast where we break down Germany's and Austria's catchiest songs to uncover the language, the culture, and the irresistible hooks behind them.Today we’re headed to Vien...
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Episode 20
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9:06
Dicke Titten – Rammstein, Irony, and the Art of Offending Everyone
Welcome to The German Earworm, the podcast where we explore unforgettable German songs, their lyrics, their impact, and what they tell us about German language and culture. Today we are entering the world of fire, irony, and controvers...
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Episode 19
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8:24
Johnny Däpp – A Mallorca Anthem with a Depp Twist
Today, we're talking about "Johnny Däpp" by Lorenz Büffel – a ridiculous, infectious party hit that conquered Mallorca's beach clubs, German carnival tents, and even earned platinum status. Why did shouting "Johnny Däpp!" become a national past...
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Episode 18
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7:55
99 Luftballons: From Pop Hit to Protest Anthem
Welcome to The German Earworm, the podcast where we explore the songs that have embedded themselves into the German cultural soundtrack. Today we’re diving into a track that launched a thousand balloons and warned the world about the c...
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Episode 17
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8:50
Hyper Hyper: The Rave That Echoed Around the World
Willkommen and welcome to The German Earworm — the podcast where we dissect the songs that have burned themselves into Germany’s musical memory. Today we’re going back to the pounding heart of the ‘90s Eurodance scene with a song that ...
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Episode 16
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7:40
Geboren um zu leben: The Anthem of Farewell and Resilience
Welcome to The German Earworm, the podcast where we explore the songs that shape Germany’s musical soul. Today, we’re taking an emotional journey into a song that touched millions of listeners: ‘Geboren um zu leben’ by Unheilig....
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Episode 15
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8:57
Zu Spät: Die Ärzte, Heartbreak, and the Punk That Changed German Pop
Welcome to The German Earworm, the podcast where we dissect the songs that have lodged themselves in Germany’s collective brain. Today, we’re rewinding to the 1980s and diving into a track that’s equal parts heartbreak, humor, and punk...
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Episode 14
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8:51
So Ein Schöner Tag: The Flight of Germany’s Happiest Earworm
Welcome to The German Earworm—your favorite deep dive into the music that gets stuck in Germany’s collective head. Today we’re clapping our hands with your host Mike, waving our arms, and flapping our imaginary wings to one of th...
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Episode 13
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8:42
Major Tom: The Astronaut Who Floated Into German Pop History
What happens when a fictional astronaut from a British rock song gets reborn as the hero of a German synth-pop anthem? In this episode of The German Earworm, we’re blasting off into the stratosphere with “Major Tom (Völlig losgelöst...
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8:30
Layla: Ballermann, Bans, and the Biggest German Earworm of the Decade
What happens when a simple party song ignites a nationwide controversy? In this episode, The German Earworm dives deep into “Layla,” the infectious and polarizing schlager anthem by DJ Robin & Schürze that dominated Germany’...
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Episode 11
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10:01
Just One Word – Wir sind Helden and the Sound of Unspoken Truths
In this episode of The German Earworm, we dive deep into one of the most memorable German pop anthems of the 2000s: “Nur ein Wort” by Wir sind Helden.What makes this song so enduring? Is it the infectious chorus yo...
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Episode 10
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10:19