Bläck Fööss
Encyclopedia
The Bläck Fööss are a music group from Cologne
, Germany, started in 1970.
, a local dialect of Ripuarian, in which the group predominantly sings, means barefoot.
It is pronounced də̆ ˈbɭæk ˌføːs.
In their early days the group would perform barefoot
, which was later given up mainly after several injuries from remains of broken glass on stages.
and pop
, but they also perform songs with jazz
, blues, rock
and reggae
styles. The group is famous for its lead singer's a cappella
singing. Many of the band's songs are popular carnival
songs, while others are covers
of bands such as Ladysmith Black Mambazo
, Beatles, Hollies or Willi Ostermann.
In August 1985 the band got their biggest chart success, with the song "Frankreich, Frankreich" (France
, France) landing in at number 9 in the German charts.
; in 1994, the band had its biggest split, with frontman Tommy Engel
leaving for a solo career after so-called creative differences
.
Willy Schnitzler left the band in 2005 after arthritis
of the hand
rendered him unable to play. He was succeeded by Andreas Wegener.
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
, Germany, started in 1970.
Name of the band
The band's name in KölschKölsch language
Kölsch is a very closely related small set of dialects, or variants, of the Ripuarian Central German group of languages. Kölsch is spoken in and partially around Cologne in the area covered by the Archdiocese and former Electorate of Cologne reaching from Neuss in the north to just south of Bonn,...
, a local dialect of Ripuarian, in which the group predominantly sings, means barefoot.
It is pronounced də̆ ˈbɭæk ˌføːs.
In their early days the group would perform barefoot
Barefoot
Barefoot is the state of not wearing any footwear. Being barefoot is regarded as a human's natural state, though for functional, fashion and social reasons footwear is worn, at least on some occasions...
, which was later given up mainly after several injuries from remains of broken glass on stages.
Repertoire
The band's style of music is a cross between SchlagerSchlager
Schlager music is a style of popular music prevalent in Central and Northern Europe and the Balkans and also in France and Poland. In Portugal, it was adapted and became pimba music...
and pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
, but they also perform songs with jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, blues, rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
and reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
styles. The group is famous for its lead singer's a cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
singing. Many of the band's songs are popular carnival
Carnival
Carnaval is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnaval typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party...
songs, while others are covers
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of bands such as Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Ladysmith Black Mambazo is a male choral group from South Africa that sings in the vocal styles of isicathamiya and mbube. They rose to worldwide prominence as a result of singing with Paul Simon on his album, Graceland and have won multiple awards, including three Grammy Awards...
, Beatles, Hollies or Willi Ostermann.
In August 1985 the band got their biggest chart success, with the song "Frankreich, Frankreich" (France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, France) landing in at number 9 in the German charts.
Band members
In their 4 decades together, the Bläck Fööss have only had a few changes in membership. Willy Schnitzler and Rolf Lammers have both played keyboardKeyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
; in 1994, the band had its biggest split, with frontman Tommy Engel
Tommy Engel
Tommy Engel is a German musician and actor. He was the lead singer of German band Bläck Fööss through 1994, and has released albums as a solo performer.-References:...
leaving for a solo career after so-called creative differences
Creative Differences
Creative Differences is an album released by Living Legends. Its album cover is a reference to The Brady Bunch.-Track listing:...
.
- Karl Friedrich "Kafi" Biermann: singer, guitar, percussion (since 1995)
- Ralph Gusovius (born March 16, 1950): drums, accordion, singer (since 1995)
- Günther "Bömmel" Lückerath (born June 20, 1948): guitar, banjo, mondolin, fiddle, vocals (founding member)
- Hartmut Priess (born 19 August 1942 in CologneCologneCologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
): bass, guitar, mandolin (founding member) - Peter Schütten (born 4 August 1943 in CologneCologneCologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
): guitar, singing, percussion (founding member) - Erry Stoklosa (born 25 October 1947 in CologneCologneCologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
): guitar, percussion, vocals (founding member) - Andreas Wegener: piano, synthetiser, accordion, vocals (since 2005)
Willy Schnitzler left the band in 2005 after arthritis
Arthritis
Arthritis is a form of joint disorder that involves inflammation of one or more joints....
of the hand
Hand
A hand is a prehensile, multi-fingered extremity located at the end of an arm or forelimb of primates such as humans, chimpanzees, monkeys, and lemurs...
rendered him unable to play. He was succeeded by Andreas Wegener.
Discography
| Single A-Side | Single B-Side | Year | Charts | Album | Year | Charts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rievkooche Walzer | Selverhuhzick | 1970 | - | - | - | - |
| Drink doch eine met | Mir drinken us einer Fläsch | 1974 | - | Op bläcke Fööss noh Kölle | 1974 | - |
| Mer losse d'r Dom en Kölle | In unserem Veedel | 1974 | - | Op bläcke Fööss noh Kölle | 1974 | - |
| Leev Linda Lou | Whisky Double für Old Wabbel | 1974 | - | Op bläcke Fööss noh Kölle | 1974 | - |
| Loss d'r Kopp nit hänge | De Mama kritt schon widder e Kind | 1975 | - | - | - | - |
| Lück wie ich un du | Die 3 vun d'r Linie 2 | 1975 | - | Lück wie ich un du | 1975 | - |
| Pänz, Pänz, Pänz | Einmol em Johr | 1975 | - | Lück wie ich un du | 1975 | - |
| Damenwahl em Stammlokal | Et Spanien-Leed | 1976 | - | Bei uns doheim | 1976 | - |
| Ming eetste Fründin | Ich krij'e Bier un du kriß e Bier | 1976 | - | Bei uns doheim | 1976 | - |
| Sirtaki | Rita Schnell | 1977 | - | Links eröm – Rächs eröm | 1977 | 7 |
| Loss mer jet schunkele | Lange Samstag en d'r City | 1977 | - | Links eröm – Rächs eröm | 1977 | 7 |
| Danz Mädche Danz | Et jitt kei jrößer Leid | 1978 | - | Mir han ‘nen Deckel | 1978 | 3 |
| Kaffeebud | Himmelfahrt | 1978 | - | Mir han ‘nen Deckel | 1978 | 3 |
| Weia Oweia | Ich han nen Deckel | 1978 | - | Mir han ‘nen Deckel | 1978 | 3 |
| Familijedaach | Treck noch ens dat Kleid ahn | 1979 | - | Uns Johreszigge | 1979 | 10 |
| Indianer kriesche nit | Anglerleed | 1980 | - | D’r Rhing erop – d’r Rhing eraf | 1980 | 12 |
| Flipper | M.S.Monika | 1980 | - | D’r Rhing erop – d’r Rhing eraf | 1980 | 12 |
| - | - | - | - | De Bläck Fööss Live | 1980 | 4 |
| Schäle Schäng | Kölsche Bröck | 1981 | - | Wenn et jöck... | 1981 | 15 |
| Schötzefess | Heimweh en Kölle | 1982 | - | Morje, Morje | 1982 | 35 |
| Achterbahn | Polterowend | 1983 | - | Immer wigger | 1983 | 25 |
| Huusmeister Kaczmarek | Sporthall | 1984 | - | Mir klääve am Lääve | 1984 | 12 |
| Katrin | Surfen am Fühlinger See | 1985 | 25 | Mir klääve am Lääve | 1984 | 12 |
| - | - | - | - | Em richtije Veedel | 1985 | - |
| Frankreich Frankreich | Le Mont St. Michel | 1985 | 9 | Schöne Bescherung | 1985 | 16 |
| Bye, Bye My Love | S.D.I. (Mir hevven af) | 1985 | 27 | Schöne Bescherung | 1985 | 16 |
| Party Service | Drachenfels | 1986 | 67 | Zweierlei Fööss | 1986 | 65 |
| Nena | Herman The German | 1986 | - | Zweierlei Fööss | 1986 | 65 |
| Du bes zu schön | Kölle am Rhing | 1987 | - | Zweierlei Fööss | 1986 | 65 |
| - | - | - | - | Pänz Pänz Pänz (live) | 1987 | - |
| Baby I Love You | Loss m'r jon | 1987 | - | ...endlich frei! | 1987 | - |
| Wochenplan | Wochemaat en Kölle, Wochenplan (DKF Version) | 1987 | - | ...endlich frei! | 1987 | - |
| - | - | - | - | Was habst du in die Sack? | 1988 | - |
| Stellt üch vüür | Männer | 1989 | 23 | 1989 em Millowitsch-Theater | 1989 | 7 |
| Dovun dräum ich sulang (Tanzbrunnen) | Dä Wing vun Kölle am Rhing | 1990 | - | 1989 em Millowitsch-Theater | 1989 | 7 |
| Bläck Fööss Band | Dat Wasser vun Kölle | 1990 | - | Et es 20 Johr jenau jetz her | 1990 | 27 |
| Danz Bläck Fööss Danz | Maiwiese (Instrumental) | 1990 | - | - | - | - |
| Moni hat geweint | Moni hat geweint (Live) | 1991 | 93 | Nix es ömesöns | 1991 | - |
| Tarzan | Rentner | 1992 | - | Nix es ömesöns | 1991 | - |
| Sie liebt dich / Komm gib mir deine Hand | Liebe deine Feinde | 1993 | - | A Capella | 1993 | 31 |
| Rheinhotel | - | 1994 | - | Rheinhotel | 1994 | 71 |
| Kumm widder heim | - | 1994 | - | Rheinhotel | 1994 | 71 |
| Wenn et Leech usjing em Roxy | - | 1996 | - | Roxy | 1996 | - |
| Do han sen en d’r Ärm jenomme | - | 1996 | - | Roxy | 1996 | - |
| - | - | - | - | Premium Gold Collection | 1997 | - |
| Fastelovendstrumm | - | 1998 | - | Schönes Wochenende | 1998 | 89 |
| - | - | - | - | 30 Jahre Bläck Fööss | 2000 | 27 |
| Zick Zick eröm | - | 2000 | - | - | - | - |
| - | - | - | - | Loss mer uns verdrare | 2000 | - |
| - | - | - | - | Best of…zum Fiere | 2002 | 54 |
| - | - | - | - | K-BF 33 | 2003 | 27 |
| - | - | - | - | Best of…zum dräume | 2003 | - |
| - | - | - | - | Kölsche Weihnacht | 2003 | - |
| - | - | - | - | Rut un Wiess | 2004 | - |
| - | - | - | - | Usjebomb | 2005 | - |
| - | - | - | - | Do laach et Hätz, do jrins die Fott | 2006 | 99 |
| - | - | - | - | Best of … zum danze | 2007 | - |
| Ävver bitte bitte met jeföhl | - | 2007 | 84 | Jommer noh Hus … oder solle mer blieve? | 2008 | - |
| - | - | - | - | Wie die Zick verjeiht... | 2009 | - |
| He deit et wih un do deit et wih | - | 2010 | 34 | - | - | - |
| Mir han e hätz für Kölle | - | 2011 | 81 | - | - | - |
Literature
- Matthias Becker: Bläck Fööss - schwatz op wiess: 124 Lieder in Wort und Bild; Texte, Hintergründe, Kommentare, Kölsch-Lexikon, Chronik, Diskografie. Gerig-Musikverlage, De Bläck-Fööss-Musikverlag, Bergisch GladbachBergisch Gladbach' is a city in the Cologne/Bonn Region of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany and capital of the Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis .-Geography:Bergisch Gladbach is located east of the river Rhine, approx...
Bensberg, 2000, 152 Seiten, kartoniert, ISBN 3-87252-312-0