Die Prinzen
Encyclopedia
Die Prinzen is a German
music group. The band is made up of former members of the Thomanerchor
(a choir
of the Thomaskirche (St. Thomas' Church) in Leipzig
, Germany, where Johann Sebastian Bach
was music director for many years) and a former member of the Dresdner Kreuzchor
.
music. The band's first name was Die Herzbuben, but it was changed to Die Prinzen in 1991 to avoid confusion with the Volkstümliche Schlager duo Wildecker Herzbuben. The lyrics of their songs are often humorous, tongue-in-cheek critiques of German government or society. The group's most popular singles have been "Gabi und Klaus", "Millionär", "Küssen verboten", "(Du musst ein) Schwein sein", "Mein Fahrrad", "Olli Kahn" (about German star World Cup goalkeeper Oliver Kahn
) and "Deutschland".
In reference to the group's name and the Brothers Grimm
fairy-tale "The Frog Prince
", the group's logo is a green frog
wearing a crown
. The frog logo has appeared in a number of album and single covers.
Their hit song "Millionär" appeared in the accompanying video to the German textbooks "Komm Mit" and "Stationen".
"Deutschland" is a very cultural and ironic song about everything of Deutschland (Germany). It was written by German songwriter Steve van Velvet.
Backup band:
D, A, and CH represent Germany
, Austria
, and Switzerland
respectively.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
music group. The band is made up of former members of the Thomanerchor
Thomanerchor
The Thomanerchor is a boys' choir in Leipzig, Germany. The choir was founded in 1212. At present, the choir consists of 92 boys from 9 to 18 years of age...
(a choir
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
of the Thomaskirche (St. Thomas' Church) in Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
, Germany, where Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
was music director for many years) and a former member of the Dresdner Kreuzchor
Dresdner Kreuzchor
The Dresdner Kreuzchor is the boys' choir of the Kreuzkirche in Dresden. It has a seven century history. Today the choir has about 150 members from the age of 9-19 from Dresden and the surrounding region. Most of the boys live in a boarding school. The Choir Boys are also called "Kruzianer". The...
.
Overview
Early albums consist of a cappellaA 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...
music. The band's first name was Die Herzbuben, but it was changed to Die Prinzen in 1991 to avoid confusion with the Volkstümliche Schlager duo Wildecker Herzbuben. The lyrics of their songs are often humorous, tongue-in-cheek critiques of German government or society. The group's most popular singles have been "Gabi und Klaus", "Millionär", "Küssen verboten", "(Du musst ein) Schwein sein", "Mein Fahrrad", "Olli Kahn" (about German star World Cup goalkeeper Oliver Kahn
Oliver Kahn
Oliver Rolf Kahn is a former German football goalkeeper. He started his career in the Karlsruher SC Junior team. He had his debut game in the professional squad in 1987...
) and "Deutschland".
In reference to the group's name and the Brothers Grimm
Brothers Grimm
The Brothers Grimm , Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm , were German academics, linguists, cultural researchers, and authors who collected folklore and published several collections of it as Grimm's Fairy Tales, which became very popular...
fairy-tale "The Frog Prince
The Frog Prince (story)
"The Frog Prince; or, Iron Henry" is a fairy tale, best known through the Brothers Grimm's written version; traditionally it is the first story in their collection. In the tale, a spoiled princess reluctantly befriends a frog , who magically transforms into a handsome prince...
", the group's logo is a green frog
Green frog
The Green Frog is a species of frog native to the eastern half of the United States and Canada. There are two subspecies—the Bronze Frog and the Northern Green Frog.-Description:...
wearing a crown
Crown (headgear)
A crown is the traditional symbolic form of headgear worn by a monarch or by a deity, for whom the crown traditionally represents power, legitimacy, immortality, righteousness, victory, triumph, resurrection, honour and glory of life after death. In art, the crown may be shown being offered to...
. The frog logo has appeared in a number of album and single covers.
Their hit song "Millionär" appeared in the accompanying video to the German textbooks "Komm Mit" and "Stationen".
"Deutschland" is a very cultural and ironic song about everything of Deutschland (Germany). It was written by German songwriter Steve van Velvet.
Band members
Die Prinzen:- Sebastian KrumbiegelSebastian KrumbiegelSebastian Krumbiegel is a German singer and musician. He is a member of the a cappella band Die Prinzen.From 1976 to 1985 Krumbiegel attended the Thomasschule zu Leipzig where he took the Abitur examination in 1985...
(5. June 1966); Vocals, Keyboard - Tobias KünzelTobias KünzelTobias Künzel is a German Pop artist and composer, best known as one of the lead singers for the group 'Die Prinzen'.- Career :...
(26. May 1964); Vocals, Guitar, Keyboard - Wolfgang Lenk (4. September 1966, Leipzig); Vocals, Keyboard, Guitar
- Jens Sembdner (20. January 1967); Vocals, Keyboard
- Henri Schmidt (17. August 1967, Leipzig); Vocals
Backup band:
- Ali (Alexander) Zieme (23. March 1971, Leipzig); Drums
- Mathias Dietrich (24. November 1964, Leipzig); Bass
Albums
- Das Leben ist Grausam (1991)
- Das Leben ist Grausam (a cappella)
- Küssen verboten (1992)
- Küssen verboten (a cappella)
- Alles nur geklaut (1993)
- Alles nur geklaut (a cappella)
- Schweine (1995)
- Alles mit'm Mund (1996)
- Ganz oben - Best of (1997)
- A-Cappella-Album (1997)
- So viel Spaß für wenig Geld (1999)
- So viel Spaß für wenig Geld (a cappella)
- Festplatte (1999)
- D (2001)
- Monarchie in Germany (2003)
- HardChor (2004)
- Akustisch live (2006)
- Die Prinzen Orchestral (2007)
- Die Neuen Männer (2008)
- Es war nicht alles schlecht (2010)
Videos
- VHS Das erste Video (1993)
- VHS Das Live Video (1994)
- DVD 10 Jahre Popmusik (2001)
- VHS 10 Jahre Popmusik (2001)
- DVD (Dual Disc) Akustisch live (2006)
- DVD Die Prinzen Orchestral (2007)
Singles
- Gabi und Klaus (1991)
- Millionär (1991)
- Mann im Mond (1992)
- Mein Fahrrad (1992)
- Küssen verboten (1992)
- Küssen verboten - Die Königlichen Remixe (1992)
- Bombe (1992)
- 1x (1993)
- Alles nur geklaut (1993)
- Überall (1994)
- Du spinnst doch (1994)
- (Du mußt ein) Schwein sein (1995)
- Ich will ein Baby (1995)
- Alles mit'm Mund (1996)
- Hose runter (1996)
- Heute ha-ha-habe ich Geburtstag (1997)
- Ganz oben (1997)
- Junimond (1998)
- So viel Spaß für wenig Geld (1999)
- Sie will mich (1999)
- Deutschland (2001)
- Hier sind wir (2001)
- Popmusik (2001)
- Olli Kahn (2002)
- Tiere sind zum Essen da (2003)
- Chronisch Pleite (2003)
- Unsicherheit macht sich breit (2004)
- Frauen sind die neuen Männer (2008)
Singles
| Year | Single | D | A | CH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Gabi und Klaus | 2 | - | 9 |
| 1991 | Millionär | 36 | 29 | 11 |
| 1992 | Mann im Mond | 30 | - | - |
| 1992 | Mein Fahrrad | 68 | - | - |
| 1992 | Küssen verboten | 17 | - | - |
| 1993 | Alles nur geklaut | 4 | 3 | 26 |
| 1994 | Überall | 63 | - | - |
| 1995 | Du mußt ein Schwein sein | 8 | 13 | 26 |
| 1996 | Alles Mit Dem Mund | 96 | - | - |
| 1997 | Ganz oben (with the Thomanerchor Thomanerchor The Thomanerchor is a boys' choir in Leipzig, Germany. The choir was founded in 1212. At present, the choir consists of 92 boys from 9 to 18 years of age... ) |
82 | - | - |
| 1999 | So viel Spaß für wenig Geld | 68 | - | - |
| 2001 | Deutschland | 15 | 10 | - |
| 2002 | Olli Kahn | 32 | - | - |
| 2003 | Chronisch pleite | 56 | - | - |
| 2004 | Unsicherheit macht sich breit | 77 | - | - |
Albums
| Year | Album | D | A | CH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Das Leben ist grausam | - | 39 | 20 |
| 1992 | Küssen verboten | 6 | - | 21 |
| 1993 | Alles nur geklaut | 4 | 2 | 13 |
| 1995 | Schweine | 3 | 6 | 22 |
| 1996 | Alles mit'm Mund | 25 | - | - |
| 1997 | Ganz oben - Hits MCMXCI-MCMXCVII | 23 | - | - |
| 1999 | So viel Spaß für wenig Geld | 9 | - | - |
| 1999 | Festplatte | 88 | - | - |
| 2001 | D | 13 | 50 | - |
| 2003 | Monarchie in Germany | 17 | - | - |
| 2004 | Hardchor | 61 | - | - |
| 2006 | Akustisch Live | 28 | - | - |
| 2008 | Die neuen Männer | 42 | - | - |
| 2009 | Die neuen Männer Premium-Edition | - | - | - |
| 2010 | Es war nicht alles schlecht | 69 | - | - |
D, A, and CH represent Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, and Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
respectively.