Ideal (German band)
Encyclopedia
Ideal was one of the more successful German
Neue Deutsche Welle
music groups. It is best known for the songs "Blaue Augen" (Blue Eyes), "Berlin", and "Monotonie" (Monotony).
, Annette Humpe, Ernst Ulrich Deuker, Frank Jürgen "Eff Jott" Krüger and Hans-Joachim "Hansi" Behrendt formed the band "Ideal". Annette Humpe
had played previously in the band Neonbabies alongside her sister Inga Humpe, before forming Ideal. Eff Jott Krüger previously played for the X-Pectors. In May 1980, Ideal released their first single on Eitel-Imperial—their own record label—entitled "Wir stehn auf Berlin" / "Männer gibt's wie Sand am Meer", which soon sold out. The British rock band Barclay James Harvest
—who were particularly successful in Germany—performed a free open air concert
on August 30, 1980 in front of the Reichstag building. The 150,000 visitors also saw Ideal, as they were booked as an opening act; this was a large step toward mainstream popularity.
In November, Ideal released their a self-titled LP
on the Innovative Communication label. The album reached number three on the German charts. Oddly enough for an LP, it was supposed to be played at 45 rpm, the speed intended for singles and which results in improved sound quality. This was not done with subsequent releases. This was followed by concerts in Switzerland and Austria. In August 1981, Ideal played in front of 22,000 fans at the Berliner Waldbühne. This was broadcasted nationwide by SFB
as part of Rocknacht.
Following this, the band began recording a second album. Together with the help of producer Conny Plank
, they produced "Der Ernst des Lebens", which was released in October 1981. At the same time, Ideal's debut album went gold
, and marked the first time an album released on an independent record label went gold.
Ideal performed 27 sold-out concerts during their 1981/1982 tour through German-speaking countries. By their final concert on the tour, they had received another gold record, this time for "Der Ernst des Lebens." In the fall of 1982, Ideal produced their third album, "Bi Nuu", under the direction of Micki Meuser. It entered the chart in December 1982, but only peaked at 20th place; these sales did not meet the expectations of the record label and a planned tour was cancelled.
On March 31, 1983, Ideal sent an announcement to the media via Telex
: "The group Ideal is dissolving. From the beginning, Ideal was planned as a project, a corporation, which was intended to exist as long as the differences between the individual members made the work enjoyable and creative. Our music was always a result of the clashing of four different personalities, not of compromise, but of creating songs that all enjoyed. In three terrific years, we have gotten the best out of this constellation." June 1983 saw the release of "Zugabe" (Encore), a live album of "remembrance, farewells, and gratitude for all the fans".
Some of the members of the band (Ernst Ulrich Deuker, Frank Jürgen "Eff Jott" Krüger and Hans-Joachim "Hansi" Behrendt) helped fellow German band Alphaville
record their 1989 album, The Breathtaking Blue
. They contributed to five of the songs from that album.
On April 26, 2007, Frank Jürgen Krüger died at 58 following a long fight with cancer.
Music of Germany
Forms of German-language music include Neue Deutsche Welle , Krautrock, Hamburger Schule, Volksmusik, Classical, German hip hop, trance, Schlager, Neue Deutsche Härte and diverse varieties of folk music, such as Waltz and Medieval metal....
Neue Deutsche Welle
Neue Deutsche Welle
Neue Deutsche Welle is a genre of German music originally derived from punk rock and New Wave music...
music groups. It is best known for the songs "Blaue Augen" (Blue Eyes), "Berlin", and "Monotonie" (Monotony).
History
In early 19801980 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1980.-January–March:*January 1**Cliff Richard is appointed an MBE by Elizabeth II.**The Zorros audition drummer Greg Pedley....
, Annette Humpe, Ernst Ulrich Deuker, Frank Jürgen "Eff Jott" Krüger and Hans-Joachim "Hansi" Behrendt formed the band "Ideal". Annette Humpe
Annette Humpe
Annette Humpe is a famous German songwriter, pop singer and record producer. Her band Ideal was one of the most important and seminal representatives of the Neue Deutsche Welle...
had played previously in the band Neonbabies alongside her sister Inga Humpe, before forming Ideal. Eff Jott Krüger previously played for the X-Pectors. In May 1980, Ideal released their first single on Eitel-Imperial—their own record label—entitled "Wir stehn auf Berlin" / "Männer gibt's wie Sand am Meer", which soon sold out. The British rock band Barclay James Harvest
Barclay James Harvest
Barclay James Harvest are an English progressive rock band. They were founded in Saddleworth, Lancashire, in September 1966 by John Lees, Les Holroyd, Stuart "Woolly" Wolstenholme , and Mel Pritchard .-History:...
—who were particularly successful in Germany—performed a free open air concert
Open air concert
An open air concert is a concert taking place outside a hall in the open air.-Overview:Open air concerts can range from small, acousitic gatherings taking place at a municipal park, to large multi-day music festivals, involving some of the most famous music acts in the world...
on August 30, 1980 in front of the Reichstag building. The 150,000 visitors also saw Ideal, as they were booked as an opening act; this was a large step toward mainstream popularity.
In November, Ideal released their a self-titled LP
LP album
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
on the Innovative Communication label. The album reached number three on the German charts. Oddly enough for an LP, it was supposed to be played at 45 rpm, the speed intended for singles and which results in improved sound quality. This was not done with subsequent releases. This was followed by concerts in Switzerland and Austria. In August 1981, Ideal played in front of 22,000 fans at the Berliner Waldbühne. This was broadcasted nationwide by SFB
Sender Freies Berlin
Sender Freies Berlin was the ARD public radio and television service for West Berlin from 1 June 1954 until 1990 and for Berlin as a whole from German reunification until 30 April 2003...
as part of Rocknacht.
Following this, the band began recording a second album. Together with the help of producer Conny Plank
Conny Plank
Konrad "Conny" Plank was a German record producer and musician. He was born in Hütschenhausen. His creativity as a sound engineer and producer helped to shape some of the most important and innovative recordings of postwar European popular music, covering a wide range of genres including...
, they produced "Der Ernst des Lebens", which was released in October 1981. At the same time, Ideal's debut album went gold
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
, and marked the first time an album released on an independent record label went gold.
Ideal performed 27 sold-out concerts during their 1981/1982 tour through German-speaking countries. By their final concert on the tour, they had received another gold record, this time for "Der Ernst des Lebens." In the fall of 1982, Ideal produced their third album, "Bi Nuu", under the direction of Micki Meuser. It entered the chart in December 1982, but only peaked at 20th place; these sales did not meet the expectations of the record label and a planned tour was cancelled.
On March 31, 1983, Ideal sent an announcement to the media via Telex
Telex
Telex may refer to:* Telex , , a communications network** Teleprinter, the device used on the above network* Telex , a Belgian pop group...
: "The group Ideal is dissolving. From the beginning, Ideal was planned as a project, a corporation, which was intended to exist as long as the differences between the individual members made the work enjoyable and creative. Our music was always a result of the clashing of four different personalities, not of compromise, but of creating songs that all enjoyed. In three terrific years, we have gotten the best out of this constellation." June 1983 saw the release of "Zugabe" (Encore), a live album of "remembrance, farewells, and gratitude for all the fans".
Some of the members of the band (Ernst Ulrich Deuker, Frank Jürgen "Eff Jott" Krüger and Hans-Joachim "Hansi" Behrendt) helped fellow German band Alphaville
Alphaville (band)
Alphaville is a German synthpop group which gained popularity in the 1980s. The founding members were Marian Gold , Bernhard Lloyd , and Frank Mertens Alphaville is a German synthpop group which gained popularity in the 1980s. The founding members were Marian Gold (real name Hartwig Schierbaum,...
record their 1989 album, The Breathtaking Blue
The Breathtaking Blue
The Breathtaking Blue is the third album released by the German band Alphaville in 1989. A companion video, Songlines was released in 1990. The Compact Disc release of this album was one of the first commercial CD+G format discs...
. They contributed to five of the songs from that album.
On April 26, 2007, Frank Jürgen Krüger died at 58 following a long fight with cancer.
Albums
All titles are group compositions.- Ideal (1980)
- Berlin - 3:09
- Irre - 3:54
- Telepathie - 5:27
- Blaue Augen - 3:27
- Hundsgemein - 2:14
- Luxus - 4:03
- Rote Liebe - 2:36
- Da leg ich mich doch lieber hin - 4:28
- Telephon - 3:24
- Roter Rolls Royce - 3:15
- Der Ernst des Lebens (1981)
- Eiszeit - 2:53
- Schwein - 3:00
- Sex in der Wüste - 3:38
- Herrscher - 3:41
- Feuerzeug - 4:19
- Immer frei - 2:27
- Erschiessen - 3:40
- Monotonie - 4:44
- Ich kann nicht schlafen - 3:32
- Spannung - 3:00
- Spion - 5:00
- Bi Nuu (1982)
- Keine Heimat - 3:29
- Ask Mark Ve Ölüm - 2:59
- Tränen am Hafen - 4:45
- Schöne Frau mit Geld - 3:02
- Die zweite Sonne - 3:07
- Wir zerstören unser Glück - 3:31
- Leiden und Wissenschaft - 3:48
- Ich bin nervös - 2:15
- Ganz in Gummi - 2:17
- Müde - 5:49
- Zugabe (1983)
External links
Ideal on laut.de Ideal auf ichwillspass.de Plattenkritiken von Ideal auf backagain.de- Annette & Inga Humpe on Europopmusic.eu (English)