Schlager Karaoke

Un-SCHLAG-bar! – The “Karaoke” Schlager story

Where does German Schlager come from and what makes it so popular?

To be able to define and classify the term “Schlager”, “German Schlager” or “German Karaoke Schlager”, we must rewind a couple of years. Around 1870, this was created in Austria, to be exact: in operetta Vienna and replaced terms such as Gassenhauer or Street Song.

The term change marked the realization that music is marketable – still in the form of sheet music provided with the text. From a musicological point of view, there is no clear definition of Schlager. German-language authors see an attempt at the definition as “schwierig” to “unmöglich “.

Purely linguistically, the term is a synonym for the English-language “hit” (punch, impact, hit), originally a piece of music or song that has a “durch-schlagenden” Erfolg (Succes) or is “eingeschlagen”.
In short: Verkaufsschlager (a bestseller).

Already the early German Schlager had all the characteristics that still determine a hit today

They use it as a sales product, and it must be German-language and condensation of a musical current into an easy format for its listeners. They are characterized by different currents, events and foreign melodies from overseas. The 1920s, for example, danced and dreamed to music with American characteristics – and with the sound film, performers became stars for the first time. But this brief flowering came to an abrupt end under National Socialism in 1933, when numerous Jewish performers and composers were banned and even abducted in the course of the Nazi era. From then on, the German Schlager moved through the history of the time.

Schlager abroad

In France, as well as in the French-speaking part of Belgium, Schlager are not called “chansons”, contrary to German usage, but “variétés”; accordingly, the hits in Italian are not called “canzone”, but “brani”. The differentiates music pieces known in France and Italy as Schlager. Comparable to the development of German Schlager, the “variétés” and “brani” also look back on a very long history. In England, the Schlager is translated as “Hit”.

Many Germans often assume that the Schlager does not exist in Great Britain as we know it. Many Germans often assume that the Schlager does not exist in Great Britain as we know it. English-language music is usually poppy in nature – or are there also English-language hits? Of course! His most significant representative is the British pop singer Engelbert Humperdinck (still popular karaoke schlager song in Germany!). With the song “A Man Without Love”, he reached number 6 on the German Schlager list in 1968.

“What came first: German Schlager or Pop Music?”

In retrospect, can one assume that the German Schlager can answer the question

Yes! It was the German Schlager! Strictly speaking, one cannot assume a “genre” when it comes to Schlager. The musical taste of many Germans has become remarkably differentiated over time. Thus, numerous preferences have established themselves, which we know today as pop, rock, blues, jazz, hip-hop, etc. These music styles are referred to as music genres in technical usage. A “bestseller” can therefore also be a pop number. And yet: the German Schlager has prevailed and lived up to its name! It is not only the starting point of marketable popular music in Germany – but has also adopted two distinctive features over the decades:  Its melody is very catchy, and Schlager is German-speaking! Do you like these facts? Follow us on LinkedIn to get an notification