Deze keer in de rubriek Muziek In Andere Landen: Duitsland. Is het echt zo dat ze daar 'alleen' maar Schlager luisteren? En hoe zit het nu met festivals na de ingrijpende gebeurtenissen op Love Parade? Ik Sprak er over met Oliviero.

> Germany has a huge classical music history. Musicians like Bach and Beethoven are from Germany. What kind of impact has this history on German music now a days?
You still learn all those names at school...but well, today classical music isn't 'famous' anymore. It's because everything in the modern culture has changed. I believe that today pop is the most present musical style of our culture. It's everywhere. Rap/techno/hip-hop/soul/reggae/funk are all there as well, don't get me wrong. But they're all part of a personal musical taste. Like life: hate it or love it.

> When we Dutchies think about Germany and Music we immediately think about Schlagermusic. Is this just prejudice or is this what Germans mostly listen to?
To me it's just where German music comes from. Now it may be hard to say rock or pop music has schlager music influences, but i think that many many years ago when the music and communication culture wasn't as developed yet as it is nowadays, probably most Germans listened to that type of music. In recent times like today its not like that anymore.

> In Holland we have a big Dance/Trance scene thanks to a lot of world-famous DJ's who are Dutch, how's that in Germany?
As far as I know Germany has a techno/dance act called 'Scooter'. They were pretty big over here and were even in the charts in the 90's. Now I would say that that type of music is not that much 'in trend' anymore, Scooter are still touring and releasing albums though.
We also had a very famous techno/dance street festival called 'Loveparade' which took place every year with a lot of people attending. It got cancelled though due to a severe mass panic accident...

> Unfortunately these accidents seems to happen more lately. Did this accident also influenced other festivals in Germany? Are people for example, more afraid to go to festivals now?
I don't think it influenced the people (fans) themselves. I mean, going to festivals has always had that 'wild party atmosphere'. Those people attend festivals to spend a day or few away from home and forget about their everyday life. Like with everything, human beings tend to forget important things and they are reminded of problems when it's already too late...
From a concert promoter point of view I really don't know if it changed anything. I just believe that they want to save money. That is all.

> What do you think is more popular over there, giant concerts or small intimate gigs?
I think there are audiences for both kind of concerts. There are people who need a big show to blow them away, and there are people who just need to be surrounded by just a few people to feel more comfortable and intimate with the artists.

> After more than 10 years of talentshows, are they still very popular in Germany?
It changed a little. Like everything new that gets old. The artists that came out of those shows even had success in the charts. Then they started doing these shows every 12 months, so everyone was like 'uh.again?' it lost audience interest. Even though, to me, the quality of some artists there still was/is not to underestimate. The problem is we have many talents on our planet (a few are extraordinary talented). To become famous you also need a big portion of LUCK. The casting shows immediately 'force' the winner to success & that is wrong. It is wrong because if you want to become famous, besides of luck, you need to work on it. You have to want it & believe in it -every-single-day. Then -maybe- you can force yourself to luck. That is, at least, my opinion.

> Like you said, you need indeed a big portion of Luck. Most of the people who participate on talentshows are forgotten within a couple of months. At least, that's how it goes in Holland. In the UK they have a pretty big career (think of One Direction, Leona Lewis, The Wanted, Olly Murs, Girls Aloud) even though it's only in their own country. How's that in Germany?
Except from the first artists that came of those shows, its like in Holland. I really dont' know why it's totally different in the UK. maybe its a cultural attitude towards new stuff. Or because the artists that are casted there are more talented/'want the success' even more. its both a cultural and musical fact.

> Would you like to recommend a German singer we really need to listen to?
Well, first name I can think of is a German girl called Leslie Clio (listen beneath). She was born in Hamburg but her songs (which she writes herself) are all in English language. I'd describe her music as pop/soul. But it's nothing like pretty much every 'pop stuff' you find in the charts today. I discovered her last year when she supported American act Christina Perri. Since then she released 3 singles and her debut album. All I can say is she had less than 1.000 likes on Facebook when I first saw her, and now - after a few chart/radio hits - she has over 30.000 likes. To me it's remarkable. Her first own tour was sold out quickly. She played to support for Keane and Marlon Roudette. And I believe I was the 'main reason' she had the honor to support Grammy winning soul British act Joss Stone...