Born March 11: Nina Hagen, the Queen of Germanic Reggae Punk
Born in 1955 in East Berlin prior to the construction of the wall, she has consistently enjoyed defying norms...
In 1978, her self-titled debut album achieved sales of 250,000 copies in Germany. This disorganized yet delightfully quirky release, flavored with a touch of colloquial English, enabled her to embrace the persona—and makeup—of the queen of punk beyond the river. Her wild diva vocals and piercing exclamations unexpectedly catapulted her into stardom within the fan base. Klaus Nomi even managed to have an unlikely hit with " African Reggae" (1979).
Following the breakup of her band, her solo career gained momentum in 1982. This former punk icon softened her approach and increasingly turned to using the English language. She moved away from her characteristic sharp screams to explore relatively ordinary hard rock sounds by 1989, oscillating between singing in German and English thereafter. Nonetheless, she was unable to recapture the mesmerizing impact of her formative years.
Boasting an impressive repertoire of around twenty albums, Nina Hagen has toned down her act somewhat and frequently surprises audiences with appearances in unconventional settings. For instance, she produced a recording Om Namah Shivay , a compilation of Indian chants available solely through her website, with the profits supporting social initiatives in India. Given that the artist is always articulate and actively involved in social and political issues, it’s fitting that her discography includes such content. Personal Jesus (2010) or a Revolution Ballroom (1993).
Of course, given her vocal talents, she was destined to join an opera production sooner or later. This milestone was reached through her involvement in a quirky rendition of "The Threepenny Opera." Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht In the early 2000s, her performance garnered praise from esteemed figures in the world of classical music.
However, constantly switching between fire and water themes, in recent years, Nina Hagen has collaborated with industrial metal groups such as Apocalyptica (for a cover of Rammstein ) and has demonstrated that even at her advanced age, executing splits remains achievable. Despite sounding unbelievable, she has lately included cover versions of various songs to her performance set. Over The Rainbow And well-known German tunes from the 1930s. In Germany, the specter of Marlene Dietrich And her Blue Angel inevitably make a return.
(MH with AK - Photo: © Etienne Tordoir)
Image: Nina Hagen being interviewed at the Sheraton Hotel in Brussels, Belgium on September 15, 1980