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 sold 250,000 copies in Germany. This slightly 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 throughout the country. Her wild diva vocals and piercing exclamations unexpectedly propelled her to stardom within these fan circles. 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 punk visionary softened her approach and increasingly turned to using the English language. She abandoned her characteristic high-pitched vocals for a venture into somewhat ordinary hard rock (in 1989), oscillating thereafter between singing in German and English. Nonetheless, she failed to recapture the mesmerizing impact of her formative years.
Boasting an impressive repertoire of around twenty albums, Nina Hagen has softened her edge somewhat and frequently surprises audiences with impromptu appearances. For instance, she once made a recording Om Namah Shivay , a compilation of Indian chants available solely through her website, with the earnings supporting social initiatives in India. Given that the artist is always articulate and actively involved in societal 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 eventually. This milestone was reached through her performance in a quirky rendition of "The Threepenny Opera." Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht In the early 2000s, her performance garnered acclaim from esteemed figures in the world of classical music.
However, frequently 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 demonstrates that even at her advanced age, doing split jumps remains achievable. Despite how astonishing this may seem, 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 during an interview at the Sheraton Hotel in Brussels, Belgium on September 15, 1980
