12 German Songs to Help You Learn German Faster

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If you’re learning German, have you thought about using German songs?

German is one of the first languages I ever learnt (at school in Ireland and later in Berlin). It remains one of my favourite languages.

That said, I remember well how frustrating it could be. I had to wrap my head around German grammar and memorise the intimidating long words. And when you learn a language like that… you risk sounding like a robot!

I’ve already said it in my article about using popular French songs to learn French: music can be a great tool for your language learning. You can learn slang, idioms, contractions, modern words…

All of it in context, and while having a good time! (I’ll expand on that towards the end of the article.)

Whether you want to introduce a new technique to your German learning strategy or are just looking for German song recommendations, this post is for you!

Now let’s jump to 15 great German song recommendations!

1. Rammstein – Ich Will

Rammstein has been rocking around on the world stage since the mid-nineties. The majority of their songs are performed in German, although they often integrate many other languages (English, French and Spanish, to name a few) into their lyrics.

Ich Will is perfect for those at a beginner’s level. The lyrics are short, simple and straight to the point and the song is sung entirely in German. Best of all this particular tune is family-friendly – which is notable in itself. As a hard-core rock band, Rammstein doesn’t tend to see keeping their songs PG as a top priority.

2. Helene Fischer – Atemlos durch die Nacht

Helene Fischer is Germany’s answer to Britney Spears. Her songs are pop-y, fun and catchy – pretty much guaranteed to get stuck in your head.

Atemlos durch die Nacht happens to be the most successful song in German history. I wouldn’t be surprised if I were to find out that most German speakers know the words to it. It’s certainly the impression you get if you’re at a German club and the DJ puts this track on.

Best to learn the lyrics if you should ever find yourself in this particular situation, so as not to look out of place!

(If the video doesn’t load for you, try it here instead)

3. O Tannenbaum

Although O Tannenbaum is a song that is generally best served during the festive season, it’s another good one to start with.

I would be surprised to meet anyone who didn’t know the words of this song by heart in English – my guess is that the words have been deeply ingrained since childhood! The video itself is aimed at children and features subtitles so you can sing along.

4. David Hasselhoff – Du

Have you heard of Du?

David Hasselhoff’s music career may have never got off the ground in the United States, but he was a massive hit in Europe, particularly in German-speaking countries. So much so, that he performed his iconic song “Looking for Freedom” on New Year’s Eve 1989 at the Berlin Wall (the song hit #1 in the German charts that year).

Du is unique among the other songs on this list, as the Hoff is not a native German speaker. He doesn’t run his words together – he sings clearly and distinctly (and with such fervent passion!). This makes the song yet another good choice for those who are just starting to tune their ear to German.

5. Marlene Dietrich – Lili Marleen

Lili Marleen is a German love song that grew in popularity during World War II.

Originally a poem written in 1915 during the first World War, Marlene Dietrich’s cover is probably the most well-known recording of the song.

Funnily enough, the tune was popular on both sides of the trenches during WWII, making it one of the most famous German-language songs in the world.

6. Nena – 99 Luftballons

99 Luftballons is an anti-war protest song that became an international hit when the English version was released.

The original German rendition tells the story of an army general sending pilots to shoot down what turns out to be harmless children’s balloons, floating on a country border. This leads to a 99-year long war, in which there is no winner.

7. Stereo Total – Wir Tanzen Im Viereck

Wir Tanzen Im Viereck is a song you can sing and dance along to! The beat is catchy and the lyrics repetitive. It’s probably the most bizarre song on this list.

The band in question is the multilingual Stereo Total, who mix things up by often producing songs in French and English as well.

8. Disco Pogo – Die Atzen

Disco Pogo is yet another catchy party tune that’ll have you shaking your tail-feather in no time at all. I dare you to keep a straight face during the chorus.

Dingalingaling indeed.

9. Deichkind – So’ne Musik

So’ne Musik takes us well into intermediate to advanced language learner’s territory. Hip-hop is not a genre for everyone, but I recommend you give this song a go.

Deichkind are notorious for their humorous lyrics and So’ne Musik is no exception. If you’re eager to pick up some German slang while testing out your rap skills, then this is the song for you.

10. Klee – 2 Fragen

Klee is a German pop group influenced by English bands such as Coldplay and The Cure.

2 Fragen (“Two Questions”) speaks of the point at the end of a relationship, where you look at your significant other and fail to recognise them. It’s a sweet little song that is fairly easy to sing along to.

You’ll be craving something with a bit of a slower pace after the last two tunes!

11. Nicole – Ein bißchen Frieden

Germany won its first Eurovision with Nicole’s rendition of Ein bißchen Frieden in 1982. Nicole was a highschool student at the time.

The song was also translated into English as “A Little Peace” and topped the charts everywhere it was released.

It’s a great musical choice for fans of ABBA!

12. Caterina Valente – Ganz Paris träumt von der Liebe

Released in 1953, Ganz Paris träumt von der Liebe is one of the most popular German songs. It’s one of the three songs that spent the most weeks at number one in Germany, totalling 21 weeks in 1955.

Ganz Paris träumt von der Liebe, which in English goes by “I Love Paris”, was introduced in the musical Can-Can

Why Study German With Songs?

When people try to tell me that particular languages are hard to learn, I’ll argue back until I’m blue in the face. Why? Because when it comes to difficulty, I think all languages are created equal. German is no exception.

Even so, it doesn’t hurt to oil the wheels of learning with a bit of fun.

I love music and often incorporate it into my language learning process. Here’s why:

Learning German With Music Is Fun!

For me, studying from grammar textbooks can be quite dull at times. Reading tables of verbs doesn’t help me internalise them in any way – I just tend to get bored.

On the contrary, I find music to be a helpful language learning tool, simply because I enjoy it so much.

Listen to a song long enough (especially a catchy and upbeat song), and you will inevitably find yourself singing along to it. I don’t know about you, but I’m generally always up for an impromptu karaoke session.

(Using audio is important for learning the nuances of German, both because of the new sounds and accents and because of the many German dialects.)

Your Accent Will Improve in Leaps and Bounds

There’s a reason why I’m a massive advocate of getting out of the classroom (or onto the Internet) when studying a language.

You’re not going to learn to talk like a native merely from reading a textbook.

You have to get out there and hear how people speak in their native tongue. You can do this in person, through watching films, or listening to music.

To know a language, you have to live it. So, if you want to speak like a German, you’re essentially going to have to pretend to be one.

It Will Give You a Unique Insight into German Culture

Luckily, music is an easily accessible gateway into a foreign culture. You can learn a lot about a people through the tunes that they listen to.

Throughout the ages, human beings have chosen to celebrate and commiserate with the aid of music. It doesn’t matter whether you’re listening to the current top 40, or singing a song from the last millennium. You’ve got a front row seat to an art form that highlights both the values and heritage of a particular culture.

You’ll Strengthen Your Memory Skills

Why is it that we get commercial jingles stuck in our head? Well, it’s because music engages certain parts of your brain that spoken language doesn’t.

So, you’re more likely to remember foreign words, if you hear them in a song, rather than in conversation. The music itself will act as a trigger point, stimulating words that you may otherwise have trouble recalling.

Active repetition of learning via song lyrics will help strengthen your memory skills overtime. That means you’ll be growing your vocabulary while having fun. You’ll also be more likely to remember complex grammar topics such as adjective endings if you hear the differences in context than if you learnt them from a textbook.

And of course, this language hack will give you a wicked advantage over others, the next time you partake in a karaoke session.

Overall, Songs are a Great Way to Learn

I hope you’ve enjoyed this list of songs.

A small warning: Be sure to avoid falling in the trap of passive learning.

Write down the lyrics as you listen to the song, until you have it memorised. Add words you’re unfamiliar with to your vocab list.

Also, don’t be afraid to belt out the lyrics with an exaggerated German accent. You may feel silly at first, but you’ll be sounding like a native in no time at all.

And even if you sound silly, it’s so much fun! To prove that I know what I’m talking about, see this music video I made (with a pretty terrible accent, and off-key, in true karaoke style but clearly enjoying myself) about a song in German that was popular while I was living in Berlin.

Above all, enjoy yourself. Language learning is not supposed to be a chore. It’s something you undertake because you have a particular passion for a country or culture. If you choose to mix up your learning, you’ll be far less likely to get disheartened along the way.

If you’re looking for more German posts, here is a great selection to get you started:

• German Pronouns – Here’s Everything You Need to Know
• German Uncovered Review — Honest, In-Depth Review on “StoryLearning” German [With Video]
• German Prepositions – The Ultimate Guide (with Charts)
• Days of the Week in German & Easy Ways to Remember Them
• GermanPod101 Review – 25 Hours with GermanPod101