The 12 Best German Music Videos to Add to Your Watchlist
Germany has brought some unique gems to the music scene, with many popular songs and captivating music videos.
Check out 12 of the best German music videos below, covering a variety of genres and styles.
This selection unveils the artistic fusion of sound and imagery that defines the German music scene.
And if you’re a German learner, these music videos will provide a bite-sized language lesson with an engaging visual aspect.
Contents
- 1. “Deutschland” (Germany) by Rammstein
- 2. “Eure Mädchen” (Your Girls) by Kraftklub
- 3. “Nagorny Karabach” by Einstürzende Neubauten
- 4. “Ein neuer Tag” (A New Day) by Juli
- 5. “Sonnendeck” (Sundeck) by PeterLicht
- 6. “Durch Den Monsun” (Through the Monsoon) by Tokio Hotel
- 7. “Schwule Maedchen” (Gay Girls) by Fettes Brot
- 8. “Haus am See” (House by the Lake) by Peter Fox
- 9. “99 Luftballons” (99 Balloons) by Nena
- 10. “Nein, Mann!” (No, man!) by Laserkraft 3D
- 11. “Komet” (Comet) by Udo Lindenberg & Apache 207
- 12. “Klar” (Clear) by Jan Delay
- How Music Videos Can Help You Learn German
Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)
1. “Deutschland” (Germany) by Rammstein
Rammstein is a Neue Deutsche Härte (New German Hardness) band formed in Berlin in 1994. Their popular live performances have featured pyrotechnics and their music videos reflect this grand, dramatic style.
The Deutschland music video from 2019 has been called a cinematic spectacle. Over 9 minutes long, it takes us on a wild ride through German history featuring both historical and mythical figures and some rather dark and gory moments.
It’s peppered with tons of references that will probably take at least a few watches to pick up on. This is a must-watch German music video that has made an important mark on the history of the German and international music scene.
2. “Eure Mädchen” (Your Girls) by Kraftklub
Kraftklub creates songs that combine rock, indie and rap. They also work within a German music genre called Sprechgesang (spoken singing).
Be warned, this music video shows scenes of some rowdy partying and a brief bit of rear, male nudity. It features the most stereotypical behavior of rock bands while getting amped for their gigs or celebrating a successful show.
If you’re learning German, the fast-moving lyrics of this song will require you to fine-tune your listening. The lyrics are about the life of a rock star, and they make some jabs at how Swedish bands copy their style of music.
3. “Nagorny Karabach” by Einstürzende Neubauten
“Nagorny Karabach,” named after the landlocked region just south of Russia, offers a slower tune. The band is from West Berlin, and their trademark is using custom-made instruments, resulting in a melodic, often somber genre called “industrial.”
The “Nagorny Karabach” music video provides English subtitles, assisting with your translation process. It shows the frontman singing towards the camera, with the rest of the band performing on a screen in the background.
The lyrics paint a picture of the mountains and valleys of Nagorny Karabakh and the views of the clouds and the town below.
4. “Ein neuer Tag” (A New Day) by Juli
Eva Briegel leads vocals for the band Juli, which is considered a German alternative pop band. In the video for “Ein neuer Tag,” you can see the colorful lights and large crowds of a concert in Germany.
The words are fairly simple and the song tells a story of fighting through troubles and triumphing when times are tough. The repetition of vocabulary is particularly helpful for committing words to memory. For example:
Ein neuer Tag (A new day)
Ein neuer Plan (A new plan)
Ein neues Ziel (A new game)
Lalala
Ich fange an (I’m starting)
5. “Sonnendeck” (Sundeck) by PeterLicht
If you enjoy electropop and visuals that make you smile, the “Sonnendeck” music video is a solid choice. The relaxing video has a stop-motion story of an office chair moving throughout the city and seemingly trying to find its place in the world.
The lyrics are great for beginners, as you can see from this example:
Und wenn ich nicht hier bin, bin ich auf’m Sonnendeck.
(And if I’m not here, I’ll be on the sun deck.)
6. “Durch Den Monsun” (Through the Monsoon) by Tokio Hotel
If you’re into German music—or music at all—you’ve likely heard of Tokio Hotel. The German alternative rock band has sold millions of albums all over the world.
As with many alternative rock songs, “Durch Den Monsun” is a story of struggle and fighting through pain. The female vocals cover plenty of intermediate-level lines for you to practice with. For example:
Ein halber Mond versinkt vor mir
(A half moon sinks in front of me)
War der eben noch bei dir?
(Was it by your side just now?)
Und hält er wirklich was er mir verspricht?
(And will it really keep the promise it made me?)
7. “Schwule Maedchen” (Gay Girls) by Fettes Brot
“Schwule Maedchen” is considered a hip-hop song. The video gives you an idea of how a more grungy German club might feel, starting with an interaction between friends who sneak into the club through a window.
The lyrics move fast, so it’s best for advanced learners. That said, they do repeat the same lines quite a bit, and you’ll get some references to different locations in Germany. Here’s a taste:
Wenn drei schwule Madchen
(If three gay girls)
Durch Hamburg geh’n
(Walk through Hamburg)
Dann bleiben die Leute einen Augenblick lang ruhig steh’n
(The people will stop for a moment)
Sie seh’n uns an
(They stare at us)
Warten was passiert
(Wait what’s happening)
Bis sie wissen es ist Zeit , dass wir zusammen durchdreh’n
(Until they know it’s time for us to get crazy together)
8. “Haus am See” (House by the Lake) by Peter Fox
Presenting some of the most popular reggae and hip hop from Berlin, Peter Fox is always a pleasure to listen to and watch.
Shots of the German landscape can be seen in this video, and some laid-back instrumentals combine with relatively simple lyrics:
Und am Ende der Straße steht ein Haus am See.
(And at the end of the street there is a house at the lake)
Orangenbaumblätter liegen auf dem Weg.
(Orange tree leaves lie on the street)
Ich hab 20 Kinder; meine Frau ist schön.
(I have 20 kids, my wife is beautiful)
Alle kommen vorbei, ich brauch’ nie rauszugehen.
(Everyone walks by and I never need to go outside.)
9. “99 Luftballons” (99 Balloons) by Nena
The “99 Luftballons” song is popular in both Germany and around the world. If you’ve seen at least one German music video, this is probably it.
The video gives a taste of German styles in the 80s, and the lyrics are nice and simple for learning some new words in style:
99 Luftballons (Ninety-nine balloons)
Auf ihrem Weg zum Horizont (On their way to the horizon)
Hielt man für UFOs aus dem All (One could take them for UFOs from space)
10. “Nein, Mann!” (No, man!) by Laserkraft 3D
This electronic/dance song is pretty silly, but the music video features some cool glow-in-the-dark effects that will have you mesmerized. It’s a creative concept and the beat will probably have you bobbing your head along as you watch.
The lyrics are various pieces of conversations taking place at a club. Here’s an example:
(No, man! I don’t wanna go yet)
(I still wanna dance a bit)
(Come on, buddy)
(It’s not even late yet)
(Let’s dance a bit more)
11. “Komet” (Comet) by Udo Lindenberg & Apache 207
12. “Klar” (Clear) by Jan Delay
The Jan Delay music video for the song “Klar” is for those who enjoy some funky reggae, hip hop and dub. The majority of the song is mainly Jan Delay bragging about how much he rocks, but you get some interesting wordplay for your German learning.
For example, one of the verses says:
…die Zeit war reif (aha), für neue Styles (…the time was ripe for new styles)
(und ihr seid) (and you’re)
hin und weg wie Berlin und Bonn (here and there like Berlin and Bonn)
How Music Videos Can Help You Learn German
- You get to hear, watch and sometimes even read the German lyrics. Subtitles are great for seeing how words are spelled, but even without them you can work on listening and watching a German person speak.
- Music videos have an advantage over songs because they provide imagery. So, you get a chance to view German landmarks, clothing styles, historical imagery and other cool stuff from German culture.
- You’ll learn new colloquial words and phrases. By watching music videos, you’ll hear words that you won’t find in a textbook. Understanding German slang will help you communicate with native speakers.
- YouTube videos are free and easily accessible. If you’re looking to learn German on the cheap, make a YouTube music video playlist instead of paying for tracks. And you can watch them virtually from anywhere on a smartphone or tablet!
For extra learner support, you can actually use apps and programs targeted at learners to help out while you watch German music videos.
FluentU is one of the best websites and apps for learning German the way native speakers really use it. FluentU takes real-world videos—like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks—and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.
Watch authentic media to simultaneously immerse yourself in the German language and build an understanding of the German culture.
By using real-life videos, the content is kept fresh and current. Topics cover a lot of ground as you can see here:
Vocabulary and phrases are learned with the help of interactive subtitles and full transcripts.
Hovering over or tapping on any word in the subtitles will automatically pause the video and instantly display its meaning. Interesting words you don’t know yet can be added to a to-learn list for later.
For every lesson, a list of vocabulary is provided for easy reference and bolstered with plenty of examples of how each word is used in a sentence.
Your existing knowledge is tested with the help of adaptive quizzes in which words are learned in context.
To keep things fresh, FluentU keeps track of the words you’re learning and recommends further lessons and videos based on what you've already studied.
This way, you have a truly personalized learning experience.
Start using the FluentU website on your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes or Google Play store. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)
Whether you’re a German learner or just a music fan, these music videos will entertain and engage you.
If you’re looking for more German music, check out these great songs to add to your playlist!
Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)
