Anyone who has travelled on AirBerlin recently will probably be fed up of the original but The xx covered Wham’s Last Christmas in the the Radio 1 Live Lounge. The xx will be playing what should be a very special gig in Berlin next year at Spreepark Plänterwald on 18 May 2013. The xx – […]
Ohrwurm: Lucy Rose – Merry Christmas Everyone
I remember buying the original version by Shakin’ Stevens on 7″ so was pleased to hear that Lucy Rose had covered Merry Christmas Everyone in Radio 1’s Live Lounge. I am at home with the family in Cardiff for Christmas and missing Berlin like mad and wherever you are, I hope you have a Merry […]
Sunday Documentary: Al Murray’s German Adventure
British comic, Al Murray, most famous for his character ‘The Pub Landlord’ sets out to dispel some myths about the German people in the BBC4 documentary: Al Murray’s German Adventure. Murray explores the German people and their culture as he travel around the country and encounters some of the greats of art and science, amongst […]
Ohrwurm: Little Green Cars – The John Wayne
Little Green Cars – The John Wayne starts slowly and builds to a crescendo. A sparse intro gains layers as the song progresses. There are obvious parallels with Mumford & Sons in Little Green Cars’ folk sound and for me echoes of Magic Numbers in the tight harmonies. Like the band in my last Ohrwurm, […]
Der Letzte Cowboy der Nation – The Story of the Witte Family and Spreepark Plänterwald
I stumbled across Der Letzte Cowboy der Nation when I was trying to find out more about Spreepark Plänterwald and why this once prosperous theme park in Berlin lies abandoned. The flashing imagery and chaotic cutting of this short documentary are ideally suited to the extraordinary story of Norbert Witte’s fall from charismatic fun park […]
Ohrwurm: Palma Violets – Best of Friends
Named NME’s Track of the Year 2012, Palma Violets – Best of Friends, is a raucous sing-a-long song. The kind of Ohrwurm that burrows its way into your brain on a rabble rousing night out and greets you with a hoarse ‘hello’ and a bear hug when you crawl out of bed in the […]
Reasons Why I Miss Berlin #1 – Anything Goes (Pony on the S-Bahn)
I haven’t even been away from Berlin 48 Hours yet and I already miss the city. Where else would someone take their pony on the train? Pony on the Berlin S-Bahn [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9NvQX_OIR4?rel=0] Reports that a ticket inspector spotted the pony and told the owner ‘Hay, you canter ride with that on here’ are as […]
Berlin 4D – Time-lapse Video
This time-lapse video – Berlin 4D by Ringo Paulusch on Vimeo – has been around for a couple of years now but I keep coming back to it, especially on grey days, to see Berlin at its best. Berlin 4D – time-lapse video [vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/15779273 w=1024&h=512]
Sunday Documentary: Berlin (by Matt Frei for BBC)
The documentary, Berlin, produced for the BBC by Matt Frei, a German-born journalist, charts the development of the city and examines the forces that shaped its people. It was this documentary that introduced me to Teufelsberg and the Schwerbelastungkörper and made me determined to learn more about Berlin’s history and to seek out the unusual […]
Ohrwurm: Lucy Rose – All I’ve Got
Like last Sunday’s Ohrwurm, Lucy Rose – All I’ve Got, taken from the debut album Like I Used To, is just the kind of song you need to ease you out of a hungover state. See more from Lucy Rose on her website, Facebook page and Twitter (which is how I heard about Ajimal – […]