Lale Andersen

Lale Andersen (March 23, 1905 – August 29, 1972) was a German chanson singer-songwriterfn|a born in Bremerhaven, Germany. She is best known for her interpretation of the song "Lili Marleen" in 1939, which became tremendously popular on both sides during the second World War.

Early life

She was born in Lehefn|b and baptized "Liese-Lotte Helene Berta Bunnenberg."Lehrke, G.: "Wie einst Lili Marleen—Das Leben der Lale Andersen", Henschel Verlag, 2002; ISBN 3-89487-429-5. In German.] In 1922, at the age of 17fn|c, she married Paul Ernst Wilke (1894 – 1971), a local painter.fn|d They had three children together: Björn, Carmen-Litta, and Michael. Shortly after the birth of the third child, the marriage broke up. Leaving the children in the care of her relatives (sister Thekla and brother Helmut), Lale went in October 1929Nordsee-Zeitung of [http://werften.fischtown.de/archiv/laleandersen12.html August 10, 2002] .] to Berlin, where she reportedly studied acting at the "Schauspielschule" at the Deutsches Theater.D'heil, S.: " [http://www.steffi-line.de/archiv_text/nost_deutsch/01a_andersen.htm Lale Andersen] ", URL last accessed January 16, 2006.] In 1931, her marriage was ended by divorce. [http://www.gus-manager.de/index.php?lfd=4&ulfd=5&datei=frames/standard.php&txt=lili_marleen Lale Andersen und Lili Marleen] , last accessed January 16, 2006.] About the same year, she began appearing on stage in various cabarets in Berlin.Deinert, M.: " [http://www.lale-andersen.de/html/werdegang_1.htm Lale Andersen: Werdegang] ", last accessed January 16, 2006.] From 1933 to 1937, she performed at the "Schauspielhaus" in Zürich, where she also met Rolf Liebermann," [http://www.schulla.com/covergalerie/DATEN/L/LALE%20ANDERSEN/Lale%20Andersen.htm Lale Andersen] ", last accessed January 16, 2006.] who would remain a close friend for the rest of her life. In 1938, Lale was in Munich at the cabaret "Simpl", and soon afterwards joined the prestigious cabaret Kabarett der Komiker in Berlin.

Lili Marleen and the war years

While at the "Kabarett der Komiker", she met Norbert Schultze, who had just written the music for "Lili Marleen". Lale recorded the song in 1939, but it would only become a hit when the "Soldatensender Belgrad" (Belgrade Soldier's Radio), the radio station of the German armed forces in occupied Yugoslavia began broadcasting it in 1941. "Lili Marleen" quickly became immensely popular with German soldiers at the front. The transmitter of the radio station at Belgrade, was powerful enough to be received all over Europe and the Mediterranean, and the song soon became popular with the Allied troops as well.Ciceran, M.: " [http://www.istrianet.org/istria/music/lili-marleen.htm Lili Marleen] ", last accessed January 16, 2006.]

Nevertheless, Nazi officials did not like the sad song about parted lovers, and Joseph Goebbels prohibited its being played on the radio. Lale was not allowed to perform publicly for nine months, not simply because of the song but also because of her friendship with Rolf Liebermann, who was Jewish, as well as with other Jewish artists she had met in Zurich. In desperation, Lale unsuccessfully attempted to commit suicide.Deinert, M.: " [http://www.lale-andersen.de/html/w_1943.htm Lale Andersen: Verfolgung und Auftrittsverbot] ", last accessed January 16, 2006.] When she was allowed to perform again, it was only subject to several conditions, one of which was not to sing "Lili Marleen". NTL Goebbels ordered her to make new "military" version of the song (with a significant drum) which was made in June 1942. In the remaining war years, Lale Andersen had one minor appearance in a propaganda movie and was made to sing several propaganda songs in English.Deinert, M.: " [http://www.lale-andersen.de/html/1943.htm Lale Andersen: Englische Propagandalieder] ", last accessed January 16, 2006.] Shortly before the end of the war, Lale retired to Langeoog, a small island off the North Sea coast of Germany.

Career after World War II

After the war, Lale Andersen all but disappeared as a singer. In 1949, she married Swiss composer Artur Beul.Probst, E.: " [http://www.beepworld.de/members82/frauenbiografien10/laleandersen.htm Lale Andersen] "; URL last accessed January 16, 2006.] In 1952 she made a comeback with the song "Die blaue Nacht am Hafen", for which she had written the lyrics herself.Nitschke, R.: " [http://www.swr.de/swr4/bw/musik/schon-gehoert/nitschke/archiv/-/id=258058/nid=258058/did=454980/d5lhdq/ Andersen, Lale: Der Wachtposten und das Meer] ", SWR 4, March 2005. URL last accessed January 16, 2006.] In 1959 she had another big hit "Ein Schiff wird kommen...", a cover version of "Never on Sunday" the title song from the movie of the same name, originally sung by Melina Mercouri.Müller, P.: " [http://werften.fischtown.de/archiv/laleandersen.html Stadtgeschichte Bremerhavens: Lale Andersen] ", last accessed January 16, 2006.] Both songs won her a gold album each in Germany. In 1961, she participated as the representative of Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Einmal sehen wir uns wieder", which only reached 13th place with three points. Throughout the 1960s, she toured extensively through Europe and also performed in the United States and Canada until her farewell tour "Goodbye memories" in 1967. Two years later, she published a book entitled "Wie werde ich Haifisch? – Ein heiterer Ratgeber für alle, die Schlager singen, texten oder komponieren wollen" (How do I become a shark? A cheerful companion for all, that sings songs, writes lyrics and composes music), and in 1972, shortly before her death, her autobiography "Der Himmel hat viele Farben" (The Sky has many Colours) appeared and topped the bestselling list of the German magazine "Der Spiegel".

Lale Andersen died of a heart attack in Vienna, Austria, at the age of 67. She was buried at the dune cemetery on the East Frisian island of Langeoog.

Footnotes

fnb|a Lale Andersen often wrote her own texts, usually under the pseudonym "Nicola Wilke".

fnb|b Lehe at the time of her birth was an independent municipality. It is now part of Bremerhaven. In 1924 Lehe was amalgamated with the neighbouring Geestemünde to become the city of Wesermünde. Bremerhaven, which was founded in 1827, was merged into Wesermünde in 1939. In 1947 Wesermünde became part of the state Bremen and was renamed Bremerhaven. [http://www.lehe.de/ Lehe homepage] , last accessed January 16, 2006.] [http://www.bremerhaven.de/sixcms/detail.php?id=349 Bremerhaven history] , last accessed August 20, 2007.]

fnb|c Although some online resources give 1924 as the year of the marriage, Lehrke's book contains a copy of the wedding announcement that had appeared in the "Nordwestdeutsche Zeitung" on April 1, 1922.

fnb|d In her early career, Lale Andersen was sometimes billed as "Liselotte Wilke".

References

Further reading

*Ahlborn-Wilke, D.: "Wie Einst: In Memoriam Lale Andersen 1945–1972", Gauke Verlag, 1978; ISBN 3-87998-023-3. In German.
*Ahlborn-Wilke, D.: "Lale Andersen. Erinnerungen - Briefe - Bilder", 4th ed.; Gauke Verlag, 1990; ISBN 3-87998-058-6. In German.
*Magnus-Andersen, L.: "Lale Andersen, die Lili Marleen", Universitas Verlag, 1985; ISBN 3-8004-0895-3. In German.

External links

* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0026198/ Lale Andersen in the IMDb]
* [http://www.dieterwunderlich.de/Lale_Andersen.htm Lale biography (in German)]
* [http://covergalerie.org/DATEN/L/LALE%20ANDERSEN/Lale%20Andersen.htm Bio in German with photos]