Wir sind Helden

Infobox musical artist 2
Name = Wir sind Helden

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Img_capt = Wir sind Helden, left to right:
Mark Tavassol, Jean-Michel Tourette, Pola Roy, and Judith Holofernes.
Background = group_or_band
Alias =
Born =
Origin = Berlin, Germany
Genre = Alternative rock
Pop rock
Occupation(s) =
Years_active = 2001–present
Label = EMI
URL = [http://www.wirsindhelden.com/ Official site]
Current_members = Judith Holofernes
Pola Roy
Mark Tavassol
Jean-Michel Tourette
Past_members =

Wir sind Helden ( [IPA|viːɐ zɪnt ˈhɛldən] , German for "We are heroes") is a German band from Berlin. While it is difficult to categorise, the group's style has often been considered similar to that of the Neue Deutsche Welle. Other comparisons have been made to Rio Reiser and the music of the Hamburger Schule.Fact|date=February 2007. Songs such as "Denkmal" ("Memorial") bear resemblance to classic Pixies Fact|date=April 2008, specifically "Where's My Mind", "Nur ein Wort" ("Just one Word") evoke New Order. The video for "Nur ein Wort" was an imitation of Bob Dylan's famous 60s "Subterranean Homesick Blues" video. The sense of humour evident in many "Wir sind Helden" lyrics and videos sets them apart from the more earnest end of Indie music, however Fact|date=April 2008.

Background

In 2002, Wir sind Helden broke onto the German music scene with their song "Guten Tag" (Good Day), which reached #53 on the German singles charts and got significant airplay on MTV Europe, even though the band did not have a record deal. The band's debut album "Die Reklamation" (2003) entered the German album charts at number six and eventually reached number two. Their popularity was significantly increased when Judith Holofernes appeared on television on the Harald Schmidt Show, which led their small club tour to sell out immediately. Their second album "Von hier an blind" (2005) entered at the top of German and Austrian charts and remained in the top ten for twenty weeks.

Wir sind Helden often supports other bands by giving them the opportunity to open at their concerts. In particular, "Astra Kid" and the two-man-band "Olli Schulz und der Hund Marie" had significant exposure during tours with Wir sind Helden.Fact|date=February 2007

In late 2006 singer Judith Holofernes and drummer Pola Roy took time off from the band to have a baby. The band returned in 2007 with the album "Soundso" ('So and So') and a series of concerts across Germany. They have since announced another break following their 2008 tour and the conclusion of their recording contract with EMI. [20 February 2008 issue of "WELT Online"]

In the English speaking world

Wir sind Helden have now played at three sold-out concerts in London, United Kingdom in October 2006, November 2006 and September 2007, which is considered a great feat for a band with non-English lyrics. However, Wir sind Helden remains largely unknown in the English speaking world. [ [http://germansounds.de/en/news/?id=315#02 GermanSounds. Musik Made in Germany ] ]

Recently, the iTunes Music Store has released the first in a series of "iTunes Foreign Exchange" singles, in which two bands of different nationalities cover one of the other band's songs. The first single features +44 and Wir sind Helden. +44 provided an English language cover of "Guten Tag" while Wir sind Helden did a retro-sounding, German cover of the +44 single "When Your Heart Stops Beating". Also included are the original tracks done by both bands.

In 2007 their song "Endlich ein Grund zur Panik" was featured in the soundtrack to the EA Sports video game, FIFA 08, and another song "Guten Tag" was in "FIFA Football 04".

Awards

* ECHO
** 2004: "Best National Newcomer", "Best Marketing" (EMI label), "Best New National Talent On Radio", "Best German Video"
** 2006: "Best National Band"

* Eins Live Krone (German TV-Station)
** 2003: "Best New Act"
** 2004: "Best Live Act"
** 2005: "Best Album" (Von hier an blind)

* European Border Breakers Award
** 2005

Discography

Albums

Infobox Discography
Type = studio
Name = Die Reklamation


Released = 7 July 2003
Label = Labels Germany (EMI)
Chart position= #2 GER, #3 AT, #38 CH
Certification =
Sales = 800,000
Singles = "Guten Tag", "Müssen nur wollen", "Aurélie", "Denkmal"
Other info =

Infobox Discography
Type = studio
Name = Von hier an blind


Released = 4 April 2005
Label = Labels Germany (EMI)
Chart position= #1 GER, #1 AT, #5 CH
Certification =
Sales = 500,000
Singles = "Gekommen um zu bleiben", "Nur ein Wort", "Von hier an blind", "Wenn es passiert"
Other info =

Infobox Discography
Type = studio
Name = Soundso


Released = 25 May 2007
Label = Labels Germany (EMI)
Chart position= #2 GER, #2 AT, #11 CH
Certification =
Sales = 100,000
Singles = "Endlich ein Grund zur Panik", "Soundso", "Kaputt", "Die Konkurrenz"
Other info =

ingles

Other releases

*"Guten Tag" (2002) (5-Track EP independently released, 3000 copies produced)
*"Die Rote Reklamation" ("Die Reklamation" + Bonus DVD) (2004)

References

External links

* [http://www.wirsindhelden.com/ Official website]
* [http://myspace.com/wirsindhelden Wir Sind Helden Myspace page]
* [http://heldenverehrung.de/ Banke's Fansite]
* [http://www.heldografie.de/ A comprehensive Wir sind Helden discography]
* [http://mtv.de/wirsindhelden/ The single "Von Hier an Blind" in multiple languages]
* [http://pod.icast.co.il/59e0d946-2238-4945-aa79-dff2281c4400.icast.mp3 An interview with Mark Tavassol on Israeli radio]
* [http://earthlingsoft.net/ssp/blog/2005/07/wir_sind_helden_in_english/ Wir Sind Helden lyrics with English translations]