Learn German with the Music of David Hasselhoff

Categories: Languages
    • 1989: Named "Most Popular and Best Selling Artist of the Year" in Germany
    • 1993: Wir Zwei Allein a Top 10 single

  • Learn German with the Music of David Hasselhoff uses songs David Hasselhoff has sung in Germany to study German vocabulary, grammar, and verb conjugation.

  • Learn German with the Music of David Hasselhoff uses songs David Hasselhoff has sung in Germany to study German vocabulary, grammar, and verb conjugation.

  • Introduction: David Hasselhoff and German Songs

    • David Hasselhoff is an extremely popular performer in Germany. Now you can use his German musical performances to improve your listening comprehension and language skills!

  • Song 1: David Hasselhoff sings Du

    • Du is a love song. As such, it uses the informal word for "you," "Du," instead of the formal "Sie."

  • Activity 1: Verb conjugation

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    1. Listen to the song.
    2. Now try conjugating the chorus:
      • Du _____(sein) alles, was ich _____(haben) auf der welt
      • Du _____(sein) alles, was ich _____(wollen).
      • Du, du allein _____(können) mich verstehen,
      • Du, du _____(dürfen) nie mehr von mir gehen

  • Activity 2: Translation

    1. Listen to the performance.
    2. Now try to translate the first line:
      • "In deinen Augen steht so vieles, was mir sagt."
      • Need some help? Here's a tip: "Augen" means "eyes."
      • So the first line is "In your eyes there's so much that speaks to me."

  • Activity 3: Speaking

    1. Listen to the song one more time.
    2. Now, play the song again, but this time try to sing along with the chorus.
      • For a more advanced exercise, try singing all the words, not just the chorus.
      • If you need help, here are the lyrics.

  • Song 2: David Hasselhoff sings Stille Nacht

  • Activity 1: Verb conjugation

    1. Listen to the song.
    2. Now try conjugating verbs in the first stanza:
      • Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
      • Alles _____(schlafen); einsam _____(wachen)
      • Nur das traute hochheilige Paar.
      • Holder Knabe im lockigen Haar,
      • _____(Schlafen) in himmlischer Ruh!
      • _____(Schlafen) in himmlischer Ruh!

  • Activity 2: Translation

    • Although the words to Stille Nacht as very similar to Silent Night, the translation is not word-for-word.
    1. Listen to the song again.
    2. The German lyrics for the second verse are:
      • Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
      • Hirten erst kundgemacht
      • Durch der Engel Halleluja,
      • Tönt es laut von fern und nah:
      • Christ, der Retter ist da!
      • Christ, der Retter ist da!
    3. Compare these lyrics to the English version:
      • Silent night, holy night,
      • Shepherds quake at the sight.
      • Glories stream from heaven afar,
      • Heav'nly hosts sing Alleluia;
      • Christ the Savior is born
      • Christ the Savior is born
    4. Some key differences:
      • "Kundmachen" means "to announce"
      • "Engel" means "angel"
      • "Da" means "here"
    5. For a complete literal translation of the lyrics, click here.

  • Activity 3: Speaking

    1. Begin the song once more.
    2. Try singing along with David Hasselhoff.
    3. If you need more help, use these lyrics.

  • Song 3: David Hasselhoff sings Wir zwei allein

    • Enjoy this duet between David Hasselhoff and young Gwen Obertuck. The song shows the loss a father and daughter feel for her mother, but also their reliance on each other.

  • Activity 1: Listening comprehension

    1. Spoken (and sung) German can vary from the German learned in textbooks. Sounds are elided and informal usages are common.
    2. Listen to the song: can you hear any informal usages?
      • For example, "Heute Nacht" becomes "Heut' Nacht"
      • The chorus's second line, "Hey was glaubst du, was sie grad macht?" begins with "Hey." This interjection is not important enough to re-order the sentence, so the verb is now the third word in, leaving its usual second-place position.

  • Activity 2: Translation

    1. Translate the title: "Wir zwei allein heut nacht."
      • Remember that heut is the shortened form of heute!
    2. The answer is: "The two of us, alone tonight."

  • Activity 3: Verb conjugation

    1. Listen to the song once more.
    2. Now conjugate the verbs in the chorus:
      • Wir zwei allein heut nacht,
      • Hey was _____(glauben) du, was sie grad _____(machen) ?
      • Wie man da wohl _____(wohnen), hinterm gelben Mond ?

  • Activity 4: Speaking

    1. Play the song again.
    2. Sing along with the chorus. Or, if you're up for the challenge, sing along to the whole song!
    3. If you're stuck, check out the song lyrics.

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