WOLFGANG M. SCHMITT & OLE NYMOEN | »Schlager für alle« | HAMBURG

Schlager for everyone!
A German economic history in song

"Prosperity for all" proclaimed Ludwig Erhard, the father of the social market economy. Ole Nymoen and Wolfgang M. Schmitt call for "Schlager for all!

The economic history of the Federal Republic can be told wonderfully through pop songs, as they reflect the spirit of the times as well as economic crises and reforms.

In 1949, for example, citizens complained about inflation: "Who's going to pay for this?", whereas in 1960, thanks to the economic miracle, they knew: "Go with the economy!" The 1968s trigger deep resentment with Freddy Quinn, while Udo Jürgens almost becomes a revolutionary.

After the oil crisis and the recession, people "spit in their hands again" in the 80s to increase the gross national product. Gitte Haenning wants everything and Katja Ebstein advises the yuppies to marry the office. The neoliberal self is given its very own songs. Economic migration is sung about just as much as the longing for an anti-materialistic lifestyle - "free and burnt down". Even the Amigos know: "Tears also fall in a Porsche". Ole and Wolfgang explain and sing about the history of the German economy from 1949 to the present day.