Synopsis
A portrait and analysis of East German band Silly's popular music masterpiece, Februar, that mirrors the collapse of socialism.
In early 1989, nine months before the fall of the Berlin Wall, the band Silly released Februar, one of the most important albums in the history of rock music in the GDR. The record was both—an artistic masterpiece, and an eloquent sign of the times, with lyrics that commented on the political erosion afoot in East Europe and anticipated the collapse of socialism. That the words were able to overcome the hurdles typically set by censorship in the GDR owed in part to the extraordinary origins of the album. Februar was the only large-scale popular music coproduction between East and West Germany, jointly realized by Amiga in socialist East Germany and Ariola in the capitalist West. Ariola assumed the costs for the album, assuring itself the final say. Recorded in West Berlin, the album was released in both Germanies. Yet just as the song sequence and narrative of the record varied considerably from East to West, so too did its presentation and reception. Februar illustrated the divergent meanings rock music held in the rival societies, confirming its special power in the GDR. Differently from what black-white interpretations suggest, rock in East Germany developed along lines marked by unexpected possibilities, productive contradictions, and constant negotiations between artists and the state. This is the subject of this book. It portrays Februar as the culmination of a long-process of self-empowerment, throughout which Silly gained increasing artistic and political leeway.
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About the Author
Michael Rauhut is Professor of Popular Music at the University of Agder, Norway. He has written extensively on the history of popular music in the GDR. His most recent book publication is One Sound, Two Worlds: The Blues in a Divided Germany, 1945–1990.
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Hardcover. Condition: new. Hardcover. A portrait and analysis of East German band Silly's popular music masterpiece, Februar, that mirrors the collapse of socialism.In early 1989, nine months before the fall of the Berlin Wall, the band Silly released Februar, one of the most important albums in the history of rock music in the GDR. The record was bothan artistic masterpiece, and an eloquent sign of the times, with lyrics that commented on the political erosion afoot in East Europe and anticipated the collapse of socialism. That the words were able to overcome the hurdles typically set by censorship in the GDR owed in part to the extraordinary origins of the album. Februar was the only large-scale popular music coproduction between East and West Germany, jointly realized by Amiga in socialist East Germany and Ariola in the capitalist West. Ariola assumed the costs for the album, assuring itself the final say. Recorded in West Berlin, the album was released in both Germanies. Yet just as the song sequence and narrative of the record varied considerably from East to West, so too did its presentation and reception. Februar illustrated the divergent meanings rock music held in the rival societies, confirming its special power in the GDR. Differently from what black-white interpretations suggest, rock in East Germany developed along lines marked by unexpected possibilities, productive contradictions, and constant negotiations between artists and the state. This is the subject of this book. It portrays Februar as the culmination of a long-process of self-empowerment, throughout which Silly gained increasing artistic and political leeway. This item is printed on demand. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability. Seller Inventory # 9798765109304
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Hardcover. Condition: new. Hardcover. A portrait and analysis of East German band Silly's popular music masterpiece, Februar, that mirrors the collapse of socialism.In early 1989, nine months before the fall of the Berlin Wall, the band Silly released Februar, one of the most important albums in the history of rock music in the GDR. The record was bothan artistic masterpiece, and an eloquent sign of the times, with lyrics that commented on the political erosion afoot in East Europe and anticipated the collapse of socialism. That the words were able to overcome the hurdles typically set by censorship in the GDR owed in part to the extraordinary origins of the album. Februar was the only large-scale popular music coproduction between East and West Germany, jointly realized by Amiga in socialist East Germany and Ariola in the capitalist West. Ariola assumed the costs for the album, assuring itself the final say. Recorded in West Berlin, the album was released in both Germanies. Yet just as the song sequence and narrative of the record varied considerably from East to West, so too did its presentation and reception. Februar illustrated the divergent meanings rock music held in the rival societies, confirming its special power in the GDR. Differently from what black-white interpretations suggest, rock in East Germany developed along lines marked by unexpected possibilities, productive contradictions, and constant negotiations between artists and the state. This is the subject of this book. It portrays Februar as the culmination of a long-process of self-empowerment, throughout which Silly gained increasing artistic and political leeway. A portrait and analysis of East German band Silly's popular music masterpiece, Februar, that mirrors the collapse of socialism. This item is printed on demand. Shipping may be from our UK warehouse or from our Australian or US warehouses, depending on stock availability. Seller Inventory # 9798765109304
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Buch. Condition: Neu. Silly's Februar | Michael Rauhut | Buch | 33 1/3 Europe | Englisch | 2026 | Bloomsbury Academic | EAN 9798765109304 | Verantwortliche Person für die EU: Libri GmbH, Europaallee 1, 36244 Bad Hersfeld, gpsr[at]libri[dot]de | Anbieter: preigu Print on Demand. Seller Inventory # 135407014
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Buch. Condition: Neu. nach der Bestellung gedruckt Neuware - Printed after ordering - A portrait and analysis of East German band Silly's popular music masterpiece, Februar, that mirrors the collapse of socialism.In early 1989, nine months before the fall of the Berlin Wall, the band Silly released Februar, one of the most important albums in the history of rock music in the GDR. The record was both-an artistic masterpiece, and an eloquent sign of the times, with lyrics that commented on the political erosion afoot in East Europe and anticipated the collapse of socialism. That the words were able to overcome the hurdles typically set by censorship in the GDR owed in part to the extraordinary origins of the album. Februar was the only large-scale popular music coproduction between East and West Germany, jointly realized by Amiga in socialist East Germany and Ariola in the capitalist West. Ariola assumed the costs for the album, assuring itself the final say. Recorded in West Berlin, the album was released in both Germanies. Yet just as the song sequence and narrative of the record varied considerably from East to West, so too did its presentation and reception. Februarillustrated the divergent meanings rock music held in the rival societies, confirming its special power in the GDR. Differently from what black-white interpretations suggest, rock in East Germany developed along lines marked by unexpected possibilities, productive contradictions, and constant negotiations between artists and the state. This is the subject of this book. It portrays Februar as the culmination of a long-process of self-empowerment, throughout which Silly gained increasing artistic and political leeway. Seller Inventory # 9798765109304