Wirtschaftswunder

ECONOMIC MIRACLE
“HIT SONGS MAKE YOU HAPPY”

“Good heavens, what a wild bunch!” exclaimed a journalist from southern Germany as he attended a concert by the band “Wirtschaftswunder” and was struck by that profound realization that so many have shared with him since the band’s founding: “Schlager music makes you happy!”

Since the 1990s, Helga and Oswald, Dr. Sputnik and Hans Albern, Jens von Eden, and—as the youngest lucky charm—Eddie Schillinger have been spreading this message throughout the cities and regions stretching from the North Sea to the Alps.

Their rise to cult status was unstoppable, and with every “Wirtschaftswunder” concert, German Schlager hits from the ’50s and ’60s enjoyed a joyful revival. A rousing live show soon brought the group in front of television cameras and into large concert halls as well as upscale clubs, where “style” still counts for something. Manuela and Freddy Quinn, Vico Torriani and Gus Backus, Mina, Connie Francis, Gitte & Rex—their songs remain unforgettable, not least thanks to “Wirtschaftswunder.” Yet “Wirtschaftswunder” is not simply a Schlager rip-off. On the contrary: with a cheeky wink, the band serves up a dazzlingly colorful musical revue in which irony and nostalgia meet on equal footing.

An evening with “Wirtschaftswunder” is a trip back to the teenage years of the Federal Republic, featuring a vibrant performance in a contemporary style. Experience the charismatic singer “Helga,” with her beguiling stewardess charm; the entertainer Oswald, a quirky dance artist without equal; and a top-notch band featuring musical legends such as Dr. Sputnik (drums), Eddie Schillinger (guitar), Jens von Eden (electric organ), and the legendary Hans Albern (bass).

The characters these musicians portray are half the show all on their own.