Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Geneva Videos (Switzerland)
In Die Nacht/Bill's Band Introduction!:
Amazing fan video [audio and visual], look closely at around 3:14, you'll see something hit Tom's head...=], its actually Bill hittimg him with the bunny rabbit teddy he's holding, it costs him however, Tom doesnt finish out the song, its worth it though, for Tom's cute smile..=]
Also Bill's introduction/presentation of the band!...He calls Gustav 'Wolfgang' and Georg 'Hagen'
Ich Brech Aus:
Leb Die Sekunde:
Ich Bin Da:
Der Letzte Tag:
Geh:
Amazing fan video [audio and visual], look closely at around 3:14, you'll see something hit Tom's head...=], its actually Bill hittimg him with the bunny rabbit teddy he's holding, it costs him however, Tom doesnt finish out the song, its worth it though, for Tom's cute smile..=]
Also Bill's introduction/presentation of the band!...He calls Gustav 'Wolfgang' and Georg 'Hagen'
Ich Brech Aus:
Leb Die Sekunde:
Ich Bin Da:
Der Letzte Tag:
Geh:
Rette Mich:
At The Heart of a Musical Hysteria
In the vicinity of the Arena in Geneva, tents show of the fever which accompanies the event. Around this arena, camping, in the midst of tar and concrete, has emerged. This hall greets Tokio Hotel's most daring fans, those who have traveled hundreds of kilometers to see the German band. The wait is exhausting, but the reward is worth the sacrifice: seeing the continent's idols closely. This scenario has been repeating itself in Europe for nearly two years. Such concerts create an earthquake of such magnitude that no other band in the world today is capable of producing. They race through ticket sales, accompanied by anxiety in the parents of those children who are desperate to attend the event.
With Tokio Hotel, we are seeing the same enthusiasm which accompanied careers of bands like Duran Duran, or Spandau Ballet in the 80s. We find the same fever that gave rise to songs from boy and girl bands (Take That, 2Be3, Spice Girls...) a decade later. But today, there is something new. We see a rupture which dissociates Tokio Hotel from other known phenomenons. The band has managed to generate a flood, of a continental scale, in one language: German, which we had formerly considered inappropriate for rock and pop. This could have, even should have, set up a solid barrier to the exporting group. But inexplicably, this "disability" became an asset. The texts of two albums (Schrei and Zimmer 483) are known, translated and published on numerous sites and fan blogs. They are included in choirs in Helsinki, Madrid, Rome, Bratislava, and all the way to Tel Aviv.
But there is more: the look of the quartet. Tokio Hotel has made a brand image. Their recipe? Replicating several dress codes. In this patchwork, the androgynous figure and manga singer, Bill Kaulitz draws attention at first glance. His hair arched out (perhaps extensions?), his pale complexion, his tight and black clothes, his makeup, refer to some new wave and gothic icons. Rober Smith from the Cure, Brian Molko from Placebo in particular. Beside him, there is Tom aesthetic rasta (abundant dreads) and hip-hop (baggy jeans and XXL T-shirts, caps, bandannas and neck chains). Hardcore is represented by the bassist, Georg Listing. Only the drummer, Gustav Schafer eludes easy identification, wearing an obstinate "no-look."
This assembly is not risky. It is very likely that their record label, Universal, and agents of the band - some not exceeding 20 years of age - advise them. The rock, with well-arranged melodies and remarkably produced sound, aims to keep the target audience whose average age ranges between 10 an 16. This recipe pays. The conquest of the North American market will doubtlessly bring more new revenue.
Who is Tokio Hotel then? A product of some laboratory recordings? An entity born from artificial mixtures of musical examples? Partly, no doubt. But a significant portion of its course makes you think otherwise. Bill and Tom's passion with music dates from when they were little. Ever since the age of 7, the twins compose, write lyrics about their parent's divorce and life. They talk of the boredom of a youth who doesn't aspire in school. At Loitsche, village of Magdeburg where they grew up, these two songs of a seamstress and guitarist quickly dreamed of glory.
Bill brushed by it (fame) for the first time when he was 13: he was finalist for the German version of Star Academy or American Idol. A producer, Peter Hoffman was struck by the maturity and look of the teen on the stage. This meeting was decisive. It allowed the loser of the reality TV show to undertake the path of real glory, with his band, Devilish, composed of several school buddies. A changing of name later, Tokio Hotel now has a solid structure and professionalism to reach the firmament. This will be done from the very first album release, Schrei, in 2006. With Schrei, Tokio Hotel was a hit and "Durch den Monsun" traveled borders. A year later, the phenomenon took on enormous proportions with Zimmer 483: sales increased and mobile ring tones were made.
Such a course is rare. Only an operation of the singer's vocal chords was able to interrupt it. The enormity of their success, the magnitude of their tours and promotional obligations that accompany them, can cause concern. Overwhelmed by the tidal wave which he has provoked, Bill resigns: "We have no explanation, so we have stopped asking ourselves questions about it."
(source: letemps.ch)
With Tokio Hotel, we are seeing the same enthusiasm which accompanied careers of bands like Duran Duran, or Spandau Ballet in the 80s. We find the same fever that gave rise to songs from boy and girl bands (Take That, 2Be3, Spice Girls...) a decade later. But today, there is something new. We see a rupture which dissociates Tokio Hotel from other known phenomenons. The band has managed to generate a flood, of a continental scale, in one language: German, which we had formerly considered inappropriate for rock and pop. This could have, even should have, set up a solid barrier to the exporting group. But inexplicably, this "disability" became an asset. The texts of two albums (Schrei and Zimmer 483) are known, translated and published on numerous sites and fan blogs. They are included in choirs in Helsinki, Madrid, Rome, Bratislava, and all the way to Tel Aviv.
But there is more: the look of the quartet. Tokio Hotel has made a brand image. Their recipe? Replicating several dress codes. In this patchwork, the androgynous figure and manga singer, Bill Kaulitz draws attention at first glance. His hair arched out (perhaps extensions?), his pale complexion, his tight and black clothes, his makeup, refer to some new wave and gothic icons. Rober Smith from the Cure, Brian Molko from Placebo in particular. Beside him, there is Tom aesthetic rasta (abundant dreads) and hip-hop (baggy jeans and XXL T-shirts, caps, bandannas and neck chains). Hardcore is represented by the bassist, Georg Listing. Only the drummer, Gustav Schafer eludes easy identification, wearing an obstinate "no-look."
This assembly is not risky. It is very likely that their record label, Universal, and agents of the band - some not exceeding 20 years of age - advise them. The rock, with well-arranged melodies and remarkably produced sound, aims to keep the target audience whose average age ranges between 10 an 16. This recipe pays. The conquest of the North American market will doubtlessly bring more new revenue.
Who is Tokio Hotel then? A product of some laboratory recordings? An entity born from artificial mixtures of musical examples? Partly, no doubt. But a significant portion of its course makes you think otherwise. Bill and Tom's passion with music dates from when they were little. Ever since the age of 7, the twins compose, write lyrics about their parent's divorce and life. They talk of the boredom of a youth who doesn't aspire in school. At Loitsche, village of Magdeburg where they grew up, these two songs of a seamstress and guitarist quickly dreamed of glory.
Bill brushed by it (fame) for the first time when he was 13: he was finalist for the German version of Star Academy or American Idol. A producer, Peter Hoffman was struck by the maturity and look of the teen on the stage. This meeting was decisive. It allowed the loser of the reality TV show to undertake the path of real glory, with his band, Devilish, composed of several school buddies. A changing of name later, Tokio Hotel now has a solid structure and professionalism to reach the firmament. This will be done from the very first album release, Schrei, in 2006. With Schrei, Tokio Hotel was a hit and "Durch den Monsun" traveled borders. A year later, the phenomenon took on enormous proportions with Zimmer 483: sales increased and mobile ring tones were made.
Such a course is rare. Only an operation of the singer's vocal chords was able to interrupt it. The enormity of their success, the magnitude of their tours and promotional obligations that accompany them, can cause concern. Overwhelmed by the tidal wave which he has provoked, Bill resigns: "We have no explanation, so we have stopped asking ourselves questions about it."
(source: letemps.ch)
Concert Review
9,500 people, most of which are teenage girls, went to Tokio Hotel's concert, Saturday at the Arena. If the hysteria of the fans has created problems at the entrance, the concert went along without any notable incidents. The security personnel was one of the largest ever put in place at the Arena.
Tokio Hotel rocked the Arena
Tokio Hotel in the Arena, it's done! Last Saturday, there were 9,500 spectators there to applaud the German band.
In the crowd, a majority of girls aged between 12 and 14, or approximately 80% of the public. And a few boys. And adults. Parents for the most part. "There were about 10%. Some are even fans," says Michael Drieber, organizer of the concert. "We were expecting only teens."
Put all those people in the arena. There, the singer Bill Kaulitz and his companion landed, delivering a set of rock as smooth as effective, in German. An hour and 45 minutes presentation. Now we must interpret the reaction of the crowd present at the concert on Saturday. People say Tokio Hotel triggers extreme reactions from fans. Is that true? There is only two options really. With or without hysteria.
"Eeeeeeeeeeee," the fans, mostly teenage girls, scream at the top of their lungs, almost ready to break your eardrums. A few minutes away from the lifting of the curtain, expected at 19:30, the least sound coming from the stage provoked screams from the public.
Finally the band arrives. We await with anxiety the first ones to faint. There are already 90, we learn with astonishment. Indeed the doors of the hall weren't even open, when the most bold fans start pushing for the best places. In the end, 375 people were evacuated urgently. Leading causes were fatigue and dehydration. However, three ambulances specially reserved for the evening were not used.
During the concert, barriers placed in front of the scene, the same we use for open air concerts with 50,000 people, have moved an inch. "Something never seen! The fans were concentrated in the center, in front of the stage. Imagine 8 or 9 people per square meter! The pressure on the barriers was extreme."
A concert like the others...
If the mass of the fans - one kilometer line - made it hard for security, the picture was different from their conduct during the concert. "We expected worse. Other than uneasiness, the atmosphere was good."
After the first quarter of an hour, the screams were more discrete. We expected constant screams? This wasn't the case. On the bleachers, mainly family space, were happy just moving and pacing, the more confident stood, sometimes imitated by their parents. We raise our arms, put out our hands and sing along. A boy, 9 or 10, mimes with his guitar, seated on the floor. Seated behind him, his mother smiles.
There it is, the Tokio Hotel phenomenon. Tokio Hotel is rock'n'roll without "sex" or "drugs."
(source: tdg.ch)
Tokio Hotel rocked the Arena
Tokio Hotel in the Arena, it's done! Last Saturday, there were 9,500 spectators there to applaud the German band.
In the crowd, a majority of girls aged between 12 and 14, or approximately 80% of the public. And a few boys. And adults. Parents for the most part. "There were about 10%. Some are even fans," says Michael Drieber, organizer of the concert. "We were expecting only teens."
Put all those people in the arena. There, the singer Bill Kaulitz and his companion landed, delivering a set of rock as smooth as effective, in German. An hour and 45 minutes presentation. Now we must interpret the reaction of the crowd present at the concert on Saturday. People say Tokio Hotel triggers extreme reactions from fans. Is that true? There is only two options really. With or without hysteria.
"Eeeeeeeeeeee," the fans, mostly teenage girls, scream at the top of their lungs, almost ready to break your eardrums. A few minutes away from the lifting of the curtain, expected at 19:30, the least sound coming from the stage provoked screams from the public.
Finally the band arrives. We await with anxiety the first ones to faint. There are already 90, we learn with astonishment. Indeed the doors of the hall weren't even open, when the most bold fans start pushing for the best places. In the end, 375 people were evacuated urgently. Leading causes were fatigue and dehydration. However, three ambulances specially reserved for the evening were not used.
During the concert, barriers placed in front of the scene, the same we use for open air concerts with 50,000 people, have moved an inch. "Something never seen! The fans were concentrated in the center, in front of the stage. Imagine 8 or 9 people per square meter! The pressure on the barriers was extreme."
A concert like the others...
If the mass of the fans - one kilometer line - made it hard for security, the picture was different from their conduct during the concert. "We expected worse. Other than uneasiness, the atmosphere was good."
After the first quarter of an hour, the screams were more discrete. We expected constant screams? This wasn't the case. On the bleachers, mainly family space, were happy just moving and pacing, the more confident stood, sometimes imitated by their parents. We raise our arms, put out our hands and sing along. A boy, 9 or 10, mimes with his guitar, seated on the floor. Seated behind him, his mother smiles.
There it is, the Tokio Hotel phenomenon. Tokio Hotel is rock'n'roll without "sex" or "drugs."
(source: tdg.ch)
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