9 Famous German Singers Who’ll Make You Love the Language

By Joe Warnimont 

The Top 40 charts are bumping with German learning opportunities.
From classics to electronica, pop to German songs that have hidden grammar lessons, Germany's music scene has it all.

The Benefits of Listening to Famous German Singers

Listening to music is often a passive consumption process. I know I don’t always absorb every word while working out and listening to music, and many times it’s difficult to even make out what the singers are saying.

So, is listening to a specific singer or two really that helpful when learning German?
You bet.

Since these singers are famous, you have a much better chance of recognizing the songs they sing. Many of the songs get distributed all over the world, so you may know more about the singers than you think.

In addition, the music world is an international market now, so you can expect various language versions, meaning you can listen in both English and German to help recognize words you don’t know.

Not to mention, the most famous of German singers range in the genres they sing, allowing every learner a chance to actually enjoy the music they listen to. Do you like rock? We have some tunes for you! What about pop? The Germans have you covered.

You can also find songs from various time periods, giving you a glimpse into the history of Germany. German music often provides a strong reflection into current and past German culture, helping you understand how Germany is different from other countries.
Plus, knowing some of the most famous names in German music will give you something to chat about with natives.

Without further ado, boot up your favorite music app (I’ll give you links to Spotify) and pop in your earbuds, because these German singers are ready to help you learn.

9 Famous German Singers and the Songs That Will Help You Learn

1. Sarah Connor

Sarah Connor’s real name is Sarah Terenzi, and she works as a songwriter, singer and TV personality. The popular German singer sold over 15 million record copies in the 2000s, starting with her single “From Sarah with Love,” and her debut album “Green Eyed Soul.”

Most of her music falls in the pop category, but she occasionally branches out to other options. Albums to use for your German learning include “Key to My Soul,” “Naughty but Nice,” “Muttersprache,” (Mother Tongue), “Wie Schön Du Bist” (How Beautiful You Are) and “Green Eyed Soul.”

How is this singer’s work specifically helpful for German learners?
Connor provides a wonderful combination of upbeat and slower songs, and she enunciates rather well compared to other singers, allowing you to really understand the words while tapping your toes.
Listen to the Spotify channel.

2. Lena Meyer-Landrut

Although much of her pop music is written in English, “Seeräuber-Opa-Fabian” (Pirate Grandpa Fabian) serves as a fun tune for those who enjoy female vocalists who sing invigorating lyrics.
Her claim to fame is that she represented Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2010 and won the whole competition. Her song “Satellite” took home the prize.

How is this singer’s work specifically helpful for German learners?
“Seeräuber-Opa-Fabian” is a fun jingle with loud vocals and hard beats for catching all the words sung by Lena Meyer-Landrut. The rest of her body of work is just as entertaining, catchy and singable! Listen to the Spotify channel.

3. Herbert Grönemeyer

Herbert Grönemeyer focuses on the pop, pop rock and soft rock genres, with singing popularity in places like Germany, Austria and Switzerland. He’s also made an impact as an actor in the extremely popular “Das Boot” (The Boat) movie. His album “4630 Bochum” is the third top selling album in Germany, with the album “Mensch” (Man) coming in at number one.

Some wonderful songs to assist in your German learning include “Der Weg,” (The Way) “Flugzeuge im Bauch,” (Butterflies in the Stomach) “Amerika” (America) and “Zum Meer.” (To the Sea)
How is this singer’s work specifically helpful for German learners?

Herbert Grönemeyer is more than a singer, because his epic songs grab your emotions and touch on themes like love, happiness and failure. Since we all want to express these emotions as German speakers, Herbert Grönemeyer helps us out. Listen to the Spotify channel.

4. Nena

Nena is a household name, with one of the most recognizable German songs in the world, called “99 Luftballons.” (99 Balloons) The New German Wave singer gained most of her popularity from that one song, but she rekindled her career by recording some of her older songs and releasing them to the public.

Her stunning voice, matched with the upbeat lyrics, make for great German language learning. Try out songs like “Wunder gescheh’n,” (Miracles Happen) “Und alles dreht sich,” (And Everything Revolves) “Willst du mit mir gehn” (Want to Come With Me) and “Du bist gut.” (You’re Good)
How is this singer’s work specifically helpful for German learners?

Besides the fact that she has a soothing voice and uses majestic instruments, her music videos often show popular spots in Germany, and her work inspires you to get outside and have fun with your German speaking.  Listen to the Spotify channel.

5. Xavier Naidoo

If you enjoy R&B or soul music, the German singer Xavier Naidoo has what you need. He goes by the stage name Kobra, and has also produced records and acts on occasion. Songs to choose from include “Dieser Weg,” (This Way) “Sag es laut” (Say it Loud) and “Alles kann besser werden” (Everything Can Get Better).

How is this singer’s work specifically helpful for German learners?
Xavier Naidoo is a rhyming master, helping German learners quickly recognize words because they go together so well in his songs. Listen to the Spotify channel.

6. Yvonne Catterfeld

It seems like many German singers take a swing at acting, and Yvonne Catterfeld has actually done quite well in the acting and TV host realm. Her primary fame comes from her songs, however, with favorites such as “Für dich,” (For You) “Pendel” (Pendulum) and “Vielleicht ist keine Antwort” (Maybe Isn’t an Answer).

How is this singer’s work specifically helpful for German learners?
Yvonne Catterfeld ties together entrancing lyrics and empowering instruments, along with sentences that are slow and easily understood. Listen to the Spotify channel.

7. Marlene Dietrich

Although generally thought of as a legendary German actor, the great Marlene Dietrich had an illustrious singing career, primarily while performing live in theaters. That’s not to say that she doesn’t have any recordings though. Try out songs like “Sag Mir Wo Die Blumen Sind” (Tell Me Where the Flowers Are) or “Ich bin von Kopf bis Fuß auf Liebe eingestellt” (I Am From Head to Foot In Love).

How is this singer’s work specifically helpful for German learners?
Marlene Dietrich is for those who love the classics, making it like a time machine through German history. Her themes aren’t too complicated for the beginner, and her sweet voice is ideal for any listening setting. Listen to the Spotify channel.

8. Annemarie Eilfeld

Annemarie Eilfeld rose to fame after winning the German version of “American Idol.”
“Animal Instinct” was her first album released to the world, but you can find various other songs since then, such as “Es geht vorbei,” (It Passes) “Barfuss durch Berlin” (Barefoot Through Berlin) and more.
How is this singer’s work specifically helpful for German learners?
I like Annemarie Eilfeld for German learners, because she’s as modern as you can get. You won’t feel weird turning this music on at a party, and you have plenty of songs and music videos to search for.
Listen to the Spotify channel.

9. Bill Kaulitz

Bill Kaulitz is not only a singer and songwriter, but a voice actor, model and clothing designer. He’s most famous because he’s the lead singer of the band Tokio Hotel.
The pop rock band performs in both English and German, but you can locate some favorites like “Durch den Monsun” (Through the Monsoon) and “Zimmer 483″ (Room 483) to get started with your German learning.
How is this singer’s work specifically helpful for German learners?
Bill Kaulitz has a voice that sounds almost like a young boy, and it helps drastically with German learning, because it keeps you engaged and ready to hear the next lyric in the song.
Listen to the Spotify channel. Here’s the Tokio Hotel channel as well.
Loving this German music?
Keep rocking out until the next time we come back with more hit German tunes for listening and learning!

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Joe Warnimont is a blogger and adventure-seeker. When not riding his bike around Chicago, you can find him sprucing up his German skills. He has watched “Run Lola Run” about ten too many times.