Wir sind Helden (or We are Heroes to us) are the perhaps most inventive band to come out of Germany in the new millennium.  Sure, some may argue that there are others like them, but this combination of witty, controversial and somewhat ambiguous lyrics with combination of poppy, punky beats is certainly something that can give existing bands a run for their money.  The name is a reaction to the glorification of heroes after 9/11, and perhaps they are doing some rescuing themselves of the current manufactured music industry, by writing their own songs in their mother tongue, playing their own instruments and maintaining a connection with their fans.  

So how did they get started?  With a some determination, many gigs in small clubs and a little help from the Berlin Film Lounge.  Judith Holofernes, a folk singer, had always wanted to be in a band, and once she’d found three members in Pola, Mark and Jean, there was no stopping them.  Even when told to lose the three male members and replace them with better looking ones, they didn’t back down, even though they were being rejected constantly.  Instead, they decided to produce their record themselves and promote themselves through small gigs.   The result?  Their first single ‘Guten Tag’, an anti-consumerism anthem was played constantly on youth radio and their mini-album was completely sold out without any of the typical promotion.  Even now the Helden only make appearances when necessary and you’ll never see them in the gossip columns falling out of the latest celebrity clubs.  They produced their comic-esque video with the help of the Berlin Film Lounge and their single reached number 6 in the charts.  

Their lyrics are somewhat harder to understand than your average song, but you can’t say that their lyrics don’t make you think.  Whether talking about knocking down monuments, elephants following each other and brushing teeth (!), there are often important messages to be heard.  Being yourself is paramount, and our consumerist culture is shown for what it is – a big let down.  That new product on offer won’t change your life, make it better or worse, sings Judith in Guten Tag, and perhaps you’re just better off without it.  That’s not to say that the Helden don’t know how to have fun; in Monster they sing of secret monsters in the room next door, but don’t be afraid.  Their songs contain numerous word plays and references to pop and German culture and there are certainly not afraid to take risks with their lyrical content ‘Jeder kennt die Melodie der Onanie’.

The popularity of the Helden is huge, and its not hard to see why.  They manage to maintain accessibility with regular site updates and don’t charge ridiculous prices for gigs.  They live attainable lifestyles in Berlin, which any normal student could achieve and are respected for not compromising their values to sell more records.  One gets the impression that if all the fame, riches and success were to end, they’d still be making music in whatever way they could. 

The future is bright for the Helden, with a record deal for three albums and numerous tours, in Germany and on an international scale.  I personally love Wir sind Helden not only for their analytical and catchy music, but because they epitomise the nature of young Berlin, opinionated, cheeky and not afraid to speak their minds.   Although their lyrics are challenging, they don’t patronise the listener, and you can still enjoy the music, on whatever level.

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