The Bläck Fööss

How many Germans have immigrated in the last 40 years or so and how many are from Cologne – Köln – Colonia in Nordrheinwestfallen???

In 1970 when pop singers and pop groups where all the rage in the UK and USA and every teenager wanted to sing, a group was formed from members of other bands here in Germany . This group was the supporting group on a Graham Bonnie (Super Girl fame) tour of Germany. He got on well with the lads and like their dialect and said they should turn their style to this Kölsch dialect. At first they where undecided on a name for the group and what they decided on in English is the “Naked Feet”. Sounds funny, but then in the 70's anything was OK. This name they choose was to become legendary in the Deutsch (German) music scene. The name in it's original language is the

Bläck Fööss

Graham Bonnie helped the group get their first record with the title of “Rievkooche Walzer” into the shops and that was the start of this group with it's own individual style.

There are two reasons for writing this hub and the first is that it's the groups 40 years jubilee. The second reason is that we are almost at the end of the carnival season so I thought it would be fitting to bring the two together. If I said we could add a third reason it would be nice for all those German ex-pats around the world to feel a little closer to home.

The music in the video's is all in the German language and if you don't speak Deutsch/German well you can still enjoy the pictures and the music.

At the start the group where still singing English songs sung by such groups as the Beatles, Kinks, and the Hollies to name but a few. As the years went by they brought out new songs and as of today have released 46 singles and 22 albums.

One member from those early days was Tommy Engels he was the front man and lead singer. There style ranged from being rock to pop and added with a bit of comedy went down well with the citizens of Köln. His presence in the band helped them come very close to their audience as he had a certain charm that is inbred in the Kölner.

This marriage with the group lasted 20 years until Tommy Engels had decided he was leaving to go his own way and try out new thing. He formed a new group and called it “LSE” which is still performing today.

This being a big shock to the other band members left them a bit shattered as Tommy had been a vital part of the band and left them wondering where their singing careers would end up. They decided to give it a go on their own and found a replacement in Kafi Biermann who became the ideal replacement for Tommy Engels. The gigs picked up and they did small tours and got down to writing new songs. These days they have concerts all over Germany and as far as the German number one holiday island Majorca in the Mediterranean.

A lot of people have the impression that the music of Germany is all um-pa music. That might be down in the south of Germany and the alpine regions, but in Nordrheinwestfallen (county) it certainly isn't. We have the centre of carnival being Cologne/köln and some of the best music groups and singers in Germany. Along with that we also have the carnival groups that entertain from November until the end of carnival.

That season is almost at an end, as on the 16^th February is the start of the last week of carnival. There are street parades, concerts involving hundreds of acts and all the carnival groups. This is the hardest and longest week for the artists with all the shows and the biggest and best acts doing between 5/6 different appearances each day.

The big day is Rosen Montag or Rose Monday where there is a parade in Köln that stretches 5 miles and takes about 6 hours to do the route. There are bands of all descriptions from brass, silver, bagpipes, flute, dancers, flag throwing, clowns, horses and everyone dressed in fancy costumes. Most people in the parade have to walk the whole length but there are also tractors, wagons and trucks all done up that look like a floating stage with the special theme of the season, you can't even see what's under the decorations.

On other days there are smaller parades in the villages around the city. The highlight takes place with the burning of the "Nubbel" at the stake at mid-night on Tuesday. This marks the official ending of carnival and on Wednesday for breakfast is fish and the start of fasting until Easter.