Schlager lout

Who would have thought that a man previously only known to most of us (outside Germany) as a source of mirth, for the type of kitsch album cover I might normally feature in my recurring "On the Jukebox" feature over at The Dolores Delargo Towers Museum of Camp, would suddenly make a (controversial) comeback in 2013?

From the Guardian:

Heino, instantly recognisable by his blond hair and trademark sunglasses worn to hide bulging eyes caused by a thyroid condition, is best known as the baritone singer of Schlager – schmaltzy German folk songs that propelled him to fame in the 1960s and 70s.

Having laid low for years, at the age of 74 he is suddenly back, breaking sales records and securing his place in German cultural history with a new album.

Backed by an intensive PR campaign and a new wardrobe of skinny jeans and studded leather jacket, Mit freundlichen Grüßen (All the Very Best) has taken him into new realms. The album contains cover versions of punk, hip-hop and hard-rock hits – to the disgust of many of the bands who originally performed them. Since its release this month it has been legally downloaded more than any other German album and has sold tens of thousands of copies.

The musician has been touring Germany in a Heinomobile, a Mercedes S-class limousine embellished with his blond-haired skull logo. He has been invited to perform at Wacken Open Air, the world's largest heavy metal festival, but in order to keep old fans on board, insists he will continue singing the ever-popular Schlager.

Just in case anyone is in any doubt about his magnificent talent - on this Tacky Music Monday we can cheer ourselves up as we head into another chilly week in work with this legendary performance:

Heino - Die schwarze Barbara

And the controversy? It seems the traditionally leftist Guardian has got its knickers in a twist over the singer's supposed "right-wing leanings", although in the article cited above he just comes across as a thoroughly unpleasant man, not the new Führer...

More Heino