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The German Earworm

The German Earworm

By: Mike
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About this listen

The German Earworm is a podcast where an American expat dives into Germany's wildest, weirdest and catchiest songs-from party schlager to rock anthems you've never heard.
Each week (usually Tuesday), discover the tracks that get stuck in German heads (and maybe yours, too).

© 2026 The German Earworm
Music
Episodes
  • Verdammt, ich lieb’ dich — The 16-Week Love Affair with Matthias Reim
    Jan 20 2026

    Verdammt, ich lieb’ dich, ich lieb’ dich nicht was Matthias Reim’s breakthrough, a heartbreak anthem so catchy it stayed at the top of the German charts for an unbelievable 16 weeks. Today on The German Earworm, we’ll dive into the story of this song, its lyrics of tortured love, its synth-driven sound, and how it became one of the defining soundtracks of post-Wall Germany.

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    8 mins
  • Engel — A Hangover Hymn with Heavenly Hooks
    Jan 13 2026

    Willkommen zurück to The German Earworm! Today we’re diving into Ikke Hüftgold’s ‘Engel’—a 2023 Partyschlager missile that turns a very mortal pub crawl into a tipsy trip to heaven. Released as a single on November 3, 2023 and clocking in at about 2:36, ‘Engel’ distills the Ballermann formula into pure sing-along fuel—and even spun off an official video. We’ll unpack the story, the sound, the scene, and give you bite-size German you can shout along to.

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    10 mins
  • Da Da Da – Trio’s Minimalist Anthem and the Power of Simplicity
    Jan 6 2026

    Grüß Gott and hello to The German Earworm! Today’s episode explores an underground hit that became a global sensation: Trio’s ‘Da Da Da (I Don’t Love You You Don’t Love Me – Aha Aha Aha)’. This song thrives on minimalism—three words, a Casio rhythm, and a deadpan delivery that sold around 13 million copies worldwide. We'll break down how a half-finished ditty became ‘New German Cheerfulness,’ influential, bizarre, and unforgettable. Let’s dive in!

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    8 mins
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