Herbert Grönemeyer - I Walk

Herbert Grönemeyer has sold over 18 million records, and still ‘I Walk’ is his debut. His UK debut, at least. Because, despite having been in the music industry for nearly 35 years, Grönemeyer has avoided the one-hit-wonder status of the likes of Nena. He’s made his career mostly in German-speaking nations - save for minor excursions like that to London’s Royal Albert Hall in 2007 which he managed to sell out. Even if most attendees were German.

Before he found success as a singer, he appeared in the 1981 film classic Das Boot, which is probably still what he’s best known for outside German-speaking borders. Inside those borders he claims the top spot on the list of the best-selling albums of all time with 2002’s ‘Mensch’, which has sold over 3.7 million copies. He regularly fills huge stadiums, calls Anton Corbijn one of his best friends and casually hangs out with Bono.

Now, 33 years after his German, self-titled debut, Grönemeyer releases his British one. And in a way it’s a career-spanning Best of - only translated from German to English. But, even though some of the songs are as old as 27 - the original of ‘Airplanes In My Head’ was first released as a single in 1985 - they’re sounding neither old fashioned nor outdated.

Despite having recorded songs in English before - though never having been given a proper release - it seems like a logical consequence that Grönemeyer is releasing this album now. He lived in London for nearly 12 years before moving back to Berlin a couple of years ago.

‘I Walk’ is sophisticated, majestic pop, with songs ranging between love and lament, joy and grief, and always with a hint of melancholy even in the most glorious moments. Starting off with ‘Mensch’, the record’s strongest track and originally on 2002’s album of the same name, is a perfect introduction to those who’ve never listened to Grönemeyer before. His somewhat nasal vocal may take some time getting used to, but it’s the energy and passion with which he delivers his lyrics that soon captures the listener.

Grönemeyer is not only an outstanding composer, which he proves on songs like ‘All That I Need’ or ‘Will I Ever Learn’ (which features Antony Hegarty), but also a poet and storyteller. The secret masterpiece is probably ‘To The Sea’, an airy maritime lament, a dramatic letting go in song form. Manic Street Preachers’ James Dean Bradfield’s contribution to it is just the cherry topping.

He also has the ability to create pictures in the listener’s head - not only with the lyrics - but also the music alone. Title track ‘I Walk’ demonstrates this with its rhythm and pace. It is also the most ‘German sounding’ song, partly because of Grönemeyer’s pronunciation of words like ‘existence’ sounding more like its German equivalent, ‘Existenz’. In general, the ten songs which he re-worked to suit the English language blend in seamlessly with the three written especially for the album. If you know the originals, however, then those like ‘Airplanes In My Head’ lose some of their charm and flow in translation.

Grönemeyer still manages to make the album sound international and modern, despite being a snapshot of his career so far. Songs like the almost medieval ‘Keep Hurting Me’ or album closer ‘The Tunnel’ are not a revolution in pop but are of such quality and depth that this alone rectifies him delving in to international waters, no longer limiting himself to borders defined by his mother tongue.

And then, at the end, Bono makes an appearance on a version of ‘Mensch’, which closes the circle. Even if you’re not a fan of Grönemeyer’s voice, after hearing his song intonated by Bono’s arguably less challenging vocals, you cannot deny what a brilliant songwriter he is.