Exhibit A:
The game was fun, though. It was more of a performance, at least at the beginning and end. There was a light show, some guy rapelling onto the ice, an artificially made authentic snowstorm, lots of lyrical chanting and big flags being waved around. I have never seen a N. American hockey game in person, so I have no basis for comparison, but it seemed pretty fancy. I was happy there were nachos and the beer prices were fair (3 and change for 1/2 liter).
I thought it was interesting that there were many U.S. and Canadian players on both teams. I guess it's like football & basketball: Europe seems to be a place to put young so-so athletes to see if they can make something of themselves. Since we've been here we've met a semi-professional field hockey player (again, didn't know there was such a thing) and a semi-pro football player, who was very large in person. Go figure. But they seemed to be on the same so-so athlete circuit, trying to get somewhere. I can't figure out if I should feel bad for them because they aren't in the big time or feel really happy for them because they get to make money doing what they love.
Enough athletics talk (next thing you know, I'll be talking about the weather, which totally sucks lately, by the way).
The other thing in our life lately is the newly revived German tradition of Schlager music. It's god-awful, sappy, cheesy, mostly love music along the lines of Michael Bolton, but with less talent and really terrible videos featuring low-budget computer animation. I'm talking pastel hearts bouncing around in random fashion behind the singer(s). David loves Schlager and watches it every chance he gets. There is a cable channel dedicated to the topic, so he gets the chance a lot.
David has identified three clear generations of schlager: I, II, & III. 1st generations Schlager is usually one person lip synching on a stage (either live or studio). One clear feature of 1st generation is that the singer is fixed in one spot. Is this a camera/technology issue? Not sure, but they stay put. Arms are free to gesticulate at will and a certain amount of swaying is permitted, but that's about it.
2nd generation allows some movement around the crowd, who, by the way, are usually clapping to the music with straight faces while swilling beer.
3rd generation Schlager blows the doors off. These are full blown music videos. Often the set is in a remote location, like Mallorca (a huge German tourist destination in Spain). The singers are often single guys, a guy (with a first and last name) accompanied by a much younger girl (with only a first name) or possibly two sisters (one blond, one brunette). Occassional deviations from these combinations are permitted, although not with any regularity.
This is art people, not to be trifled with. Annually, Schlager-loyalists descend on Hamburg for one day in June to partake in an outrageous parade called the Schlager Move. Everyone dresses in dayglo leisure suits and sways to the intoxicating beat. It's an event David intends NOT to miss. Be sure.
Here's a sample of some typical, particularly awful Schlager for interested parties:
Old school:
A bit more modern:
Nice, huh?
Even though Germany is home to Schlager, I still love Hamburg.
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