Münchener Freiheit

Biography

Münchener Freiheit (known sometimes simply as Freiheit) is a German pop and rock band that had released nineteen studio albums by 2016, four of which have gone gold. They are named after a square in the city of Munich, meaning "Munich freedom". They are considered part of the Neue Deutsche Welle musical movement.
They are best known in the English-speaking world for their single "Keeping the Dream Alive×Keeping the Dream Alive1988 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Keeping the Dream Alive (single version)4:162The Land of Fantasy4:553Keeping the Dream Alive (extended version)6:34". This song became a #14 hit single in the UK Singles Chart when released in December 1988, making Münchener Freiheit a one-hit wonder there.

The early years

The band, composed of Stefan Zauner (vocals, keyboards), Aron Strobel (guitar and vocals), Rennie Hatzke (drums), Michael Kunzi (bass and vocals), and Alex Grünwald (keyboard), formed in the early 1980s. Their first album Umsteiger×Umsteiger16 April 1982 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracksA1Zeig mir die Nacht2:32A2Das kenn’ ich ja schon3:34A3Arbeiten3:06A4Januar im Mai2:54A5Alte Liebe4:15A6Auch im Himmel kann man miteinander geh’n2:30B1Im Frühling3:41B2Baby Blue3:34B3Die Mama, die liebt Dich sehr2:10B4Erinnerung4:13B5Halb gewonnen3:06B6Neutrino3:38, released in 1982, was a rough-around-the-edges form of new wave showing an aggressive side to Zauner's otherwise smooth vocals. This was followed a year later by Licht, which took them in a more synthpop direction. The band's next album Herzschlag einer Stadt×Herzschlag einer Stadt1984 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1S.O.S.4:052Kalt oder heiß3:293Sommernachtstraum4:084Keiner hat mich gewarnt3:045Oh Baby3:256Herzschlag ist der Takt3:127Einfach fliegen3:248Julia4:019Melancholie3:5010Tochter der Venus3:37 in 1984 was a more commercial new wave record, which spawned a Top 30 hit in West Germany, "Oh Baby".

Breakthrough

The band's first big hit album came in 1986 with Von Anfang an×Von Anfang an21 February 1986 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Ohne dich (schlaf ich heut Nacht nicht ein)4:082Wenn das so einfach ist…4:383Ich steh’ auf Licht (Version 2)3:244Nacht über Deutschland2:495Tausendmal du3:356Zeig mir die Nacht (live)3:327SOS4:028Herzschlag ist der Takt (remix)4:439Rumpelstilzchen3:0510Tochter der Venus3:3811Oh Baby3:23, meaning "from the beginning". Living up to its title, the album contained a selection of new singles, a previously unreleased live version of "Zeig mir die Nacht" (from Umsteiger), two remixes and the occasional track from their previous two albums. Its success was due largely to its two original hit singles, "Ohne dich (schlaf ich heut Nacht nicht ein)×Ohne dich (schlaf ich heut nacht nicht ein)8 November 1985 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAOhne dich (schlaf' ich heut nacht nicht ein)4:10BTochter der Venus3:37" and "Tausendmal du".

The international years

Following the success of Von Anfang an and its follow-up, Traumziel, the band aimed for international success and began recording tracks from both albums in English. The result was Romancing in the Dark, containing English version of six tracks from Traumziel plus their three biggest West German hits. On this and subsequent English-language albums, the band was credited simply as Freiheit. The majority of the English lyrics were written by the band themselves with some assistance from outside lyricists. (Later the band relied on English lyrics written by professional lyricists Tim Touchton and Curtis Briggs.) The album was released throughout Europe, and there were big hits in Greece (where "Every Time" was a number one single), Sweden, Norway and the Netherlands.
In 1988, Münchener Freiheit released Fantasie in West Germany and its English counterpart, Fantasy. Unlike Romancing in the Dark, Fantasy contained all tracks from its German counterpart. The album went un-noticed throughout the US but was moderately successful in Europe. Freiheit never again released an English album in the US. However, in their homeland, Fantasie was a great success spending eight weeks in the Top 10 peaking at number four and spawning two Top 15 singles: "So lang' man Träume noch leben kann×So lang' man Träume noch leben kannSeptember 1988 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1So Lang' Man Träume Noch Leben Kann (Single Version)4:182Zum Allersten Mal4:143Keeping The Dream Alive (Single Version)4:14" and "Bis wir uns wiederseh'n". "Keeping the Dream Alive×Keeping the Dream Alive1988 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Keeping the Dream Alive (single version)4:162The Land of Fantasy4:553Keeping the Dream Alive (extended version)6:34" is the English-language version of "So lang' man Träume noch leben kann". This single became the band's sole hit in the UK, reaching number 14 in the UK singles chart in December 1988.
Their follow-up, Purpurmond, was the last album to be re-recorded in English under the title Love is No Science×Love Is No Science1990 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1All I Can Do4:002Dirty Book4:043Wheel of Love3:364Tell Him Goodbye4:265Fatal Attraction4:016Love Is No Science3:577Jump Into My Holograph4:438I'm So Sorry3:159In the Middle of the Night3:5410Give People a Chance4:11. Nine of its eleven tracks were re-recorded in English, along with a second re-recording of "Tausendmal Du", this time entitled "All I Can Do".

1991–present

Although 1991 was a quiet year for the band, Zauner and Strobel were still active, releasing the album Living in the Sun under the name of Deuces Wild. The album was recorded in English with most of the lyrics written by Tim Touchton, who had worked with the band since Fantasy.
Despite the moderate reception of Purpurmond, the band returned to the German Top 10 in 1992 with Liebe auf den ersten Blick, earning a Top 15 hit with the title track. The band also represented their country in the Eurovision Song Contest 1993, finishing in 18th place with their song, "Viel zu weit×Viel zu weit1993 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Viel zu weit3:002Far Away3:013Très loin3:004Un sueño nada mas2:59". The band returned a year later with the album Energie×Energie16 February 1994 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Du bist Energie für mich6:242Komm4:013Einfach bleiben2:564Du änderst mich total3:415Alles kommt zu dem, der warten kann4:536Du weisst es, ich weiss es3:417Lass mich allein4:218Wo ich lebe4:479Was ich in dir seh3:3310Mit dir geh’n3:1711Du bist da3:1512Die Sterne von Amerika3:4613Du bist Energie für mich3:43 (1994), which gave them another Top 30 album in Germany, although their next two albums, Entführ' mich (1996) and Schatten×Schatten1998 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1So weit, so lang3:262Dann versinkt die Welt in Schweigen3:263Du weißt, was ich will3:43420014:575Schuld war wieder die Nacht4:256Hier, jetzt und vielleicht in Ewigkeit2:597Ich seh’ Gewalt5:138Tief im blauen Meer4:099Wenn ich dich seh’3:2910Alles anders, alles neu3:4911Sie paßt zu mir3:4312Was du tust3:5413Ohne dich (schlaf’ ich heut Nacht nicht ein)4:0814Hit‐Mix (extended version)11:08 (1998; with a sleeve design by Klaus Voormann), failed to chart at all.
Leaving Sony Music for the EastWest label, the band moved towards conventional dance-pop on their next album, Freiheit die ich meine×Freiheit die ich meine10 April 2000 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Du bist nicht allein3:402Auf einmal3:553Solang3:544Ich komm nicht von Dir los3:295Für uns3:236Wohin wir auch gehen4:267Alles was ich habe4:098Du bist überall3:589Auf meinem Weg zu Dir3:5910Deine Augen4:1711Liebe total4:3012Lange schon aus4:22 (2000). The album saw the band re-enter the German Top 50 following their two album absence. The band changed labels again to Koch International, releasing the albums Wachgeküsst×Wachgeküsst2002 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Vertigo1:322Die Liebe lebt3:343Wieder und wieder3:204Beinah schwerelos2:405In dieser Stadt4:366Der Star4:487Das war immer so4:088Hattest Du nicht?5:479Wo bist du4:3110Wachgeküsst3:2911Wie ein Engel4:1212Besser Du gehst4:2813Bleib bei mir5:08 (2002) and Geile Zeit×Geile Zeit22 November 2004 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Ein Engel wie Du3:382Geile Zeit3:313Du und ich3:544Das ist einfach so3:485Euphoria3:376Fahrt ohne Wiederkehr4:317Du bist so misstrauisch3:238Leuchtturm4:559Irgendwo im Süden3:4610Wie sie war3:1111Einmal zu viel4:0912Dreh’ die Zeit noch ’mal zurück3:2413Ich tu’s3:57 (2004). Although these albums used a similar 'radio-friendly' formula to Freiheit die ich meine, both albums peaked in the lower regions of the German Top 100.
Münchener Freiheit continue to record and tour, celebrating their 25th anniversary with the Double CD retrospective Alle Jahre, Alle Hits (2005) and a new single, "Du bist das Leben". Stefan Zauner left the band in 2012 to pursue producing solo-albums; his latest CD is Zeitgefühl (2012). Tim Wilhelm replaced Zauner as a singer in the band.

English-language studio albums

1987: Romancing in the Dark
1988: Fantasy
1990: Love is No Science

English-language singles

Others

"Every Time" (NO-5 SE-15)
"Play It Cool×Play It Cool1987 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Play It Cool (extended mix)5:572Hide Away4:543Play It Cool (single version)3:39" (NO-10 SE-17 NL-4)
"Baby It's You"
"Back to the Sunshine"
"Kissed You in the Rain"
"Diana"
"All I Can Do"