Wir sind Helden

Biography

Wir sind Helden (German pronunciation: [viːɐ̯ zɪnt ˈhɛldn̩], German for "We are heroes") was a German pop rock band that was established in 2000 in Hamburg and based in Berlin. The band was composed of lead singer and guitarist Judith Holofernes, drummer Pola Roy, bassist Mark Tavassol and keyboardist/guitarist Jean-Michel Tourette.
Wir sind Helden's breakthrough came in 2002 with the release of the song "Guten Tag×Guten Tag18 November 2002 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Guten Tag (Die Reklamation)3:372Müssen nur wollen3:373Du erkennst mich nicht wieder4:554Denkmal3:165Alphamännchen3:15", even though the band did not yet have a recording contract. The ensuing debut album, Die Reklamation×Die Reklamation4 July 2003 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Ist das so?3:062Rüssel an Schwanz4:563Guten Tag3:384Denkmal3:205Du erkennst mich nicht wieder4:586Die Zeit heilt alle Wunder4:127Monster3:518Heldenzeit4:269Aurélie3:3510Müssen nur wollen3:3811Außer dir3:4412Die Nacht4:2113Wir sind’s, Helden (Die Dokumentation)16:4814Guten Tag3:36, reached No. 2 in the German charts and sold over half a million copies. Over the rest of the decade, the band released the albums Von hier an blind×Von hier an blind4 April 2005 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 21 tracks1Wenn es passiert3:332Echolot4:313Von hier an blind3:314Zuhälter3:305Ein Elefant für dich4:436Darf ich das behalten3:197Wütend genug4:298Geht auseinander3:109Zieh dir was an3:2710Gekommen um zu bleiben3:1011Nur ein Wort3:5612Ich werde mein Leben lang üben, dich so zu lieben, wie ich dich lieben will, wenn du gehst2:5213Bist du nicht müde3:5614Keith & Richard1:0015Handclapping-Lesson0:4616Ich brauche nichts mehr1:0017Nordhalbkugel1:0018Nur ein Dance1:0019Mobile Rhythmen1:0020Von hier an Schweine0:5921Alles auf Anfang1:00, Soundso×Soundso25 May 2007 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 37 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11(Ode) An die Arbeit3:422Die Konkurrenz3:443Soundso4:144Für nichts garantieren4:225Kaputt3:086Labyrinth4:147The Geek (Shall Inherit)3:408Endlich ein Grund zur Panik3:439Der Krieg kommt schneller zurück als du denkst2:4510Hände hoch4:3611Stiller4:2112Lass uns verschwinden4:14Disc 21Intro / (Ode) An die Arbeit2Endlich ein Grund zur Panik3Von hier an blind4Heldenzeit5Gekommen um zu bleiben6Soundso7The Geek (Shall Inherit)8Lass uns verschwinden9Kaputt10Wenn es passiert11Echolot12Ist das so?13Müssen nur wollen14Die Konkurrenz15Guten Tag16Aurelie17Nur ein Wort18Blow Him Back into My Arms (Moneybrother) / Ein Elefant für dich19Denkmal20Bist du nicht müde21Die Anfänge22Helden machen es sich selbst23Making of Soundso24Outtakes aus den Lesungen3:5225Outtakes aus einem interview vom 15.09.20071:21 and Bring mich nach Hause×Bring mich nach Hause27 August 2010 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracksA1AllesA2Was uns beiden gehörtA3Bring mich nach HauseA4Flucht in KettenA5Die Ballade von Wolfgang und BrigitteA6DramatikerB123.55 : Alles auf AnfangB2Die Träume anderer LeuteB3Meine Freundin war im Koma und alles, was sie mir mitgebracht hat, war dieses lausige T-ShirtB4KreiseB5Im Auge des SturmsB6Nichts, was wir tun könnten, all of which peaked at No. 1 or No. 2 in the German and Austrian charts.
Wir sind Helden's music shows influences from the Neue Deutsche Welle, especially in the debut album Die Reklamation. The band's music is also characterized by social commentary in songs such as "Guten Tag" and "Müssen nur wollen×Müssen nur wollen12 May 2003 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Müssen nur wollen3:362Ist das so?4:363Kompass3:214Müssen nur wollen (video)5Müssen nur wollen (Making of)". In April 2012, the band informed its fans that it was going on indefinite hiatus.

2000–2002: Early years

Prior to the formation of Wir sind Helden, singer-songwriter and guitarist Judith Holofernes was performing in Berlin clubs as a solo artist and had self-released the EP Kamikazefliege (1999). The band was founded in 2000 after she met drummer Pola Roy and keyboardist/guitarist Jean-Michel Tourette at a pop music workshop in Hamburg. Soon thereafter, Mark Tavassol joined the band as bassist.
The idea behind using the word "Helden" (which means "heroes") in the band name was to reclaim the word for the antiheroes ("Der Begriff 'Helden' wird jetzt so inflationär benutzt. Wir wollten ihn zurückhaben für die Antihelden." English: "The term 'heroes' is so inflated now. We want it back for the anti-heroes."). In addition, the band name was also inspired by German band Die Helden, which was the first band Holofernes saw performing live, and by the song "'Heroes'" by English singer David Bowie, whom Holofernes has cited as a role model for the band.
In 2002, Wir sind Helden self-released the EP Guten Tag×Guten Tag18 November 2002 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Guten Tag (Die Reklamation)3:372Müssen nur wollen3:373Du erkennst mich nicht wieder4:554Denkmal3:165Alphamännchen3:15. Despite the band's lack of recording contract, the title song was played by German radio stations and its music video was aired on the rotation of MTV Germany. The band consequently attracted the attention of several record companies and then signed with Labels, an EMI label. The growing interest in the band also led to Holofernes being invited to appear on Die Harald Schmidt Show, a late-night talk show on German television.

2003–2004: Die Reklamation

Wir sind Helden's debut single, "Guten Tag×Guten Tag18 November 2002 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Guten Tag (Die Reklamation)3:372Müssen nur wollen3:373Du erkennst mich nicht wieder4:554Denkmal3:165Alphamännchen3:15", was released in February 2003, and the follow-up single was "Müssen nur wollen×Müssen nur wollen12 May 2003 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Müssen nur wollen3:362Ist das so?4:363Kompass3:214Müssen nur wollen (video)5Müssen nur wollen (Making of)", released in May 2003. The criticisms of modern-day life in both songs (the former relating to consumerism and the latter concerning the pressure to achieve) brought the band to the attention of newspaper culture sections. Both singles entered the German singles chart, where they reached No. 53 and No. 57, respectively.
The two singles were followed by Wir sind Helden's debut album, Die Reklamation×Die Reklamation4 July 2003 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Ist das so?3:062Rüssel an Schwanz4:563Guten Tag3:384Denkmal3:205Du erkennst mich nicht wieder4:586Die Zeit heilt alle Wunder4:127Monster3:518Heldenzeit4:269Aurélie3:3510Müssen nur wollen3:3811Außer dir3:4412Die Nacht4:2113Wir sind’s, Helden (Die Dokumentation)16:4814Guten Tag3:36, which was released in July 2003. In addition to uptempo, punk-influenced songs such as the previously released "Guten Tag" and "Müssen nur wollen", the album also includes melancholic songs such as "Die Zeit heilt alle Wunder" and "Du erkennst mich nicht wieder".
German news website Spiegel Online declared that Wir sind Helden's sound reconciled the good sides of New Wave and Neue Deutsche Welle with the modern era, and it named Die Reklamation as one of the most important CDs of 2003. In his review of the album, Stefan Friedrich of music magazine laut.de described Holofornes as the woman currently writing the most intelligent, witty and beautiful German song lyrics.
Die Reklamation entered the German albums chart at No. 6 before peaking at No. 2 and eventually selling over 500,000 copies. At the 2004 ECHO music awards, Wir sind Helden was the recipient of three awards.

2005–2006: Von hier an blind

Released in April 2005, Wir sind Helden's second album, Von hier an blind×Von hier an blind4 April 2005 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 21 tracks1Wenn es passiert3:332Echolot4:313Von hier an blind3:314Zuhälter3:305Ein Elefant für dich4:436Darf ich das behalten3:197Wütend genug4:298Geht auseinander3:109Zieh dir was an3:2710Gekommen um zu bleiben3:1011Nur ein Wort3:5612Ich werde mein Leben lang üben, dich so zu lieben, wie ich dich lieben will, wenn du gehst2:5213Bist du nicht müde3:5614Keith & Richard1:0015Handclapping-Lesson0:4616Ich brauche nichts mehr1:0017Nordhalbkugel1:0018Nur ein Dance1:0019Mobile Rhythmen1:0020Von hier an Schweine0:5921Alles auf Anfang1:00, saw the band become more introspective and less political compared to Die Reklamation. Speaking in an interview, Holofernes stated that the album was concerned with asking what was it deep inside that prevented happiness ("Ich habe mich gefragt, was mich tief im Inneren davon abhält, glücklich zu sein").
In comparison with Die Reklamation, Von hier an blind gives less prominence to keyboard sounds and Neue Deutsche Welle influences. The album also includes the swing number "Gekommen um zu bleiben×Gekommen um zu bleiben28 February 2005 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1Gekommen um zu bleiben3:112Gekommen um zu bleiben (demo)2:463Keine Angst mehr (Nichtalbumlied)2:534Gekommen, um zu bleiben (video)3:085Gekommen, zu vergeigen (Making of)4:096Gekommen, um durchzudrehen (video)3:17", which Wir sind Helden performed with a live orchestra at the 2005 ECHO music awards.
Von hier an blind went straight to the top of the German albums chart and stayed in the top 10 for twenty weeks. The album also charted at No. 1 in Austria. Two singles from the album, "Gekommen um zu bleiben" and "Nur Ein Wort×Nur ein Wort17 May 2005 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1Nur ein Wort3:562Halt dich an deiner Liebe fest (live, 2003: Berlin Columbiahalle)4:163Gekommen um zu bleiben (Moonbootica remix)5:444Nur ein Wort (demo 2001)3:085Nur ein Wort (demo 2004)3:146Abendbrot Remix (Gekommen um zu essen)1:11", were both top 30 hits in the German singles chart.
Later in 2005, Wir sind Helden was one of the headliners at German rock music festival Rock am Ring and was one of the acts performing in Berlin as part of the series of Live 8 concerts. The following year, Holofernes and Roy married and started a family.

2007–2009: Soundso

The third album by Wir sind Helden, Soundso×Soundso25 May 2007 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 37 tracks · 2 discsDisc 11(Ode) An die Arbeit3:422Die Konkurrenz3:443Soundso4:144Für nichts garantieren4:225Kaputt3:086Labyrinth4:147The Geek (Shall Inherit)3:408Endlich ein Grund zur Panik3:439Der Krieg kommt schneller zurück als du denkst2:4510Hände hoch4:3611Stiller4:2112Lass uns verschwinden4:14Disc 21Intro / (Ode) An die Arbeit2Endlich ein Grund zur Panik3Von hier an blind4Heldenzeit5Gekommen um zu bleiben6Soundso7The Geek (Shall Inherit)8Lass uns verschwinden9Kaputt10Wenn es passiert11Echolot12Ist das so?13Müssen nur wollen14Die Konkurrenz15Guten Tag16Aurelie17Nur ein Wort18Blow Him Back into My Arms (Moneybrother) / Ein Elefant für dich19Denkmal20Bist du nicht müde21Die Anfänge22Helden machen es sich selbst23Making of Soundso24Outtakes aus den Lesungen3:5225Outtakes aus einem interview vom 15.09.20071:21, was released in May 2007 and reached No. 2 in both the German and Austrian albums charts. Speaking in an interview, Tavassol explained that the common theme of the album was that of distribution of roles, individuality, and personalities within the various roles ("Es gibt dabei einen roten Faden, das ist das Thema Rollenverteilung, Individualität und letztendlich Persönlichkeiten in den verschiedenen Rollen").
Soundso saw a development in Wir Helden's sound, with Neue Deutsche Welle influences reduced to a minimum and the incorporation of further musical elements such as horns, glam guitars and virtual orchestras. The album also saw the introduction of "musical humour" to the band's music: according to Tourette, duophonic guitars and synthesized saxophones were used because of their cheesiness and charm ("Zweistimmige Gitarren einzusetzen, ist im deutschen Pop genauso verpönt, wie synthetische Saxofone zuzulassen. Wir haben jetzt beides auf dem Album, weil sie schön cheesy klingen, aber Charme haben").
The first single released from Soundso was "Endlich ein Grund zur Panik×Endlich ein Grund zur Panik27 April 2007 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Endlich ein Grund zur Panik3:462Endlich ein Grund zur Panik (remix)5:003Popstar3:414Panique3:45", a hectic synthpop song with a swing and ska climax backing up the choruses. While polarizing fans, the single went to No. 34 in the German charts.

2010–2011: Bring mich nach Hause

After three years away from the spotlight, Wir sind Helden returned in August 2010 with Bring mich nach Hause, the band's fourth album. The band had by then signed to Sony Music following the break-up of Labels. In addition, Wir sind Helden had parted ways with Patrik Majer, who had produced the band's previous three albums, with the new album being produced by English producer Ian Davenport.
For the recording of Bring mich nach Hause, Wir sind Helden strived to use real instruments over synthesizers. Additional instruments which can be heard on the album include the accordion, oud, banjo and glockenspiel. In addition, bassist Jörg Holdinghausen from German band Tele was involved in recording the album as guest musician and vocalist.
Speaking in an interview, Holofernes stated that Bring mich nach Hause had both a melancholic side and a euphoric side, and cited "Alles×Alles6 August 2010 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Alles4:182Die Wespe3:253Alles (unplugged)4:23" as the song which best embodied these two sides. "Alles" was the first single released from the album and reached No. 36 in the German singles chart. The album itself went to No. 1 in Germany and Austria.
It was during this period that Wir sind Helden toured with the pop-rock band EMMA6 from Heinsburg.

2012: Indefinite hiatus

On 4 April 2012, it was announced on the official Wir sind Helden website that the band was going on an indefinite hiatus. The band members cited the distance between their home cities, the demands of their family lives, "signs of wear and tear", and the feeling of an increasingly impossible undertaking ("...so haben wir trotz numeroser echter Kinder, dreier Heimatstädte und diverser Abnutzungserscheinungen festgehalten an einem immer unmöglicher werdenden Unterfangen..."). In February 2014, Holofernes released her first post-Wir sind Helden solo album, Ein leichtes Schwert.

Musical style

Wir sind Helden has been referred to as a pop band or pop rock band in the German press. In an interview at the time of the release of Die Reklamation, Roy acknowledged that the band's music had Neue Deutsche Welle influences and added that it contained indie rock as well. He further stated that Holofernes's song writing was influenced by Elvis Costello, Bob Dylan and Rio Reiser.

International activities

Wir sind Helden held two back-to-back concerts in London, England in 2005, playing in front of 500 fans on each occasion. Two years later, the band returned to London to perform at the Institute of Contemporary Arts as part of the 2007 iTunes Festival. Other foreign countries in which the band gave live performances include Austria, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Switzerland.
In 2007, the iTunes Store launched its series of "iTunes Foreign Exchange×iTunes Foreign Exchange15 May 2007 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Wenn Dein Herz zu schlagen aufhört3:242Guten Tag3:35" singles, where two artists from countries with different languages are paired up to cover each other's music. The first single released features American band +44 and Wir sind Helden, with the former providing an English cover of "Guten Tag×Guten Tag18 November 2002 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Guten Tag (Die Reklamation)3:372Müssen nur wollen3:373Du erkennst mich nicht wieder4:554Denkmal3:165Alphamännchen3:15" and the latter doing a German cover of the +44 song "When Your Heart Stops Beating". The original versions of the songs are also included in the single.
Video game company EA Sports used the Wir sind Helden songs "Guten Tag" and "Endlich ein Grund zur Panik×Endlich ein Grund zur Panik27 April 2007 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Endlich ein Grund zur Panik3:462Endlich ein Grund zur Panik (remix)5:003Popstar3:414Panique3:45" for the soundtracks of its association football games. The songs appear on FIFA Football 2004 and FIFA 08, respectively.
Two Wir sind Helden compilation albums were released outside Germany: Sa Itte Miyo, which was released in Japan, and "Wir sind Helden", which was released in France. For these albums, some songs were re-recorded in Japanese or French.

Band members

Judith Holofernes (real name: Judith Holfelder von der Tann) – lead vocals, guitar
Pola Roy (real name: Sebastian Roy) – drums
Mark Tavassol – bass
Jean-Michel Tourette (real name: Jens Eckhoff) – keyboards, guitar

Studio albums

Note: Die Reklamation, Von hier an blind and Soundso were also each released as a limited edition album with bonus DVD. Bring mich nach Hause was also released as an unplugged album.

Other releases

Guten Tag (2002) – 5-track EP independently released, 3000 copies produced
iTunes Foreign Exchange #1 (2007) – single available from iTunes
iTunes Festival: London 2007 (2007) – 6-track EP available from iTunes
Live @ Rockpalast (2012) – live video album