Introducing Music Artist: Wir sind Helden

"Wir sind Helden" (translated "We are Heroes") is a German alternative rock band which debuted in 2002. It has often been considered similar to the "Neue Deutsche Welle" (new German wave). Their debut single "Guten Tag" reached #53 on the German singles charts and got significant airplay on MTV Europe, although the band did not yet have a record deal at that time.

As recommended by Wei'an (our Honorary General Secretary), the song below is "Wenn es passiert" (when it happens), released in 2006. Enjoy!



Lyrics:
Ein Herzschlag nur für mich
A heartbeat just for me
und die, die bei mir sind
and those who are with me
Augen auf, schaut euch das an
Open your eyes, look at this
Wer dafür keine Tränen hat, wird morgen blind
whoever doesn't shed tears for this, will be blind tomorrow (lit. transl. = who does not have tears for this...)
Wenn ihr das nicht liebt, was dann
If you do not love this, what then
Jeder liebe das so viel er kann
everyone loves this as much as they can
Ein Blitzschlag nur für mich
A lightningbolt just for me
und die, die bei mir sind
and those who are with me
Wer jetzt zweifelt sieht nicht klar
whoever hesitates now, does not see clearly
Ganz egal wie viel davon die Zeit sich nimmt
Disregarding how much of it is taken away by time
Wer jetzt blinzelt war nicht da
Whoever blinks now, was not here

Vielleicht ist es wirklich nur ein Jahr
Maybe it's really just one year
Aber ich will niemals fragen wo ich war
But I never want to ask where I was
Wo war ich als das wahr war
Where was I when this was real

Ich will da sein
I want to be here
Wenn die Zeit einfriert
When time freezes
Ich will da sein
I want to be here
Wenn sie explodiert
When it explodes
Und wenn sich dabei mein Verstand verliert
Even if my sanity is lost with it (or in the process of it)
Ich will da sein
I want to be here
Wenn es passiert
When it happens

Ein Herz, ein Schlag, ein Blitz
A heart, a beat, a flash of lightning
(note: in German the lyrics are more meaningful, because Herzschlag=Heartbeat, while Blitzschlag=Thunderbolt, thus 'Schlag' reconciles 'heart' and 'lightning')
für die, die einsam sind
for those who are lonely
Augen auf, schaut euch das an
Open your eyes, look at this
Wollt ihr wirklich zählen wie die Zeit verrinnt
Do you really want to count how time slips away
Wenn die Welt auch so etwas kann
If the world too can do something like that

Vielleicht ist es wirklich nur ein Jahr.
Maybe it is really just a year.

Culture: Münchner Oktoberfest

The Oktoberfest is a traditional festival celebrated in Munich, Germany since 1810. It started as a way to finish up beer of the previous brewing season, before the start of the new brewing season.

Today, apart from the large consumption of beer, beautiful parades with locals donning traditional costumes, you can also find many carnival attractions and rides and enjoy the celebrations in large tents.

This years Oktoberfest in München stretches from the 19. September to the 4. October 2009.




You can check out more photos at the Oktoberfest website here!

Introducing Music Artist: Marit Larsen

Marit Larsen is a Norwegian singer and songwriter and previously a part of pop duo M2M (I'm sure you all know this one!). In 2006, she released her first solo album and her second in 2008.
Her song "If a song could get me you" is currently number 1 on the German music charts. Although she's not a german singer, nor are her songs in German, I've decided to still put it up because it's a very sweet song. =) Viel Spass! (Die Aussage ist einfach schoen!)

Tandem Program

The German Language Society is running a Tandem Program this semester!

Interested in improving your German?
Join our Tandem Program! We will match you with a German native speaker or a German speaker of a higher standard if it is possible, and in exchange you will practice with them a language you are fluent in and are offering. All you have to do is provide us with your details.
The following details are needed: Name, Contact, Languages offered (eg. Interested in learning German, offering Chinese), and language proficiency.

We would love to hear from you! If you have any queries, feel free to email us at frag.mal.uns@gmail.com.

(Future announcements regarding the Tandem Program will be posted up under the heading "Tandem"!)

Introducing Music Artist: Tokio Hotel

Tokio Hotel is a German glam rock band founded in Magdeburg, Germany in 2001. It consists of vocalist Bill Kaulitz, guitarist Tom Kaulitz, drummer Gustav Schäfer and bassist Georg Listing.
In September 2008, they won their first MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist. In October 2008, they won 4 awards including Best International Artist and Song of the year at the Los Premios MTV Latinoamerica. They also became the first german band ever to win an award at both the MTV VMAs and the MTV Latin America Awards. They also picked up the Headliner award at the MTV Europe Music Awards 2008 held in Liverpool on 6 November 2008 and also be performing at this years MTV Europe Music Awards.
They have both english and german songs, so go check them out on youtube!

Here's their Music Video "1000 Meere" (meaning, "1000 seas")



Lyrics:
Die Straßen leer
The Streets empty
Ich dreh mich um
I turn around
Die Nacht hat mich verloren
The night has lost me
Ein kalter Wind
A cold wind
Die Welt erstarrt
The world petrified
Die Sonne ist erfroren
The sun is frozen
Dein Bild ist sicher
your picture is safe
Ich trag's in mir
I carry it in me
Über 1000 Meere
Over a thousand seas
Zurück zu dir
Back to you
Zurück zu uns
Back to us
Wir dürfen unseren Glauben nicht verlieren
We cannot lose our faith
Vertrau mir
Trust me

Wir müssen nur noch 1000 Meere weit
We only need another 1000 seas more (lit. transl: we must only 1000 seas further)
Durch 1000 dunkle Jahre ohne zeit
Through 1000 dark years without time
1000 Sterne zieh'n vorbei
1000 Stars pass over
Wir müssen nur noch 1000 Meere weit
We only need another 1000 seas more
Noch 1000-mal durch die Unendlichkeit
Another 1000 times through eternity
Dann sind wir endlich frei
Then we're finally free

Irgendwo ist der Ort
Somewhere is the place
Den nur wir beide kennen
Only known to both of us (lit. transl: that only we both know)
Lief alles anders als gedacht
If all turned out different than expected (lit. transl: Went everything different than thought)
Der Puls in den Adern
The pulse in the veins
Ist viel zu schwach
Is far too weak
Doch irgendwie schlagen uns die Herzen durch die Nacht –
But somehow our hearts pull us through the night (lit. transl: ...beat us through the night-->conotation: heart beat, but also "durchschlagen"=pull through, survive)
Vertrau mir
Trust me

Wir müssen nur noch 1000 Meere weit
We only need another 1000 seas more
Durch 1000 dunkle Jahre ohne zeit
Through 1000 dark years without time
1000 Sterne zieh'n vorbei
1000 Stars pass over
Wir müssen nur noch 1000 Meere weit
We only need another 1000 seas more
Noch 1000-mal durch die Unendlichkeit
Another 1000 times across the eternity
Dann sind wir endlich frei
Then we're finally free

Niemand und Nichts nehmen wir mit
We take no one and nothing with us (lit. transl: No one and nothing take we along)
Und irgendwann schau'n wir auf jetzt zurück
And someday we'll look back on now

1000 Meere weit
1000 seas away
1000 Jahre ohne Zeit
1000 years without time
Noch 1000 Meere weit
Another 1000 seas away
1000 Sterne zieh'n vorbei
1000 stars pass over
Vorbei
over
Lass dich zu mir treiben
Let yourself drift to me
Ich lass mich zu dir treiben
I let myself drift to you

Wir müssen nur noch 1000 Meere weit
We only need another 1000 seas more
Durch 1000 dunkle Jahre ohne zeit
Through 1000 dark years without time
1000 Sterne zieh'n vorbei
1000 Stars pass over
Wir müssen nur noch 1000 Meere weit
We only need another 1000 seas more
Noch 1000-mal durch die Unendlichkeit
Another 1000 times through eternity
Dann sind wir endlich frei
Then we're finally free

Lass dich zu mir treiben
Let yourself drift to me
Ich lass mich zu dir treiben
I let myself drift to you
1000 Meere weit.
1000 seas more.

Btw they have an english version of the song, where the lyrics are slightly different to flow more smoothly in English, but the meaning is essentially almost the same.

and here's a link to their latest MV "Automatisch" ("Automatic")

German Learning Session

Hallo liebe Mitschueler!

Here's an event which will interest you!
(especially if you're taking German 1)

There is going to be a German language learning session on the 28 September 2009 (Monday), 7-9pm at YIH Function Room 2.

The session has been specially organized to help you prepare for your upcoming tests. We'll mainly be going through Past Papers and any other questions you may have!

Here are the details again:
28. September 2009 (Monday)
7-9pm,
@ YIH Function Room 2.

All are welcomed and do rest assured that you'll be in good hands, as we have several German 6 students who will be there to help you.

Also, please take some time off to take this survey (here) which will allow us to help ou with problems you ma be facing with the German language better. Thanks!


Hope to see you there!!
- Your DDS Committee.

Hi guys!

This is just a short announcement to update you on what you'll be able to find on the DDS blog in the near future.
To bring you all closer to the german culture, it's been decided that there will be regular updates on the DDS blog on german movies, music, festivals and many other things! (We'll try to keep things as up-to-date as possible, regarding the movies and music.)

If there's anything you would like to know more about, be it a certain field of interest, or specific genres or artists, please feel free to drop us an email anytime at frag.mal.uns@gmail.com. All the best for your Mid-terms, everyone!

German Language Society Elections, 09/10

Hallo meine Lieben!

Having a great response from our members, both nominees (9 in total, please see below for their pretty photos!) as well as voters, the German Language Society Elections for academic year 09/10 were held yesterday evening, 31. August 2009, with much success.
Here's a short recap, for all those who missed out on the evenings suspense-filled entertainment and fun!

Naturally, the nominees put up a tough fight against one another, pitting their skills and flaunting their charisma, to win over the hearts of our voters. It's no question that every single one of them had reason enough (be it 3, 5, or perhaps even 20) to be voted for, if not for the limited number of available positions of course...

Even after 2 hours of stunning soliloquies, interesting Q&As, intense name-scribbling and enthusiastic vote-counting, the results were only certain after a second round of votings for the three-way tying spot of the Project Director. (Yes, even though there were 2 vacancies!)
Nevertheless, we did eventually arrive at a final outcome.

So here's what you've been reading this for! The nominees who were able to captivate voters (in one way or another) in this years elections are as follows:

Vice-President: Wong Wei Ting
Project Director 1: He Yajie
Project Director 2: Tan Xi'en Rachel
Marketing Director: Vasu Gulati
Editor: Anna Chong

Herzlichen Glückwunsch to the newly elected EXCO members!! You fought a hard battle. Please give your best effort for the up-coming year ahead! :)
And of course, a big thank you to all nominees (regardless of whether you won or not!) and voters for participating in this event! It could not have been held without you...

Lastly, we look forward to your continuous support!


Mit lieben Grüssen,
Your Editor.