When Laing performed Morgens immer müde at the Bundesvision Song Contest in 2012, nobody could have guessed that they would awaken a forgotten classic of German music history from its slumber. The Berlin band turned a barely noticed pop song into a celebrated ode to nightlife.
"Morgens bin ich immer müde" (I'm always tired in the morning) resounded powerfully from the tube televisions in the living rooms of Germany in 1960. In Morgens bin ich immer müde, the pop singer Trude Herr, known at the time primarily for her distinctive voice and her hit Ich will keine Schokolade (I don't want any chocolate), sang about her love of nightly excess. The lyrics seem remarkably emancipated for their time, as the song does not portray women merely as hard-working housewives, but rather shows that they can long for nocturnal adventures far away from the laundry basket and the stove. 50 years later: Nicola Rost, creative head and frontwoman of the Berlin electro-pop band Laing, stumbled across Trude Herr's song on the internet while searching for new inspiration and was immediately taken by its cheeky charm. The original orchestral arrangement was, however, less appealing to Rost, so she quickly re-recorded the song and backed it with a catchy, pumping beat. The result is a contemporary piece of music that fits perfectly with the band's self-proclaimed "electric lady sound".A long way to success
Nicola Rost was confident in the potential of her interpretation and offered it to various radio stations. The reactions were sobering, though - the music industry didn't seem to be interested in the old classic in new guise. Instead of being played on the radio, the song was initially made freely available on Myspace and on an EP released in 2011. But Laing did not give up: Determined to give their career a boost, they entered the 2012 Bundesvision Song Contest, a nationwide music competition broadcast on one of Germany's most popular TV stations.Fife years into the band's history, after countless rejections from radio stations and a lack of interest from the music industry, the tide suddenly turned: the band put on a rousing performance, winning over the hearts of jury and audience alike. The version played at the contest was reworked by celebrated producer Moses Schneider, who gave the song his finishing touches and emphasized its catchy character. Laing came in second place. What followed can be described as a classic "breakthrough": The song enters the top 10 of the German charts, is awarded a gold record and the leading telecommunications company Telekom selects the track for a major advertising campaign. The band signs a major deal with Universal Music and in 2013 releases the album Paradies Naiv (Paradise Naïve), which also reaches a high position in the charts. Morgens immer müde is suddenly everywhere - and the nation sings along.
The secret ingredients of success
But what makes the song so special? On the one hand, it's the catchy melody and the pounding, recurring beat that immediately stays stuck in your head and inadvertently has you bobbing along. On the other hand, it's the simple but effective slogan that speaks to a generation of young people who seek more than work in their lives, gladly accepting being tired in the morning as an alternative to a rigid daily routine that comes with a "nine-to-five job".Despite their original release more than 50 years ago, the lyrics still feel relevant and despite minor changes, the core message remains. The song is an ode to the freedom you feel when the night seems endless and anything seems possible. The example of Laing shows that a good song alone does not always automatically lead to success. But the band remained patient, took their chance on a big stage, they was ultimately in the right place at the right time. With skill, ambition and a pinch of luck, Laing managed to turn an almost forgotten song into a modern classic.
Thus, Morgens immer müde remains an anthem for all of those who enjoy life to the fullest - even if they are a little more tired in the morning as a consequence.
July 2024