In 1984 the re-named Alphaville released their debut single "Big in Japan", followed by "Sounds Like a Melody" and "Forever Young", quickly followed by the album Forever Young. Despite its success Frank Mertens left the band in the same year and was replaced by Ricky Echolette (born Wolfgang Neuhaus, in Cologne, August 6, 1960) in January 1985.
"Big In Japan" was their biggest U.S. success, shooting to #1 on Billboard's Dance chart. While they never again had a Top 20 U.S. Dance hit, several of their releases went Top 40 and Top 30 on the Dance charts. They were less successful at mainstream U.S. radio, reflected by their showing on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles charts, where "Big" only reached #66. The first U.S. release of "Forever Young" failed to scale the charts. In 1985, amid reports pop star Laura Branigan was featuring the song on her next album, Hold Me, Alphaville's "Forever Young" was re-released as a single in the U.S., and again floundered in the lower recesses of the chart. Branigan's version, though promoted on stickers adorning the album, subsequently remained an album cut in the U.S., though it was released to radio in South America. She would go on to perform the song as an encore at nearly every concert she performed, from her 1985 tour until her death in 2004. The Alphaville version was released a third time in the U.S. in 1988, to promote Alphaville: The Singles Collection, and peaked this time at #65. Their highest U.S. Singles chart showing, it was also their last. International re-releases of Alphaville's "Forever Young" followed in 1989, 1996, and 2001. Several covers have been recorded and remixed, featuring male or female vocalists often erroneously attributed to be Alphaville's Marian Gold, or Laura Branigan.
In 1986 the second album Afternoons In Utopia was released, followed in 1989 by The Breathtaking Blue. As an alternative to individual music videos, the band enlisted nine producers, among them Godfrey Reggio (Koyaanisqatsi), to create a film entitled Songlines based on the album's tracks.
The next album, Prostitute, was not released until 1994. In 1996 Ricky Echolette left the band. Salvation followed in 1997. Stark Naked and Absolutely Live was released in 2000, followed by the remix album Forever Pop in 2001. A DVD was released in 2001 documenting two concerts performed in Salt Lake City, Utah. Two box-sets have also been released; rather than being collections of previously released album tracks they are actually 12 unique albums, several live, several rarities and outtakes, and several newly recorded. The first box, of eight discs, was released in 1999 (called Dreamscapes) and the second in 2003 (called CrazyShow or Dreamscapes 9-12). All the material in CrazyShow is newly recorded.
Bernhard Lloyd did not contribute to the CrazyShow album, and shortly after its release, on March 18, 2003 he officially left the group. The current core members of Alphaville are Marian Gold (vocals), Martin Lister (keyboards), David Goodes (guitars) and Pierson Grange (drums).
" Just a note to say Bernhard Lloyd is/has/recently played live with Alphaville. I saw him at the Esbjerg Rock Festival in June of this year. They sounded absoutely brilliant. Check out the Alphaville website, it's worth a look. Added by Fletchie, 02.11.07"
Marian Gold has released two solo albums (So Long Celeste, 1992 and United, 1996) alongside his work in the band. Bernhard Lloyd also worked on a project named Atlantic Popes with singer Max Holler. In 1996 Frank Mertens started on a musical project called Maelstrom which was a combination of ambient-style music, impressionistic and colorful art in the form of paintings and sculptures, and etheric poetry. This project seems now to have been by far abandoned, though, as Mertens has not been visibly active with it. In 2006 and 2007, Alphaville appeared on the "ELEKTRISCH" vol.1 and 2 album compilations with "From Germany With Love" and "Guardian Angel".
There is another artist with the same name:
2) A spanish Synthpop/dark/post punk group born in 1981 in Madrid by José Luis F. Abel (guitar & vocal), Mendi (bass), José Carlos ‘Charles’ Sánchez (keyboards), Jose Luis Orfanel (guitar) and Juan Antonio ‘Rep’ Nieto (drums).
The independent label DRO released their first EP in April 1982, "Paisajes nocturnos", which included four tracks. Their first hit arrived some months later with the 4-tracks 12'' "Palacio de invierno". In 1983 they released the album Despues De La Derrota.
Summer In Berlin
Alphaville Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And it's just for you
You've got a reservation
For the 17th of June
Open your eyes and let the sun break in for a while
There may be something
That you've never seen inside
Feel how your heart beats
Like a heavy machine
The sound of the traffic
Is like a silent dream
The dust in the park
The exhaust from the cars
Ascends in that heated afternoon
(You touch a sweaty body)
Summer in Berlin, it's alright
The day feels so tired
From the lead in the air
And the fire in the skies
Life seemed to be a fault of grace
But it's okay
It gave you a kiss
In the middle of the crossroads
Feel how your heart beats
Like a heavy machine
The sound of the traffic
Is like a silent dream
The dust in the park
The exhaust from the cars
Ascends in that heated afternoon
(You touch a sweaty body)
Summer in Berlin
It's alright (it's alright)
The days feel so tired
From the lead in the air
And the fire in the sky
Life seemed to be a fault of grace
But it's okay
It gave you a kiss
In the middle of the crossroads
Summer in Berlin
Summer in Berlin
It's alright (it's alright)
The heat of the sun
Which is stored in the pavement
Feels so fine
Here stands the innocent
And there it comes oh so wild
That's when you're longing
For a summer by the wall
Summer in Berlin
Summer in Berlin
It's alright (it's alright)
It's a summer in Berlin
The heat of the sun which is stored in the pavement feels so fine (it's a summer in Berlin)
Here stands the innocent
And there it comes oh so wild (it's a summer in Berlin)
That's when you're longing
For a summer by the wall
It's a summer by the wall
The lyrics to Alphaville's "Summer in Berlin" paint a picture of a hot and tiring day in the city. The song starts with the invitation to embrace the day and all it has to offer, urging the listener to open their eyes and let the sun in. The reference to a reservation on the 17th of June may be a nod to the Berlin Blockade that took place from 1948-1949, during which the city was divided due to Cold War tensions.
As the song continues, the heavy sound of traffic and the dust kicked up from the park give way to a feeling of exhaustion. However, amidst the chaos, there is a moment of grace - "it gave you a kiss in the middle of the crossroads." This line may be interpreted as a moment of serendipity in an unlikely place, a reminder to find joy in the little things.
Despite the heat and the chaos, there is a sense of longing for a summer in Berlin, perhaps a longing for simpler times or a sense of nostalgia. Overall, the lyrics capture a feeling of energy and tirelessness, and the challenges that come with navigating a busy city in the heat of summer.
Line by Line Meaning
This day's an invitation
And it's just for you
You've got a reservation
For the 17th of June
Today is a special day just for you with a reservation on June 17th
Open your eyes and let the sun break in for a while
There may be something
That you've never seen inside
Take a moment to appreciate the sunlight and the potential for new experiences
Feel how your heart beats
Like a heavy machine
The sound of the traffic
Is like a silent dream
Become aware of your own heartbeat and see the beauty in the sound of traffic
The dust in the park
The exhaust from the cars
Ascends in that heated afternoon
(You touch a sweaty body)
Notice the dust and car exhaust rising in the hot afternoon, and feel the touch of someone else's sweat
Summer in Berlin, it's alright
The day feels so tired
From the lead in the air
And the fire in the skies
Life seemed to be a fault of grace
But it's okay
It gave you a kiss
In the middle of the crossroads
Despite the heaviness in the air and life's challenges, it's okay because something beautiful can happen unexpectedly
The heat of the sun
Which is stored in the pavement
Feels so fine
Here stands the innocent
And there it comes oh so wild
That's when you're longing
For a summer by the wall
The warmth from the pavement feels great, and the innocence of standing still contrasts with the wildness of the world. It makes you long for a summer by the wall
Summer in Berlin
Summer in Berlin
It's alright (it's alright)
It's a beautiful, okay Summer in Berlin
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Bernard Lloyd, Frank Mertens, Marian Gold
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jimmy Cameron
"Summer In Berlin"
This day's an invitation
And it's just for you
You've got a reservation
For the 17th of June
Open your eyes
And let the Sun break in for a while
There may be something
That you've never seen inside
Feel how your heart beats like a
Heavy machine
The sound of the traffic is like a
Silent dream
The dust in the park,
The exhaust from the cars
Ascends in that heated afternoon
You touch a sweaty body
Summer in Berlin
It's alright (it's alright)
The days feel so tired
From the lead in the air
And the fire in the skies
Life seemed to be a fault of grace
But it's okay
It gave you a kiss
In the middle of the crossroads
Feel how your heart beats like a
Heavy machine
The sound of the traffic is like a
Silent dream
The dust in the park,
The exhaust from the cars
Ascends in that heated afternoon
You touch a sweaty body
Summer in Berlin
It's alright (it's alright)
The days feel so tired
From the lead in the air
And the fire in the sky
Life seemed to be a fault of grace
But it's okay
It gave you a kiss
In the middle of the crossroads
Summer in Berlin
Summer in Berlin
It's alright (it's alright)
The heat of the sun
Which is stored in the pavement
Feels so fine
Here stands the innocent
And there it comes oh so wild
That's when you're longing
For a summer by the wall
Summer in Berlin
Summer in Berlin
It's alright (it's alright)
It's a summer in Berlin
The heat of the sun
Which is stored in the pavement
Feels so fine
It's a summer in Berlin
Here stands the innocent
And there it comes oh so wild
It's a summer in Berlin
That's when you're longing
For a summer by the wall
It's a summer by the wall
Gabriel Brosnan
This day's an invitation
And it's just for you
You've got a reservation
For the 17th of June
Open your eyes
And let the Sun break in for a while
There may be something
That you've never seen inside
Feel how your heart beats like a
Heavy machine
The sound of the traffic is like a
Silent dream
The dust in the park,
The exhaust from the cars
Ascends in that heated afternoon
You touch a sweaty body
Summer in Berlin
It's alright (it's alright)
The days feel so tired
From the lead in the air
And the fire in the skies
Life seemed to be a fault of grace
But it's okay
It gave you a kiss
In the middle of the crossroads
Feel how your heart beats like a
Heavy machine
The sound of the traffic is like a
Silent dream
The dust in the park,
The exhaust from the cars
Ascends in that heated afternoon
You touch a sweaty body
Summer in Berlin
It's alright (it's alright)
The days feel so tired
From the lead in the air
And the fire in the sky
Life seemed to be a fault of grace
But it's okay
It gave you a kiss
In the middle of the crossroads
Summer in Berlin
Summer in Berlin
It's alright (it's alright)
The heat of the sun
Which is stored in the pavement
Feels so fine
Here stands the innocent
And there it comes oh so wild
That's when you're longing
For a summer by the wall
Summer in Berlin
Summer in Berlin
It's alright (it's alright)
It's a summer in Berlin
The heat of the sun
Which is stored in the pavement
Feels so fine
It's a summer in Berlin
Here stands the innocent
And there it comes oh so wild
It's a summer in Berlin
That's when you're longing
For a summer by the wall
It's a summer by the wall
Tyler Durden
This song is absolutely phenomenal. That harmony, those chorus and synth arrangements. One of my favourite songs ever and the best one by Alphaville.
Pedro santos
Enquanto tiver gente de bom gosto musical essa música será eterna.
Guto Solane
Somente quem viveu essa época pode falar o valor desta banda
Jorge Alberto
Não vivi nesta época mas sei que é sem igual. Fazia se boa música... década 80 será eterna...
Michał Klaszyński
Uwielbiam ten utwór
mark D.
Mój rodaku, fajnie że nie tylko ja tak czuję glębię tego utworu -ale również ty Bracie Michale -pozdro :)
Miłosz Miszczuk
Marian gold. Najpiekniejszy glos ery. O roznych tonacjach. Geniusz. 3:45 ciary
Corinthiano Louco
Amo as músicas do alphaville é uma lenda no sentido músical viva anos 80 época do amor sou de 1993 mais amo a década de 80 foi a melhor em todo sentindo 🎶✌😘
etobicoke2006
Great video. Alphaville originally come from a small town in Germany called Münster. In the 80's, when Alphaville was still unknown, I joined a party at a farm close to Münster. They played there and it was unforgettable, we were about 80 or 90 people there. - 20 years later I moved from Germany to Toronto, Canada. On my first day there I turned on the radio and the first song was from.... yeah... Alphaville. Couldn't believe it...
Jalen Cole
Great song from a really underrated band. The voice, the synth! Just so much nostalgia! Forever 80s and go niners!