Modern Talking was a German pop music duo consisting of composer/producer/b… Read Full Bio ↴Modern Talking was a German pop music duo consisting of composer/producer/background singer Dieter Bohlen and singer Thomas Anders founded in Berlin, West Germany in late 1983. It was the single most successful pop group in Germany (by sales).

First formed at the end of 1984 (Anders was 21), they unexpectedly became immensely popular with their standalone disco hit "You're My Heart, You're My Soul", which was then followed by "You Can Win If You Want" and "Cheri, Cheri Lady". They released two albums a year from 1985 to 1987 while also promoting their singles on television all over Europe. After splitting up in 1987, the duo reunited in 1998, at first only testing the waters with new versions of hit singles and again reaching the top of the charts unexpectedly. Bohlen and Anders split again in 2003 due to irreconcilable disagreements (they had never been friends in the first place). Thomas Anders started another solo career immediately, while Bohlen had by now begun devoting most of his time to new talents, especially those he discovered on the German edition of the TV show Pop Idol/American Idol.

Global sales of Modern Talking records were 120 million units, according to BMG in June 2003, and they have become the biggest-selling German music act in history, so far outselling even Frank Farian's projects Boney M and Milli Vanilli, Michael Cretu's Enigma, Sandra, the Scorpions, Snap! and Rammstein.

Modern Talking were successful in Europe, Asia, South America and some African countries. In the United Kingdom they reached the top ten only once with the song "Brother Louie" (in 1986, #4 UK). They did not feel very good about promoting their singles there due to being marketed in England as a gay group like Erasure and Culture Club. Indeed, in the UK "Brother Louie" is regarded by those who remember it as nothing more than a novelty record by a one-hit wonder.

They were almost unknown in North America by mainstream standards, never appearing in the charts there, and due to lack of backing from a record company and lack of time did not go there to promote their music. Composer Dieter Bohlen employed mood-evoking lyrics and intellectually-designed, synthesizer-based music which was out of vogue in the U.S. before Modern Talking even formed.
In 2006 Bohlen included a secret message in his song "Bizarre Bizarre" which was played backwards: "There will never be an end to Modern Talking". However, Bohlen said "he meant to say that the music of Modern Talking will live forever" [4]. Anders has kept the Modern Talking songs in his repertoire and produced songs in a similar vein for his solo records ("Independent Girl"). In 2006 he produced an album of Swing and Jazz versions of popular songs (including Modern Talking's first hit). Bohlen has written two autobiographical books, one of which also detailed Modern Talking's history from his perspective, and sold a million copies in Germany. The sequel was heavily criticised for his unfairness towards the people he worked with. As a result of that, he withdrew from the public for a year until 2006, when he said he regretted putting out the second book. Anders had not been the only one pressing charges against Bohlen and demanding that sections of the book be modified.

China in Her Eyes
Modern Talking Lyrics

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Behind the sun
I found someone
My china woman, oh no
She's painting clouds
Day in, day out
My china girl, don't go
Oh I can't, oh I can't, oh I can't ignore
The way she looks to me

Oh I can't, oh I can't, oh I can't give her more
Just my heart, she is my destiny

She has China in her eyes, can't you see it?
China in her eyes, can't you feel it?
China in her eyes, a secret smile
Oh can't you see, it's you and me, my china woman, oh no
I miss you so, can't let you go, my china girl, don't go

Behind brown eyes, she's mystify
my china woman, oh no
It's like a dream the moon turns green
my china girl, don't go
I believe, I believe, I believe, I'll fly
I'm writing hearts to you

And I wait and I wait, see a rose in the sky
Take my heart, what have I got to do

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "China in Her Eyes" explore the singer's fascination and love for a woman who hails from China. The first verse talks about how he's found someone special, his "China woman," and goes on to describe her daily routine of painting clouds. The chorus then emphasizes how the woman represents China to the singer, with "China in her eyes" and a "secret smile." The singer expresses his fear of losing her, telling her not to go, and emphasizing that she is his destiny. The second verse describes her as mysterious, with "brown eyes," and again emphasizes the dreamy connection between them.

The song's central themes are love and fascination as well as cultural interest. The lyrics are a clear portrayal of the singer being mesmerized by the culture he is seemingly exploring through the woman he is describing. In the chorus, the term "China in her eyes" represents the culture that the singer is infatuated with through this woman who represents it. The song is interesting because it represents the unique moment of Orientalism when western cultures became suddenly fascinated by eastern cultures, especially China.

China in Her EyesModern Talking Lyrics

Edu Tere Barbosa

on Just Like An Angel

China in Her Eyes
Modern Talking Lyrics