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.
Ten Thousand Lonely Drums
Modern Talking Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hearing an echo cry
Don't be fool for stealing hearts
Dreamland at your fate
You never find your way
Don't be fool for tears of love
All precious memories, you had through the years
All they are passing one by one
Wave off the pain and tears
Baby, together we are strong
Ten thousand lonely drums
Are playing in my heart
Ten thousand drums of dreaming fell apart
Ten thousand drums are playing just for you
Ten thousand drums are saying I'm missing you
Oh, my drums
They're playing in your mind
Thinking of endless lovers
Some too hard
Oh my drums
I never let you go
They give the mimic of a lonely drum
Like a hero will smile again
If you will play this game
Don't be a thief for stealin' hearts
Like all the thousand smiles
It takes a little while
Don't be fool for tears I love
Welcome to paradise
If you will realize
Then passing one by one
You kill the memories
Wave off the pain and fears
Baby, together we are strong
The lyrics to Ten Thousand Lonely Drums by Modern Talking speaks about heartbreak and the pain that comes with it. The opening lines of the song, "you're breaking my paradise, hearing an echo cry," already set a somber mood. The song is about a failed relationship where one person did not value the love they had and killed the memories they shared. The chorus of the song, "Ten thousand lonely drums, are playing in my heart, ten thousand drums of dreaming fell apart," further emphasizes the immense pain and devastation of the broken relationship. Despite the pain, the song elicits hope that the couple can work things out and be strong together.
The song's lyrics are effectively poignant and deeply emotional, making it one of Modern Talking's most notable works. The song's melody and rhythm are also compelling, adding to the overall effect of the song. Ten Thousand Lonely Drums is from Modern Talking's final studio album, released in 2003, and it is an excellent representation of the duo's style and sound.
Line by Line Meaning
You're breaking my paradise
You are ruining the perfect world that I had created for myself
Hearing an echo cry
Listening to the sound of my own loneliness echoing back at me
Don't be fool for stealing hearts
Do not be deceived by the idea that stealing someone's heart is desirable
Dreamland at your fate
Your fortunes lie in the realm of dreams
You never find your way
You are lost and unable to navigate your life
Don't be fool for tears of love
Do not be deceived by the idea that tears and pain are synonymous with love
All precious memories, you had through the years
All valuable memories you have collected over time
All they are passing one by one
All the memories are fading away one by one
You kill the memories
You are extinguishing the memories by choosing to forget them
Wave off the pain and tears
Do not let the pain and tears define your life
Baby, together we are strong
We can overcome any difficulty together
Ten thousand lonely drums
There are innumerable drums playing the beat of loneliness
Are playing in my heart
This feeling of loneliness reverberates deep within me
Ten thousand drums of dreaming fell apart
Countless dreams have been shattered
Ten thousand drums are playing just for you
The loneliness in your heart is amplified by the sound of countless drums
Ten thousand drums are saying I'm missing you
The drums carry the message of how much you are missed
Oh, my drums
My heart is filled with a cacophony of emotions
They're playing in your mind
You are tormented by the same feelings of loneliness that I am experiencing
Thinking of endless lovers
You are lost in thoughts of finding love that would last forever
Some too hard
But, some dreams are too difficult to realize
Oh my drums
The beat of my heart echoes through the drums
I never let you go
I refuse to let go of this feeling of love, this dream of happiness
They give the mimic of a lonely drum
The sound of the drums mimics the feeling of loneliness and the longing for love
Like a hero will smile again
Just as a hero bounces back from adversity with a smile, so shall we
If you will play this game
If you choose to play this game of love with me
Welcome to paradise
I will take you to the world of love and joy that you have been seeking
If you will realize
If you understand my love for you
You kill the memories
The memories that were once cherished are fading away
Wave off the pain and fears
Let go of the pain and fears that are holding you back
Baby, together we are strong
We can face any challenge together
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DIETER BOHLEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Edu Tere Barbosa
on Just Like An Angel
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