In 1963, Maffay and his parents emigrated from the Siebenbürgen region in Romania to Germany, like other Transylvanian Saxons. In the same year, he started his first band, The Dukes. After completing his education and spending some time working for Chemigraphics, an art manufacturer, Maffay worked in clubs, where he distributed his music.
Peter Maffay's career began in 1969 with the publication of his first single, "Du" (You in German). It was the biggest German hit in 1970 and brought Maffay instant fame. With the album Steppenwolf in 1979, Maffay became a major music star in Germany. The album sold 1.6 million copies, making it the best selling LP at that time. In 1980, the album Revanche (Revenge) broke his previous record, selling 2.1 million copies.
Maffay holds the German record for the most number one ranked singles in the single and album sales charts, including 12 albums. In addition, most of his studio albums reached the top ten. He also holds a German record for most albums to have sold over one million copies, with 14. His latest album ,Laut und Leise (Loud and Quiet), became the fourteenth.
Altogether, Maffay has sold over 35 million records. Since 1980, each of his 13 tours (roughly every 2 years) has ranked among the three most visited attractions each season in Germany, with nine of them ranked first in that category.
Maffay also created a string of fairy tales about a little green dragon named Tabaluga, which was spread out onto four albums. The piece was also turned into a musical. Maffay went on tour individually with Tabaluga & Lilli in Germany; he later released a live album, DVD and live TV broadcast. The tour included Peter Maffay, Alexis, Nino de Angelo, Rufus Beck, and Carl Carlton among others.
In 1998, Maffay collaborated to create an album with artists from all corners of the world, including Aboriginal singers and musicians from Israel.
He also starred in two films directed by Peter Patzak - The Joker in 1986, and Captured in Yemen in 1999. In addition, Maffay played a supporting role in the feature "The Polar Bear".
Charly
Peter Maffay Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Und sie kommen heute endlich wieder in die Stadt
Hey, aufgepasst, das sind Charlys Leute
Und bei uns ist heute wieder einmal schwer was los
Reifen quietschen auf Asphalt
Und durch Chrom und Stahl flimmert die Sonne
Die Luft schmeckt nach Benzin
Freie Bahn, Patz für Charlys Leute
Und alle wissen heute wird es eine lange Nacht
Grünes Licht, grün für Charlys Leute
Sie haben sich für heute sicher etwas ausgedacht
Vorneweg fährt Charly selbst mit verblichnen Jeans
Wie all die andern
Ein buntes Band um die Stirn
Und sein Haar weht wild im Wind
Sie sind da, das sind Charlys Leute
Und bei uns ist heute wieder einmal schwer was los
Nun drehn sie auf dem Marktplatz
Noch einmal eine Runde
Und auch der letzte weiß jetzt
Charly ist mit seinen Leuten da
Komm so schnell du kannst
Zu Charlys Leuten
Heut Abend wird getanzt
Mit Charlys Leuten
Und jeder, jeder will der erste sein
Das gibt in diesem Nest
Bestimmt ein riesen Fest
Und alle, alle Freunde sind dabei
The lyrics to Peter Maffay's song, "Charly's Leute," describe the arrival of Charly and his crew in the city. The first verse introduces Charly's people and lets the listener know that something big is about to happen. The second verse sets the scene with the sound of tires on the road, the gleam of chrome and steel in the sun, and the smell of gasoline in the air. The anticipation builds as the chorus repeats the arrival of Charly's people and promises a long night of excitement.
The third verse gives us a glimpse of Charly himself, leading the way with his faded jeans and colorful bandana. His hair blows wildly in the wind, adding to the sense of freedom and rebellion. The final lines of the song urge the listener to join Charly's people for a night of dancing and fun, with everyone vying to be the first to join in.
Overall, the lyrics to "Charly's Leute" convey a sense of excitement, rebellion, and community. Charly and his crew represent a break from the norm, a chance to let loose and have fun with like-minded people. The song invites the listener to join this world of freedom and joy, where anything is possible and everyone is welcome.
Line by Line Meaning
Da kommen sie, das sind Charlys Leute
Charly's gang is arriving to the town
Und sie kommen heute endlich wieder in die Stadt
After a long time, they're finally returning to the town
Hey, aufgepasst, das sind Charlys Leute
Be careful, these are Charly's people
Und bei uns ist heute wieder einmal schwer was los
And it's going to be a wild night here
Reifen quietschen auf Asphalt
Tires screech on the road
Und durch Chrom und Stahl flimmert die Sonne
The sun reflects off the chromed metal of the vehicles
Die Luft schmeckt nach Benzin
The air is filled with the smell of gasoline
Und durch den Staub kann man sie schon sehn
In the dust, you can already see them coming
Freie Bahn, Patz für Charlys Leute
They have a clear path and space to move
Und alle wissen heute wird es eine lange Nacht
Everyone knows it's going to be a long night
Grünes Licht, grün für Charlys Leute
The traffic lights turn green just for them
Sie haben sich für heute sicher etwas ausgedacht
They've planned something big for tonight
Vorneweg fährt Charly selbst mit verblichnen Jeans
Charly leads the way wearing faded jeans
Wie all die andern
Like all the others in his gang
Ein buntes Band um die Stirn
He wears a colorful band on his forehead
Und sein Haar weht wild im Wind
His hair is blowing wildly in the wind
Nun drehn sie auf dem Marktplatz
They're now spinning on the square
Noch einmal eine Runde
Taking one more lap around
Und auch der letzte weiß jetzt
Now everyone knows
Charly ist mit seinen Leuten da
That Charly and his gang have arrived
Komm so schnell du kannst
Come as quickly as you can
Zu Charlys Leuten
To Charly's people
Heut Abend wird getanzt
Tonight, there will be dancing
Mit Charlys Leuten
With Charly's gang
Und jeder, jeder will der erste sein
Everyone wants to be the first
Das gibt in diesem Nest
This place will be crazy
Bestimmt ein riesen Fest
It'll be a huge celebration
Und alle, alle Freunde sind dabei
And all the friends are already there
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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