Günter Loose

Günter Loose (born February 5, 1927 in Berlin as Rudolf-Günter Loose ; †  October 3, 2013 ) was one of the most important German lyricists for hits from the 1950s to 1970s. He worked in particular with the music composer Gerd Natschinski and later with Christian Bruhn and Lotar Olias .

Career

Loose grew up in Berlin and began studying medicine at his father's request. But his interest in the entertainment industry determined his life. In the eastern part of the divided city he found a composer on the radio in Gerhard Honig who set his first texts to music. That is why his other texts were written for East German interpreters, often accompanied by the Gerd Natschinski orchestra and published by the East German record label Amiga . Loose also hid behind the pseudonym Peter Berling .

Compositions for Amiga

Brigitte Rabald - This is love at first sight

The GDR record label Amiga added a large number of loose compositions to its repertoire. Klaus Groß began with You, Your View Enchants Me (Amiga 150282; 1955), Brigitte Rabald followed with That is love at first sight (B-side of Heimweh ; Amiga 150292; from the GDR movie Who Loves His Wife , Premiere : February 10, 1955), Fred Frohberg took over Die Sterne der Heimat (Amiga 150294) in 1956 and In Alabama is my home . Ursula Maury sang A Little Negro Boy Dreams of a Snowball Fight (Amiga 150271; 1955), and Leila Negra took on an original with Ein kleine Stelldichein (Amiga 150561; 1956) with the Adalbert Lutter orchestra . Klaus Groß was honored again with Du bist die Liebe (Amiga 150557; 1957), for Paul Schröder Jimmy comes again (Amiga 150588; 1957), the ping-pongs took over This rhythm carries us away (1957), and Klaus Groß brought kisses 'me Angelina out (recorded on June 13, 1957; Amiga 150612). In 1958, Loose wrote at least 6 titles, including Heinz Schultzes Tatjana (Amiga 450 016; 1958), Paul Schröder took up the title Between Three and Four (Amiga 450 020; 1958), Bärbel Wachholz brought Amigo / Das ich bin ich mir auf auf den Markt (450 024; 1958) or Armin Kämpf When a Young Girl Cries (1958). Günter Geißler took over there is a girl (Amiga 50699; 1958) and Julia Axen & Heinz Schultze brought the duet Nur der Mond sucht Uns zu us on the market (1958). 1959 Bärbel Wachholz with because he was a sailor considered Fred Frohberg followed with two good friends (50658; 1959), the siblings Hofmann took over , it would have as then be (B-side of Werner Schmahs You would still have time Twenty be , Amiga 450062 ; 1959). When Hartmut Eichler sang the loose compositions Du belong already to someone else (Amiga 450096; 1959) and Glaube an mich (Amiga 450133; 1960), Loose had already arrived in the West German music industry . Julia Axen had meanwhile taken over the title from year to year (B-side of ... And then you kissed me ; Amiga 450122; 1960), Fred Frohberg brought out One Will Stay with You (Amiga 450155), and Günter Geissler sang Come back to the 'Golden Sand' (Amiga 150775; 1960). Hartmut Eichler resorted to two who love each other (Amiga 450223; 1961). Bärbel Wachholz brought out one of the last East German compositions by Loose, namely When are you coming to me? whose music was by Lotar Olias (February 1960). Since Amiga had alternating sales partners in West Germany (including Teldec ), their repertoire was not systematically distributed here and could not reach the West German charts until the 1970s.

In the Federal Republic

His work in the West German music industry began in 1957 and ended in 1984.

1950s

Gitta Lind - you are so young

Obviously the first West German interpreter to adopt loose texts was Gitta Lind . For her he wrote You are so young / Never forget the time (Amiga 150613; both recorded on June 28, 1957). The record was recorded for Amiga, although the singer was under contract with sales partner Telefunken . On November 6, 1957, Liselotte Malkowsky, who specializes in sailor songs, was created What does a sailor do when he is longing (B-side from Marju, greet me my St. Pauli ), now on the West German Polydor label. Malkowski also took over Yes, If it weren't for the sea (January 30, 1958) and A Heart and a Rose . In 1959 the composer Olias heard of the quatrain “A heart and a rose, a day and a night; A sailor thought of that all his life. ”Olias set the text to music and recorded it with Liselotte Malkowsky on September 1, 1959 under the title A Heart and a Rose . The cover versions of Willy Hagara (1959) and Jonny Hill (1970) also did not make it into the charts. In the USA, however, the song came under the title Ellie Lou with the Brothers Four in April 1960 in the US pop hit parade. In December 1959 Conny Froboess was awarded a girl with 16 , it was Loose's first hit parade listing with a 22nd place . The title appeared in the movie " Yes, such a girl at 16 ", which premiered on October 20, 1959 in Kassel. Freddy sang You must forget everything in October 1959 (B-side of Under Stranger Stars ), Gus Backus took over When a Young Girl Cries (December 1959). In 1960 Loose came up with at least 9 titles, including for Club Honolulu (= Caterina Valente & Brother Silvio Francesco ) in August 1960 Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Honolulu Beach Bikini (recorded on July 30, 1960 in Brussels), which was ranked 1st for three weeks German hit parade. The Valente had just switched from Polydor to Teldec, where her first single Sonnenschein - German text by Kurt Hertha - (February 19, 1959) was a flop. Loose, Christian Bruhn and Valentes manager Erik van Aro therefore argued about how it should be produced and had apparently found the recipe.

1960s

Freddy advanced with Sometime There's a Reunion in April 1960 up to 7th place on the German hit parade, Melodie der Nacht came in fourth from him in November 1960. In the same month Loose wrote the text for the A and B sides of the single La Guitarra Brasiliana / Weit ist der Weg , with the A side reaching rank 16. In 1961 at least 9 titles from his pen came onto the market, in particular Valentes I can't live without you (B-side of Der Sheriff von Arkansas ist 'ne Lady ; June 6, 1961 Berlin). For Freddy, Olias Wenn die Sehnsucht Wouldn't be ' (May 1961) and the theme song for the movie of the same name, Nur der Wind (premiere: September 29, 1961) , were created for Freddy . In May 1961 the Blue Diamonds brought out Wie then in Paris ( In a Little Spanish Town ) with German text by Loose. At the end of the year, “the Valente” took over White Seagull Flying into the Distance (music by Manos Hadjidakis , December 14, 1961). In 1962 Loose put at least 8 lyrics on paper, including 2 for Freddy … And the wide sea (May 1962), Harald Juhnke's first single Der Schwarze Joe aus Idaho (B-side of The Lady with the Poisonous Green Veil ; May 1962), Heidi Brühl Please don't play with me (February 12, 1962; original was Johnny Horton's All For the Love of a Girl ), Ted Herold Ich bin ein Wanderer (May 1962), Michael Holm We'll Meet Again (August 1962) and Freddy's Don't Be Afraid , Lieselotte (September 1962). One of the first joint compositions with Christian Bruhn was Carmela Correns Surabaya (December 1962). In 1963 he wrote for “die” Valente Java Tamouré (February 5, 1963) and I can't live without you , and Manuela's I still go to school was written with Christian Bruhn (September 1963, 4th place), in the Written lunch break and implemented 500,000 times within a few weeks. Rita Pavone took over as her first single When I Was A Boy , which immediately became a hit (September 1963, rank 2) and sold over 100,000 copies in the low-turnover year 1963. Loose's texts on Bye-bye Bambina (September 1963) and Count all stars (December 1963) were not used.

In 1964 there were at least 19 titles written by Loose, of which Zwei Mädchen aus Germany (April 1964, 4th place) was Paul Anka's second-best placement. Drafi Deutscher took over Keep Smiling (October 1964, 7th place), Shu-bi-du-bi-du-the Slop (LP Shake Hands! Keep Smiling ; October 1964) and Es ist haben Sie geht ( You Better Move on by Arthur Alexander , B-side of Cinderella Baby ; December 1964). The newly honored figure skating world champion Hans-Jürgen Bäumler ( Beautiful Strange Girl ; June 1964, 3rd place) and figure skating partner Marika Kilius ( Cavalier, Cavalier and When the Cowboys Dream ; July 1964 2nd place) discovered their weak singing skills as soloists and were given additional consideration with the duet Honeymoon in St. Tropez (June 1964, 2nd place) and When young people go shopping (April 1966). Adamos, will you, monsieur? (August 1964) was a hastily postponed German version of his Vous Permettez, Monsieur (July 1964), both of which reached rank 34 and were his first German singles. In 1965 at least 14 titles were listed with the help of Loose. Among them was Paul Anka with the German-language title Elisabeth (March 1965, 17), Renate Kern's first single Kiss and Shake (June 1965, rank 39), Freddy took over 5,000 Meilen von Zuhaus as the cover version of the Bobby Bare country hit 500 Miles Away From Home (August 1965, rank 5) or Sandie Shaw You don't know anything about your luck (September 1965, rank 32). Renate Kern finally takes over at the end of the year Not an option (December 1965).

Drafi Deutscher - marble, stone and iron breaks

Then in October 1965 19-year-old Drafi Deutscher appeared in the music publisher Edition Intro Gebrüder Meisel GmbH and trilled “dam-dam, dam-dam”. Pop composer Christian Bruhn, who worked with the publisher, asked for the sequel, to which Deutscher replied: "Det do you." The single from "Drafi Deutscher and His Magics" was released - with the text completed by Loose - in October 1965 under the title Marble, stone and iron breaks / These are the lonely years . On December 4, 1965, it first reached first place on the German charts, which it held for five weeks. The record sold more than 800,000 copies in Germany alone by April 1966 and over a million units worldwide with the help of the English-language version that was added in May 1966. The evergreen would remain Loose's greatest commercial success. Marion followed with her most successful single He is back (December 1965, rank 6).

1966 was the author's record year with 37 loose titles. In that year Loose also met James Last and wrote a world hit with him, which was sung by over 100 performers. The original was copyrighted to James Last and Günter Loose on August 15, 1966, entitled A Whole Night . When the US singer Eddie Fisher heard about this, he asked James Last to have an English text written. Larry Kusik and Eddie Snyder wrote this text entitled Games That Lovers Play , and Eddie Fisher presented it live on the Andy Williams Show on October 16, 1966 . Cover versions are by Connie Francis (B-side of Spanish Nights And You ; October 1966) and the British Donald Peers (November 1966). The shrill hit Juanita Banana , originally from the Peels, was taken over by Mal Sondock and Billy Mo with German lyrics by Loose (July 1966), Drafi Deutscher brought out Take Me as I Am (April 1966, rank 7). 7 titles were created for Marion, Rex Gildo was given eyes like two stars (November 1966, rank 12). In 1967 23 titles were published, including one for Renate Kern On Some Day (June 1967). In 1968 there were 14 titles, including for Dorthe Was ist only mit dem Torrero (B-side of Are you the Count of Luxembourg ? , February 1968), Wencke Myhres Jägerlatein (B-side of Ein Hoch der Liebe , April 1968), Graham Bonney 99.9 percent (August 1968) or Vic Dana So Beautiful Eyes (September 1968). 1969 came out 24 music tracks, including 5 tracks for the not yet established Katja Ebstein , which missed the hit parade. Renate Kern did the same with the title Let the sunshine so (May 1969). Roberto Blanco was finally able to establish himself in the German charts in 1969 with songs written by Loose. Today like that, tomorrow like that in August 1969 was his absolute best placement (10th place), with which Blanco won the German Schlager Competition 1969 on July 3, 1969 . For Blanco this was followed by On love there is no guarantee in December 1969; Rank 38). Graham Bonney made it to number 25 on the German charts with Hey, Little Lady (October 1969).

1970s

Although Loose's productivity remained at a high level, the hit parade presence of his works decreased. The year 1970 showed an even higher productivity than the previous year with 27 titles. In January 1970, Peter Beil had a moderate success with The Lightning Strike (Rank 33), Peter Alexander was able to build on past successes in March 1970 with Oh Lady Mary (Rank 5). The Flippers stayed in the Top10 (9th place) with their second single Sha La La, I Love you (April 1970). Katja Ebstein was awarded 9 titles, of which Miracles are always her first chart success (April 1970, rank 17). Ebstein had previously appeared with this title at the Grand Prix d 'Eurovision on March 21, 1970 , where he achieved a great international success with a third place. Bruhn had provided orchestral accompaniment. The follow-up single And if a new day awakens (December 1970), also written by Loose , only made it to 28th place. The best placement for a loose title in 1970, however, was achieved by Bata Illic with the German version of Candida (October 1970, 4th place). The year 1971 produced a total of 33 loose songs, only Ivo Robic, after 4 years of abstinence from the hit parade , was able to reach 45th place in August 1971 with I'll show you the sunshine . In 1972 he came up with at least 10 song lyrics, only 2 of which made it into the charts, namely Bata Illic's As long as I Live (December 1972, 13th) and the popular hit A little bit of fun must be / with a little luck for Roberto Blanco (December 1972, rank 15 ). 1973 13 titles were listed, of which Goodbye Mama became the first and most successful single by Ireen Sheer (May 1973, rank 5) and paved the way for her to pursue a German hit career. 1974 at least 17 titles with texts by Loose were published, including Bata Illic with Auf der Straße der Sehnsucht (June 1974, Rank 32), Peter Alexander brought the German version of O Sole Mio to an unusual position 36 in the charts (April 1974 ). In 1975 6 loose titles came onto the market, of which only Rex Gildo The Last Sirtaki (September 1975, rank 9) reached the charts. Among the 12 songs released in 1976 for Frank Farian, who has just been successful with Rocky, was the title Spring over your shadow, Tommy (September 1976, rank 12). 1977 produced 10 tracks without hit parade, of the 2 songs from 1978 Bata Illic mit Sehnsucht (April 1978) is worth mentioning. In 1979 10 titles were listed, including 9 for Nella Martinetti, who was not mentioned in the hit parade. Peter Orloff ended Loose's hit parade presence with Ich liebe Dich (September 1979, 27th).

Loose wrote his last title in 1984. The trio Rainy Day presented What color is the sunshine as the Swiss contribution to the Eurovision Song Contest 1984 on May 5, 1984, which landed with 30 points in 17th place (out of 19 participants).

Others

Loose wrote about 3,000 titles by his own account. Among them was a number one hit , which was also his only million seller . He wrote most of the titles for Katja Ebstein (19), Renate Kern (14), Drafi Deutscher (13), Roberto Blanco (12), Nella Martinetti (12), Marion (11) and Freddy (10). Two of his works received bronze at the Radio Luxemburg award ceremony , namely at the 13th award in Knokke-Heist (1965) Bäumler's Beautiful Stranger Girl and at the 14th award in Essen (1965) German marble, stone and iron breaks . On July 29, 1999, Günter Loose received the Willy Dehmel Prize from the German Association of Composers. The CD box My Texts - My Songs , released in January 2000, contains his most successful hits. The CD 3 contains only successful hits published by Amiga. After 30 years of activity, Loose ended his writing career in 1984. Since November 1983, he has been running the "Interbirg Show-Artists Agency Günter Loose" in Zurich-Oberrieden, which was closed in February 2002 due to closure.

Individual evidence

1. ^ Matthias Bardong / Herrmann Demmler / Christian Pfarr, Lexikon des Deutschen Schlagers , 1992, p. 232.
2. ↑ Leila Negra , actually from West Germany, covered this title for her EP Oklahoma (Amiga 55022; 1957)
3. ^ Christian Bruhn, Marmor, Stein und Liebeskummer , 2005, p. 14.
4. ^ Christian Bruhn, Marmor, Stein und Liebeskummer , 2005, p. 144.
5. ↑ Der Musikmarkt, 30 Years of Singles Hit Parade , 1989, p. 27.
6. ^ Christian Bruhn, Marmor, Stein und Liebeskummer , 2005, p. 130.
7. ^ Joseph Murrells, Million Selling Records , 1985, p. 205.

Web links

• Rudolf-Günter Loose in the WorldCat
• Works by and about Günter Loose in the catalog of the German National Library
• Günter Loose in the Internet Movie Database (English)