Customer Reviews

Definitive Collection

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Firstly a quick moan (if you don't want to read a moan, go to the last two paragraphs). It seems our descrition author is not as informed as one would like, but then, hey, you can't win 'em all. The reason for this statement is that the tracks refered to as "rare" are all from albums from which there are other tracks on the "non-rare" CD. And, if I may carry on, the tracks I would be inclined to describe as "rare", are tracks like "World Now" and the tracks off "Fearless" / "Angstlos" (tracks 10 to 13) as "World Now" has, in it's original format, to my knowledge, only, and rarely, been available on single (and a couple of compilations) and "Fearless" / "Angstlos" has been impossible to find, although I know it has been available. And the tracks off "Fearless" / "Angstlos" which are on this compilation are on any other Nina Hagen compilation.

But: If you can not find any other Nina Hagen compilation, and a compilation is what you would like to have, I could recomend this Dev. Col. It only goes up to music from 1985, so don't expect to like it if you only know or like the newer stuff. If you are a serious Nina Hagen fan I would recomend that you make an effort and get the originals. The very serious Nina Hagen fan could put it at the end of their Nina Hagen Wish List....

In short: Nina hagen is great. If you only know or like the new stuff don't expect to like this. If you like the old stuff, get the originals.

This 2-CD set is an excellent compilation of Nina Hagen's early work. All the classics are here: early German gems like Unbeschreiblich Weiblich, her version of the Tubes' White Punks On Dope (TV Glotzer), her breathtaking operatic rock excursions Natuertraene & Heiss, all of the aforementioned from the debut album Nina Hagen Band. This album became an instant cult item on the indie/alternative scene around 1978.

The second album, Unbehagen, provides the catchy Wir Leben Immer Noch (The Lene Lovich song Lucky Number), the magnificent African Reggae and the catchy Fall In Love Mit Mir. Her music became more accessible with this release, veering into mainstream rock, reggae and pop. Other great songs on this compilation (which is not definitive anymore) include Zarah, Universal Radio, Rangehn, New York New York, Auf'm Friedhof and Auf'm Bahnhof Zoo.

The spark of creative genius burns brightly here in her late 70s/early 80s work, extending the boundaries of rock, punk and reggae in its seamless operatic fusion and innovative rhythmic explorations. She performs with enthusiasm, the playing is tight and the arrangements are just the right side of quirky. The music has aged very well.

This 2-CD set is excellent to replace your worn vinyl with. All of Nina's classics are here: early gems like Unbeschreiblich Weiblich, her version of the Tubes' White Punks On Dope, her operatic rock excursions Natürträne & Heiss, the catchy Wir Leben Immer Noch and the magnificent African Reggae. Other favourites include Rangehn, New York New York, Auf'm Friedhof and Auf'm Bahnhof Zoo. The spark of creative innovation in her late 70s/early 80s work burns brightly here. She performs with enthusiasm, the playing is tight and the arrangements are just the right side of quirky. Highly recommended.

I remember the first time I heard Nina Hagen. My friend Trish brought over a tape she made that had African Reggae on it. We were in hysterics as I translated the lyrics for her. Naturally, I went right out and bought Unbehagen (Misbehaved) for myself.

Pretty soon, I found my way back to her earlier work, Nina Hagen Band. When I even think of Naturträne, and that whole Wagnerian aria she pulled off - I still get chills. Then she smacks you down with her cover of "My Way".

Magnificently irreverant, hopelessly unclassifiable. Hagen is unique, even amongst Punkers. Best of all, if you're an aging yuppie, you get really really strange looks from people when you're slamming away in your BMW to "Fall in Love Mit Mir".

Heh.

I don't know what it is that I find about Nina Hagen that is so ultra-inspiring. Maybe it's her creativity, maybe it's her weirdness. Maybe it's just the fact that I really enjoy Germanic oddballs. At any rate, if you enjoy the strange, the unusual, or just The Nina, buy this... Many of the songs are in the original German, which is far preferable, because it makes the music even stranger.

Ive been a fan of Nina Hagen for about 4-5 years now and from what i can see is that she was at her peak in the late 70's early 80's, she is weird, yet very talented. Some say that she is the queen of punk and I can agree with that. This CD does have some really good songs on it and my favorite stand out tracks are "smack jack" "zarah" and "new york (new york)" which is my all time favorite of hers, she even does it better live than on disk!

It's surprising that there's no really good collection of Nina Hagen's work, at least outside Germany!
All the "best" tracks are here but there are two songs that are missing: Spirit in the Sky and the english version of Universal Radio (which I always thought to be the "main" version of the song), instead you get Universelles Radio in German... don't know why.
Absolutely no booklet or song info either.
But it is as good as it gets...