May 24, 2022
Lilys Ambassadors! - Lilys Botschafter!
May 15, 2022
99 Luftballons!
I guess I have always been inspired
by meaningful lyrics. Not many German-language
songs made it to the US charts. "99 Luftballoons",
a song by the German band NENA from their 1983 self-titled
album though is a world-famous song. An English-language version titled "99 Red Balloons", with lyrics by Kevin McAlea,
was also released on the album 99 Luftballons in 1984 after widespread success of
the original in Europe and Japan.
The English
version is not a direct translation of the German original and
contains lyrics with a somewhat different meaning. In the US, the
English-language version did not chart, while the German-language recording
became Nena's only US hit.
Uwe Fahrenkrog-Petersen is a German keyboard player, producer, and composer and was
the keyboardist of the band NENA and co-wrote their world-famous hit "99 Luftballons". Here is the translated
lyric of the original German version that I have found on Wikipedia:
99 balloons
are mistaken for UFOs, causing a general to send pilots to
investigate. Finding nothing but balloons, the pilots put on a large show of
firepower. The display of force worries the nations along the borders and the war
ministers on each side encourage conflict to grab power for themselves. In
the end, a cataclysmic war results from the otherwise harmless flight of
balloons and causes devastation on all sides without a victor, as indicated in
the denouement of the song: "99 Jahre Krieg ließen keinen Platz für Sieger," which means "99 years of war have left no place
for winners."
The anti-war song finishes with the singer walking through the devastated ruins of the world and finding a single balloon. The description of what happens in the final line of the piece is the same in German and English: "Denk' an dich und lass' ihn fliegen," or "I think of you and let it go.”
Imagine our surprise when my mum and I met Uwe Fahrenkrog-Petersen at the Berlin Airport back in 2006! I knew Uwe because of THIS song but also as a TV judge at the German talent show (Popstars) and other music projects and collaborations. He was as friendly, kind, and charming as we had expected. I wish more talented songwriters would use their talent and write and produce meaningful songs and inspire the younger generation!
May 13, 2022
Music is a universal language!
Music has always been a universal language even decades before
the world wide web was invented. From Mozart, Beethoven, and Johannes Strauss to legends like
Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, the Beatles, Whitney Houston,
Prince, and Michael Jackson to today’s living legends Elton John, Madonna, Tom
Jones & co!
And yet, it is fascinating for me to see my songs “80 Million People!” and “Blood is always red!” being danced to in China and Africa! Two countries on different continents that I haven't been to and probably won't ever visit.
Two song
lyrics written in Switzerland, recorded and produced in the United Kingdom by
my talented featured artist Thir13een, and danced to by the Chinese dancer Lily.
We really live in an amazing time. Despite living miles apart and on different continents, we manage to create something special for music lovers from around the world. I hope my meaningful lyrics combined with Thir13eens outstanding voice and Lily’s dance will inspire the young generations. I hope you understand what a privilege it is to live in this awesome time. Nothing can hold you back from fulfilling your dreams and desires. There are no borders to create something special. Be creative, be active, be productive and enjoy all the possibilities and opportunities that we have in this difficult time!
If you love my songs "80 Million People!" and "Blood is always red!", please show your solidarity. Dance or lipsynch to my songs and post them on your social media pages like Instagram or TikTok. Don't forget to tag me in your posts, like the dance group from Africa in the TikTok Video below! :-)
@lily.amis My song BLOOD IS ALWAYS RED is available here on TikTok and all the streaming platforms. 🎼🤗❤#lilyamis #thir13een #bloodisalwaysred #blutistimmerrot #lily4refugees #refugees #newsongout #ForYourPage #foryoupage #Lipsynch #duet #dancing #dealdropdance #challenge #dancechallenge #unity #solidarity #mirrorchallenge #blacklivesmatter #chocolatematters #caramelmatters #vanillamatters #chocolate #caramel #vanilla #songchallenge #Lipsynchchallenge #stopwar #stophate #stopdiscrimination ♬ Originalton - Lily Amis
@lily.amis My song BLOOD IS ALWAYS RED! performed by the talented dance group @diamondancer5650. The song is available on all streaming platforms. #lilyamis #lily4refugees #thir13een #dance #dancedancedance🥰 #dancer #dancelove #blacklivesmatter #discrimination #endwarnow😭 #humanityb4nationality #musik #tanzen #outnow #stopwar #dancing #performance ♬ Originalton - Lily Amis