Yeah, the song that John Denver sand. I’m not exactly sure why that is, and neither is anybody else.
For decades, Danoff’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” — a 1971 hit for John Denver — has been a sing-along favorite at Munich’s Oktoberfest, a nostalgic touchstone bound to bring Germans to their feet whenever it’s played.
Why? “I have no idea,” [Bill] Danoff, 67, told us. “I’ve never been to Germany” — though he’d never been to West Virginia either before he wrote his ode to the Mountain State.
Ask German natives why they get misty-eyed over a song about the Shenandoah and Blue Ridge, what cultural resonance they find in it, and you’ll get a quizzical stare: It’s a really good song, don’t you think?
After the fold: video of Germans losing their minds (to quote the article) upon hearing the song.
…Look, I don’t to rehash old history here, so can we all agree that this is a perfectly acceptable and accurate definition of ‘losing your mind over a song’ and just keep going?
Moe Lane
PS: I’m slipping: I almost forgot to try to monetize this post.
It’s been a long week, and it’s only Monday.
I think my favorite cover is by Toots & the Maytals, wherein the “place I belong” – at least in the live version – is “West Jamaica”.
As long as they’re not losing their minds to the “Horst Wessel Lied”, I’m good…
I can only hope my girls embrace that version of “losing their minds” as they get older.
One does not attempt to explain what happens at Oktoberfest. Germans live in a very controlled environment. There are two exceptions to this: (1) The Autobahn, and (2) Oktoberfest.
Back in the day, my folks had an 8-track of An Evening With John Denver. I still kinda have a soft spot for this album even now, although it’s really been years (well, decades, really) since I’ve heard the whole thing. I think Denver was one of those guys that really did his bet work in a live performance situation. Here’s the opening track.
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Anyway, check it out. And if you find yourself tapping your foot or singing along, it’ll be our secret.
I like the Jason & The Scorchers cover of it myself.
I should point out that the Germans are nuts over country & western music and cowboy stuff in general; one of their most popular authors is a guy named Karl May who made serious bank writing Westerns.