Alphaville is a German synthpop/-rock music group which gained popularity in the 1980s. The founding members were Marian Gold (real name Hartwig Schierbaum, born May 26, 1954 in Herford), Bernhard Lloyd (real name Bernhard Gößling, born June 6, 1960 in Enger, North Rhine-Westphalia), and Frank Mertens (real name Frank Sorgatz, born October 26, 1961 in Enger, North Rhine-Westphalia). The band was at first named Forever Young before changing to Alphaville. They are best known for their two biggest hits, "Big in Japan" "Forever Young." Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2641x1765, 3964 KB) Summary Alphaville on stage in 2005 Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Alphaville (band) Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create or digitize it. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... New Wave was a pop and rock music genre that existed during the late 1970s and the early-to-mid 1980s. ... Synthpop is a subgenre of New Wave in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. ... Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar). ... In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. ... Warner Music Group is one of the Big Four record labels. ... A Different Drum is a record label and online store based in the U.S. state of Utah, specializing in synthpop and related genres. ... Lead singer of the German synthpop group Alphaville. ... Synthpop is a subgenre of New Wave in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. ... Rock is a form of popular music, usually featuring vocals (often with vocal harmony), electric guitars, and a strong back beat; other instruments, such as the saxophone, are common in some styles, however saxophones have been omitted from newer subgenres of rock music since the 90s. ... The 1980s refers to the years from 1980 to 1989. ... Lead singer of the German synthpop group Alphaville. ... is the 146th day of the year (147th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Herforder Münster Herford is a town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, located in the lowlands between the mountain chains of the Wiehengebirge and the Teutoburg Forest. ... is the 157th day of the year (158th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Map of Germany showing Enger Enger is a town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. ... Coat of arms Location Time zone CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2) Administration Country NUTS Region DEA Capital Düsseldorf Prime Minister Jürgen Rüttgers (CDU) Governing parties CDU / FDP Votes in Bundesrat 6 (from 69) Basic statistics Area  34,084 km² (13,160 sq mi) Population 18,033,000... is the 299th day of the year (300th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Map of Germany showing Enger Enger is a town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. ... Coat of arms Location Time zone CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2) Administration Country NUTS Region DEA Capital Düsseldorf Prime Minister Jürgen Rüttgers (CDU) Governing parties CDU / FDP Votes in Bundesrat 6 (from 69) Basic statistics Area  34,084 km² (13,160 sq mi) Population 18,033,000... Forever Young was the title track from German rock/synthpop group Alphavilles 1984 debut album. ...

Beginnings

In 1984, the re-named Alphaville released their debut single "Big in Japan", quickly followed by the album Forever Young. Despite its success Frank Mertens left the band that year and was replaced by Ricky Echolette (born Wolfgang Neuhaus, in Cologne, August 6, 1960) in January 1985 - already credited in the "Forever Young" album. This article is about the year. ... Forever Young was the first album released by Alphaville in 1984, by Warner Music. ... For other uses, see Cologne (disambiguation). ... is the 218th day of the year (219th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ...

"Big In Japan" was Alphaville's biggest hit, topping the charts in Switzerland, Sweden and the U.S. Billboard Dance Chart (the group's only success on any American chart), and reached the Top Five in Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Austria, Ireland and South Africa. It also became the group's only Top 20 single in the UK, peaking at #8. For other uses, see United States (disambiguation) and US (disambiguation). ... Billboard can refer to: Billboard magazine Billboard (advertising) Billboard antenna In 3D computer graphics, to billboard is to rotate an object so that it faces the viewer. ...

The band's next two singles, "Sounds like a Melody" and "Forever Young", were also both European Top 10 successes, although the latter track failed to make an impression on the American charts. For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ...

Although there were reports that pop star Laura Branigan was featuring the song on her next album, Hold Me, Alphaville's "Forever Young" was re-released as a single in the US, but still proved unpopular. Branigan's version, though promoted on stickers adorning the album, subsequently remained an album cut in the US. She would go on to perform the song as an encore at nearly every concert she performed, until her death in 2004. The Alphaville version was released a third time in the US in 1988, to promote Alphaville: The Singles Collection, and peaked at #65, their highest charting (and also last) single on the Billboard Hot 100. International re-releases of Alphaville's "Forever Young" followed in 1989, 1996 and 2001. Several covers have been recorded and remixed, featuring male or female vocalists often erroneously attributed to be Alphaville's Marian Gold. "Forever Young" was performed by Kiki and Herb as part of their show Alive From Broadway.^[1] Laura Branigan (July 3, 1957 – August 26, 2004) was a popular American singer/actress from Brewster, New York, best known in the U.S. for the song Gloria (1982). ... Hold Me is the fourth album by singer Laura Branigan, released in 1985 (see 1985 in music). ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ... “Hot 100” redirects here. ... Kiki and Herb (Justin Bond and Kenny Mellman) are an American drag cabaret duo. ...

Afternoons in Utopia

In 1986, their second album, Afternoons in Utopia, was successfully released and its first single "Dance with Me" was a big international hit, reaching the Top 20 in France, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and South Africa, and n°25 in Austria. The LP was followed up in 1989 with The Breathtaking Blue, including the highly acclaimed singles (if not so successful chart hits) "Romeos" and "Mysteries of Love". The album was released as a CD+G, including black & white stills with original lyrics and German translation. As an alternative to individual music videos, the band enlisted nine producers, among them Godfrey Reggio (Koyaanisqatsi), to create a film entitled Songlines based on the album's tracks. Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ... Afternoons in Utopia was the second album released by Alphaville in 1986, by Warner Music. ... An LP Long playing (LP), either 10 or 12-inch diameter, 33 rpm (actually 33. ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ... The Breathtaking Blue is an album released by the German band Alphaville in 1989. ... A CD+G (also known as CD+Graphics) is a special audio compact disc that contains graphics data in addition to the audio data on the disc. ... A music video is a short film or video that accompanies a complete piece of music, most commonly a song. ... Polaroid by Michael Dare Godfrey Reggio (born March 29, 1940) is an American director of experimental documentary films. ... Koyaanisqatsi: Life out of Balance is a 1982 film directed by Godfrey Reggio with music composed by minimalist composer Philip Glass and cinematography by Ron Fricke. ...

The next album, Prostitute, was not released until 1994. In 1996, Ricky Echolette left the band. Salvation, a back-to-the-root opus, followed in 1997. Stark Naked and Absolutely Live was released in 2000, followed by the remix album, Forever Pop the following year. A DVD - Little America - was released in 2001 documenting two concerts performed in Salt Lake City, Utah. This article needs to be wikified. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... 1. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ... Stark Naked and Absolutely Live (2000) is the first official live album by Alphaville. ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ... Forever Pop (2001) is a compilation of remixed Alphaville tracks. ... DVD (also known as Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc) is a popular optical disc storage media format. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... The Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Salt Lake Citys top tourist draw. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ...

Projects

Bernhard Lloyd did not contribute to the CrazyShow album, and shortly after its release on March 18, 2003, he officially left the group. The current core stage members of Alphaville are Marian Gold (vocals), Martin Lister (keyboards), David Goodes (guitars) and Pierson Grange (drums). CrazyShow (2003) is a limited-edition four-CD album by Alphaville, comprised of new material as well as rare and remixed tracks, and three cover versions (Do the Strand by Roxy Music, Something by George Harrison, and Diamonds Are Forever by Don Black & John Barry). ... is the 77th day of the year (78th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Gold has released two solo albums (So Long Celeste, 1992 and United, 1996), alongside his work in the band, both mixing personal creations and covers. So Long Celeste is the first solo album by Alphaville singer/songwriter Marian Gold, released in 1992. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... United is the second solo album by Alphaville singer/songwriter Marian Gold, released in 1996. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ...

Lloyd also worked on a project named Atlantic Popes with singer Max Holler, a 13-track CD. In 1996, Frank Mertens started a musical project called Maelstrom, which was a combination of ambient-style music, impressionistic and colorful art in the form of paintings and sculptures, and etheric poetry. This project seems now to have been abandoned, though, as Mertens has not been visibly active with it. Ambient music refers to a kind of music that envelops the listener without drawing attention to itself [1] // The term ambient music was first coined by Brian Eno in the mid-1970s to refer to music that can be either actively listened to with attention or as easily ignored, depending... For other uses, see Music (disambiguation). ... This article is about the art form. ...

In the first part of 2006, Australian guitar band Youth Group took their remake of Forever Young to #1 in the Official Australian Charts, thanks in part to exposure the track had received from being on popular US TV series The O.C.'s fifth TV soundtrack CD. Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Youth Group is a rock band from Sydney, Australia signed to Ivy League Records. ... The O.C. was an American teen drama television series that originally aired on FOX in the United States from August 5, 2003, to February 22, 2007, running a total of four seasons. ...

At present the band are still touring and working on new material and have just re-signed with WEA. Song titles for the next release include "Gallery," "Around the Universe," "My Very Blood," and "Sweet Dreams."

Discography

Singles in italics, Albums and compilations in bold

• 1984
  • Big in Japan (7", 12")
  • Sounds Like a Melody (7", 12")
  • Forever Young (7", 12")
  • Forever Young (CA, CD, LP) #1 Norway, #1 Sweden, #3 Germany, #4 Switzerland, #16 Austria
• 1985
  • Jet Set (7", 12")
• 1986
  • Dance With Me (7", 12")
  • Universal Daddy (7", 12")
  • Afternoons in Utopia (CA, CD, LP) #7 Sweden, #8 Norway, #12 Switzerland, #13 Germany
  • Jerusalem (7", 12")
  • Sensations (7", 12")
• 1987
  • Red Rose (7", 12")
• 1988
  • Amiga Compilation (LP, CA)
  • Forever Young 1988 (7", 12", CDS)
  • The Singles Collection (CA, CD, LP)
• 1989
  • Forever Young / Big in Japan (7", CDS)
  • Romeos (7", 12", CDS, CS)
  • The Breathtaking Blue (CA, CD, LP) #49 Germany
  • Summer Rain (7", 12", CDS)
• 1990
  • Mysteries of Love (7", 12", CDS, CS)
  • Songlines (VHS, LD)
• 1992
  • Big in Japan 1992 A.D. (7", 12", CDS)
  • Big in Japan - Swemix Remix (12", CDS)
  • First Harvest 1984-92 (CA, CD, LP)
• 1993
  • MoonOffice Compilation (VHS)
  • History (CA)
• 1994
  • Fools (12", CDS)
  • Prostitute (CA, CD)
  • The Impossible Dream (CDS)
• 1996
  • Forever Young promo (CDS)
• 1997
  • Wishful Thinking (12", CDS)
  • Flame - promo release (CDS)
  • Salvation (CD) #74 Germany
• 1999
  • Dreamscapes (CD)
  • Flame (CDS)
  • Salvation US release (CD)
  • Visions of Dreamscapes (CD)
  • Soul Messiah (CDS)
• 2000
  • Stark Naked and Absolutely Live (CD)
  • Scum of the Earth (MP3)
  • Moongirl (MP3)
• 2001
  • Moonboy (MP3)
  • See Me Thru (MP3)
  • Those Wonderful Things (MP3)
  • And as for Love (MP3)
  • Upside Down (MP3)
  • Parallel Girlz (Cloud Nine) (MP3)
  • Shadows She Said (Omerta) (MP3)
  • First Monday (in the year 3000) (MP3)
  • (Waiting for the) New Light (MP3)
  • Miracle Healing (MP3)
  • Dance With Me 2001 (CDS)
  • Forever Young 2001 (CDS)
  • Zoo (MP3)
  • Forever Pop (CA, CD) #59 Germany
  • Little America (DVD)
  • On the Beach (MP3)
• 2003
  • Elegy - limited release (CDS)
  • CrazyShow (CD)
  • CrazyShow Excerpts - promo only (CD)
• 2005
  • Dreamscapes Revisited (MP3)
• 2006
  • Forever Young - the remix (CDS)

Forever Young was the first album released by Alphaville in 1984, by Warner Music. ... Afternoons in Utopia was the second album released by Alphaville in 1986, by Warner Music. ... Alphaville Amiga Compilation (1988) was released under the Amiga label only in former East Germany, where Forever Young and Afternoons In Utopia werent easily available. ... Alphaville: The Singles Collection is Alphavilles first best of compilation, consisting of remixes of singles off their first two albums, Forever Young and Afternoons in Utopia. ... The Breathtaking Blue is an album released by the German band Alphaville in 1989. ... Songlines is an video released by the German band Alphaville in 1990, created during the production of Alphavilles 1989 album The Breathtaking Blue. ... First Harvest 1984-92 (1992) is Alphavilles first real greatest-hits compilation (the 1988 compilation The Singles Collection is generally not counted by fans, consisting as it does of only four different songs, albeit with two versions each). ... MoonOffice Compilation (1993) is a three-track collection of Alphaville / Marian Gold videos. ... History (1993) is the rarest of Alphaville albums. ... This article needs to be wikified. ... 1. ... Dreamscapes is a limited edition eight-CD set of rare Alphaville recordings, released in 1999. ... 1. ... Visions of Dreamscapes (1999) is a promotional CD containing a selection of tracks from Alphavilles eight-CD compilation Dreamscapes, created to accompany the bands Brazilian tour in late 1999. ... Stark Naked and Absolutely Live (2000) is the first official live album by Alphaville. ... Forever Pop (2001) is a compilation of remixed Alphaville tracks. ... Little America (2001) a DVD of Alphavilles 17 July 1999 concert in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. The DVD also contains the otherwise unreleased video for the single Soul Messiah, plus other bonus material. ... CrazyShow (2003) is a limited-edition four-CD album by Alphaville, comprised of new material as well as rare and remixed tracks, and three cover versions (Do the Strand by Roxy Music, Something by George Harrison, and Diamonds Are Forever by Don Black & John Barry). ... CrazyShow Excerpts (2003) is a one-CD promotional sampler of Alphavilles four-CD CrazyShow album. ... Dreamscapes Revisited (2005) is an internet-only release of Alphavilles 1999 limited 8-CD compilation Dreamscapes. ...

Trivia

Alphaville's song Forever Young was featured on the popular hit movie Napoleon Dynamite, 2004, as well as the episode Underage Drinking: A National Concern of the sitcom It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Forever Young was the title track from German rock/synthpop group Alphavilles 1984 debut album. ... This article is about the movie. ... Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia is an American comedy series created by Rob McElhenney and developed by McElhenney and Glenn Howerton. ...

Swedish Melodic Metal Band Embraced did a cover of "Big in Japan" on their 1998 Album Amorous Anathema. Embraced is a Swedish melodic black metal band, formed in Malmö, Sweden in 1993. ... Amorous Anathema (1997) is the first full length album by Embraced. ...

In 2000, Guano Apes also covered "Big in Japan" in their second full-length album, Don't Give Me Names. Guano Apes were a female-fronted alternative rock quartet from Göttingen, Germany, and one of the most successful German rock bands of their time. ... Dont Give Me Names is the second album by the German band Guano Apes, released in 2000. ...

References

External links

• Moonbase (official website)
• Alphaville Scandinavian Fanclub - New Horizons
• The Dreamroom - Alphaville Forum
• Brazilian page (full of videos)
• French website
• German website "Golden Feeling"
• Alphaville-Fans

• APOLLO - Clube de Fã Português
• New lighT - Ukrainian Alphaville Community
• Cosmic Meadows: The Alphaville Encyclopaedia
• Atlantic Popes, Bernhard Lloyd's solo project
• Maelstrom, Frank Mertens' solo project
• Alphaville discography at MusicBrainz