Germany Still Looking for Freedom from David Hasselhoff

[MacGuffin]

For years, the world has mocked Germany for its love affair with David Hasselhoff. And, for years, Germans have been hoping that the world would forgive and forget. But now that MTV has invited "the Hoff" to perform in Berlin, just like he did 20 years ago when the Berlin Wall came down, their hopes have been dashed.

The Germans have some fairly devastating national trauma to deal with: in addition to the obvious, there were several decades of living in a country divided in half, being stuck in the middle of the Cold War, the non-sale of Opel this week, the controversial Wembley goal of the 1966 World Cup. And then, of course, there's David Hasselhoff.

Countless embarrassing conversations have started like this: "Hasselhoff is still a star in your country, isn't he?" It's not meant as a compliment. The cause of all this, of course, is one of Hasselhoff's songs, "I've Been Looking For Freedom," which dominated the charts during the period of German reunification.

In the 20 years since then, Germany has had plenty of pop stars; bands like the trance-dancing trio Scooter and heavy metal rockers Rammstein are well known in the country. But, outside of Germany, everyone still thinks Hasselhoff is Germany's biggest star. The international success of pop-rockers Tokio Hotel has gone a little way toward improving the situation. But now, thanks to MTV, the legend will live on. On Thursday evening, Hasselhoff will be onstage in Berlin for the Europe Music Awards.

There's a history to all this: On New Year's Eve 1989, Hasselhoff took to the stage in front of Berlin's Brandenburg Gate to sing his hit "I've Been Looking For Freedom" to an already enthusiastic crowd. Amateur video footage of his performance still makes for some of the most horrid viewing that YouTube has to offer.



Should Hasselhoff take the stage at the music awards with a bit more irony, he might go a long way toward making up for past misdeeds -- such as the jacket bedecked with mini-light bulbs and the piano-keyboard scarf he was wearing in 1989. He might even help change the world's opinion on Germany's well-documented humor deficit.

Still, in light of that ghastly video that did the rounds of YouTube which showed Hasselhoff trying to eat a hamburger in a highly inebriated state, perhaps his honor actually needs defending rather than more mocking. Maybe we should all try and see it from the perspective of "the Hoff." After all, he cannot shoulder all the blame for the destruction of one country's reputation. Who knows, maybe Germany's volatile love for his pop songs ruined his life. If that's the case, it's probably better to talk about collective blame. The punishment will be meted out onstage in Berlin on Thursday evening.

Source: http://www.spiegel.de/international/...659600,00.html

God help us...

[narf]

Originally Posted by MacGuffin

God help us...

Buddha... Jesus... SpongeBob... there's no time to be picky!


</simpsons>

[flydiscovery]

I'm sorry, but I'm cracking up. It's really the best thing you can ever say when a German gets just a little to smug about, well whatever he's overly smug about. Most of the professors I worked with in grad school were German and when one would start going off on beer, or education, or engineering prowess in general all you had to do was say "dude, David Hasselhoff..." and said Smug Talker would skulk off into the shadows for a few minutes. I'm sorry you have to suffer through him again, but not really.

[Ladamaha]

Originally Posted by flydiscovery

I'm sorry, but I'm cracking up. It's really the best thing you can ever say when a German gets just a little to smug about, well whatever he's overly smug about. Most of the professors I worked with in grad school were German and when one would start going off on beer, or education, or engineering prowess in general all you had to do was say "dude, David Hasselhoff..." and said Smug Talker would skulk off into the shadows for a few minutes. I'm sorry you have to suffer through him again, but not really.

I had never realized that zie Germans were that in to Hasselhoff and that they were emberassed of it. Next time I talk with a zerman I will randomly mention Hasselhof and see what they do, thanks for the tip!

[Cobol74]

Who says the German Nation has no sense of humour?

[Reckoning]

That article is a bit ignorant really.

I mean sure, who doesn't know about Hasselhoff? But I'd say many people would be more familiar with actual German bands.


Oh and lolhoff.

[AiR]

I offer a condesed video in better quality with some highlights. You may want to skip to 1:50, not everyone liked the Hoff

+ YouTube Video

[Reckoning]

Why do I want one of those jackets, in some sick and twisted way

[jayhawk]

Originally Posted by DAS SPIEGEL JA!

He might even help change the world's opinion on Germany's well-documented humor deficit.

Nothing can help you there. Until you freaks stop inspecting your poops, you will be forever uptight.

[2Billion]

+ YouTube Video

Seems appropriate.

[argatoga]

I always assumed Hasselholff was the Germans' god. You're telling me he isn't?

[Spectre]

You know, if you'd stop buying his albums eventually he'll stop coming by. Or making new ones.

You Germans have only yourselves to blame.

[flydiscovery]

Originally Posted by jayhawk

Nothing can help you there. Until you freaks stop inspecting your poops, you will be forever uptight.

Oh good grief alive. I have never heard of such monstrosities! I suppose education is always useful if I ever end up traveling, but that's enough to make me avoid the whole of Eastern Europe. Wow that's frightening.

[ninjacoco]

Originally Posted by jayhawk

Nothing can help you there. Until you freaks stop inspecting your poops, you will be forever uptight.

What the crap?

I am so desperately trying not to laugh my face off at all the mentions of "poo" in that article. And failing. Badly.

Yes, I still giggle at the mention of poo because I'm apparently an overgrown second grade dude.

And that is the most bizarre/hilarious crap I've seen all day. Bwahahahaha!!!

[2Billion]

Knowing how much of a pain my poorly designed yet not poo shelf toilet is, how much of a hassel(hoff) are those to clean?

[cmb1981]

Germans also love David Caruso.

[Reckoning]

Originally Posted by 2Billion

Knowing how much of a pain my poorly designed yet not poo shelf toilet is, how much of a hassel(hoff) are those to clean?

Not as much as accidentally unearthing a body from a shallow grave, if you're a construction worker that is.

[Suedschleife]

Originally Posted by jayhawk

Nothing can help you there. Until you freaks stop inspecting your poops, you will be forever uptight.

It's about avoiding backsplash not looking at it. Nor are they very common.

Sorry no more time, got a Knight Rider marathon to watch.

[Currahee474]

When I went to the taping of the Top Gear America pilot, David Hasselhoff was the SIARPC and he handed out autographed pictures of himself. I got one. How much would it go for on www.ebay.de ?

[MacGuffin]

Originally Posted by jayhawk

Nothing can help you there. Until you freaks stop inspecting your poops, you will be forever uptight.

The only places you will still find those, are old houses that haven't been renovated in decades.

Really, those kind of toilets are very much becoming extinct. In hotels, restaurants and public toilets they do not exist anymore, so no need to avoid a stay in Germany. But I suppose it takes considerably longer to kill the prejudice

And by the way: I find it rather disgusting, how the poo floats around in American toilets and how your butt is sprinkled with water, each time it plunges down

It's interesting how a thread about David Hasselhoff has turned into a thread about defaecation