German Longings A Dialogue about the Promises and Dangers of National Stereotypes

Germanness is always already entangled with the complicated and torn history of Germany. This chapter tries to engage with the issue of Germanness in popular music from two different personal perspectives, one Dutch, and one German. In its industrial sound, in the declaratory voice of Blixa Bargeld, a listener like Jeroen de Kloet hears clearly sounds of Germanness, sounds that ironically also hark back to Nazi Germany. In his ears, their industrial sound resonates with the sound of the military, just as the vocal range is reminiscent of the voice of a leader, even when it clearly critiques anything that has to do with state power and the military. The chapter navigates between issues of national identity and stereotyping through the lens of popular music. It explores fascination for, and struggle with, and at times even longings for, Germanness.