1. Spaten-Marsch (1:57)
2. Munchner Gold (2:06)
3. Full Vocal (0:59)
4. Instrumental (0:59)
5. Gimmick (0:59)
6. Challenge (0:59)
7. Describes (0:59)
8. Favorite/Regular (0:59)
9. Efficiency (0:30)
10. Experts (0:30)
Just because Oktoberfest is over, that's no reason to stop drinking beer. Just do it responsibly, at home, with your radio tuned to an independent station.
Whether you've just returned from Oktoberfest or simply need something to take your mind off the stock market, this souvenir record from 1967 should hit the spot. Spaten-Marsch, written by Erich Frei, is a wonderful piece of pro-beer propaganda set to an appropriate oompah beat. My German is limited to "wilkommen," "trokenbeerenauslese," and beer names, so I don't know what's being sung, but it sounds happy and pro-Spaten. Translation, anyone?
Side 2, Munchner Gold, is either a clever attempt at deception or the finest open-air recording ever made by man. It's got crowd noises, applause at the end, and an audio perspective that mimics a band approaching, but it's just too clean and clear to be anything other than a studio track. Still, it's got great Oktoberfest atmosphere.
For those who prefer to celebrate with an American bier, I've thrown in some classic Budweiser radio spots from the early 1970s. It opens with the full vocal of "When You Say Budweiser, You Say It All," then goes into some explanations of why Budweiser's different, all set to that classic oompah sound.
Sadly, side 2 of this record had an unfortunate encounter with a DJ, or maybe a DJ's cat. Most records don't have scratches that run across the grain. There's only two unique 30-second tracks, but they're a bit on the crunchy side.
Thinking of Oktoberfest makes me nostalgic for the Red Lion Tavern on Glendale Avenue in Los Angeles, near my former Silver Lake home. If you want some great German draft beer with a side of sausages, it's worth the trip.
hi,
the spaten-marsch is sung in bavarian dialect, which i don't speak. i'm no professional translator either, so this is all i can offer you as translation:
1. translit:
Spaten-Marsch
Der bairische Hirsel, der stärkste Mann im Land
gab vor vielen Jahren sein Hausrezept bekannt
des beste vom besten, Freunde, glabt des mir
des is a frische Maß münchner Spatenbier
Ref.:
2x
Las dir raten, trinke Spaten!
Edler Gerstensaft, bairische Kraft
Die Welt dreht sich weiter, vorbei rinnt die Zeit
doch eins bliabt bestehen, hert's zue liebe Leit
des beste vom besten, Freunde, glabt des mir
des is a frische Maß münchner Spatenbier
Ref.
Prosit! No' a Maß! [...???]
Ref.
Prost! Prost! Prost!
2. translat:
The bavarian Hirsel(1), the strongest man in the land
revealed, some years ago, his home medicine
the best of the best, friends, believe me this
that's a fresh Mass(2) of munich's Spaten-beer
Ref.:
2x
Hear my advice, drink Spaten
Noble barley-water, bavarian power
The world keeps turning, time floats away
But one thing remains, listen to me, dear people
the best of the best, friends, believe me this
that's a fresh Mass of munich's Spaten-beer
Ref.
Cheers! Another Mass! [...](3)
Ref.
Cheers! Cheers! Cheers!
3. footnot
(1) i don't know what a „Hirsel“ is. maybe just a name.
(2) german (esp. bavarian) biiiig glass of beer, wordbook says „tankard“.
(3) i have absolutely no idea what the man is shouting at that moment.
Posted by: h | October 16, 2008 at 07:49 PM
tsanks!
beer song from Ukraine: Либен Августин http://jaba.kiev.ua/mp3/1998_sun/04_1998_liben_augystin.mp3
Posted by: zhabavdirizhabli | October 18, 2008 at 08:26 PM
Great hearing these, thanks. It was a kick reading your comment about the Red Lion in LA -- I went there the lst biz trip I had to L.A., and enjoyed the downstairs bar and restaurant very much.
BUT WAS REALLY NEEDS FURTHER EXPLORATION IS THAT COMMENT AND LINK FROM "zhabavdirizhabli" -- now THAT'S an interesting song!!!!! Thanks, Zhaba!!!!
Posted by: Kevin Killion | October 18, 2008 at 08:56 PM
More exploration: That link for the Ukrainian beer song leads to a WHOLE PAGE of songs by this "Zhaba w Dyryzhabli" at:
http://jaba.kiev.ua/index.php?id=24
There are a number of downloadable tracks, and it's the most interesting, lively and unique music I've discovered in a while!! Highly recommended!!!!!!!
I also found a website that describes this Ukrainian band like this:
"Supervital rock'n'roll cabaret. The result of mixing-up all kinds of music from folk, through ska and punk rock. Finally a little bit of circus, a bit of happening feeling and great accordion parts. The main idea and message of this band is to 'connect unconnectable' both on music and visual levels. The whole thing is served with humour and intended kitsch.:
Posted by: Kevin Killion | October 19, 2008 at 12:37 PM
Hellö,
the "Hirsel", or more popular "Hias", is a name. It is the bavarian and austrian short form of "Matthias" - the equivalent in english is Matthew - so you can say Hirsel Damon.
Prost!
Stephan
Posted by: Stephan Cibulski | October 22, 2008 at 03:25 PM