Nina Hagen – Personal Jesus

Releasedate: 16-07-2010; Label: Koch Universal Music
By: Nina Mende

Nina Hagen is a German singer from Berlin, Germany with her mother being an actress and realistic singer. She studies the traditional song and begins her musical career in 1972 with a group of blues Polish. She plays then with two groups and makes the turn of the clubs until December 9, 1976, date on which she is made expel of East Germany, for antisocial attitude. She emigrates towards London, where she attends Sex Pistols, Slits and of another group of the punk scene. Their short collaboration inspires Nina who of return in Germany assembles her own group and records its first album “Nina Hagen Band” in 1978. The album does not leave indifferent, between lyricism and hysterical barkings, the public discovers an explosive young woman with the removed from rim voice. The following year leaves its second album “Unbehagen” which, are the little brother of the precedent and recoit a good reception the public thanks to the tube “African Reggae”. Nina dissoud her group and leaves for New York. In 1981 nait his/her daughter, Cosma-Shiva and in 1982 its third album in a register completely different from leaves what it had done until there: Nunsexmonkrock. “Nina Hagen In Ekstacy” in 1985 is her last true success before her return towards the end of the Nineties. Nina remains one of the singers most innovating of the era of punk and undoubtedly the largest artist of the German rock’n’roll.

Her 24th album is called “Personal Jesus” including the Derpeche Mode cover as title track. One of the amazing things about Nina Hagen is, you never know what she will do next. From punk to gospel, classic and folk to indian music, Nina Hagen does it all. And she does it with all her heart and soul. Nina got baptised a few years ago, so it was about time to release a religious album about Jesus and God. And here it is called “Personal Jesus”. 13 songs about her love to God and how he loves her back captured on this long player. The musical style on this album varies between soul, jazz, country and gospel. Nina Hagen sings with an awesome jazzy voice that is very strong and powerful. You can tell that she is totally standing behind what she is singing. You can hear and feel the passion she puts into it and the power she gets from that. The album layout is black and white with nice portraits of Nina Hagen as well as the lyrics. This is a wonderful and deeply emotional album, you should definitely give it a try, even if you usually don’t like her.

Tracklist: 01. God´s Radar 02. I’ll Live Again 03. Personal Jesus 04. Nobody’s Fault But Mine 05. Down At The Cross 06. Just A Little Talk With Jesus 07. Mean Old World 08. Help Me 09. Take Jesus With You 10. On The Battlefield 11. Run On 12. All You Fascists Bound To Lose 13. Sometimes I Ring Up Heaven

Links:
Nina Hagen MySpace