Klee
Encyclopedia
Klee named after Paul Klee
, is a German
pop-band from Cologne
.
With the change of name there was also a slight change of style from guitar music to electropop.
In 2002 the Song "Erinner Dich" was released from the first Klee album Unverwundbar. It charted at 94 and remained one week in the Top 100.
In October 2004 the second album appeared Jelängerjelieber. The first single release "2 Fragen" ("Two Questions") brought Klee to the notice of radio and TV. In November 2004 Sarah Kuttner (MTV show) brought Klee's new song "Gold" to a larger TV-public. In February 2005 Klee appeared on the Bundesvision Song Contest
and performed "Gold" representing for the Saarland and came 10th. Gold reached number 54 the German Top 100 and was nine weeks in the charts altogether. Jelängerjelieber appeared in July 2006 under the title Honeysuckle the USA (so called because Americans apparently preferred a more accessible name). From this album three singles were released in English, "Für alle, die" ("This is for Everyone"), "Tausendfach" ("A thousand ways") and Gold. On 4 August 2006 Klee's third album Zwischen Himmel und Erde, appeared, and charted at 17.
On 7 July 2006 the single "Die Stadt" ("The City") appeared and reached place 55 in the first week.
On the new album Zwischen Himmel und Erde and with the live-appearances supported with percussion and bass rock was again more prominent.
On 11 July 2008 the band released the single "Zwei Herzen" ("Two Hearts"), Klee's biggest hit to-date. It reached number 29 in the charts. On 1 August 2008 Klee's fourth album "Berge Versetzen" ("Moving Mountains") appeared and entered the album charts at number 15. The second single released from this album, the titletrack "Berge versetzen" appaered on October 31, 2008.
In June 2010 original member Tom Deininger parted company with the band.
The 26th of August 2011 will see the appearing of Klee's fifth album "Aus lauter Liebe". The first single from this album, "Willst du bei mir bleiben", is due to release on 5 August 2011.
and Nena
. The band adds a drummer and bassist to its live lineup and adopts a more "rock sound" than in its studio work. Concerts are characterized by individual statements and spontaneous interjections by Kerstgens.
on some songs.
Klee's lyrics refer to deeply felt moments in human relationships. Klee's lyrics straddle the material world and a dream world in which desires and conflicts intermingle.
Paul Klee
Paul Klee was born in Münchenbuchsee, Switzerland, and is considered both a German and a Swiss painter. His highly individual style was influenced by movements in art that included expressionism, cubism, and surrealism. He was, as well, a student of orientalism...
, is a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
pop-band from Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
.
Lineup 2002-2010 (studio)
- Suzie Kerstgens (vocals)
- Tom Deininger (guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
) - Sten Servaes (pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, keyboardKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, vocals)
Lineup 2010-present (studio)
- Suzie Kerstgens (vocals)
- Sten Servaes (pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, keyboardKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, vocals)
History
In the 1990s Tom Deininger, Sten Servaes and Suzie Kerstgens formed Ralley, but an accident in 2002 forced them to take a break and reform as Klee. The name was inspired (according to Suzie Kerstgens) by the work of Paul Klee, and also refers to the four leaf clover as a good luck symbol.With the change of name there was also a slight change of style from guitar music to electropop.
In 2002 the Song "Erinner Dich" was released from the first Klee album Unverwundbar. It charted at 94 and remained one week in the Top 100.
In October 2004 the second album appeared Jelängerjelieber. The first single release "2 Fragen" ("Two Questions") brought Klee to the notice of radio and TV. In November 2004 Sarah Kuttner (MTV show) brought Klee's new song "Gold" to a larger TV-public. In February 2005 Klee appeared on the Bundesvision Song Contest
Bundesvision Song Contest
The Bundesvision Song Contest is an annual competition created by German TV entertainer Stefan Raab in 2005. For each of the 16 states of Germany a song is chosen by regional radio stations. The songs are performed on live television in order to find the most popular song in the competition...
and performed "Gold" representing for the Saarland and came 10th. Gold reached number 54 the German Top 100 and was nine weeks in the charts altogether. Jelängerjelieber appeared in July 2006 under the title Honeysuckle the USA (so called because Americans apparently preferred a more accessible name). From this album three singles were released in English, "Für alle, die" ("This is for Everyone"), "Tausendfach" ("A thousand ways") and Gold. On 4 August 2006 Klee's third album Zwischen Himmel und Erde, appeared, and charted at 17.
On 7 July 2006 the single "Die Stadt" ("The City") appeared and reached place 55 in the first week.
On the new album Zwischen Himmel und Erde and with the live-appearances supported with percussion and bass rock was again more prominent.
On 11 July 2008 the band released the single "Zwei Herzen" ("Two Hearts"), Klee's biggest hit to-date. It reached number 29 in the charts. On 1 August 2008 Klee's fourth album "Berge Versetzen" ("Moving Mountains") appeared and entered the album charts at number 15. The second single released from this album, the titletrack "Berge versetzen" appaered on October 31, 2008.
In June 2010 original member Tom Deininger parted company with the band.
The 26th of August 2011 will see the appearing of Klee's fifth album "Aus lauter Liebe". The first single from this album, "Willst du bei mir bleiben", is due to release on 5 August 2011.
Live appearances
Klee frequently performs live, with about 120 concerts in 2005 alone. Appearances range from small venues to appearances opening for bands like The Wedding PresentThe Wedding Present
The Wedding Present are a British indie rock group based in Leeds, England, formed in 1985 from the ashes of the Lost Pandas. The band's music has evolved from fast-paced indie rock in the vein of their most obvious influences The Fall, Buzzcocks and Gang of Four to more varied forms...
and Nena
Nena
Gabriele Susanne Kerner , better known by her stage name Nena, is a German singer and actress. She rose to international fame in 1983 with the New German Wave song "99 Luftballons". In 1984, she re-recorded this song in English as "99 Red Balloons". Nena was also the name of the band with whom she...
. The band adds a drummer and bassist to its live lineup and adopts a more "rock sound" than in its studio work. Concerts are characterized by individual statements and spontaneous interjections by Kerstgens.
Lyrics
Most of Klee's lyrics and music are written by the group's three core members, but the band collaborates with lyricist Tom LiwaTom Liwa
Tom Liwa is a German singer-songwriter who has been performing as a solo artist in addition to being a founding member and frontman of the band Flowerpornoes. While his artistic solo output long went unnoticed by German mainstream news sources and radio stations, he was recognised early on for his...
on some songs.
Klee's lyrics refer to deeply felt moments in human relationships. Klee's lyrics straddle the material world and a dream world in which desires and conflicts intermingle.
Albums
- 2002: Unverwundbar (Invulnerable)
- 2004: Jelängerjelieber (Honeysuckle) D: #75
- 2005: Jelängerjelieber (Live Edition 2CD-Package)
- 2006: Honeysuckle (US-Version of Jelängerjelieber)
- 2006: Zwischen Himmel und Erde (Between Heaven and Earth) D: #17
- 2006: Zwischen Himmel und Erde (Limited Deluxe Edition with Bonus Concert DVD)
- 2008: Berge Versetzen (Moving Mountains)
Singles
- 2002: Erinner dich (Remember) D: #94
- 2003: Lichtstrahl (Ray of light)
- 2003: Nicht immer aber jetzt (Not always, but now)
- 2004: 2 Fragen (2 questions)
- 2005: Gold (Gold) D: #54
- 2005: Tausendfach (A Thousand Ways) D: #85
- 2005: Für alle, die (For all who)
- 2006: Die Stadt (The city) D: #55
- 2006: Liebe mich Leben (Love me life) ( English Lyrics )
- 2007: Dieser Fehler ("This Mistake")
- 2008: Zwei Herzen ("Two Hearts") D: #29
- 2008: Berge versetzen ("Moving mountains") D: #57
- 2011: Willst Du bei mir bleiben #29
External links
- KLEE's Official Website (in German)
- KLEE's Official Facebook-Fanpage
- Suzie Kerstgens (German indiepedia)
- Suzie Kerstgens - German Wikipedia