Search - Marlene Dietrich :: Marlene Dietrich Sings Berlin

A Must Have

ktrmes | New York, New York USA | 12/15/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A great collection of songs not of die Dietrich's usual standards, rather a collection that speaks, or sings, to another aspect of that highly complex phenomenon, Marlene. In fact, some commentators have claimed that this was Dietrich's own favorite album. And one can hear real joy and delight in Dietrich's voice in these songs of her hometown. That joy is apparent for example in "Nach Meine Beene Ist Ganz Berlin Verrückt," a song that could be a real candidate for a Dietrich theme song. After all, not just Berlin, but the entire world was quite crazy about her legs -- and rightly so. And she, the Urberlinerin, sings all this in her distinctive Berlin Dialekt -- "ick" for "ich"; "janz" for "ganz"; and, of course, "Beene" for "Beinen," etc. -- adding another layer of references to the song. It is interesting that Dietrich's friend, Claire Waldoff with whom the song was associated, complete with Dialekt, was not originally from Berlin (and whose legs were not so commented upon as Dietrich's).



There are other songs on this CD that sound as though Dietrich is singing about her own childhood complete with a palpable sense of fondness. She sings such classics as "Untern Linden" with such fine rapid phrasing and energy that is sounds almost like Gilbert & Sullivan "Model of a Modern Major General" like or for a more contemporary and also urban reference, early rap, or Madonnas rap-like sections of "Vogue", but happier, livelier and better.



The recording is clear and clean. The only things missing are lyrics and more photographs of the woman to whom Hemingway wrote: "What do you really want to do for a life work? Break everybody's heart for a dime?" "You could always break mine for a nickel and I'd bring the nickel.""

Wonderful Old Berlin

Socrates | 10/02/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"'Berlin' by Marlene Dietrich



This is one of Dietrich's most sublime recordings. All of the best old songs from her early years in Berlin are here - and one can sense her own nostalgia for the country which she had to leave. It is pretty unique as far as Dietrich's recordings go. I don't think she ever did another Berlin album, although I know she made a great propaganda album during the 2nd world war, of very famous American songs sung in German.

Anyone who loves Marlene's recordings would do themselves a favor by getting this. You won't regret it."