Licht (Nena album)

Last updated

Licht
Album cover for "Licht" by Nena.jpg
Studio album by
Nena
Released16 October 2020 (2020-10-16)
Length43:38
LanguageGerman
Label The Laugh and Peas Company
Producer Derek von Krogh, Marcel Heym, Quoi, Mirko Schaffer, Samuel "Maduh" and Simeon Kerner "Zinoe"
Nena chronology
Nichts versäumt
(2018)		Licht
(2020)
Singles from Licht
  1. "Licht"
    Released: 24 March 2020
  2. "Wandern"
    Released: 14 August 2020
  3. "Forelle"
    Released: 25 September 2020

Licht ("Light") is a solo studio album by the German pop singer Nena, released on 16 October 2020, over 51⁄2 years after Nena's previous studio album, Oldschool.Licht involves vocal, songwriting and production contributions from all four of Nena's surviving children as well as from the father of two of them, her longstanding partner Philipp Palm. One week after its release, it entered the German album charts at number three.

Contents

Background and origins

Nena started work on Licht two years before its release by writing the song "Wandern". [1] According to Nena, the main theme of the album is learning from life's "journey" and that although anger and tension are inevitable, everything can work out fine if we "completely redesign our coexistence with the planet for the benefit of all involved". [1] [2] Released in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Nena aroused controversy a few days before the album's release with a post on social media stating that her "deep faith in God and trust in life" enabled her to "break down the scare tactics pouring in from outside," which some commentators construed as evidence of her being a "COVID-denier". [3] Nena's management team rebutted this charge although they did say that the singer was critical of some measures, such as compulsory mask-wearing for children and family members being denied access to dying relatives. [4]

Reception

Initial reviews of the album were mixed.

Laut.de wrote that, although the album contained "pleasantly surprising beautiful synth melodies" it was prevented from being a "good pop album" by Nena's "annoying 'everything will be fine' mantra". [5] Like Laut.de, T-Online also made reference to Nena's coronavirus comments but dismissed speculation that the album would show Nena to be a COVID-denier or taken in by conspiracy theories. [6] Instead, the review concludes the album captured the Zeitgeist by "sending a positive signal in a rather gloomy period" although it was not a "beacon in Nena's discography". On the other hand, an entirely positive early review appeared in Sounds and Books, which described the album as joining the "long list of compelling Nena albums" and that "she keeps getting better". [7]

Later reviews of the album were more consistently positive. Almost three months after the album's release, Swedish online magazine JPS Media compared Licht favourably with Nena's work in her 1980s heyday. The article cited a number of tracks, including the "life affirming title track, the Summer pop track (Karawane) and 'Auf einmal warst du da'…the groovy piano ballad taking Nena outside her vocal comfort zone," as evidence of Nena, "now singing better and with more nuanced expression…having aged pleasantly in more than the most obvious way." [8] Published at the same time as the JPS Media review, Swiss online magazine Blue News also assessed Licht in the context of Nena's life and career. Giving Nena credit for emerging through the "wonderful highs and terrible lows" of her life "still on stage….a little bit shrill, wild, non-conformist and full of energy," the article describes Licht as a "great pop album" which nearly three months after its release, "I still listen to from start to finish." [9]

Chart performance

Licht entered the German album charts one week after its release at number 3. [10] It also entered the Swiss and Austrian album charts at numbers 9 and 11 respectively. [11]

Nena released three singles from Licht prior to the album's release, none of which charted.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Nena in collaboration with those listed below

Vinyl, CD, streaming and download
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Licht" (Light)Mirko Schaffer, Mario Wesser, Philipp Palm3:44
2."Da Da Dam (Ich geb dir mein ja)" (Da da dam (I give you my yes))Larissa Kerner, Sakias Kerner, Samuel Kerner, Annika Line Trost2:53
3."Zurück in die Zukunft" (Back into the future)Samuel, Marcel Heym, Senastien Winkler, Samy Sorge 3:29
4."Forelle" (Trout; feat. Maduh)Samuel3:43
5."Wandern" (Wandering) 3:45
6."Shine on"Palm, Samuel3:46
7."Karawane" (Caravan) 4:44
8."Galaxien" (Galaxies; feat. Larissa Kerner)Larissa, Derek von Krogh3:38
9."Zimmer" (Room)Sakias3:37
10."Auf einmal warst du da" (Suddenly you were there)Simeon, Leon Weick4:29
11."Alles neu" (Everything (will be) new)Trost5:51

Charts

Chart performance for Licht
Chart (2020)Peak
position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [12] 11
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [13] 3
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [14] 9

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nena</span> German singer (born 1960)

Gabriele Susanne Kerner, better known by her stage name Nena, is a German singer who rose to international fame in 1983 as the lead vocalist of the band Nena with the Neue Deutsche Welle song "99 Luftballons". In that same year, the band re-recorded this song in English as "99 Red Balloons". Nena's re-recording of some of the band's old hit songs as a solo artist, produced by the co-composer of most of them, her former Nena band colleague and keyboard player Uwe Fahrenkrog-Petersen, rekindled her solo career in 2002. Combined with the success of the Nena band years, she has sold over 25 million records, making her the most successful German pop singer in chart history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Klee (band)</span> German pop band

Klee is a German pop band from Cologne. Named after German painter Paul Klee, the band was formed in 2002 by singer Suzie Kerstgens and musicians Sten Servaes and Tom Deininger. Klee's brand of pop music incorporates electronic as well as acoustic sounds and, in more recent years, the band has embraced chanson and schlager. Four of Klee's albums have entered the top 30 of the German albums chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wir sind Helden</span> German pop rock band

Wir sind Helden was a German pop rock band that was established in 2000 in Hamburg and based in Berlin. The band was composed of lead singer and guitarist Judith Holofernes, drummer Pola Roy, bassist Mark Tavassol and keyboardist/guitarist Jean-Michel Tourette.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">C. C. Catch</span> Musical artist

Caroline Catherine Müller, known professionally as C. C. Catch, is a Dutch-born German pop singer, also known for her collaboration with Dieter Bohlen in the 1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silbermond</span> German pop/rock band

Silbermond is a German pop rock band from Bautzen, Saxony. The band consists of Stefanie Kloß, Andreas Nowak, and brothers Johannes and Thomas Stolle.

<i>Schrei</i>

Schrei ("Scream") is the debut studio album by German pop rock band Tokio Hotel. In 2006 they released a partly re-recorded and expanded version, Schrei (so laut du kannst) ("Scream (as loud as you can)"). The album was only released in Germany, Italy, France, Canada, and Japan. The initial limited edition came with a bonus DVD including the music video for "Durch den Monsun", a special "making of 'Durch den Monsun'" feature, an interview, and a photo gallery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sarah Connor discography</span>

German singer Sarah Connor has released eleven studio albums, one compilation album, two video albums, and more than three dozen singles and music videos. Her debut studio album, Green Eyed Soul, was released in November 2001. It received mixed reviews, but became a commercial success in Germany, where it reached number two on the German Albums Chart and earned triple Gold certification from the Bundesverband Musikindustrie (BVMI). The album's singles "Let's Get Back to Bed – Boy!" and "From Sarah with Love" became international hits, the latter of which reached number one in Germany and Switzerland, the top ten in Austria, Belgium (Flanders), Hungary, and the Netherlands, and was nominated for "Best National Single" at the 2002 ECHO Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stanfour</span>

Stanfour are a German rock band who formed in 2004. The band was founded on the German island of Föhr where the four core members live. Already prior to the band's formation, brothers Alexander and Konstantin Rethwisch spent years in Los Angeles working closely together with a producer of film music. This is one of several reasons for the band's American style of music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Héroes del Silencio discography</span>

Héroes del Silencio was a Spanish rock band from Zaragoza formed by Juan Valdivia in 1984. In 1988 they released their official first studio album, El Mar No Cesa, then in 1990 they released their second album Senderos de Traición, El Espíritu del Vino was their third album released in 1993 and in 1995 they released their last studio album to date, the often praised Avalancha.

<i>Willst du mit mir gehn</i> 2005 studio album by Nena

Willst du mit mir gehn is a studio album by German singer Nena. It was released by Warner Music on 21 March 2005 in German-speaking Europe. The singer reunited with former band mate Uwe Fahrenkrog-Petersen to work on the album. A two-CD set, the Rot disc of the album was recorded in a Berlin studio, while the Orange disc was produced during a jam sessions on Majorca.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nena discography</span>

This is the discography of German pop singer Nena.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Herbert Grönemeyer discography</span>

The discography of German singer Herbert Grönemeyer counts 16 studio albums, five live albums, as well as two compilations, six video albums and 40 singles. According to Bundesverband Musikindustrie, Grönemeyer is the best-selling artist in Germany, with over 18 million records sold. IFPI Austria lists sales of more than one million records, while the singer sold more than 650,000 records in Switzerland, according to IFPI Switzerland.

<i>Du bist gut</i> 2012 studio album by Nena

Du bist gut is a studio album by German pop singer Nena. The album was recorded in Iceland and released on 2 November 2012 by The Laugh and Peas Company, the record label run by Nena and her partner Philipp Palm. The cover artwork is designed by Nena's daughter Larissa, and her son Sakias duets with her on a couple of tracks. The album peaked at No. 2 in the German album charts.

<i>Herz</i> (album) 2004 studio album by Rosenstolz

Herz (Heart) is the ninth studio album by German pop duo Rosenstolz, containing songs representing the different sides of love. Released in 2004 by Island Records, the album reached triple platinum status in Germany. It also yielded four top 20 hits in the German singles chart.

<i>Die Suche geht weiter</i> 2008 studio album by Rosenstolz

Die Suche geht weiter is the eleventh studio album by German pop duo Rosenstolz. Released in 2008 by Island Records, the album reached No. 1 in the German and Austrian albums charts and No. 2 in the Swiss albums chart.

<i>Oldschool</i> (Nena album) 2015 studio album by Nena

Oldschool is a studio album by German pop singer Nena, released on 27 February 2015. Having received some negative publicity at the time of the release of her previous album Du bist gut for refusing in interviews to talk about the 1980s, Nena chose to celebrate the past with her next studio album. The first single released from the album, "Lieder von früher", enthuses about the pleasure of dancing to old records, and the title track happily reflects on Nena's being best known for a few songs from the 1980s. The album was produced by rapper Samy Deluxe and features a duet with Nena's eldest surviving son, Sakias. Although published on Nena's own record label, The Laugh and Peas Company, distribution rights were agreed with Sony Music, 22 years after the company dropped Nena as a recording artist following the indifferent performance of her second solo album Bongo Girl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Falco discography</span>

Austrian singer Falco released nine studio albums, four live albums, 13 compilation albums, and 38 singles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gzuz</span> Musical artist

Kristoffer Klauß, better known by the stage name Gzuz, is a German rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer. In addition to his solo career, he has had success as part of Hamburg hip hop crew 187 Strassenbande.

<i>Captain Fantastic</i> (album) 2018 studio album by Die Fantastischen Vier

Captain Fantastic is the tenth full-length studio album by German hip hop group Die Fantastischen Vier. It was released on 27 April 2018.

<i>Nichts versäumt</i> Live album by Nena

Nichts versäumt is the seventh live album by the German pop singer Nena. It is her second consecutive live album since her last studio album. The album, which was released on 9 November 2018, entered the German charts a week later at its peak position, number 27, the highest attained by a Nena live album. It reached the top 10 of music DVD charts in four countries.

References

  1. 1 2 "Nena bringt mit neuem Album "Licht" in die Welt". Südtirol News. Südtirol News - Athesia Druck GmbH. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  2. ↑ "Licht". Nena.de. Laugh and Peas GmbH. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  3. ↑ "Nena gehört nicht ins Lager der Wendlers". Bild.de. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  4. ↑ "Nena spricht in kryptischem Post von "Panikmache"". Krone.at. Krone Multimedia GmbH & Co KG. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  5. ↑ Kratochwill, Kerstin. "Die Lichtkriegerin beschallt uns mit Esoterik und seichtem Schlager". laut.de. Laut AG. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  6. ↑ "Der Soundtrack der Woche (16. Oktober)". t-online. Ströer Content Group. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  7. ↑ "Nena: Neues Album Licht – Die Review". Sounds & Books. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  8. ↑ Eliasson, Peter. "NENA : LICHT (Sony Music) – förfinat och nyanserat på gedigen popsamling 38 år efter 99 Luftballons". JPS Media. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  9. ↑ Bötschi, Bruno. "Nena macht die Forelle". blue News. Swisscom. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  10. ↑ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts - Nena Licht". offiziellecharts.de. GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  11. ↑ "Nena - Licht". hitparade.ch - Die offizielle Schweizer Hitparade. Hung Medien. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  12. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Nena – Licht" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  13. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Nena – Licht" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  14. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Nena – Licht". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.