Dschinghis Khan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Dschinghis Khan | |
|---|---|
| Members | |
| Wolfgang Heichel Henriette Heichel Edina Pop |
|
| Former members | |
| Steve Bender (deceased) Louis Hendrik Potgieter (deceased) Leslie Mandoki |
Dschinghis Khan (Pronounced "Jingis" Khan, IPA: [ˈdʒɪŋ.ɪs kaːn]) was a German pop band, created in 1979 to compete in the Eurovision Song Contest. The name of the band was chosen to fit the song of the same name, written and produced by Ralph Siegel with lyrics by Bernd Meinunger.
Appearing at the height of the disco boom and following on the heels of other German-produced bands such as Boney M, Arabesque, and Silver Convention, the band achieved wide popularity in most of the world, though they went wholly unnoticed in the United States. Their songs invariably were themed on historical figures and exotic cultures and locales.
Though the group broke up in the mid-1980s, it has enjoyed a recent resurgence in popularity on the Internet due to the discovery of a video of them performing their hit song "Moskau." The video and the song associated with it have become a popular topic on blogs and can be considered an Internet fad. The specific video was a part of the show "Disco", very popular on ZDF through the '70s.
The original members of the group were:
- Louis Hendrik Potgieter (1951–1993)
- Steve Bender (1946–2006)
- Wolfgang Heichel
- Henriette Heichel
- Leslie Mándoki
- Edina Pop
After the group split up, member Louis Hendrik Potgieter returned to his homeland of South Africa and became a hotel manager. He died in 1993 of complications from AIDS.
The group re-formed in late 2005. They performed at the Olympiyski Arena in Moscow on 17 October 2005. On 7 May 2006, Steve Bender (the member famous for his bald appearance) died of cancer.
The band, now assisted by young singer/dancer group "The Legacy of Dschinghis Khan", has a tour scheduled for Winter 2006 - Fall 2007. In the tour, their show will consist of "Cirque du Dschinghis Khan", featuring other performers, including Mongolian circus acts. Their announced dates are listed on the official website of the group and are subject to change. Their planned German national tour dates in January 2007 will coincide with the release of their latest CD called "7 Leben" (7 Lives). It will be their first release since 2004's Best Of compilation "Jubilee".
Dschinghis Khan is the German spelling of Genghis Khan, the name of the historical figure who founded the Mongol Empire.
Contents |
[edit] Discography
[edit] Longplay
- Dschinghis Khan (1979)
- Rom (1980) (Rome)
- Viva (1980)
- Re-release of Rom without bonus tracks.
- Wir sitzen alle im selben Boot (1981) (We're all sitting in the same boat)
- Helden, Schurken & der Dudelmoser (1982) (Heroes, Roguess & the Dudelmoser)
- Corrida (1983) (The Bullfight)
- Huh Hah Dschinghis Khan - Ihre Grössten Erfolge (1993)
- Die Großen Erfolge (1999)
- Jubilee (2004)
- 7 Leben (2007)
[edit] Singles
(only German releases)
- Dschinghis Khan (1979)
- Moskau (1979) (Moscow)
- Hadschi Halef Omar (1979) (Hadschi Halef Omar)
- Rom (1980)
- Samurai (1980)
- Pistolero (1981)
- Loreley (1981) (Lorelei)
- Wir sitzen alle im selben Boot (1981)
- Klabautermann (1982)
- Der Dudelmoser (1982)
- Himalaja (1983) (Himalaya)
- Olé Olé (1984)
- Mexiko (1985) (Mexico)
