The Top 10 music acts from Germany

Sash! is a project started by former electrician Sascha Lappessen from near Dusseldorf. He shifted millions of singles and albums in the 1990s, above all in the UK. Lappessen is still in high demand worldwide for his talents at the turntables.

Explosive and provocative, Rammstein are known as Germany’s bad boys of rock. They released their first studio album more than 20 years ago. But it was their follow-up, “Sehnsucht”, that brought them worldwide fame. It went platinum in several European countries as well as in the U.S. and Canada.

Innovative and visionary, Kraftwerk have been a force to reckon with since the 1970s. The legendary Dusseldorf act may be publicity-shy, but they’ve exerted a powerful influence all around the world. Today they’re regarded as pioneers of techno and electro-pop.

The trademarks of Modern Talking were simple lyrics, disco pop and studio tans. Even if the German duo of Thomas Anders und Dieter Bohlen was often maligned, songs like "You’re My Heart, You’re My Soul" and "Brother Louie" had millions of sales.

The biggest hit by Eurodance act Snap! was “(I’ve Got) The Power”, released in 1990. The project was the brainchild of producers Luca Anzilotti and Michael Münzing. But Snap! were anything but a one-hit wonder. In all, 14 of their songs charted internationally, and they sold more than 22 million albums worldwide.

The Scorpions are one of the most successful rock bands ever, and they’ve sold more than a hundred million albums worldwide. Their classic rock ballad “Winds of Change” is still associated with the fall of the Berlin Wall – even though it was actually released a year later. Other megahits include “Rock You Like a Hurricane” and “We Built This House”.

Donna Summer moved from the U.S. to Munich in the late 1960s. That’s where she released the “Love to Love You Baby” in 1975. The song was ((co-written and)) produced by Giorgio Moroder, inventor of synth-disco. “Love to Love You Baby” made Donna Summer into an international star. Another global hit by the Queen of Disco: “I Feel Love”, released in 1977.

German-born band leader James Last, who died in June 2015, was an international star. He released more than 200 albums, which sold more than 80 million units worldwide over his long career. The “king of easy listening”, he’s still known as the inventor of “Happy Sound”. Some of his biggest hits include “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye” and “Proud Mary“.

Hit-machine Boney M's many studio albums and singles stormed the international charts in the 1970s. Boney M. was the creation of German producer and songwriter Frank Farian. Jack-of-many-trades Farian also stood behind the mixer unit and sang the male vocals.

Scooter is the most successful German music act since 1970. They put simple lyrics over a catchy techno beat. In 1994, the northern German trio saw their international breakthrough with “Hyper Hyper”. 18 studio albums and nearly 60 singles followed. When Scooter's on the road, their fans still come up to them and ask: “How much is the fish?” That's one of their hits from 1998.