How to Learn German With Pop Songs
One of the best ways to learn German is through pop songs.
I speak from personal experience - as a child, I was able to study a language on my own through song lyrics. Why is it so easy? Let me tell you about my experience.
Reason #1: It's fun!
It's difficult to start learning a new language if you're not interested in what you're doing. While it's good to study using flashcards and reading textbooks, doing it for hours on end is a recipe for burnout. Instead, you should look into music because it's fun. Listening to pop songs gives you not only a glimpse into German culture but also a wealth of knowledge in sentence structure and grammar.
Everyone enjoys music. If you are interested in Germany, chances are high you are interested in German music as well. Have you ever heard a German song and wondered about the lyrics? Why don't you pick your favourite song, try to write down what you hear, and then compare it to the actual lyrics?
If you don't understand some of the words, find out what they mean and sing along. That's what I did as a child and it worked for me - so it will work for you as well!
Reason #2: Sound & Visual Memory
How do we create a memory? Our brain encodes information. The more information we have, the more likely we will remember an event. If you listen to a song and you read the song lyrics at the same time, you are using both, your visual and audio memory at the same time.
That's why it's much easier to memorize German words and entire sentences this way. But keep in mind: Use it or lose it. Keep refreshing your memory to make sure it stays a long-term memory!
Reason #3: Great way to Learn the Culture and Improve Pronunciation
Music has always been a way to connect the world. It's an excellent opportunity to get to know German culture. Why don't you try to sing along with German songs?
It has never been so much fun trying to learn German pronunciation. I'm sure you have heard of those people who don't speak a certain language, but are able to speak it fluently while singing?
Song Suggestions
Now that we've given you enough motivation to start practicing German through listening to pop songs, let's suggest some songs for you to get started. It's not an exhaustive list - only a start.
Everyone has their favorite genre of music, but I will focus on popular well known German songs that will most likely suit most peoples' taste.
This song is one of the most popular and chances are high you have already heard this. It is an anti-war protest song released in 1989.
A wonderful German song, released in 2002.
German soul singer Xavier Naidoo and US-Rapper RZA collaborated on this song released in 2014.
A very popular song from the 80's.
The German industrial metal band Rammstein formed in Berlin in 1994.
Die Toten Hosen is a German punk band from Düsseldorf. They have released plenty of great songs to sing along to!
Conclusion
I hope you enjoy these German songs! Don't forget to practice often and most of all: Have fun!