The German goth-pop band Tokio Hotel is like some sort of nightmarish blend of Evanescence, t.A.T.u., and the Jonas Brothers, with just a hint of Adam Duritz’s dreadlocked aesthetic thrown in for good measure. It’s the kind of band that would never exist without the Internet, and I’d have remained blissfully unaware of its existence if not for a fateful run-in with its fanbase on Tuesday morning here in Madrid, which, thanks to my uncle, was captured on video as a record of what might be the most unwarranted mania in the history of pop music. And that’s including LFO and Limp Bizkit.
My family is visiting me this week, and at around 10:30 on Tuesday morning I was dutifully marching them down calle San Jeronimo to the Prado museum, which houses an impressive collection of works by Titian, Velazquez, Rubens, and Goya. But fate, it seemed, had loftier plans. We’d gotten about ten steps out of their hotel when we hit barricades and a mass of Hot Topic preteens*. At the very second we approached the crowd, it let loose a collective shriek, the likes of which I have not heard since Jingle Ball toyed with the hearts and minds of Long Island’s biggest Jonas Brothers fans. Needless to say, we were startled and confused, and I think I caught a couple of people laughing at us for for literally jumping back in reaction to the caterwauling. As it turned out, the crowd was gathered in front of a hotel awaiting the arrival of Tokio Hotel, and the sudden hubbub was a reaction to the approaching tour buses, which happened to pull up just as we were walking by.
Since we couldn’t get past the crowd, we stood and watched the mayhem for about fifteen minutes with some equally bewildered Japanese tourists who were also en route to the Prado. Luckily my uncle had his camera on hand to document the madness. Here’s the video, which isn’t much to see beyond general pandemonium, but at the 2:30 mark there’s some footage of a phone conversation that gets pretty amusingly emotional.
After it became apparent that Tokio Hotel was not emerging from the bus anytime soon, we decided to cross the street and reluctantly surrender our day to great works of art. Needless to say, the incident inspired a bout of curious Googling, the results of which both disturbed and perplexed me. As it turns out, this is what all the shrieking was for…
Look, I understand the appeal of provocative girly boys. Men who play up their feminine qualities inspire the most manic fandom among a certain subset of pop fans. But come on! Those two in the middle (they’re twins, by the way) make Panic at the Disco look like the starting defensive line of a fireman’s league football team. It’s not that they’re girly. It’s that they look just like girls, which in general is totally fine and their business, but I fail to understand it on a teenybopper appeal level.
And then there’s the music itself. Oh, boy.
I will never understand the appeal of leaden alt-rock, much less how it could ever sneak into the J-14 arena. Seriously, this song is so boring. Imagine if you were thirteen and having a pool party and you put this on the stereo system. Your guests would drown themselves to escape the maudlin dreariness.
Their English-language offerings aren’t any more entertaining:
But it seems that the band has got something going for them that’s even more important than enjoyable music: a good publicity team. Their YouTube channel hosts a large spread of promotional videos documenting their endless publicity tour around the world. The most interesting thing about these videos is hearing the twins’ deep German dude voices.
Oddly enough, the New York Times seems to think they’re just the cutest little things.
The occasion was the first New York performance by Tokio Hotel, a German act that scrambles musical categories in a way that feels ideally suited to the current era. Why shouldn’t fans go nuts for a goth-punk boy band influenced by the darkly theatrical love songs of HIM (from Finland) and AFI (from California) and led by a sexy androgyne with spectacular hair? Why shouldn’t the members of Tokio Hotel be given a chance to bring their not-quite-idiomatic refrains — “We are here tonight/Leave the world aside” — to the United States?
As this paragraph implies, it is a free country, and young girls have every right to strain their vocal chords over whomever they please. But at some point you have to wonder if “why not?” is good enough. While Tokio Hotel can, and, by every means, should write and perform music to be enjoyed by whomever is up to the challenge, it’s a shame that groups like The Spinto Band don’t have the kind of publicity machine to thrust them into international super-stardom. Because if this song…
… were just as likely to be played at some suburban thirteen-year-old’s pool party than “Monsoon,” the world would be a much happier place.
Tokio Hotel [Official Site]
A Wild Welcome to a German Teen-Pop Band [NYT]
The Spinto Band [Official Site]
* I wonder what the equivalent to Hot Topic is here in Spain? I’ll get back to you on that.
I am 31yrs old from Singapore and I am proud to say I am a fan of Tokio Hotel. In case you don’t own a map, Singapore is a little island in South East Asia. No, we’re not part of China or Japan. I am definitely not a preteen and am located far from Europe yet here I am, a fan of the band. Yes the twins do look like girls but so what? They make good music and are fantastic when they perform live. It’s disheartening to hear that just because you don’t know the band you feel the need to post negative remarks about them. Word of advise. If you have nothing nice to say about a band you hardly know, maybe it’s better if you don’t say anything at all.
This post has the second best comments since the bandom ones. So I hope it becomes part of an ongoing series.
I personally, feel that you do not know this band well enough to judge them in such a negative way. Please, before you start calling most of their fanbase “preteens” or what not, do your homework. I am a Tokio Hotel fan, almost 20 years old. This band has inspired me in more ways than any other band ever could. I’ve been inspired to actually sit down and learn another langauge. I’ve been inspired to actually try at an instrument. My song writing has improved by listening to their songs.
Bill and Tom? The most wonderful, unique twins I have ever seen. Maybe it’s because most people don’t have…the “balls” to be their selves? Yes, I realize that’s putting it in such a vulgar way. But it’s the truth. =/
Bill has a very lovely voice; Tom’s GREAT at the guitar…Gustav is simply amazing at the drums, and Georg is AWESOME at the bass guitar.
These four boys have worked so hard to get to where they are today. A band since 2001, and it’s 7 years later.
Songs that YOU consider “boring, only 13 year olds would play at a pool party” have saved lives. Songs like “Spring Nicht,” which translates to “Don’t Jump” if you know nothing about the German language. “I scream into the night for you, don’t make it true, don’t jump; the lights are not guiding you, they’re deceiving you, don’t jump… “
If you consider that boring, I really wonder where your heart is.
I have a friend that has told me recently that she considered dropping out of school. She’s a senior; so it would have been her last year. What stopped her? None other than Tokio Hotel.
What has helped me through a recent time of breaking up with an insane ex boyfriend, my own family problems? TOKIO HOTEL.
These boys are…well, more than just “simply amazing.” I believe no word in either the English or German langauge could give Tokio Hotel justice on how great they are.
And unfortunately, the American music scene is harsh. But Tokio Hotel has an awesome American fan base that will stick by their side, no matter what.
@baconfat:
I seriously don’t know what you guys’ problem is.
*I* can’t believe the poster is mad because she got delayed to a museum? I’m sorry, I find this reason pathetic. =/@Kate Richardson:
@Kate Richardson:
This is where you’re wrong. I have yet to be able to compare Tokio Hotel to any other band. =/
I LOVE true-blue fans!!! Of any band. Without reading the lengthy comments, I agree with everything these fans say out of that principle alone. Speak out against the critics! w00t.
“Singapore is a little island in South East Asia. No, we’re not part of China or Japan.”
Are you sure it’s not part of Japan?
Okay, so I tried really hard to just walk away and forget that I ever read this. However, I could not (obviously).
First of all, why do you feel the need to hate on a band you hardly know anything about? As far as I know, they’ve never done anything to you. Yes, you had to wait a whole fifteen minutes due to fans. So what? Have you never heard that patience is a virtue? Surely if it were a band you liked that were pulling up in a bus, you would not hate on the fans for their enthusiasm. Also, I know of fans from ages 7 to 54. Guys and girls. So you’re preteen fangirl assumption is false. Surely you know what they say about assumptions.
Second, if they look like girls… what is it hurting you any for them to look the way they do? It’s not! So why bring it up?
Third, so ‘Spring Nicht’ isn’t able to be played at a pool party… is that a crime? I suggest you do more research before talking about that song. Needless to say, “Your guests would drown themselves to escape the maudlin dreariness.” was about as ironic as it could get.
Why even bother writing about something you obviously are too close minded to understand? If ignorance is bliss, you must be pretty happy with yourself right now.
@katiexlovesxtokio: The problem is that they’re NOT different. That’s my whole point. They sound like every other deathly boring band on alt rock radio.
Please, somebody get JesseSchrei “started on that”.
@Kate Richardson: they are different i mean they are from a small town in germany and they are making it big
yeah they are different- i listen to all sorts of rock rap and everything in between, and tokio hotel is different
the lyrics have serious meaning unlike alot of bands
i am an american fan fur immer!
like it or not, tokio hotel is going around the world.
*laughs at fans who get pissed off by internet postings*
A little problem understanding English, Raul123, or are you just dense like that?
@Kate Richardson: We would be friends if you wouldn’t go around prentending to know everything about a band when you really know almost nothing.
@Raul23: Have you ever looked at a fucking map? Singapore is part of INDONESIA. There is a difference.
@katiexlovesxtokio: And JA! Tokio Hotel für immer!!!
Erm, swimmer? Singapore is it’s own country. But you’re close.
Oh, ok. Singapore is part of Indonesia. I knew it wasn’t its own country. Thanks for clearing that up swimmer ;)
@swimmer_450: yesss! tokio hotel is the best.
Okay, a few things to clear up. I’m 17 and I’m from Singapore, and I absolutely adore Tokio Hotel. I definitely would not consider myself a preteen for that matter. And i’m pretty sure I’m not the only one that’s highly impressed with their music, which is totally freaking AWESOME. I honestly don’t think you should be writing about things that you obviously know nothing about.
How could you even say that their music is boring? The lyrics have so much meaning in them! And I’m sure that they’ve been trying their best at the English versions. AND to top it all off, the reason they’re translating songs into English is so that their fans can understand the lyrics. It’s an extremely thoughtful gesture, so cut them some slack already.
Furthermore, it’s definitely not right to compare bands, just because you’re biased against the way they look. For pete’s sake, it’s called ‘Expression of Individuality”. And they all look great!
And one very annoying thing left to clarify: Singapore is it’s own country. We’re definitely not part of anyone else. Not Japan, not China, and not Indonesia. We might be close to them but we’re not part of them.
TOKIO HOTEL, ICH LIEBE DICH, FUR IMMER!
priciple It’s amazing to see how history repeats itself. When I came back to
Germany in summer 2004, I was almost going to fall in love with this
beautiful girl on mtv. The same day, a friend told me that The front…
well… man I saw wasn’t a girl at all. For me Bill was just too young
and not manly enough to be seen as a frontman of a pop-rock band. For the
next months I couldn’t believe that this weird stuff could be interesting to
anyone. I underestimated the Emo movement and the eagerness of girls
who tend to adore musicians. Nearly every male person I met hated them and
made this puplic… and actually this is the priciple behind tokio: 1.Take a
product that you can either hate or love e.g. Tokio Hotel, leads to
2.Girlslove the music and the phenomenon, leads to 3. Guys how can’t
understand and
act angry, leads to 4. puplic interest which is a free advertisement for the
band … It seems like this happens in america right now… because It just
happened everywhere. (Except for Japan maybe)
Personaly, after all these years, I can’t tell I like their music but
compared to other bands they’ve been a real band since years and not just a
casted and styled plastic band. Although I am not very keen on boys I must
say in the german interviews they’re very funny and don’t just
talk synthetic shit like any other pop band.
Guys, if you really want to stop this you have to break the chain of the
“Tokio Hotel Priciple”. But actually, I it worth to loose the gosship?
I’m not in this internet stuff
hope this works:
if not try
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIkOTKReXac
(it’s german)
Florian, male, 22 years old, from germany
It’s amazing to see how history repeats itself. When I came back to Germany in summer 2004, I was almost going to fall in love with this beautiful girl on mtv. The same day, a friend told me that The front… well… man I saw wasn’t a girl at all. For me Bill was just too young and not manly enough to be seen as a frontman of a pop-rock band. For the next months I couldn’t believe that this weird stuff could be interesting to anyone. I underestimated the Emo movement and the eagerness of girls who tend to adore musicians. Nearly every male person I met hated them and made this puplic… and actually this is the priciple behind tokio: 1.Take a product that you can either hate or love e.g. Tokio Hotel, leads to 2.Girls love the music and the phenomenon, leads to 3. Guys how can’t understand and act angry, leads to 4. puplic interest which is a free advertisement for the band … It seems like this happens in america right now… because It just happened everywhere. (Except for Japan maybe)
Personaly, after all these years, I can’t tell I like their music but compared to other bands they’ve been a real band since years and not just a casted and styled plastic band. Although I am not very keen on boys I must say in the german interviews they’re very funny and don’t just talk synthetic shit like any other pop band.
Guys, if you really want to stop this you have to break the chain of the “Tokio Hotel Priciple”. But actually, I it worth to loose the gosship?
I’m not in this internet stuff
hope this works:
if not try
(it’s german)
Florian, male, 22 years old, from germany
I like Tokio Hotel a whole lot, but those two (Bill and Tom), I’m pretty sure that they have ‘a thing’ for each other. I watched some video clips on YouTube, and yeah… I know, they’re brothers, but still… Anyway, I like ‘em. But there’s no way they’re better than AFI. AFI is amazing, and it took them a while to become really really famous, unlike most bands that keep popping up out of nowhere. There’s all these new bands, but they all sound the same. I don’t get it. Also, I don’t know why girls are all crazy over feminine dudes. I’m a girl, I’m totally straight, and have no idea why I find Bill & Tom Kaulitz attractive.
This turned into the most awesome troll-tastically hilarious comment section. These guys have been a bit of a joke between my brother and I since we caught them performing on the MTV europe VMA’s. I’m glad someone else is getting in on it. We spent a long time debating what gender they all were. I find that a strangely large number of girls have some degree of love for androgynous men.
I was enjoying the post all by itself only to find a great deal of entertainment just by scrolling down! Thanks Idolator!!!
@JessieSchrei: What’s there to not get you started on. They look like bizarre lady-boys. I don’t think there is even an issue to start with on that. It’s a fact.
The only thing keeping that lead singer from being doable is his lack of a biological vagina. He’s a sissy boy, a goth dandy, he’d make a fortune at Patpong in Thailand.
(gotcha covered baconfat)
@Stafford: a “sissy boy”? oh GOD FORBID! teh gays! RUN FROM TEH EVIL GAYS!
i bet ol’ bacon’s thanking the gods he’s got your razor sharp wit backing him up.
Okay first did you even bother to find the meaning to these songs? Becuase i know for a fact i would not play spring nicht at a pool party. That song and all of the Tokio Hotel songs have meaning to them, they wern’t just written for the hell of it. And yes they do have a great publicity team but guess what, the only reason they are so popular in other countries, the only reason they went to other countries, is because the fans made petions and sent requests to them. The fans didn’t know what they looked like, they didnt understand the lyrics, but they loved it anyway. Tokio hotel is popular in France, Japan, North America, South America, Italy, Russia, China, Isreal, nearly everywhere in the world. These four boys have been working hard since they were 12 and they are now in their 20′s. They managed to become international stars in four years and are the single most successful band to come out of Germany.Can you not just appreciate their success and the effect they have put on so many?
I’m 24 from VIETNAM and I like TH’s music from melodies to lyrics. You all know that It’s absolutely not easy for a band to have so many fan. Amazingly, TH can do it particularly through internet and live shows travel but not a promotion company live many other bands. I can feel the energy, effort and passion of the band and BILL KAULITZ, who inspire me the most when I’m down. For what black reasons you could write like that if not you’ve never really listen TH ?
I love tokio hotel..and their music is totally awesome…I hope they will come to ASIA soon…I am from Singapore.
Cheers.
i think someone is just jeleous. this site should be removed. who are you to enforce your views on others. Let people decide what they think of Tokio hotel not you
Hi Kate,
Tokio Hotel isn't really my music, because of my age I'm more into Oasis, Coldplay and stuff like that, but you know what… i wonder why you spend so much time writing about a Band you barely know, you spend about fifteen minutes waiting and how much time you spend on this article? +google, etc?
You went to the Museo del Prado to learn something about art, have you learned (and saw) there, that art and taste can be different? Same with music I would say :)
And at least this Band wasn't casted on a TV Show, that's for me a *thumps up
My question to you Kate, are all Americans really so intolerant or you just had a bad day? (which can easily happen to me as well)
Krys from Germany
ps. sorry for my sarcasm, i'm trying to stop that :))
i am also a TH fan from Singapore… letz hope TH would start ASIA tour soon after all the tours in Europe & US :'(
u should go to TH concerts. put it like this.. if you are a dude and u like TH. u will have a very good time and have a hard proof that their fans are way past 12yo.
I’m 17 years old. I listened to some Tokio Hotel songs just recently. They’re not too bad but they are not as amazing as some other people make them out to be either. But I do disagree with the blogger concerned; they’re not that lame. But then again they are not that great either.
I’m surprised about the fact that he(the blogger) is actually bothering to criticize Tokio Hotel when he can clearly pick on things called Justin Bieber and The Jonas Brothers. Tokio Hotel won’t seem too girly to you after you actually hear those girls out. Plus, it is really tiring about the way everyone’s going about the way they’re so annoying and girly and dreary and blah blah blah.
These ppl are 21 to around 23 years old, from what I hear. One should give them thumbs up for the fact that their music isn’t exactly boring nor are their lyrics super dumb. They make sense, they’re slightly more matured than many musicians of their age. True their music isn’t remarkable(to me at least) but then again how many singers nowadays are that great? They just happen to be making music a few degrees higher in standard compared to other musicians(which is a great accomplishment for artists so young). Add to that the looks, (no matter what you say ) which are unique. Then you have the good stage performance. So there’s nothing surprising about many ppl liking them. What is surprising to me is that how ppl like Jonas Brothers, Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus and other such trashy artists are actually famous.
Many good bands should get the spotlight. But sadly, not that many ppl know about them or other equally talented bands.
I luv TH!
Just read the idea and went gosh, I’m sure why I was poor inside debate class. – It is impossible to experience one’s death objectively and still carry a tune. – Woody Allen Born 1935
Okay here’s the thing
You’re a human being, you KNOW that “good music” is an opinion based thing, You can’t even begin to compare the Jonas Brothers or anything like that to Tokio Hotel. Why? Because they’re COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.
No, Spring Nicht would probably not be played at a pool party (unless it was like a TH party or something) Because it’s not a hyped up song. It’s obvious that deeper music isn’t your thing. Also, did you even bother to find out what the lyrics of the song mean? The point of that song was to be expressive- EXPRESS EMOTIONS.
And, I personally dislike their English Music only because Bill’s accent ruins it for me, and because the lyrics aren’t as meaningful, or completely different in some cases. So yeah, i wouldn’t even go there.
Now, addressing their looks.
1. They were both born feminine guys. they’re skinny twigs. No one’s fault. They eat a crap ton. Still skinny. And they happen to have really pretty, feminine faces.
2. That picture was old, They’re much older now. Yes, Bill is very much into fashion, makeup, shoes. But this isn’t something he did for the Band’s image. You can find pictures of Him as a very young kid, dressing different, wearing makeup, with piercings, making his own clothes. He’s always been that day. Oh but Tom isn’t girly at all now, nor was he then minus the fact that he was skinny, so i don’t even know where you were getting that from.
3. The fans arent drawn to them just for their look, their image. I am friends with a lot of fellow fans and the truth is, they all have their individual favorite songs, which are usually varied in feel and style, and their own favorite time period for TH because no, they aren’t perfect. No, we don’t worship the ground they walk on, in fact, i know every single fan has cringed and been totally freaked out by them before. WHy? Because they’re people- they change. they go through phases.
4. I applaud Tokio Hotel for their daring nature. There is no way that their image or style is for promotion of the band. Back in the beginning of their career, they got turned down a few times because “They were too weird, their name was too weird, no one would go for their style” and they wouldn’t make money. BUT there was Jost, who saw potential. No matter how many times they would’ve gotten turned down, they have talent, they would easily find another record producer.
That’s my rant y’all.