Wir sind Helden (, German for "We are heroes") 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 , bassist and keyboardist/guitarist .
Wir sind Helden's breakthrough came in 2002 with the release of the song "Guten Tag", even though the band did not yet have a recording contract. The ensuing debut album, Die Reklamation, reached No. 2 in the German charts and sold over half a million copies. Over the rest of the decade, the band released the albums Von hier an blind, Soundso and Bring mich nach Hause, all of which peaked at No. 1 or No. 2 in the German and Austrian charts.
Wir sind Helden's music shows influences from the Neue Deutsche Welle, especially in the debut album Die Reklamation. The band's music is also characterized by social commentary in songs such as "Guten Tag" and "Müssen nur wollen". In April 2012, the band informed its fans that it was going on indefinite hiatus.
History
2000–2002: Early years
Prior to the formation of Wir sind Helden, singer-songwriter and guitarist Judith Holofernes was performing in Berlin clubs as a solo artist and had self-released the EP Kamikazefliege (1999). The band was founded in 2000 after she met drummer Pola Roy and keyboardist/guitarist Jean-Michel Tourette at a pop music workshop in Hamburg. Soon thereafter, Mark Tavassol joined the band as bassist."laut.de-Biographie – Wir Sind Helden" (in German). laut.de. Retrieved 26 July 2015.Kuhn, Andi. "Begrenzte Unmöglichkeiten" (in German). neue musikzeitung. December 2003.
The idea behind using the word "Helden" (which means "heroes") in the band name was to reclaim the word for the antiheroes ("Der Begriff 'Helden' wird jetzt so inflationär benutzt. Wir wollten ihn zurückhaben für die Antihelden." English: "The term 'heroes' is so inflated now. We want it back for the anti-heroes."). In addition, the band name was also inspired by German band Die Helden, which was the first band Holofernes saw performing live,Rausch, Jochen. "WIR WAREN ZEITVERSCHWENDUNG" (in German). Official Jochen Rausch website. 5 July 2013. and by the song "Heroes" by English singer David Bowie, whom Holofernes has cited as a role model for the band.Nadine Emmerich: "Bandnamen". Die Rheinpfalz 48/2006, November 2006, Seite "Rock & Pop""Judith Holofernes: Zwischen Bühne und Babybett" (in German). Westfälische Nachrichten. 15 March 2011.
In 2002, Wir sind Helden self-released the EP Guten Tag. Despite the band's lack of recording contract, the title song was played by German radio stations and its music video was aired on the rotation of MTV Germany.Schmid, Eva Dorothée. "Ihr altes Leben wollen sie nicht zurück" (in German). Berliner Zeitung. 22 November 2003. The band consequently attracted the attention of several record companies and then signed with Labels, an EMI label.Rüther, Tobias. "Guten Tag, ich bin ein Popstar" (in German). Der Tagesspiegel. 27 May 2003. The growing interest in the band also led to Holofernes being invited to appear on Die Harald Schmidt Show, a late-night talk show on German television.Thomann, Jörg. "Hymnen der Verweigerung" (in German). Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. 17 July 2003.
2003–2004: Die Reklamation Wir sind Helden's debut single, "Guten Tag", was released in February 2003, and the follow-up single was "Müssen nur wollen", released in May 2003. The criticisms of modern-day life in both songs (the former relating to consumerism and the latter concerning the pressure to achieve) brought the band to the attention of newspaper culture sections.Peters, Harald. "Wenn wir nur wollen" (in German). Berliner Zeitung. 23 July 2003.Grether, Kerstin. "An dem Produkt ist was kaputt" (in German). taz.de. 20 June 2003.Zeiser, Christian. "Nichts zu reklamieren" (in German). Gaesteliste.de. Retrieved 26 July 2015. Both singles entered the German singles chart, where they reached No. 53 and No. 57, respectively."Wir sind Helden – Guten Tag – Single" (in German). Offizielle Deutsche Charts. GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 26 July 2015."Wir sind Helden – Müssen nur wollen – Single" (in German). Offizielle Deutsche Charts. GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
The two singles were followed by Wir sind Helden's debut album, Die Reklamation, which was released in July 2003. In addition to uptempo, punk-influenced songs such as the previously released "Guten Tag" and "Müssen nur wollen", the album also includes melancholic songs such as "Die Zeit heilt alle Wunder" and "Du erkennst mich nicht wieder"."Guten Tag! – Wir sind Helden (SynthiePunkPop)" (in German). AMBOSS-Mag. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
German news website Spiegel Online declared that Wir sind Helden's sound reconciled the good sides of New Wave and Neue Deutsche Welle with the modern era, and it named Die Reklamation as one of the most important CDs of 2003."Abgehört 2003: Die wichtigsten CDs des Jahres" (in German). Spiegel Online. 16 December 2003. In his review of the album, Stefan Friedrich of music magazine laut.de described Holofornes as the woman currently writing the most intelligent, witty and beautiful German song lyrics.Friedrich, Stefan. "Der perfekte Soundtrack für den urbanen Sommer." (in German). laut.de. 7 July 2003.
Die Reklamation entered the German albums chart at No. 6 before peaking at No. 2"Wir sind Helden – Die Reklamation – Album" (in German). Offizielle Deutsche Charts. GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 26 July 2015. and eventually selling over 500,000 copies. At the 2004 ECHO music awards, Wir sind Helden was the recipient of three awards.Lippitz, Ulf. "Echo 2004: Fast ein neues Nipplegate" (in German). Spiegel Online. 7 March 2004.
2005–2006: Von hier an blind
Released in April 2005,Friedrich, Stefan. "Von Nervosität keine Spur. Warum auch?" (in German). laut.de. 4 April 2005. Wir sind Helden's second album, Von hier an blind, saw the band become more introspective and less political compared to Die Reklamation. Speaking in an interview, Holofernes stated that the album was concerned with asking what was it deep inside that prevented happiness ("Ich habe mich gefragt, was mich tief im Inneren davon abhält, glücklich zu sein").Lippitz, Ulf. "Interview mit Wir sind Helden: "Wir wollen neben dem System spazieren"" (in German). Spiegel Online. 7 April 2005.
In comparison with Die Reklamation, Von hier an blind gives less prominence to keyboard sounds and Neue Deutsche Welle influences. The album also includes the swing number "Gekommen um zu bleiben", which Wir sind Helden performed with a live orchestra at the 2005 ECHO music awards."Gib mit bitte nur ein Wort..." (in German). Musical Observer. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
Von hier an blind went straight to the top of the German albums chart and stayed in the top 10 for twenty weeks."Wir sind Helden – Von hier an blind – Album" (in German). Offizielle Deutsche Charts. GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 26 July 2015. The album also charted at No. 1 in Austria."Wir sind Helden – Von hier an blind" (in German). austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 July 2015. Two singles from the album, "Gekommen um zu bleiben" and "", were both top 30 hits in the German singles chart."Wir sind Helden – Gekommen um zu bleiben – Single" (in German). Offizielle Deutsche Charts. GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 26 July 2015."Wir sind Helden – Nur ein Wort – Single" (in German). Offizielle Deutsche Charts. GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
Later in 2005, Wir sind Helden was one of the headliners at German rock music festival Rock am Ring"Schlammschlacht um die Böhsen Onkelz" (in German). laut.de. 30 May 2005. and was one of the acts performing in Berlin as part of the series of Live 8 concerts.Strauss, Stefan. "Jodeln gegen Armut" (in German). Berliner Zeitung. 4 July 2005. The following year, Holofernes and Roy married and started a family."Biografie: Wir sind Helden" (in German). SWR3. 7 August 2007.
2007–2009: Soundso The third album by Wir sind Helden, Soundso, was released in May 2007Käfer, Sara. "Kritisch und sehr unterhaltsam: Helden in Perfektion." (in German). laut.de. 25 May 2007. and reached No. 2 in both the German and Austrian albums charts."Wir sind Helden – Soundso – Album" (in German). Offizielle Deutsche Charts. GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 26 July 2015."Wir sind Helden – Soundso" (in German). austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 July 2015. Speaking in an interview, Tavassol explained that the common theme of the album was that of distribution of roles, individuality, and personalities within the various roles ("Es gibt dabei einen roten Faden, das ist das Thema Rollenverteilung, Individualität und letztendlich Persönlichkeiten in den verschiedenen Rollen").Murr, Lilo. "Ein Doktor spielt den Bass" (in German). Augsburger Allgemeine. 27 March 2008.
Soundso saw a development in Wir Helden's sound, with Neue Deutsche Welle influences reduced to a minimumWinkler, Thomas. "Wir sind Helden: Der Soundtrack zur Bewegung" (in German). Spiegel Online. 22 May 2007. and the incorporation of further musical elements such as horns, glam guitarsPoppe, Ralf. "WIR SIND HELDEN – Panische Zeiten?" (in German). WESTZEIT. 3 June 2007. and virtual orchestras. The album also saw the introduction of "musical humour" to the band's music: according to Tourette, duophonic guitars and synthesized saxophones were used because of their cheesiness and charm ("Zweistimmige Gitarren einzusetzen, ist im deutschen Pop genauso verpönt, wie synthetische Saxofone zuzulassen. Wir haben jetzt beides auf dem Album, weil sie schön cheesy klingen, aber Charme haben").Loesl, Michael. ""Sie können vor der Platte ruhig warnen"" (in German). Die Welt. 22 May 2007.
The first single released from Soundso was "Endlich ein Grund zur Panik", a hectic synthpop song with a swing and ska climax backing up the choruses.Volkmann, Linus. "Soundso – Wir Sind Helden" (in German). Intro. 21 May 2007. While polarizing fans,"Neues "Wir sind Helden"- Album: Band tourt mit Baby" (in German). ZEIT ONLINE. 22 May 2007. the single went to No. 34 in the German charts."Wir sind Helden – Endlich ein Grund zur Panik – Single" (in German). Offizielle Deutsche Charts. GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
2010–2011: Bring mich nach Hause
After three years away from the spotlight, Wir sind Helden returned in August 2010 with Bring mich nach Hause, the band's fourth album.Loesl, Michael. "Mal gucken, wer noch mitkommt" (in German). Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. 17 August 2010. The band had by then signed to Sony Music following the break-up of Labels.Hung, Steffen. "INTERVIEW MIT WIR SIND HELDEN" (in German). hitparade.ch. Retrieved 26 July 2015. In addition, Wir sind Helden had parted ways with Patrik Majer, who had produced the band's previous three albums, with the new album being produced by English producer Ian Davenport.Halbig, Matthias and Scherer, Sebastian. "Wir sind Helden: "Hannover muss dabei sein!"" (in German). Neue Presse. 23 August 2010."Die fünf Tage von Tritonus" (in German). Official Wir sind Helden website. 11 June 2010.
For the recording of Bring mich nach Hause, Wir sind Helden strived to use real instruments over synthesizers.Reuther, Birgit. "Wir sind Helden: jenseits von apfelkuchenfroh" (in German). Hamburger Abendblatt. 9 August 2010. Additional instruments which can be heard on the album include the accordion, oud, banjo and glockenspiel.Woldach, Stefan. ""Wir hoffen, dass wir diesmal schlauer sind"" (in German). Die Welt. 19 July 2010. In addition, bassist Jörg Holdinghausen from German band Tele was involved in recording the album as guest musician and vocalist.CD insert notes (2010) (in German). Bring mich nach Hause. Wir sind Helden. Sony Music Entertainment. LC 24134.