When Vienna, Austria‘s Wanda burst onto the German-language music scene in 2014 it was seemingly out of nowhere. But before the end of that year, the band had a huge hit on their hands with their infectious single “Bologna.”
Today, nearly a decade later, the band is on the verge of releasing their sixth studio album, with their first five all seeing success both in the music charts and with the critics. With their music, they broke into the top two on the album charts in their home country in addition to most of the albums breaking into the top five in Germany.
The band has found a winning formula with catchy pop songs that make you want to sing along. So this month, let’s tune up our German skills and learn German with the music of Wanda!
Get to Know the band Wanda
Wanda came together in 2012 in Vienna, Austria. The group’s founding lineup was frontman Marco Michael Wanda, guitarist Manuel Poppe, keyboardist Christian Hummer, bass player Ray Weber, and drummer Vali Wegscheider. They took their name from Wanda Kuchwalek, famously known in the 1970s as “Vienna’s only female pimp.”
The turning point for the band came two years later. The group had a shake-up when Lukas Hasitschka replaced Wegscheider. Then later in that same year, the band released their debut album Amore.
The lineup remained steady until 2020 when original drummer Wegscheider replaced Hasitschka. And then in 2022, sadly, Hummer died at the young age of 32 after a long illness. But the band has continued on without him and he is still remembered in the music.
Music of Wanda
Wanda’s 2014 debut album Amore is what skyrocketed them to stardom. And it is easy to see why. The record is infectious with a throwback sound to joyful rock n roll complete with lively guitars and a wild frontman in Marco Michael Wanda. The album includes memorable tracks and singalong singles like “Bologna” and “Auseinandergehen ist schwer.”
Bussi, their 2015 second album, may not capture quite the same energy of its predecessor, but that is not to downplay it. It shares the same mindset as the band’s debut, with straightforward driving rock numbers and some notable harmonies. The album’s first single, “Bussi Baby,” is hard to ignore with its insistent chorus.
After two albums in as many years, Wanda took a bit of a breather from the studio. When they returned, it was with 2017’s Niente. The album has a certain delicacy and vulnerability that the prior albums did not, as well as increased production values. The album’s hit single “Columbo” showcases this newly polished sound.
Ciao! followed in 2019 with a slightly different version of the band than maybe we expected. The are elements of dance, 1980s inspirations, and, as always with Wanda, a bit of a nod to the Beatles.
The band’s self-titled album in 2022 feels like a more mature version of that Wanda we were first introduced to nearly a decade before with the same enthusiasm. But they are willing to take chances. The lead-off track “Rocking in Wien” has a bassy, synthy bounce while “Jurassic Park” sees the band playing it cool.
And the band is not slowing down. They announced their sixth studio album, Ende nie, for release on June 7, 2024. The album’s first single, the piano-led “Bei niemand anders,” is said to be a tribute to their fallen bandmember Hummer as well as Marco Michael Wanda’s father, who also passed away the following year.
Looking for another Ohrwurm to help you learn German? Check out previously featured musicians and bands!
Photo by Luis Engels, courtesy of All Artists Agency. This post contains affiliate links.
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Recently, I added Wanda’s “Bussi Baby” to my growing “Vienna” playlist. Thanks to your post, I’m glad to read more about the band’s history, and I’ll be looking for more of their music.