What Alphaville songs spring to mind? Usually the 50-something answer is: “Forever Young”, “Big in Japan” and “Sounds Like A Melody”. But in addition to the three global hits, the German synth-pop group since 1984 has released many other songs in recent years. On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of their formation, the three members of the band are now releasing their fans’ favorite songs in a Best Of album entitled: “Forever! Best Of 40 Years”.

“For decades, we refused to put out a Best Of album, because we thought it was rubbish and had nothing creative,” says the band’s singer Marian Gold to the German news agency (dpa). “But it’s been 40 years since then, so I became interested in a greatest hits album,” says Gold, now 70. The special thing about this version is that friends of the band were given the opportunity to choose their 40 favorite songs online, put them in the order they liked and save them as a playlist. Among them the hits “I Die For You Today” (2010), “Dance With Me” (1986) and “The Jet Set” (1985).

In 1982, Marianne Gold, Bernhard Lloyd and Frank Mertens formed in the western German city of Münster, Westphalia, a trio called, after their later international hit, “Forever Young”. A year later the group changed its name. It borrowed the title from French director Jean-Luc Godard’s science fiction film Alphaville.

Good morning worldwide success

The three German musicians were inspired by new wave bands such as Ultravox, OMD, Kraftwerk, but also David Bowie. With their music, Alphaville expressed and lyrically the atmosphere that prevailed in the early 80s in West Germany at the time and shot to the top of the charts with their first three singles in 1984. “Forever Young”, “Big in Japan” and “Sounds Like A Melody” hit the market within just a few months, followed shortly by the release of their first album, with seven more songs, selling around 2 million copies.

After the debut and worldwide success in 1984, Frank Mertens (keyboards) left the band because he no longer wanted to be the center of media attention, which besieged the members of the successful band on a daily basis. On subsequent albums Alphaville experimented with different musical styles and more complex narratives. Already from their first album, the trio gave special weight to the lyrics, in contrast to many other, mainly German, bands of the time. “As a singer, I couldn’t be on stage and sing arlumbes. I wouldn’t like that. That’s why our songs dealt with serious issues,” says Marian Gold.

However, critics in Germany did not welcome the band. Maybe because they had a hard time digesting that a new format can make so many successes right from the start. On the other hand, it is a fact that the three musicians came from the middle class, they didn’t have to learn their musical instruments perfectly, nor do exhausting tours to become known. “And then the first single became a huge hit. It was fantastic for us, but I can understand it alienating some. Even today we receive criticism in Germany.”

Concerts not just for pensioners

With their Best Of album, Alphaville highlights their creativity and playfulness. Thanks to a combination of melancholy and good mood, always at the base of a commercial electro-pop sound, the German band achieved worldwide acclaim. In their subsequent recordings, the three musicians were influenced by classical music, blues, and even jazz. With “Forever Young”, “Big in Japan” and “Sounds Like A Melody” Alphaville created three hits for eternity, which even today many younger people know, thanks to TikTok trends.

To celebrate their 40 years on stage, Alphaville are embarking on a pan-German tour in November presenting the best moments from their eight studio albums. However, the singer Marian Gold promises the friends of the band who want to enjoy them live: “Our concerts are not aimed at retirees”.

Editor: Stefanos Georgakopoulos