Influences & Inspirations: Tokio Hotel

Unless you’re a bilingual 13-year-old German girl with an emo-glam fetish (welcome to the site, by the way, if you are), chances are you’ve never heard the words Tokio Hotel put together anywhere outside of a bad Deutsch travel guide. But that’s the name of the band that is currently the biggest thing going with tweens across Europe, made up of a quartet of young men with fascinating hairstyles and equally curious influences. See for yourself on their first American album, Scream, due on Interscope in April. Let’s have a quick look at the acts that made it all happen.

Rammstein “Du Hast”

Falco, Nena, and the Scorpions may have opened the door for German bands in the states, but Rammstein basically kicked the sucker down with this frightening clip. Compared to them, getting Tokio Hotel is like getting a basket full of beagle puppies.

Watch the video here

The Cure “Lovesong”

Tokio Hotel’s androgynous 18-year-old singer Bill Kaulitz happens to have the most awesome hair in rock and roll. But he’s not the first to pair gravity defying locks with hauntingly tender melodies. Check out Exhibit A.

Watch the video here

Backstreet Boys “I Want It That Way”

They might look like A.F.I. disciples, but in truth Tokio Hotel have far more in common with another American band. The screaming girls, color-coordinated outfits, large scale marketing plans, sensitive ballads, and token member with dreadlocks—this is where it all started.

Watch the video here

Kool Savas “Da Bin Da Bleib”

That token member with dreadlocks is actually Bill’s identical twin brother Tom—Tokio Hotel’s guitarist and resident rap aficionado—which might explain why the siblings look so drastically different. In fact, despite rocking a Gibson Les Paul, Bill contends, “Tom only listens to German hip-hop.” That would be something like this.

Watch the video here

30 Seconds to Mars, “The Kill”

It could have been My Chemical Romance, but that would be overreaching. Tokio Hotel’s brand of mascara-heavy emo is mostly for show on anthems such as “Scream”—just check out the fan made montages of the brothers’ early years scattered all over YouTube. That reminds us of another showbiz-bred band that likes to play dress up.

Watch the video here

Thanks for the info to Gibson.com.

Comments

[webbtje]

Indeed they do. Their appeal lies in that they write catchy, easy tunes and appeal to mindless teenagers everywhere... sound familiar?

[Shabalaba]

haha im not sure how long those comments will last xD, but is this news?

[tbarrettl]

I heard Ready Set Go on my Alternative station and I said aloud what is this sh!+.

checked.

[the boogieman]

copying 30 seconds to mars, backstreet boys, and rammstein dont seem like a winning combination

whatever happened to just listening to listening/playing music instead of copying anothers looks

[Quicksand15]

Oh my god, I feel so ashamed being from Germany^^
It's just sad that so many people (not only in Germany) eat this up and don't recognize that this "band" is just another product from the record company...

Unfortunately, bands like them is all popular German music has to offer =(

[_Valecita_]

I'm overwhelmed with the hating comments. Really, this will sound cliche, but if you don't like the band, don't say anything.

Yes, Tokio Hotel might be a product from a record company, but... aren't they all? Every band out there, good or bad under our standards, is a product. They all want to satisfy the listeners. If TH happens to satisfy a bunch of "bilingual 13 year olds from Germany" then so be it. I am personally a fan of this band and I'm most definitely not a 13 year old German girl. And I respect any band out there and every fan that listens to ANY kind of music. Let those be hip hop, emo, pop or whatever.

Music is about subjective opinion. Some might dislike a band, some might love it and some might ignore it. But it's all about personal preference.

Why do you listen to a band? Because it makes you feel something. Because their sound is what you think is "good." A band doesn't need to be intricate or have blasting 20 mins long solos... a band has to be appealing. And TH are to many people. So what? Some people like it, some people don't.

Let's respect each other!

[mypettreejimmy]

_Valecita_ wrote:

I'm overwhelmed with the hating comments. Really, this will sound cliche, but if you don't like the band, don't say anything.

Yes, Tokio Hotel might be a product from a record company, but... aren't they all? Every band out there, good or bad under our standards, is a product. They all want to satisfy the listeners. If TH happens to satisfy a bunch of "bilingual 13 year olds from Germany" then so be it. I am personally a fan of this band and I'm most definitely not a 13 year old German girl. And I respect any band out there and every fan that listens to ANY kind of music. Let those be hip hop, emo, pop or whatever.

Music is about subjective opinion. Some might dislike a band, some might love it and some might ignore it. But it's all about personal preference.

Why do you listen to a band? Because it makes you feel something. Because their sound is what you think is "good." A band doesn't need to be intricate or have blasting 20 mins long solos... a band has to be appealing. And TH are to many people. So what? Some people like it, some people don't.

Let's respect each other!

i agree....i just dont respect 80% of the bands out there and not all bands are products---at least 10% of bands out there...

[mohsensalehi]

tokio hotel sucks.over.

[xXGuerreroXx]

it doesnt matter if u like tokio hotel or not, u gotta respect wat other people think. i personally luv tokio hotel but i dont go out there and say "who ever doesnt like tokio hotel are gay ass's" Hate them? or love them? doesnt matter. just respect each others ideas and feelings.