Dressed as the schlager star Heino, Otto does a parody of Heino's cover version of the song "Junge," originally by the German punk band Die Ärzte.

Legendary German band Die Toten Hosen sing their song "Europa" about the adversity faced by refugees.

German rapper Cro sings his hit song "Bye Bye" with an orchestra in front of a live audience.

The band Monsters of Liedermaching perform in Leipzig and tell us what we can expect out of life. What are you waiting for? Watch it for yourself!

The last minutes of the TV station DFF in East Germany were not, as one might expect, with political speeches of has-been politicians, but a full costume spectacle and Schlager-filled extravaganza worthy of a 1960s Las Vegas TV special. Enjoy!

Berlin rapper Peter Fox, originally in the band Seeed, cuts loose with this solo track "Alles neu." If you've never seen a rapper in a tuxedo playing a toy piano in front of an orchestra with ape masks, now's your chance! Kopfhörer aufsetzen, Musik aufdrehen!

Take a look and listen to this charming, romantic song called "Paris" from the German singer Michelle.

The German band Monsters of Liedermaching sing the song "Nuclear-free Power Plant" — a serious topic performed with perfect charm!

The many talented German TV personality and musician Stefan Raab performs a World Cup fight song. In Germany this is a genre of music all its own. Here he and his band fire it up with "Wir kommen, um ihn zu holen" ["We're Coming to Get it"]. Learn a few new colorful idioms relating to the subject of... what else? - winning, of course! Viel Spaß beim Mitfiebern!

German pop singer Mister Santos performs his World Cup anthem "Das dicke, dicke Ding" [The Big Fat Thing"]. He's firing up the German fan faithful and, above all, die Jungs themselves — their own national team in Brazil. In some places of the world, winning the ultimate prize is described as "bringing home the bacon or the bling," in Germany they "must have stars" and "go get big fat things."Viel Spaß beim Mitfiebern!

Helge strikes again, this time with his mad jazz piano playing and an ode to that culinary magnificence that is the cheese sandwich!

In a truly heartfelt performance, Helene Fischer shows her true love for her fans and how German pop music can truly be, in her own words, Schwindelfrei...

"Unter die Haut" ("Under the Skin") is the new single from Tim Bendzko, and features singer Cassandra Steen. Enjoy!

A great power-pop number from the Giessen band Juli featuring singer Eva Briegel, who is vegetarian and active in the animal rights group PETA. Kopfhörer aufsetzen, Musik aufdrehen!

The Monsters of Liedermaching are again coming up with the funniest lyrics out there, this time wishing for a horsey for Christmas — one that steals friends! Kopfhörer aufsetzen, Musik aufdrehen!

Louis and Elias of the street band Guaia Guaia are about as close to The Big Lebowski's "The Dude" as you could expect any pair of twenty-something German guys to be. Watch this video as an excercise in learning to chill out and live free! Kopfhörer aufsetzen, Musik aufdrehen! (video copyright dpa)

The three women from Hamburg who are the Die Heiterkeit are the closest thing to the Velvet Underground you are likely to hear out of Germany these days: very cool, restrained, minimal, a bit gothic, and… they rock! Kopfhörer aufsetzen, Musik aufdrehen!

Singer-songwriter Jan Wittmer gives us a home performance of his “Weihnachtslied” (“Christmas Song”), which includes some very thoughtful social commentary on the real meaning of Christmas. Frohe Weihnachten!

Singer-songwriter Philipp Poisel has a powerful, minimalist style, great lyrics and a fine feel for a good song. Kopfhörer aufsetzen, Musik aufdrehen!

The German band Jupiter Jones pays homage to the German New Wave classic song Eisbär with a track that is beautifully minimalist, yet with some pretty serious angst-tinged lyrics. Kopfhörer aufsetzen, Musik aufdrehen!

Blumio is a German-Japanese rapper from Düsseldorf with some really great socially relevant lyrics. He is a real style chameleon too, from party songs about Düsseldorf liquors to protest songs about the neo-Nazi National Socialist Underground murders. Kopfhörer aufsetzen, Musik aufdrehen! Copyright: Deutsche Presse Agentur [The German Press Agency]

Born in Siberia to Russian-German parents, singer and entertainer Helene Fischer delivers one of her hit recordings about love and jealousy.

German rockers Luxuslärm dish out another heavy spoonful of heavy rock in the number "Does She Love You Like I Do?"

The German Schlager duo Die Amigos are an excellent example of the kind of music that appealed to your grandparents’ generation, yet for some reason still command an audience today in Mitteleuropa. Strictly for fans of the surreal! Kopfhörer aufsetzen, Musik aufdrehen!