Schlager

for the Schlager duelling sword, see Academic fencing

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Schlager (German Schlager, literally "a hit") is a style of popular music that is prevalent in northern Europe, in particular Germany, Austria and Scandinavia, but also to a lesser extent in France, Belgium and the Netherlands. It is characterised by sweet, overly sentimental ballads with a simple and memorable melody.

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During the Second World War, the Nazi German Government tightly controlled the creation of music but despite this, the genre managed to do very well.

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The style is frequently represented at the Eurovision Song Contest, and has been popular since the 1950s. While at one time music of this style was also fairly popular in the UK and USA, due to the constant change of fashion in popular culture, in the last 30 years Schlager has fallen out of favour. Many young people today consider Schlagermusik to be camp.

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A television programme from Bavaria broadcast Sunday nights features Schlagermusik. Schlagermusik is often played at German weddings.

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Schlager musicians:

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:Nie genug

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:Helen Sj?holm

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:Billy Mo

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:Drafi Deutscher

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