TON STEINE SCHERBEN: EINHEITSFRONTLIED (written by Bertolt Brecht and Hans Eisler).
An amazing political song that's still relevant today, and a great reminder that the people in power have little interest in helping the powerless.
Ute Lemper: Ghosts of Berlin.
Ute Lemper is a chanteuse and actress, who is well known for her Kurt Weill interpretations. A spooky and very atmospherical song.
Joy Division: Walked In Line.
About those who happily obeyed orders 'with dirty hearts and hands washed clean.' The song has been said to glorify National Socialism, but I've always seen it as the opposite, a way of showing the banality and mindless cruelty of the Nazis.
David Bowie: Helden.
A love song that is inextricably linked with Berlin.
Nico: All Tomorrow's Parties.
Nico, who spent a large part of her life in or near to Berlin and is buried there, is one of the most fascinating singers I know; beautiful, haunted, politically ambivalent, enigmatic and brilliant.
Claire Waldoff: Lieber Leierkastenmann.
Claire Waldoff was a successful cabaret singer and icon of lesbian life in Berlin in the 1910s and 1920s. Unfortunately she did not put up much resistance against the Nazis. Still a fascinating person. This song, 'Dear Hurdy-gurdy Man', describes Berlin ironically and affectionately.
The Ramones: Born To Die In Berlin.
A rather disturbing song about Berlin and intoxication. The ramones were an amazing, very powerful band, and there is no way I could not include this song.
Einstürzende Neubauten: Blume.
Einstürzende Neubauten are a brilliant industrial band, and this song and video are very fascinating.
The Cure: Untitled.
Some of the central themes of the book are wistfulness, loneliness and loss. These themes are treated in many songs by The Cure, but this one is one of my big favourites.
Hazel Dickens: Rebel Girl (Words and music by Joe Hill).
This song was written by famous Swedish-American labour activist Joe Hill in 1911 and is performed by feminist, pro-union activist Bluegrass singer Hazel Dickens. It calls for more women to be involved in the workers' movement - and I will always see it as a song about Karoline.
This song was written by famous Swedish-American labour activist Joe Hill in 1911 and is performed by feminist, pro-union activist Bluegrass singer Hazel Dickens. It calls for more women to be involved in the workers' movement - and I will always see it as a song about Karoline.