Bläck Fööss - 5Ö
Flyctory.com Pros
- 50 years of Cologne band history
- Many re-recordings differ significantly from the original
- Very good collaborations, which add quite new character
50 years of Bläck Fööss – the “naked feet”, what is the literal translation of their band name are a constant in Cologne music, not only in carnival. Multiple songs are closely related to the history, but also to the hearts of their German home town. In order to celebrate the band anniversary, they released the album 5Ö on 6th November 2020, majorly including their greatest songs in new versions.

Bläck Fööss – About The Artists
When the Bläck Fööss have been found in 1970, their members played in several different groups. The six founding members were Thomas “Tommy” Engel, Ernst “Erry” Stiklosa, Günter “Bömmel” Lückerath, Hartmut Priess, Franz Peter Schütten and Dieter “Joko” Jaenisch, who is the only founding member, who already died (in 1998). Stoklose and Lückerath are still band members today and thus did the whole fifty years of band history. They are now accompanied by Mirko Bäumer, Hanz Thodam, Pit Hupperten, Ralph “Gus” Gusovius and Andreas Wegener. During the founding years, Cologne carnival parties often included international songs like Beatles or Kinks tracks – and thus, there was an increasing demand for songs sung in Kölsch, the Cologne-style German dialect.
One of the first songs published was the 1971 Drink doch ene met, which has initially been declined by the record companies (who wanted to have English language songs), but is nowadays one of the biggest songs of the band and about Cologne lifestyle. The band became popular in Cologne carnival as well as in other times of the year and feature a wide range of songs, if you look at the genres. The first album, which made it to the Top 10 in Germany was Links eröm – rächs eröm (“Turn left – turn right”) in 1977. Overall, five album made it, the band overall published 47 albums (studio, live and official best of albums). Some of the songs are covers by original songs. Du … (bes die Stadt) (“You … are the city”, an homage to Cologne), for example is based on the bagpie classic Highland Cathedral.
Bläck Fööss – 5Ö – Track by Track
The album consists of 19 songs and lasts 73 minutes. There is just one new song, 50 Johr. Many of the re-recordings are collaborations with famous Cologne and German music scene musicians.

1. 50 Johr
50 Johr (“50 Years”) is a looking back to 50 years of band history. The only original on the album refers to a lot of big songs of the band, but also to the transformation over time. On the other hand, the chorus is simply giving a true and proud statement:
Fuffzich Johr met Musik еm Bloot
Fuffzich Johr, et deit immer noch joot
All diе Leeder, die de hück noch kenns
Die singe sujar noch de Pänz vun d’r Pänz vun d’r Pänz
(“50 years with music in the blood
50 years – it is still working out well
All the songs you still know
are sung by the kids of the kids of the kids”)
Truly, even after 50 years and all the changes, the Fööss are still a key part of the million people metropolitan city at the River Rhine. Lovely song.
2. Drink doch eine met (feat. Wolfgang Niedecken)
Drink doch eine met (“Have a drink with us”) is one of the most classic Cologne songs of all – describing the Cologne feeling that you are typically not too alone if you are going to a bar. Wolfgang Niedecken, who is famous in all German-speaking countries as head of the Cologne rock band BAP, turns this song into an even more quiet and intimate song with a lot of blues in it. Lovely!
3. Dat Wasser vun Kölle (feat. BeerBitches)
The BeerBitches are a Cologne music trio consisting of Nadine Weyer, Irina Ehlenbeck and Carolin Kebekus, who became massively famous in Germany as a comedian as well. Together with the Bläck Fööss, they transfer Dat Wasser von Kölle (“The Water of Cologne”), one of the biggest Fööss classics into a rhythmic track with a touch of hip hop elements. Already the first two re-recordings of 50 Johr are really promising.
4. Moni hat geweint (feat. Heino)
Heino is a German schlager and traditional folk singer. In recent years, he surprised as a quite decent singer of rock cover version. There are electric guitars in the backing, but overall the song (“Moni has cried”) turns into a quite traditional Heino sound. Well done.
5. Buchping vun Heimwih (feat. Hape Kerkeling)
Hape Kerkeling became famous as a comedian and TV host. He is not too much into the show business any more, but for example wrote books about walking the Camino trail. Hape Kerkeling, who is living in nearby Bonn, is singing in standard German, while Hupperten is using Kölsch / Cologne German. Beautiful recording of Buchping vun Heimwih, which means “Belly aches of homesickness”.
6. Katrin (2020)
The 2020 version of Katrin, 35 years after the original release, transforms into an intimate, even more swing-alike track with big band sounds. So it rather becomes a travel back in time from 1985 than a transformation to the 2020’s. Cool!
7. Usjebomb (feat. Wolfgang Petry)
After Hape Kerkeling, the Black Fööss also re-activate Wolfgang Petry, who is nowadays rather doing publications as Pete Wolf (see his 2084 album review). Usjebomb (“Bombed out”) describes how carnival even survived after the crucial post-WW2 situation.
8. Pütze Hein – A-Cappella (feat. BeerBitches)
Pütze Hein describes the circle of life from the birth of “Hein Pütz” to the birth of the sun. The BeerBitches version here has rather the character of an a capella recording with beat box sounds. Very different from the first BeerBitches collaboration on the album. Great to explore this variety of sounds.
9. Ich han ‘nen Deckel (feat. AnnenMayKantereit)
Cologne band AnnenMayKantereit has been growing a massive international fan base over the last days. The song describes the story of somebody moving from Cologne to Berlin and being homesick. Ich han ‘nen Deckel thereby refers to a traditional way of having dues at your local bar, being written on a beer coaster. The 2020 re-recording has a touch of country music. A very deep and intimate version. Love it!
10. En d’r Weetschaff op d’r Eck (2020)
The second re-recording of a classic, recorded by the band only. En d’r Weetschaff op d’r Eck turns into a rock’n’roll track with a lot of guitar power. Great transformation.
11. Wenn de Sonn schön schingk (feat. Hape Kerkeling)
Wenn de Sonn schön schingk (“When the sun is nicely shining”) with Hape Kerkeling is comparably close to the original – a feelgood summer track which makes you dance. However, the Caribbean touch is just added to the song. Bad luck that we could not dance to this one this year.
12. En minger Bud (feat. Bruno Müller)
En minger Bud (“In my room/flat”) describes the beauty of Cologne, watched from your own home. The 2020 version adds a touch of jazz and swing to the song. Not my favorite version, but well done.
13. Ming eetste Fründin (2020)
The third time the Bläck Fööss do a re-recording on their own. The 2020 song version feels like summer, like Hawaii – and thus definitely leaves a bright smile in my face.
14. Alles für die Liebe (feat. Biggi Wanninger)
While the Bläck Fööss are rather representing traditional carnival in Cologne, Biggi Wanninger is a key head of the alternative carnival in Cologne, as she is organizing the very snappy and satirical Stunksitzung carnival session. Thus, it is quite a symbol for the wide range of carnival that Wanninger is represented in these 50 years review of band history. The song, Alles für die Liebe (“All for love”) is a 1950’s style acoustic recording. Nice.
15. Bye Bye My Love (feat. Howard Carpendale)
The importance and popularity of the Bläck Fööss is most impressively illustrated by this collaboration: South African-origin Howard Carpendale is a huge name in the German schlager scene. Melodically, the version of Bye Bye My Love is comparably close to the original, but Carpendale’s characteristic touch in the vocals is just turning the song to one of the highlights of the album.
16. Frankreich, Frankreich (feat. Tom Gaebel)
Indeed, Frankreich, Frankreich (“France, France”) has been the only nationwide Top 10 single by the Bläck Fööss in their whole band history. With jazz singer Tom Gaebel, the song turns a big band spectacle. Maybe the best song on the album.
17. Unsere Stammbaum (feat. WDR Radio Orchestra)
The 2000 Unsere Stammbaum (“Our Genealogy”) is to me overall the song which best describes Cologne diversity, tolerance and living together. The 2000 original is the first of three bonus tracks, which have been recorded with the WDR (Western Germany / Northrhine-Westfalia) Radio Orchestra (WDR Funkhausorchester). Having this song with a classic symphonic orchestra is simply touching. Tears in my eyes.
18. Schön, dat mer noch zosamme sin (feat. WDR Radio Orchestra)
The second song with the symphonic orchestra, Schön, dat mer noch zosamme sin (“Great that we are still together”) is so intimate and intense, it is simply touching. No chance to dry the tears after Unsere Stammbaum.
19. En unserem Veedel (feat. WDR Radio Orchestra)
The album closes with the song I would name to be the most classic Bläck Fööss one (but you would be also right if you would insist that there are others which are even more classic…). En unserem Veedel describes the community sense within the Cologne boroughs and that people stand together even in tough times. They kept the applause in the recording – and that’s simply well deserved.
Bläck Fööss – 5Ö – Track by Track
Here is the Spotify widget to 5Ö:
Bläck Fööss – 5Ö – My View
You definitely do not need to raise another musical monument for the Bläck Fööss in Cologne – the band is likely the most traditional act of the city, so many songs touch the hearts of the inhabitants anyway. Yet, 5Ö is just another proof that you cannot take away the band from the city. Let’s hope for fifty more years. The songs of the Fööss are the heartbeat of Cologne – and the new versions are just illustrating how good and versatile they are. The album is an 73 minute travel through the band history, but also through the feelings and emotions people (including myself) have towards my home town.
I do not like Best of albums too much – but this one is definitely having a lot of feeling and character by itself. It may simply be because the album is touching my feelings and memories much more than if you come from any other part of the world, but if you have a certain touch for Cologne, this album might be close to be your album of the year. Great one.
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Michael Moravek already made it into my Songs of the Week thrice. The last time has been as of 10th January 2025 ...
There are not too many bands who dare to release albums a few days before Christmas. The more I was ...
The Christmas season also offers the opportunity to focus on some artists, who might not make it into Flyctory.com reviews ...
German artist Mense traveled through Spain for half a year. It was only himself, his wife and his dog Angus, ...
In July 2023, I reviewed a very unique album making it to a full 5.0/5.0 rating on Flyctory.com. Germany's pop ...
The holiday season is typically also prime time for Best of albums. Lauschangriff is a collection of the biggest hits of Heinz Rudolf ...
Sometimes, when I scan new music releases, I run into songs or albums, which simply make me smile. One of ...
Propaganda defined the German synth-pop scene in the 1980's. After three break-ups, they are back with a new album in ...
"Stand Up! Keep going!" is the (translated) title of the new album by Sebastian Krumbiegel. The featured singles of the ...
I does not happen too often that I set up a new edition for my Songs of the Week and decide ...
After I had a country and country rock block the weekend before, it is time to add some harder tunes ...
Meg Pfeiffer popped up here and there in my Flyctory.com postings. On 23rd August 2024, the German singer-songwriter, who is ...
On the weekend of 5th July 2024, I feature some interesting releases by German artists. One of them is T.G ...
Bad Temper Joe is one of the finest German blues artists. I have covered his releases twice already, One Can Wreck ...
Doing hard rock with a saxophone? Human Zoo simply do it! On 14th June 2024, some eight years after their ...
Atlantis Drive is a brand new hard rock band. The roots are from Germany, but the band features international band ...
In 2010, Germany fell in love with a 19-year old lady. Lena managed to do what somehow felt impossible for ...
I already featured the band Ochmoneks twice in my Songs of the Week, on 9th June and on 7th July 2023 ...
The German rock band is already active since more than two decades. Not too surprisingly, the band is having quite ...
Frank Renfordt is back - and this time he is wearing his cowboy hat again! The Cumberland River Project releases ...
I typically receive quite a lot of jazz promotion. However, I rarely find albums and EPs which I really enjoy ...
Which genre are you thinking about when the arrangement solely consists of a piano, a cello and a vocalist? If ...
In June 2021, I shared the album Guns Against Liberty. The band behind that album is the Hamburg-based melodic hardcore act ...
I am always a bit of extra-flattered when my most frequently used promotion platform shows an album by a German ...
Quite early before the release of Reliquien, I receved the first press information about the debut album by German artist ...
After a few mentions in my Songs of the Week, I was really looking forward to listen to the new album ...
Irish folk rock made in Franconia, Germany? Fiddler's Green proof that this can be quite a success. With The Green ...
Typically, there are two sorts of album reviews at Flyctory.com: I received the vast majority of reviews as a promo ...
A vacation album? The title Urlaub in der Bredouille sounds like a road trip album to some French region... But ...
Aufbruch is a very interesting EP release from Germany as of 15th December 2023. The band recording it, Ticket To Happiness ...
John Garner - this musical act name sounds like a solo artist, but is in fact a quintet. The German ...
December, when the frequency of album releases significantly decreases, is also a time for me to have some more outside-of-the-box ...
Even though the soil in Monheim was quite muddy, the Ben Zucker concert I had there in July was definitely ...
After their debut album Hollow Throne has already been successful, the German melodic post hardcore band Maelfoy is releasing their sophomore album ...
How could I ignore am album starting with a (for me) very special song released on a (for me) very ...
Finn & Jonas are twins. They are doing German indie-pop songs. After they grew regionally and have a national fan ...
Roberta John Joni Mitchell is a Canadian-US-American singer-songwriter, who majorly did folk and pop music in her career. She has won ...
Luke is a German artist and band, who are doing blues rock and Americana rock music. After two EP releases, ...
40 years of Doro Pesch on stage - I really feel a bit of bad that I am not in ...
It's already five years ago since Antje Schomaker released her debut album Von Helden und Halunken. The feature singles to her ...
In 2021, I introduced you to Alex Diehl the first time. That year, he released the amazing EP Die Songs, die ...
Big release day for Collapse Under The Empire: with Recurring, they don't just publish their tenth studio album overall, the German ...
Schrobenhausen North of Munich is typically known for as one of the German centers of asparagus farming. The city is ...
If you regularly follow my Songs of the Week, you already know the upcoming German artist Bellucci Boi. I introduced you ...
In March 2020, just at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, Melanie Wiegmann went to the Maltese island of Gozo ...
When I prepared for the review of this album, I read in one magazine article that Gregor McEwen is a ...
The title of the album Guten Morgen, schönes Leben translates to "Good morning, beautiful life". The artist who wrote it is German ...
Madsen is indeed a German family rock band. Three of the six band members are brothers, the band name is ...
Turn of Tides or Where the Waves Come From - that's quite an album title, ain't it? The artist behind ...
Sasha did so many genres already. He is majorly known as a pop artist, but also did rockabilly records with ...
Some interesting indie-pop from Germany: I already featured Santans in my Song of the Week postings. However, on 28th July 2028, ...
When I reviewed the album now by the German rock band Fury in the Slaughterhouse in April 2021, it has been their ...
Tom Astor is likely the most important living artist of the German country music scene. In 2023, he did not ...
I always enjoy introducing you to emerging artists. One of the reviews I feature about a rather less known artist ...
I love to have a look to German artists, which might not be in key focus of the media. Sören ...
I received the album Maniac by the Munich post-hardcore band Marathonmann way before its release on 19th May 2023. Short message: I ...
Catharsis by pain - that's a quote I read frequently about the Hamburg doom metal bnd Moor. For their debut ...
The album Therapy In Melody was definitely one I was looking forward to. Two of the featured singles by the band Indecent ...
There is quite some blues focus on the releases I opted to share with you released as of 5th May ...
The artist name Sebel is a short form for the civil name of the artist, Sebastian Niehoff. He is a ...
I am always glad to present you German artists, who have a touch of international-style Americana and country music influences ...
Just at the end of the week in which I covered the concert of the Wellerman band The Longest Johns, I ran ...
Reading sessions, artsexhibitions... and concerts - if you look at the tour dates of Kati von Schwerin, you already see ...
Das ist die Wahrheit - "That's the Truth" is the title of the 2023 album of the rock band VIVA ...
Four decades of guitar riffs - the hard rockers / metalheads Black Hawk already have quite a long history. The ...
Technically, I had already closed the list of potential reviews as of 24th March 2023. But then came Sophia and ...
Leony is one of the most interesting emerging artists in the German pop music market. She is currently part of ...
Wolfgang Petry is back: just about one and a half years after Auf das Leben and half a year after Crosswalk to ...
After I have been quite impressed by her recent development, I was quite curious about 24-1, the new album by German ...
They started as a school band in my home town and gained global reputation: AnnenMayKantereit released their fourth album Es ist ...
He is having the unofficial nickname The singing Gentleman's Cake and had a huge song about a cat's toilet - Helge Schneider ...
Medieval hard rock, Gothic, dance music? Tanzwut is definitely one of these bands in the German music scene, which are ...
I can't really you explain you my sympathy... But I ran into Kammer III, the latest album by Malte Vief ...
An album with a bunny - how could I not give a review of Warlord, the album by the stoner rock band ...
Time to present you some music from Germany this weekend: The Rehats are doing folk-pop and already exist since over ...
The 19th August 2022 edition of my Songs of the Week was lead by a Norwegian-origin band: Hey Rosie by ...
The band name Groenalund feels quite Swedish. In fact, there are references to Sweden in the band history. First of ...
Basta by the German band Sündflut is one of these records, which I just had a short listen to and just ...
Nina Hagen is one of the most iconic entertainers in the German cultural scene. The German "Godmother of Punk" wrote ...
Almost four decades of music, 13 albums, more than 6,000 shows - even though Boppin' B are no chart-busters, they ...
There are so many Christmas music albums each and every year - I typically try to filter out interesting ones ...
Especially if you frequently watch concerts in Germany and neighboring countries, you simply know Tina Tandler. You might not know ...
Artists like Wally from Germany are musical encounters which make me enjoy creating contents for Flyctory.com. I ran into his ...
Avantasia is back... again and again and again... What started as a one album... or two album metal opera turned ...
The studio album Perspektiven is actually my second album review of a Roland Kaiser release. After the Christmas album Weihnachtszeit, Kaiser is back ...
If you translate the band name Drei Meter Feldweg literally, you end up by "Three Meters of Country Lane". Sound ...
German schlager icon Wolfgang Petry is back with a new EP. After a "real" Wolfgang Petry album release, Auf das Leben, ...
LustfingeR is named to be one of the oldest punk / punk rock bands in Germany. The Southern German band ...
Also due to their rather well-known band members, More Than Words is one of the most promising country music acts ...
So good to have a new one from The Cumberland River Project: one of Germany's finest manufacturers of country music ...
Clara Louise is indeed a very multi-talented German artist. With Enough Is Enough, she is already releasing her sixth studio album ...
If you feel that Cologne Carnival songs or party music must be a rather regional and limited things, stats of ...
A big name and music legend of German rock is back: Marius Müller-Westernhagen releases Das eine Leben, his first studio album ...
Axel Rudi Pell is definitely one of the most well-known hard rock and metal acts from Germany. On 15th April ...
House of Change by Ann Doka has indeed bin one of the German artist albums I have been looking forward to ...
Nanee's song Frei Sein ("Be Free") impressed me that much that it made it's way into my Songs of the Week as ...
Der To is a German rock artist, who is active since 2010. On 11th March 2022, he is releasing his ...
70 years of Klaus Lage - the rock singer-songwriter is one of the most iconic artists of the German music ...
Matthias Reim is one of the big names in the German schlager-rock scene. After some rather difficult times, he came ...
Quite some artists used the Covid-19 limitation for some additional creativity. Tristan Harders, for example, invested the time during which ...
Short before the release date of 10th December 2021, I ran into the album Mehr Davon ("More of that") by the ...
The title Quieter Pt. 2 already suggests that there has been a first part of Emma Longard's series of songs. Indeed, ...
"Blues rock with a Texan touch" - that's how the press kit to their second album Time For Decisions is describing ...
Hämatom feels to be a truly active band: just some eight months after I reviewed - and enjoyed their album ...
The press kit to this EP opens with "Another singer-songwriter who is writing about his personal lovesickness. Does the world ...
Dieter Hallervorden is a very famous entertainer in Germany. However, his biggest times in the music business have been the ...
An album full of blues and funk which sounds so much like a US production, but is very German - ...
Honestly, when I ran into his debut album Achtung Leben, I did not know anything about Michael Heppes. However, the album ...
Seventeen studio albums so far - #17 on 29th October 2021 - the German band Running Wild has quite an ...
Santiano became a huge player in the German music scene. They mix rock with shanty and sailor music style sounds ...
One of the German schlager artists I honor most is definitely Roland Kaiser. He is active since decades and is ...
I had a quite long list - and range - of album to select from for my 1st October 2021 ...
In December 2019, I praised the album 2084 by the Pete Wolf Band. The artist behind that project is Wolfgang ...
Without a doubt, Peter Maffay is nowadays one of the most well-known rock artists singing in German. As a result ...
A tribute band growing to an album with seven very own songs and two covers: Freakstorm from Gummersbach near Cologne ...
From Kiddo Kat to Annie Chops: her album Piece of Cake was one of the first ones I reviewed on Flyctory.com ...
Friday, the 13th: I am sure that Perlregen, did not think that their new album Drei (meaning ("Three") could turn ...
Some country from Germany: just in the week I did the second edition of my German Songs Country Music Picks, ...
Tacheles reden is a German saying which means that you have a very straight and honest discussion, expressing your clear ...
I just have to admit: I like to listen to very few kinds of jazz, but I am absolutely not ...
The sound of Razz feels very international - but in fact they are from the Emsland, a Northwest region in ...
Time to bang your head again: the German metal big guns Helloween are back in the record stores, six years ...
Modern country from Bavaria? No, this is not about Nik Wallner, but about pez, who is singing in English and ...
I ran into the music of the German singer-songwriter Karlie Apriori, when I checked for 11th June 2021 releases. The ...
New hardcore album from the North of Germany: Anchors & Hearts recorded their fourth album Guns Against Liberty and will ...
Indigo by Noah Levi is another publication with talent show background: in young teenage years, Noah Levi became famous by ...
From a school band to a flat share and finally their debut album - this is a very short wrap-up ...
After having released her debut album in 2015 already. Emma Longard will release two EPs with new songs in 2021 ...
Sing meinen Song ("Sing My Song") is definitely one of my favorite German TV music shows. A group of music artist ...
It can't be too bad to have a smile in these times, can it? When I ran into the German ...
Since about half a decade, Wincent Weiss became a big name in the German-singing pop music scene. After two successful ...
Some new music from my home town: Klee is a German pop act, who have been quite successful in the ...
Fury in the Slaughterhouse were indeed a very successful German rock act, especially in the 1990's. They have definitely been ...
More than thirty years ago, Diane Weigmann was part of the founding of a legendary German band, the Lemonbabies. She ...
Alphaville, Ultravox and Mike & The Mechanics on one album? Okay, I have to give in that neither of the ...
Blues made in Germany? Even though this might sound like an almost average experience, Bad Temper Joe has gained quite ...
Nino de Angelo is one of my favorite German artists. I will definitely tell you about a very special concert ...
Apart from global mainstream sounds, there are some genres, which have a quite local popularity. The German Schlager is one ...
Sodom is one of the finest names for Thrash Metal made in Germany. The band is already having a 38 ...
From street music to the tops of the German charts - Saltatio Mortis have taken the very tough route to ...
Undoubtedly, Van de Forst is one of the most interesting German acts in the country music scene. Her country / ...
Scanning the new releases as of 28th August 2020, I ran into the Hamburg-based band miu. The gained quite some ...
When I read about the collaboration, I knew I just had to do a review of this project: one of ...
Country music made in Germany? There are more and more projects which feel to be very promising. In my point ...
Time for some discussions in the German music scene - the Böhse Onkelz released their 17th studio album on 28th ...
Heinz Rudolf Kunze is one of the biggest songwriters and rock musicians in Germany. Already in the 1980s, he had ...
Though the Pete Wolf Band just released their second album on 6th December 2019, they are big names in the ...
I was quite stunned when I ran into an Instagram advertisement: Björn Heuser, a Cologne singer- songwriter just recently released ...
Kiddo Kat already a viral hit on Youtube in 2016. Now, Anna Guder produced her first album "Piece of Cake" ...