<!–
–>
<!–
–>
She growls, whispers, shrieks, babbles, rolls the R, plays the role of the over-the-top, is at the same time an angry punk rock brat, an esoteric hippie supermother, a political activist and an eccentric pop diva. So Nina Hagen does everything you expect her to do on Unity, and she does it well. For example, when she celebrates solidarity in a pathetic, enthusiastic and funky grooving way. She enlists the support of Liz Mitchell and Lene Lovich on “United Women Of The World” and George Clinton on the title track, where a dub-reggae number meets the spiritual “Wade In The Water”.
She growls, whispers, shrieks, babbles
It’s debatable whether the world really needs another cover of country folk classic “16 Tons” or the Germanization of Dylan’s “Blowin’ In The Wind.” But the album is really good when Nina Hagen doesn’t do what is expected of her: when she frees herself from the over-the-top and becomes gentle in the dance-pop number “Geld, Geld, Geld” or the record with “It Doesn’t Matter Now”, a beguiling duet with Bob Geldof in tin pan alley sound.
SIMILAR ARTICLES
ROLLING STONE in December – Cover Story: Leonard Cohen
The story of “Hallelujah”, musicians meet musicians, features about Nina Hagen and Santigold. Plus lyrics about Noah Baumbach, Element Of Crime, Sloan, Richard Dawson and Bono.
Boomtown Rats guitarist Garry Roberts has died
“We’ve known Garry since we were kids and we feel oddly unsteady without him tonight,” said Bob Geldof’s band sadly.
Anthony Kiedis had an affair with Nina Hagen in the 80s
German women seem to have taken a liking to the frontman of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Heidi Klum has also greatly enriched his life.
<!–
–>
<!–
–>