Famous German Lyricists & Songwriters

Nico was a German musician, singer, and songwriter. Her work continues to serve as an inspiration to several musicians like Björk, Morrissey, and the English rock band The Cure. In 2017, Susanna Nicchiarelli directed Nico's biographical film titled Nico, 1988. Also an actress, Nico appeared in many films, including Andy Warhol's experimental underground film Chelsea Girls.

Kim Petras is a German singer-songwriter currently based in USA. She was assigned male at birth and underwent medical gender transition as a teenager. Interested in music from a young age, she began recording music as a teenager. Her debut single topped several viral music charts on Spotify. Since then, she has released many hit albums and singles. 

Zedd is a Russian-German songwriter, record producer, and DJ. He is best known for his 2012 single, Clarity, which earned him a Grammy Award in 2014 after peaking at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Although he mainly performs and produces electro house music, Zedd also draws inspiration from dubstep, progressive house, and classical music.

German singer/songwriter Gabriele Susanne Kerner, better known as Nena, soared to international fame with the hit 99 Luftballons. Known for her energetic performances, Nena is also a mother of four and has co-founded the Neue Schule Hamburg school, based on the American Sudbury model of education.

Lena Meyer-Landrut is a German singer-songwriter who rose to fame after participating in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010. Her debut album peaked at No.1 in Germany and was accredited Platinum. She has since released many hit albums and singles. Besides singing, she has also served as a coach on five seasons of the reality TV series The Voice Kids.  

German record producer Frank Farian founded iconic pop groups such as Boney M. and No Mercy. He was accused of showcasing attractive dancers as members of Milli Vanilli, while others had actually sung the songs. He has also been associated with groups such as La Bouche and Eruption.

Matthias Schweighofer is a German actor, film director, voice actor, and producer. Over the course of his career, Schweighofer has received several prestigious awards like the German Television Prize, Adolf Grimme Award, and Bavarian Film Award. Matthias Schweighofer is also a fashion enthusiast; he is credited with co-founding a fashion label named German Garment along with television presenter Joko Winterscheidt.

Klaus Nomi was a German countertenor with a wide vocal range. He wore heavy makeup, unusual costumes, and a highly stylized signature hairdo. He had an otherworldly stage persona that was unique to him. His music was also considered unusual. He suffered from AIDS and was one of the earliest musicians known to die of the illness.  

German singer/songwriter Dieter Bohlen redefined the Eurobeat in the 1980s and is also known as the Pop-Titan. He formed the duo Modern Talking with Thomas Anders, creating international superhits such as Brother Louie. He later went solo as Blue System, releasing hits such as Gangster Love, before rejoining Modern Talking.

German singer-songwriter Zoe Wees soared to fame with her debut single, Control, which detailed her struggle with epilepsy. She followed it up with Girls Like Us. Raised by her mother, she first experimented with music as a child and often wrote her songs in English instead of German.

With 15 albums that have topped the German music charts, Romanian-born German musician Peter Maffay, holds the German record for the highest number of no. 1 albums. He excelled in both rock and schlager and created the media franchise Tabaluga that featured a green dragon. He also launched a foundation for abused children.

German singer-songwriter Wolf Biermann caused massive protests among the German public after his 1976 expatriation from the German Democratic Republic. His communist ideals and political theater caused him to be banned in East Germany. His East German citizenship, too, was revoked. His song Ermutigung talks about his struggles.