5July
Next in the list of Great German Hits that were never even released in the UK comes Ben. He was twenty in 2002, when he had his big hit Engel
. It's a slow song, written about a relationship that has soured. You do not feel this hurt in me, you do not see I can no more help me, he sings in the opening stanza, and continues the theme in the chorus, Angels cry - angels suffer, Angel spends times alone. Soured, but not beyond redemption, as the closing lines indicate, Where is the light that connects us? What separates us both? I read a word in the mote of your eye.
The female vocals are from Gim, a session musician who hasn't done much herself. Engel
was a number two single in Germany for six weeks in March and April 2002, kept from the top throughout by Whenever wherever
. He would have two more top twenty hits before the year was out, the more upbeat Herz aus Glas
(Heart of glass) and another mushy number, Gesegnet seist du
(Happy you). His second album, 2003's Leben leben
was something of a flop, and Ben has since concentrated on television work.
