"Berliner Luft" or "Das ist die Berliner Luft" is a marching rhythm operetta song written by Paul Lincke in 1904 to a text by Heinrich Bolten-Baeckers.
It was initially part of a two-act burlesque of the same name, that premiered in Berlin's Apollo-theater on April 28, 1904 and quickly disappeared from the schedule, but was soon heard as an independent piece of music in concert halls in and around Berlin
It was not until 1922 that "Berliner Luft" was included in the course of a full-length expansion in the one-act operetta "Frau Luna" (which originally had premiered in 1899)
In 1904 the song most likely was first recorded by the Berliner Elite-Orchester (conducted by Bruno Seidler-Winkler)
(o) Berliner Elite-Orchester (1904) (as "Marsch aus Berliner Luft")
Matrix 7x
Released on G&T # 40691
(c) Berliner Elite-Orchester (1904) (as "Marsch aus Berliner Luft")
Matrix 45y
Released on G&T # 40818
Listen here: www.russian-records.com/data/media/129/GC-40818.mp3
The first vocal version was recorded the same year
(c) Fräulein Cornegg, Fräulein Muller, Robert Steidl, Martin Kettner, Anton Rieck (1904)
(as: "Berliner Luft: Marschlied")
Matrix 35y
Released on G&T # 44433
(c) Max Büchner (1904) (as "Das ist die Berliner Luft")
Recorded September 1904 in Berlin
Released in 1905 on a 2 minute Edion cylinder # 15111
One month later, Berlin-born Grete Wiedecke sang a modified text in the first verse.
"Berliner Luft", the city's secret hymn, became a parody of current affairs.
(c) Grete Wiedecke (1905) (as "(as "Berliner Luft: Marschlied")
Recorded October 1904 in Berlin
Released in 1905 on a 2 minute Edion cylinder # 15187
SEE: Sammlung Online
Lyrics
Ein Gutsinspektor, als mit Müh'n sein Korn er hat gedroschen,
Gab einer Bank hier in Berlin die schwer ersparten Groschen.
Nach Moabit im dunklen Drang ging dann der Herr Inspektor,
Herrjeh, auf der Verbrecherbank sitzt ja mein Bankdirektor!
Ja ja – ja ja – ja ja ja ja ja! Das macht die Berliner Luft, Luft, Luft,
äußerlich die feinste Kluft, Kluft, Kluft
In 1905 August Svensson recorded a Swedish version
(c) August Svensson (1905) (as "Stockholmsluft")
Swedish lyrics: Emil Norlander
Recorded June 1905 in Berlin
Released on Concert Record Gramophone V-72488
Listen here:
Berliner Elite-Orchester's 1904 version was also released in an abridged version on a 5½ inch Zonophone 78 RPM disc, performers name on this version Seidler's Orchester.
(c) Seidler's Orchester (1905) (as "Marsch aus "Berliner Luft")
Released on a 5½ inch Zonophone O-20546
Listen here:
In 1906 brother and sister Louis and Rika Davids recorded a Dutch version of "Berliner Luft".
(c) Louis and Rika Davids (1906) (as "Een Reisje Langs Den Ryn")
Dutch lyrics Louis Davids
Released on Lyrophon # 900
Listen here:
(c) Jaapie Kelder (Purmerend) (1908) (as "Berliner Luft: Marsch")
Recorded June 1908 in The Hague (Den Haag)
Matrix 8580 (99105)
Released on the Gramophone-label X-39105
SEE:Suf-e
(c) Victor Orchestra (1909) (as "Berlin Echoes")
Recorded August 11, 1909 in Camden, New Jersey
Released on Victor 16357
Listen here: Berlin Echoes - Victor Orchestra - Lincke.mp3
In 1941 the operetta "Frau Luna" was made into a movie, in which Lizzi Waldmüller sang her version of "Berliner Luft".
Watch it here:
(c) Zarah Leander (1957) (as "Sekelskiftets Luft")
Swedish lyrics by Karl Gerhard
Recorded March 22, 1957 in Stockholm
Released on Odeon SD-5901
Listen here:
Zarah Leander also sang a German version of "Berliner Luft"
Listen here:
In 1969 the father/daughter duo Willy and Willeke Alberti sang a Dutch cover of the 1906 Louis and Rika Davids version
(c) Willy en Willeke Alberti (1969) (as "Reisje Langs de Rijn")
Listen here:
In 1972 an ecological adaptation of the song was presented in the Dutch satirical radio-programm "Cursief".
(c) Gerard Cox and Luc Lutz (1972) (as "Reisje Langs de Rijn")
Dutch lyrics: Michel van der Plas
Listen here (at 16 min and 3 sec in the YT below)
In 1973 Dutch diva Adèle Bloemendaal recorded a cover of the above mentioned satirical version, as the B-side to her carnival hit song "Hallelujah Kameraden"
(c) Adèle Bloemendaal (1973) (as "Reisje Langs de Rijn")
Listen here:
(c) Le Grand JoJo (1974) (as "Le Bal Tyrolien")
Released on Vogue VB 348
(c) Andre van Duin (1980) (in an untitled medley)
Listen here (at 2 min and 25 sec in YT below)
(c) Dolf Brouwers (1988) (as "Al Die Rotzooi In De Rijn")
Listen here:
