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Tokio Hotel

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Tokio Hotel

Tokio Hotel is a German pop rock band. The quartet has scored four number one singles, two number one albums and claim to have sold nearly 3 million CDs and DVDs in their homeland.[1] So far they have had much chart success in Germany and Austria. They also had some chart success in France, [2][3] Italy,[4][5], Israel[6], Denmark[citation needed] and in Switzerland. [7] but have had little success in English speaking countries despite releasing an English language versions of Scream and Ready, Set, Go! in the UK. [6]

History

Originally formed in 2001 under the name Devilish, the band began playing in talent shows and small concerts. After Bill Kaulitz's participation in a children's Star Search in 2003 (which he lost in the quarter-final), he was discovered by music producer Peter Hoffmann. Devilish changed their name to Tokio Hotel ("Tokio", the German language spelling of the city Tokyo, Japan, which they love, and "Hotel", due to their constant touring and sleeping in hotels), and Sony BMG took them under contract. Hoffmann hired David Jost and Pat Benzner into the team of creators and authors, and had them give the children instruction on songwriting and instrument playing. However, shortly before publication of the first album, Sony terminated their contract. In 2005, Universal Music Group took Tokio Hotel under contract and developed a marketing plan. Several DJ's such as Basement Jaxx, Melodik Pinpon, Bob Sinclar and Givichy Universal have remixed Tokio Hotel songs.[citation needed] Bill and Tom both have a step sister also by the name of Kirsty.

Band Members

Career

Their first single, "Durch den Monsun" (Through the Monsoon), quickly rose in the charts, appearing on the German official Media Control single charts at #15 on 20 August 2005 and eventually reaching #1 on 26 August 2005; it reached #1 on the Austrian music charts as well. Their second single, "Schrei" (Scream), climbed to the #5 position in the German charts. Their debut album, "Schrei", was released on 19 September 2005; the album later received a platinum certification [8]. These two songs were written by singer Bill Kaulitz together with their group of producers Peter Hoffmann, David Jost, Pat Benzer and Dave Roth. In 2006, a third and fourth single, "Rette Mich" (Rescue Me) and "Der Letzte Tag" (The Final Day), were released; both reached #1 as well. The "Der Letzte Tag"-single also contained a B-side called "Wir Schließen Uns Ein", which was accompanied by a music video as well.

The first single off their second album "Zimmer 483" (Room 483), called "Übers Ende der Welt" (later re-released in English under the name "Ready, Set, Go!"), was released on 26 January 2007 and quickly reached #1. The "Zimmer 483" album was released on 28 February 2007, with a deluxe edition of the album, containing a DVD, also becoming available. Their second single from the album, "Spring Nicht" (Don't Jump) was released on 7 April 2007. The tour accompanying the release of the album, the Zimmer 483 tour, was scheduled to start in March 2007, but was delayed by two weeks because the band members wished to have a new stage. A third single from the album "An Deiner Seite (Ich Bin Da)" (By Your Side) was released on the 16th of November. The single also contains a B-side, called "1000 Meere" (1000 Oceans) which was also accompanied by a music video.

While their German CDs never received official releases outside the German-speaking world, Tokio Hotel's first English album "Scream" was released on the 4 June 2007 in all of Europe. In Germany, the album was released as "Room 483" in order to emphasize the continuity with their last German album "Zimmer 483". The album consists of English versions of a selection of songs from their German-language albums "Schrei" and "Zimmer 483". "Monsoon", the English version of "Durch den Monsun", was the first single from the album. "Ready, Set, Go!", the English version of "Übers Ende der Welt", was released as the album's second single. The third single was "By Your Side". A video for "Scream", the English version of their 2005 hit "Schrei", was also recorded, although the song has not been released so far.

Tokio Hotel gave their first concert in the United Kingdom on 19 June 2007. "Ready, Set, Go!" was released in the UK as the band's first single on 27 August 2007. The song reached #77 in the Singles Chart. A special UK edition of "Scream" (including new, unreleased tracks) is scheduled for release in early 2008.

Tokio Hotel won an EMA for InterAct on November 1st 2007, exactly 2 months after the twins turned 18. They also performed "Monsoon" at the event.

Tokio Hotel released their first US single, "Scream America", on December 11, 2007. The single is available exclusively at Hot Topic, and contains the tracks "Scream" and a remix of "Ready, Set, Go!" made by Jade Puget in the band AFI. The single, as well as an article on the International Music Feed's website, also tells fans to look for the "Scream" album in the USA, coming April 15, 2008. As recently as October 10th, 2007, Tokio Hotel's music video "Ready, Set, Go!" has played on the American television channel the International Music Feed.

Awards

2005

  • Comet: Best Newcomer 2005, Supercomet
  • Bambi-Verleihung: Pop-National
  • 1live-Krone: Best Newcomer

2006

  • Echo: Best Newcomer
  • Goldener Pinguin: Best Newcomer
  • Radio Regenbogen Awards: Pop-National
  • Steiger Award: Newcomer

2007

  • Jan 2007: European Border Breakers Award (for the album "Schrei")
  • Jan 2007: BZ-Kulturpreis: (Rock)
  • Mar 2007: Echo: Best Music Video
  • Apr 2007: Bravo - Goldener Otto: Superrockband
  • May 2007: Viva Comet: Supercomet
  • May 2007: Viva Comet: Best Band
  • May 2007: Viva Comet: Best Music Video
  • Jul 2007: Jabra Music: Die Beste Band )(The Best Band)
  • Sep 2007: Festivalbar Premio Digital
  • Sep 2007: Goldene Stimmgabel: Best Rock International
  • Oct 2007: Belgian TMF awards: Best Video
  • Oct 2007: Belgian TMF awards: Best Album
  • Oct 2007: Belgian TMF awards: Best Pop
  • Oct 2007: Belgian TMF awards: Best New Artist
  • Nov 2007: MTV Europe Music Awards (Munich): Inter Act
  • Nov 2007: Nickelodeon Kid's Choice Awards (Milão) - Best Band

Discography

Further information: Tokio Hotel discography

Albums

Singles

DVD's

References

  1. ^ "Bio".tokiohotel-us.com/bio
  2. ^ "French-single-chart".ifop.com/europe/sondages/top50/sgl0744.stm
  3. ^ "French-album-chart".ifop.com/europe/sondages/topalb/alb0744.stm
  4. ^ in"Italian-single-chart".fimi.it/classifiche.asp?idtipo_classifica=3
  5. ^ "Italian-Album-chart".fimi.it/classifiche.asp?idtipo_classifica=1
  6. ^ a b Tokio Hotel - and Other German Rock Bands You May Not Have Heard of
  7. ^ "Swiss-Album-chart".swisscharts.com/search.asp?search=tokio+hotel&cat=a
  8. ^ "Certification".musikindustrie.de/gold_platin_datenbank.html.
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