Dschinghis Khan was a West German pop band, created in 1979 to compete in the Eurovision Song Contest.^[1] The name of the band was chosen to fit the song of the same name, written and produced by Ralph Siegel with lyrics by Bernd Meinunger.

The band's song "Moscow" was a big hit in Australia in 1980, staying at number 1 for six weeks. The song was used as the theme music for the Channel 7 coverage of the Olympic games held in Moscow the same year.

While the group broke up in the mid-1980s, the German video for "Moskau" was a part of the show Disco on ZDF; as was their similarly staged number "Dschinghis Khan".

History

The original members of the group were Louis Hendrik Potgieter, Steve Bender, Leslie Mándoki, Edina Pop and the husband and wife pair Wolfgang and Henriette Heichel.

The group re-formed in late 2005 performing at the Olympiyski Arena in Moscow on December 17, 2005.

The band toured in 2006–2007 with singing and dancing group The Legacy of Dschinghis Khan and released the CD "7 Leben" (7 Lives). It was the band's first release since 2004's "Best of" compilation Jubilee.

In the second half of 2008, the band briefly entered Japanese music charts with the single "Dschinghis Khan Tartar Mix", performed by the all-girl group Berryz Kobo and featuring Dschinghis Khan's original vocals.^[2][3] The single followed the success of Berryz Kobo's "Dschinghis Khan" cover. The music video for the new song had Berryz Kobo imitating Dschinghis Khan's original performance.

Interesting facts

In the interview to Russian TV presenter Alexandra Glotova the producer of the group Dschinghis Khan Heinz Gross said that in 1980s the band was forbidden in USSR and was accused of anticommunism and nationalism. ^[4]

Discography

Longplay

• Dschinghis Khan (1979)
• Rom (1980) (Rome)
• Viva (1980)
  • Re-release of Rom without bonus tracks.
• Wir sitzen alle im selben Boot (1981) (We're all sitting in the same boat)
• Helden, Schurken & der Dudelmoser (1982) (Heroes, Rogues & the Dudelmoser)
• Corrida (1983) (The Bullfight)
• Huh Hah Dschinghis Khan - Ihre Grössten Erfolge (1993)
• Die Großen Erfolge (1999)
• Star Collection (2002)
• Jubilee (2004)
• 7 Leben (2007) (7 Lives)

Singles

German releases

• "Dschinghis Khan" (1979)
• "Moskau" (1979)
• "Hadschi Halef Omar" (1979)
• "Rocking Son Of Dschinghis Khan" (1979)
• "Rom" (1980)
• "Samurai" (1980)
• "Machu Picchu" (1980)
• "Pistolero" (1981)
• "Loreley" (1981) (Lorelei)
• "Wir sitzen alle im selben Boot" (1981)
• "Klabautermann" (1982)
• "Der Dudelmoser" (1982)
• "Mata Hari" (1982)
• "Himalaja" (1983) (Himalaya)
• "Rose Four María Magdalena" (1983)
• "Olé Olé" (1984)

Australian release

• "Moscow" (1980) (#1) (as Genghis Khan)

External links

• Official Site

References