If one takes the time to think about it, one of the most fascinating aspects of Oktoberfest is the bands. Live music played before a malleable and excitable audience can be a show within a show. There is a band in each tent rocking the party tunes after dusk when the tone of the party changes. You can find a list of American songs (here), but this space is devoted to those songs sung in English but are from places beyond the USA, again in so certain order. Let me know in the comments what you think! Thanks!

1.  Whether you correctly agree that AC/DC’s 12 albums are like a carton of eggs, or, somehow, believe they’re a treasure chest of Krispy Kremes, it is in an Oktoberfest beer tent you will hear a steady stream of AC/DC hits as evidence for both. It matters not which tent you choose. “Highway to Hell” & “TNT” get plenty of air, but it is “You Shook Me All Night Long” that is the clear winner. It’s the directness in the lyrics of the (hopefully) intended shaking later that strengthens the Germans’ libido. German men kind of like the song too.

2.  Keeping up the Australia connection, You’re the One That I Want with Olivia Newton-John is a crowd pleaser that everyone from 16 to 60 sings with equal abandon. More than a few Bavarian Dannys have been seen kneeling in front of their randy Sandy, singing and garbling along due to the condition of their inebriety and general difficulties for Germans with English’s connected speech, “(garbled) da one dat I want, vhoo-vhoo-vhoo, (even more garbled) da one dat I vont, vhoo-vhoo-vhoo, (big garbling here) that’s my [sic]erection…it’s electrifying.”

Then the Sandys in perfect pitch and time, “You better shape up, cause I need a man…”

3.  A long time ago in a radio universe only found in Germany, the Australian band New World had a song “Living Next Door to Alice” which must’ve been cut in a wonderland full of waterpipes because nobody gave a hoot about the song, playing chess or Alice. In stepped a British band with a great name, Smokie, and the song was resurrected for a deserved second life. It is here at Oktoberfest and other festivals in Bavaria where and when drinking too much is a measurable and popular goal, the burning unknown of “Who the fuck is Alice?” remains.

4.  There seems to be no consensus on the reasons that “Hey Jude” from the Beatles is so popular at Oktoberfest, and perhaps that speaks to the power of good music. It is popular because it should be. Or the Beatles’ start in Hamburg adds to the adoration. Whatever it may be, Germans being German, do make a spectacular hash of trying to reach any of the higher notes from Paul, though acquitting themselves quite nicely with their stirring rendition of the outro, “Naa, na na nananana, nannana, hey Jude…” which then can be repeated often, and, the place you alight in the outro is easy enough to return to after taking a Bavarian-sized swig of your Oktoberfest beer. Back in 2004, the tale goes, one band only played 7 times “Naa, na na nananana, nannana, hey Jude…” instead of an even number like 8. The incongruity and gravity of this prime number had left a deep wrinkle in the Oktoberfest matrix that has only recently post-pandemic ironed itself out.

5.  Speaking of missed high notes, “Angels” by Britain’s Robbie Williams takes the cake. Sung later at night when the beer glasses need less focus, it is howled much like the Germans in the Teutoburg Forest must’ve against the annihilated Roman legions in 9 AD with nearly the same result. Civilization loses. The wolves harmonize, “And through it all she offers me protection.” Let’s hope that protection is in the form of ear muffs, airport-quality.

6.  Brian Adams gets a double-star for two songs on the list, “Summer of 69”, and his duet with Tina Turner in “It’s Only Love.” If you are lucky enough to hear either or both, you won’t be disappointed. It might well be a highlight. Germans like easy-to-decipher Rock-n-Roll (see AC/DC above) and both these songs rock, have straight-driving beats, and are sure to put the already boisterous crowds into a Canadian mist of delirium.

7.  “Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison demonstrates best the two most important aspects of Oktoberfest songs: They should be a happy song and easy to sing along to. This becomes increasingly weighted when being tossed about in the crowd like a tempest in a tankard. I mean, who can forget, “Sha-la-la, la-la, la-la, la-la, la-la tee-da, Just like that, Sha-la-la, la-la, la-la, la-la, la-la tee-da, la-tee-da…?”

8.  Another song dripping with sweet happiness is ABBA’s “Waterloo”, and is the surest bet to hear if your heart is set on the Swedish pop icons. We must remember that Napoleon was very popular in Bavaria when the first Oktoberfest was held (1810) and remains so, even more than Bismarck. Perhaps that’s another reason this song is popular. Or, maybe it’s the ‘concept of a plan’ of surrendering to one’s drunken desires later…

9.  As one would expect, the world’s most popular anthem to sing along to is also one of Oktoberfest’s. Queen’s “We Are the Champions” is played regularly and sung extremely well and emotionally. Munich has a connection to Freddie Mercury because he lived for quite some time (1979-85) near Lehel during the apex of Queen’s musical power.

10.  We have reached the end of our list with Bon Jovi’s “It’s My Life”. Another powerful anthem belted often everywhere in Germany, this song came from a time when Bon Jovi was a rocker who made music and not muzak. Few younger Americans I know recognize the name, or, if they do, they think it’s a weird name and not American enough. As a result, Bon Jovi lost his claim to any part of New Jersey, which effectively ended his run as a true rocker. His French-sounding name continues to pull them in, however, for weekend shows in the Borscht Belt in the Catskills.