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Review: Grönemeyer - Mensch [Single]

Grönland Records // "like I said, nothing special, just interesting."

by Jack Stovin +, September 27th, 2012 and has been Read 957 times.

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Taking hiatus after the tragic circumstances of Herbert Grönemeyer’s wife and brother passing away from Cancer in the same week, Grönemeyer has returned from the depths of trauma to release his new/reworked single ‘Mensch.’

‘Mensch’ was originally released many moons ago (2002), and topped the charts in its German form. However, a decade on and it doesn’t seem as though Grönemeyer will continue his run of distinction - maybe just a pass this time. He may have outsold Michael Jackson, beating Thriller to the number one spot upon his album release back then, but now, it’s just not going to happen.

[Sorry, could only find the original German version to stream for this review...]

To say that the track was originally in German, and this is the reworked English version, it’s not too shabby. ‘Mensch’ doesn’t sound like an awful translated song. It’s more like a warm Sunday dinner. Herbert Grönemeyer’s vocals float through the track with a soft and gentle approach, with a calm raspy tenderness when the lyrics get a little heartfelt.

Musically ‘Mensch’ could be compared to Sting, as it has that lounge-dad-might-listen-to-it vibe. A progressive build up of emotion, double layering of vocals where it matters and just a friendly topping of easy listening. The complete Dad-listening package right?


Herbert Grönemeyer may have been through the wars and sold a shit load of records, however 2012 just isn’t the right time for him. There is an album (I Walk - his first English record) hitting the shelves at the same time as this single, which will be an interesting listen going by ‘Mensch,’ but like I said, nothing special, just interesting.

Grönemeyer - ‘Mensch’ is out October 8th 2012 on Grönland Records.