The sexism debate about the Ballermann song ensures its further spread.
“Layla” enjoys unbroken popularity in Mallorca (picture: revelers in the Megapark club at Ballermann).
Now the two German pop singers DJ Robin and Schürze have also made it to Switzerland: their Mallorca hit “Layla” is at the top of the single charts. It was to be expected that the success of the party hit from Germany would not stop at national borders. Which is why one would have taken note of it, even if it weren’t for the tiresome history of the musical summiteer.
As before in Germany, the sexism debate about the stupid lyrics of “Layla” flared up slightly delayed in the Swiss media. “I have a whorehouse and my whorehouse mom’s name is Layla,” the two Ballermann singers roar in the refrain, “she’s prettier, younger, hornier.” Half of Germany has been outraged by these lines for weeks – not because of the bumpy end rhyme, but because of the dubious image of women by the creators of “Luder Layla”.
The calls for a boycott were not long in coming. As a result, numerous folk festivals felt the need to make it clear that these song lines were not to be heard at their events. However, it is not known whether refrains such as “Big boobs, potato salad” or “Go get a beer, you’re getting ugly again” from the pen of DJ Robin’s professional colleagues at the festivals are hooted and seems unimportant.
Ban debate drives up streaming numbers
While activists in the social networks were upset and wanted to put “Layla” on the index, fighters for artistic freedom were outraged by the rampant demands for a ban. In Switzerland, the young SVP wrote the fight «Against bans. For the freedom. Against Woke!» on the flags. She demanded that “Layla” should also climb the charts in this country, as before in Germany and Austria.
And now the young party sees the “Swiss youth” as the winner over the “left prohibition culture”. The winner of a competition can now even look forward to a week’s holiday at the Ballermann for two people worth 600 francs. Holidays can hardly be «more beautiful, horny».
YES!! Layla is now number 1 in the Swiss hit parade!
The Swiss youth has given the left prohibition culture a clean rebuff. let’s party 😉
The competition of the young SVP has ended with immediate effect. Thanks for the many videos. The winner will be announced shortly.
— David Trachsel (@DavidTrachsel5) July 24, 2022
The influence of the little boy SVP bubble on the chart positioning of “Layla” should not be overestimated. Because for weeks, the streaming numbers of the party song have been growing almost exponentially.
The ban debate has further increased interest in “Layla” (“Hot figure, blond hair”). The video has been viewed more than 8.8 million times on YouTube, despite warnings that it “may be inappropriate for some users”. On the Spotify streaming platform, the number of listeners has even exceeded the 50 million mark.
One song among many
The question remains who is listening to this song now. Is it the party-going drunks at the “Teuton Grill”? Is it the believers who see themselves as champions of freedom of expression? Or is it simply curiosity or the fascination with the level that drives many people to listen to the song after all?
DJ Robin and Apron may not care the answer to that question. The two previously largely unknown musicians have thus arrived in the Olympus of Ballermann singers – somewhere between Micky Krause (“Ten naked hairdressers”) and Peter Wackel (“Joana! You horny pig! You bitch”). And it is this illustrious society that makes it clear how flimsy the whole debate about the one Ballermann hit is.
A considerable part of the party hits – whether they are played in the Majorcan beach bar or in the après-ski hut in the Alps – languish in the lack of standard. Sexist lyrics are not uncommon. Millions of people sing along to problematic texts. Already “In the car in front of me”, a hit from the 1970s, describes the drive of a man who hassles a young woman in the car in front of her so much that she is not sure whether “that stupid guy behind me” wants to kidnap her.
However, just banging on the Schlager genre would not do it justice. The image of women in bands like the Rolling Stones or AC/DC is also not beyond doubt, for example when they sing about the advantages of prostitutes in “Honky Tonk Women” or “Whole Lotta Rosie”.
All the excitement about “Layla” primarily serves the two Ballermann musicians. A little more composure around the stupid, badly rhyming lines would do the debate good – and probably ensure that the song is no longer at the top of the charts.