Der Erdbeermund

"Der Erdbeermund" (in English: "The Strawberry Mouth") is a song recorded by the German Eurodance band Culture Beat. It was released in 1989 as their debut single, taken from the studio album, Horizon. It is written by Torsten Fenslau with Jens Zimmermann and Nosie Katzmann after words by French poet François Villon. The song features a spoken vocal in German by Jo van Nelsen and peaked at number 11 on the German singles chart.[1]

"Der Erdbeermund"
Single by Culture Beat featuring Jo van Nelsen
from the album Horizon
Released	1989
Genre	Eurodance
Length	4:05
Label	CBS CBS Dance Pool Epic
Songwriter(s)	Jens Zimmermann Nosie Katzmann Torsten Fenslau François Villon
Producer(s)	Jens Zimmermann Torsten Fenslau
Culture Beat featuring Jo van Nelsen singles chronology
"Der Erdbeermund" (1989) "No Deeper Meaning" (1991)
Music video
"Der Erdbeermund" on YouTube

Background

Disc jockey and music producer Fenslau, who initially had a desire for becoming an architect, had been working as a DJ at the Frankfurt nightclub Dorian Gray for 11 years, when he decided to form Culture Beat with his friends Zimmermann and Peter Zweier. Their first single was "Der Erdbeermund". Versions in English and French were also released (titled "Cherry Lips" and "Les lèvres cerises", respectively). An instrumental version was also a club hit in the United Kingdom, where it reached number 55.

Critical reception

Bill Coleman from Billboard wrote about the English version of the song, "Spacious house-based track from Germany soothes with each listen. Big on import, various mixes in domestic release should secure club interest."[2] Ernest Hardy from Cashbox commented, "As if a mad poet stood up on the dancefloor and started sprouting his obsessions. This German concoction (an English vocal version is presented as well) manages to be both very artsy and danceable at the same time. The soft roar of the crowd that opens the track at first sounds like a gust of wind, then there's a soft tin- kling set aginst a drum machine; the ongoing contrast of the mechanical with the soft, the harsh with the pretty is what makes "Lips" work."[3]

Track listing

7" single, Germany (1989)

1. "Der Erdbeermund" — 4:05
2. "Der Erdbeermund" (Instrumental) — 4:05

12" single, Germany (1989)

1. "Der Erdbeermund" (Get Into Magic Mix) — 8:09
2. "Der Erdbeermund" (Instrumental Magic) — 8:09

12" single (remix), Germany (1989)

1. "Der Erdbeermund" (Magic Remix) — 6:55
2. "Der Erdbeermund" (Magic Intro Mix) — 8:05

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1989-1990)	Peak position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[4]	48
Germany (Media Control Charts)	11
UK Singles Chart (Official Charts Company)	55

References

1. "Top 100 Single-Charts – Zeitraum: 15.01.1990 – 21.01.1990" (in German). Offiziellecharts.de. GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
2. "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard magazine. 24 March 1990. p. 69. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
3. Hardy, Ernest (5 May 1990). "On The Dancefloor: New Grooves - Singles" (PDF). Cashbox. p. 10. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
4. "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. 9 December 1989. Retrieved 25 September 2020.