Griechischer Wein
| "Griechischer Wein" | |
|---|---|
| Single by Udo Jürgens | |
| Language | German |
| English title | Greek Wine |
| Released | November 1974 |
| Genre | Schlager |
| Label | Ariola |
| Songwriters | Udo Jürgens, Michael Kunze |
| Producer | Ralph Siegel |
Griechischer Wein is a 1974 song by Austrian singer-songwriter Udo Jürgens, with lyrics by Michael Kunze. It was produced by Ralph Siegel and released by Ariola.[1]
The song is about Greek migrant workers in West Germany and their homesickness. It became one of Jürgens's best-known songs.[2][3]
Background
Michael Kunze said that the lyric was inspired by a real Greek pub near Munich's Rosenheimer Platz, where Greek workers met after work.[4]
Commercial performance
“Griechischer Wein” was one of Jürgens's biggest hits. It reached number one in Germany and Switzerland, and number two in Austria.[5][6][7]
In Germany, it later received a platinum certification from the Bundesverband Musikindustrie for 600,000 units.[8]
Legacy
The song has often been discussed as an important popular song about migration in postwar Germany.[9] An English adaptation, “Come Share the Wine”, was later recorded by Bing Crosby.[10]
References
- ↑ Udo Jürgens - Griechischer Wein, retrieved 2026-03-20
- ↑ "Soundtracks of the 1970s: Udo Jürgens – "Tausend Jahre sind ein Tag"". www.goethe.de. Retrieved 2026-03-20.
- ↑ "Udo Jürgens: Das Leben einer Legende". Die Zeit. 22 December 2014. Retrieved 21 March 2026.
- ↑ "Texter Kunze: "Griechischer Wein" enthält eine Wahrheit". Die Zeit. 17 June 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2026.
- ↑ "Suche – Offizielle Deutsche Charts". Offizielle Deutsche Charts. Retrieved 21 March 2026.
- ↑ "Griechischer Wein - Udo Jürgens". swisscharts.com. Retrieved 21 March 2026.
- ↑ "Udo Jürgens". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 21 March 2026.
- ↑ "Gold-/Platin- und Diamond-Auszeichnungen in Deutschland – Monatsreport 06/2025" (PDF). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 21 March 2026.
- ↑ Deyneka, Evelina (2017). "The unknown European anthem, or what one Schlager can teach us about political philosophy" (PDF). Humanistica 21. 1: 302–307. Retrieved 21 March 2026.
- ↑ "Udo Jürgens' Great Encore". Sotheby's. Retrieved 21 March 2026.