New songs from Anna Depenbusch

Anna Depenbusch (Bayerischen Rundfunks)

Anna Depenbusch, one of Germany's leading singer/songwriters, has released "Kingfisher Frau"-- the first song from her new album ---- in an intimate performance from Berlin's Meisterhall, an historic concert venue built in 1910.

"Kingfisher Frau" is dedicated to pioneering German mathematician Emmy Noether, but it speaks eloquently about anyone who, to use Depenbusch's metaphor, breaks from the ranks of the chorus and sings a song of her own.

Under the video, I've posted my translation of the lyrics, taking care to match the cadences of the German. I hope you'll like it.

Come on, let her dream what she wants to--

she will do that anyway.

A director is handing out roles:

Don Juan and Romeo.

Amidst the choir, half shadow, half light,

right past the tenor a new face steps out,

glittering feathers and heart deep-sea blue,

and she’s singing her song--

Kingfisher Frau.

Come on, let her think what she wants to--

she will do that anyway;

they sing the song they’re supposed to

in an opera called Figaro.

But for you the stage here is just too small.

I think these supporting roles no longer fit.

You shine so much brighter than spotlights can shine,

and we hear your voice all the way up in the very back row.

Amidst the choir, half shadow, half light,

right past the tenor a new face steps out,

glittering feathers and heart deep-sea blue,

and she’s singing her song--

Now for you the stage here is just too small.

It’s been so long now since supporting roles fit.

You shine so much brighter than spotlights can shine,

and we hear your voice all the way up in the very back row.

Glittering feathers and heart deep-sea blue,

as you’re singing your song--

Kingfisher Frau.

Come on, let her say what she wants to--

She will shine anyway.

• The song's lyrics in German
• VIDEO: Another song from the new album
• VIDEO: A song from her 2017 album, "Das Alphabet der Anna Depenbusch"
• VIDEO: The singer discusses her new album (in German)
• My article about Anna Depenbusch at Reinventing Home
• Anna Depenbusch's website

Depenbusch will record her new album in a studio, but in a single take and with a small audience. Hence the title, Echtzeit (Real Time).