The Nockalm Quintett: Schlager Superstars



The Nockalm Quintett embrace interesting and
colorful themes with their full bodied schlager sound

By Stefan Wrana
CSMR Correspondent

KLAGENFURT am WORTHERSEE, AUSTRIA -- The Nockalm Quintett started out in 1982 as a band of five kids playing small venues in the tiny South Austrian town of Millstatt.

They've since expanded to seven members, churned out 30 CDs -- 26 of them gold -- won several national music awards and regularly pack big houses on their annual summer multi-country tours.

Along the way, they've accumulated thousands of, quite enthusiastic, fans who affectionately follow their beloved "Nockis."

Southern Austria, much like the American South, produces a disproportionately large number of successful musical acts. But of them, the Nockalm Quintett have nudged their way into the rank of genuine international superstars.

Part of their appeal, surely, is spawned by the hunky good looks and charisma of lead singer, Gottfried Würcher. He still provokes swoons from female concertgoers.

Lead Singer Gottfried Wurcher
provokes swoons from female concert-goers

But the Nockis have distinguished themselves by producing schlager/pop containing interesting and sometimes unusual themes.

In contrast with the usual schlager diet of heimat and sehnsucht and lost love, they've dealt with subjects like Napoleon, Mozart, Marilyn Monroe and Southern California.

In a nutshell, they produce interesting schlager music, for a change, and the fans and the record buying public have responded enthusiastically over the past two and a half decades.

The title cut from their newest CD, "Zieh dich an und geh" (Get Dressed and Go) even gets a little cutting edge (for schlager) in dealing with a man who's dating a friend's ex-wife.

Their full-bodied pleasant sound and rock band configuration is a bit reminiscent of their pop/schlager predecessors from the region, Die Paldauer, whom they've surpassed in appeal. Call them, Die Paldauer with a creative edge.

Here is the title cut from their new CD, "Zieh dich an und geh" (Get Dressed and Go):



Here they perform one of the most pleasant schlager songs you will ever hear, Mein Wunder der Liebe (My Miracle of Love) in a live performance from 2010:



Here's their hit which reached #2 on the charts in 2005 Amadeus in Love



And Here's their #1 hit from 2006, Einsam wie Napoleon (As Lonely as Napoleon)