Mädchen (song)

"Mädchen" (pronounced [ˈmɛːtçən], English: "Girl") is a German-language song by German pop rock musical duo Lucilectric, written by members Luci van Org and Goldkind. The track was produced by Annette Humpe and Andreas Herbig and was released as a single in Germany in mid-1993. Although it was not successful initially, the song eventually became a top-10 hit in the Netherlands, after which it charted in several other European countries, reaching number two in Germany and becoming a top-five hit in Austria and Switzerland. The song is certified gold in both Austria and Germany and won an Echo Award for Best National Single in 1995.

For other songs with this title, see Mädchen.

"Mädchen"
Single by Lucilectric
from the album Mädchen
LanguageGerman
English title"Girl"
B-side"Nur wer im heute lebt"
Released1993 (1993)
StudioBoogie Park (Hamburg, Germany)
Genre
Length3:16
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Lucilectric singles chronology
"Mädchen"
(1993)		 "Hey Süßer"
(1994)
Music video
"Mädchen" on YouTube

Release and promotion

"Mädchen" was originally released in Germany in mid-1993 but did not experience commercial success. The song eventually gained attention in the Netherlands, where it was released in January 1994, at which point radio stations increased the track's airplay. To promote the single, Lucilectric performed the song on several television programmes, including the German game show Geld oder Liebe.[3] The duo also made a music video that received rotation on German television channel Viva TV, then a new network, which bolstered both the commercial success of the song and Lucilectric's profile in Germany.[4] On 25 April 1994, "Mädchen" was released as the opening track on the Mädchen album.[5][6]

Critical reception

Music & Media magazine reviewed "Mädchen" on 12 March 1994, writing that the song combines "Nina Hagen weirdelica with Lene Lovich hysteria", calling the track "Unbeschreiblich weiblich [Indescribably feminine]".[1] Raúl Cairo of the same publication called the track "catchy but weird".[3] Daniel Dekker of Dutch television organisation TROS noted its catchy chorus as well as its entertainment factor.[1][3] In 1995, "Mädchen" received an Echo Award for Best National Single.[7]

Commercial performance

"Mädchen" became a top-10 hit on both the Dutch Top 40 and Single Top 100 charts in the Netherlands. On the latter chart, the song debuted at number 25 in March 1994 from plentiful radio airplay.[3][8] Afterwards, the song rose up the chart, peaking at number five four weeks later.[8] On the Dutch Top 40, the song entered at number 31 and climbed to number seven on 9 April 1994, four weeks after its debut.[9] The song spent nine weeks on both rankings,[8][9] finishing at number 72 on the Dutch Top 40 year-end listing and at number 90 on the Single Top 100's annual compilation.[10][11] In neighbouring Belgium, the song debuted at number 38 on the Ultratop chart on 23 April 1994, marking its only appearance in the Belgian top 50.[12]

"Mädchen" debuted at number 44 on the German Singles Chart in March 1994. After nine weeks, it ascended to its peak of number two, where it stayed for two weeks in late May. The single remained in the top 100 for 23 weeks and was Germany's 14th-most-successful single of 1994, earning a gold sales certification from the Bundesverband Musikindustrie (BVMI) for shipping over 250,000 copies.[13][14][15] The song then charted in Austria, where it lingered on the Ö3 Austria Top 40 ranking for 13 weeks and was certified gold for sales exceeding 25,000 units, ending 1994 at number 27 on Austria's year-end chart.[16][17][18] In Switzerland, "Mädchen" peaked at number five for three weeks and spent 18 weeks within the top 50, coming it at number 33 on the Swiss year-end ranking.[19][20] Overall, "Mädchen" was Europe's 68th-best-selling single of 1994, peaking at number 12 on the Eurochart Hot 100 in June 1994.[21][22]

Track listings

German maxi-CD single[23]

  1. "Mädchen" (radio mix) – 3:16
  2. "Mädchen" (extended mix) – 4:18
  3. "Mädchen" (X mix) – 5:31
  4. "Nur wer im heute lebt" – 3:53

German 7-inch single[24]

A. "Mädchen" (Mädchen radio mix) – 3:16
B. "Nur wer im heute lebt" – 3:53

European 12-inch single[25]

A1. "Mädchen" (X mix) – 5:31
A2. "Mädchen" (radio mix) – 3:16
B1. "Mädchen" (extended mix) – 4:18
B2. "Nur wer im heute lebt" – 3:53

Credits and personnel

Credits are taken from the German maxi-CD single liner notes and the Mädchen album booklet.[23][26]

Studio

  • Produced and recorded at Boogie Park Studio (Hamburg, Germany)

Personnel

  • Luci van Org – music and lyrics, vocals
  • Ralf Goldkind – music and lyrics (as Goldkind), guitar, keyboards, trombone
  • Andreas Herbig – programming, production, mixing, editing, engineering
  • Axel Wernecke – programming, engineering
  • Annette Humpe – production
  • Kay Fricke – cover artwork
  • Kess – photography

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Austria (IFPI Austria)[17] Gold 25,000*
Germany (BVMI)[15] Gold 250,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. "New Releases: Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 11. 12 March 1994. p. 8.
  2. Kops, Pieter (16 April 1994). "Regional Crossover". Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 16. p. 26.
  3. Cairo, Raúl (26 March 1994). "Lucilectric Crosses Over to Holland". Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 13. p. 9.
  4. Watson, Miranda (16 July 1994). "Viva's Influence Already Visible After Just Sixth Months". Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 29. p. 9.
  5. "Lucilectric – Mädchen" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  6. "Mädchen: Lucilectric". AllMusic. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  7. Spahr, Wolfgang (4 March 1995). "Casebook: Lucilectric". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 9. p. 56.
  8. "Lucilectric – Mädchen" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  9. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 15, 1994" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  10. "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1994" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  11. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1994" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  12. "Lucilectric – Mädchen" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  13. "Lucilectric – Mädchen" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  14. "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1994" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  15. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Lucilectric; 'Mädchen')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  16. "Lucilectric – Mädchen" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  17. "Austrian single certifications – Lucilectric – Mädchen" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  18. "Jahreshitparade Singles 1994" (in German). Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  19. "Lucilectric – Mädchen". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  20. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1994" (in German). Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  21. "1994 in Review: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 52. 24 December 1994. p. 12.
  22. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 23. 4 June 1994. p. 12.
  23. Mädchen (German maxi-CD single liner notes) (in German). Lucilectric. Sing Sing, BMG Ariola. 1993. 74321 15961 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  24. Mädchen (German 7-inch single sleeve) (in German). Lucilectric. Sing Sing, BMG Ariola. 1993. 74321 15961 7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  25. Mädchen (European 12-inch single sleeve) (in German). Lucilectric. Sing Sing, BMG Ariola. 1993. 74321 15961 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  26. Mädchen (German CD album booklet) (in German). Lucilectric. Sing Sing, BMG Ariola. 1994. 74321 18889-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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