Right, back then the ZDF (sort of german PBS) transtlated everything foreign in german. So it was not only a german theme, the whole characters were renamed. Norm was Helmut (the same name had the german chancellor at that time), Sam was Hubert and Diane was called... yeah, she was still Diane!
That didn't work, they only broadcasted 13 episodes. In 1995 RTL redubbed the show, called it Cheers, Sam was called Sam and since then the show became a small hit series.
And as if you knew, today they start to broadcast Cheers again, starting weekdays at 07:15pm! Very considerate of you...
The second, now current, dubbing of "Cheers" ist actually very good. Excellent voice casting and excellent translations made it a beloved series also over here.
This very strange first version is an example of what to do and what NOT to do in international dubbings. It's no longer common practice - thank god.
To get through everyday trouble takes a lot of power, who has labored for hours is exhausted every time. Who doesn't like to to relax then? Then one is looking for a pub, where you feel at home and can wash away your heartaches. Meet friends, talk, drink, and despite all your sorrows, be cheerful until the early morning. Discussions, quarrels, conciliation, in a familiar environment, everybody is greeted with his name right away.
So, actually, it's not that far away from the original.
I hate dubbing with a passion, and what I have read about this version of Cheers sounds particularly bizarre.
When I first got my Frasier season 2 (or 3, I forget) DVDs I watched the multi-lingual fencing scene in the various dubbed languages. If I spoke any of them I bet it would be hilarious to compare.
As I remember, the posted "German Bonanza theme" wasn't used in the original TV emission, it seem's to be just a song. In television there were no lyrics, only the melody.
Prost Helmut? Simply awful, and those lyrics kinda make you whince in pain. Usually american TV shows were dubbed, sometimes the name of the show was translated and/or changed, but renaming the characters was not common practice. We had no problem with characters like Lee Stetson, Murray Bozinsky or Colt Seavers, so why the ZDF felt that names like Norm or Sam would have been too difficult for us is beyond explanation.
@Roland, the same thing was true of the American Bonanza theme, but there were also rarely heard English lyrics. A friend of mine told me about seeing Lorne Greene sing it on the Ed Sullivan show around 1962. He said it was about as ridiculous as you'd think: be-suited Ed Sullivan in a television studio introducing Pa Cartwright in full cowboy regalia, who then sings lines like, "We got a right to pick a little fight, Bonanza!" Wish I'd seen it.
On a related note, Cheers and its theme song seems to be on a hip revival right now. In one of the recent episodes of "Adventure Time", (which takes place in a post-apocolyptic nuclear war scenario of the future) it operates in an important flashback to an origin story. Fresh after the war, a main character roams the destruction, and - long story short - the crown he discovered and carries, once placed on his head, transforms him into another state, a powerful being, but it also brings him nearer to losing his memory to the stronger, dark persona of the crown's "Ice King". He has to resort to the crown to fight off zombies and such. With the knowledge he is always in danger of finally permanently losing his mind and identity to the crown, he fights back by singing to himself the song from "Cheers", that place where "everyone knows your name"...
Cheers remake set in Chicago, only this time, Sam Malone is a former alcoholic star Blackhawks defenseman played by Vince Vaughn. Like that show isn't immediately going no. 1?
Yes. That German Bonanza theme wasn't from a broadcast, but was a 45 released on Capitol in Germany. There were lyrics to the American theme, though, and there is a clip that wasn't used in the show but is floating around in which all of the Cartwrights sing it on horseback. The lyrics are something like:
I've got a right to pick a little fight, Bonanza If anyone fights any one of us, he's gonna fight with me.
To add insult to injury Hubert (Sam Malone) was turned into a former soccer player by the horrible dubbing, if I remember correctly.
Interestingly, Germany's PBS also cut certain Magnum, PI scenes. The war in Vietnam was considered unsuitable for a series like this, so cutting, dubbing and not airing certain episodes was used to keep this storyline out of the limelight.
Even better is ELVIS singing the theme... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiqIqBlQAe0
This guy also does WKRP, Partridge Family and a bunch of others. But the one for Cheers had me on the floor... he gets the phrasing and everything just dead-on
I used to get a number of German channels via satellite dish in London. The strangest thing I ever saw lon them was Hogan's Heroes, dubbed into German.
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Das ist sehr gut! Prosit!
ReplyDeleteRight, back then the ZDF (sort of german PBS) transtlated everything foreign in german. So it was not only a german theme, the whole characters were renamed. Norm was Helmut (the same name had the german chancellor at that time), Sam was Hubert and Diane was called... yeah, she was still Diane!
ReplyDeleteThat didn't work, they only broadcasted 13 episodes. In 1995 RTL redubbed the show, called it Cheers, Sam was called Sam and since then the show became a small hit series.
And as if you knew, today they start to broadcast Cheers again, starting weekdays at 07:15pm! Very considerate of you...
The second, now current, dubbing of "Cheers" ist actually very good. Excellent voice casting and excellent translations made it a beloved series also over here.
ReplyDeleteThis very strange first version is an example of what to do and what NOT to do in international dubbings. It's no longer common practice - thank god.
I tried to post this earlier, but somehow, it didn't work. Maybe I need to get fancier with the HTML. If you liked that, you'll love this one:
ReplyDeleteThe Bonanza Theme in German
My little translation of the lyrics:
ReplyDeleteTo get through everyday trouble takes a lot of power,
who has labored for hours is exhausted every time.
Who doesn't like to to relax then?
Then one is looking for a pub,
where you feel at home
and can wash away your heartaches.
Meet friends, talk, drink,
and despite all your sorrows,
be cheerful until the early morning.
Discussions, quarrels, conciliation,
in a familiar environment,
everybody is greeted with his name right away.
So, actually, it's not that far away from the original.
I hate dubbing with a passion, and what I have read about this version of Cheers sounds particularly bizarre.
When I first got my Frasier season 2 (or 3, I forget) DVDs I watched the multi-lingual fencing scene in the various dubbed languages. If I spoke any of them I bet it would be hilarious to compare.
ReplyDeleteAs I remember, the posted "German Bonanza theme" wasn't used in the original TV emission, it seem's to be just a song. In television there were no lyrics, only the melody.
ReplyDeleteWonder if anyone over there ever gave a thought to the brief shot of a guy holding up a newspaper with a headline saying We Won
ReplyDeleteProst Helmut? Simply awful, and those lyrics kinda make you whince in pain.
ReplyDeleteUsually american TV shows were dubbed, sometimes the name of the show was translated and/or changed, but renaming the characters was not common practice. We had no problem with characters like Lee Stetson, Murray Bozinsky or Colt Seavers, so why the ZDF felt that names like Norm or Sam would have been too difficult for us is beyond explanation.
@Roland, the same thing was true of the American Bonanza theme, but there were also rarely heard English lyrics. A friend of mine told me about seeing Lorne Greene sing it on the Ed Sullivan show around 1962. He said it was about as ridiculous as you'd think: be-suited Ed Sullivan in a television studio introducing Pa Cartwright in full cowboy regalia, who then sings lines like, "We got a right to pick a little fight, Bonanza!" Wish I'd seen it.
ReplyDeleteOn a related note, Cheers and its theme song seems to be on a hip revival right now. In one of the recent episodes of "Adventure Time", (which takes place in a post-apocolyptic nuclear war scenario of the future) it operates in an important flashback to an origin story. Fresh after the war, a main character roams the destruction, and - long story short - the crown he discovered and carries, once placed on his head, transforms him into another state, a powerful being, but it also brings him nearer to losing his memory to the stronger, dark persona of the crown's "Ice King". He has to resort to the crown to fight off zombies and such. With the knowledge he is always in danger of finally permanently losing his mind and identity to the crown, he fights back by singing to himself the song from "Cheers", that place where "everyone knows your name"...
ReplyDeleteYou know a German translation is bad when it makes unpopular a place with beer.
ReplyDeleteCheers remake set in Chicago, only this time, Sam Malone is a former alcoholic star Blackhawks defenseman played by Vince Vaughn. Like that show isn't immediately going no. 1?
ReplyDeleteBill Simmons suggestion for NBC.
Yes. That German Bonanza theme wasn't from a broadcast, but was a 45 released on Capitol in Germany. There were lyrics to the American theme, though, and there is a clip that wasn't used in the show but is floating around in which all of the Cartwrights sing it on horseback. The lyrics are something like:
ReplyDeleteI've got a right to pick a little fight, Bonanza
If anyone fights any one of us, he's gonna fight with me.
http://youtu.be/qpUd9KecPa4
Are you sure this isn't "Tomorrow Belongs to Me" from CABARET?
ReplyDeleteTo add insult to injury Hubert (Sam Malone) was turned into a former soccer player by the horrible dubbing, if I remember correctly.
ReplyDeleteInterestingly, Germany's PBS also cut certain Magnum, PI scenes. The war in Vietnam was considered unsuitable for a series like this, so cutting, dubbing and not airing certain episodes was used to keep this storyline out of the limelight.
HELMUT!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteEven better is ELVIS singing the theme...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiqIqBlQAe0
This guy also does WKRP, Partridge Family and a bunch of others. But the one for Cheers had me on the floor... he gets the phrasing and everything just dead-on
Oh, and the Bonanza theme with words is pretty easy to find; Lorne Greene sings it on the flip side of the 45 of "Ringo" (RCA 47-8444)
ReplyDeleteI used to get a number of German channels via satellite dish in London. The strangest thing I ever saw lon them was Hogan's Heroes, dubbed into German.
ReplyDeletewg