The original from Karat
Founded in East Berlin in 1975, the rock band Karat developed into one of the most successful bands in the DDR. They were best known for the song Cross Seven Bridges, which won them first prize at the 1978 International Schlager Festival and was released as a single before the album of the same name.
The lyrics of the song were not written by Karat, but by the author Helmut Richter as the title song for the East German film adaptation of his novel Cross Seven Bridges. Karat was commissioned to set the words to music.
The DDR state prevents an international hit for Karat
The release of the film and the prize awarded to the song written for it generated considerable interest in the band in East and West Germany. However, political tensions between the two German states prevented Karat from achieving success in both East and West. The DDR government was anxious to prevent the development of cross-border ties and so declined numerous requests for Karat to perform in the West.
People always want to hear a good song, whatever a government wants. All that happened was that a different artist had success with the title in West Germany. Seeking to recognize the contribution of both artists, the Deutschlandmuseum decided to display both records alongside each other.
Peter Maffay’s cover version
Just one year after Karat’s release of Cross Seven Bridges, the West German rocker Peter Maffay released a cover version of the song. Maffay personally contacted Karat to ask permission to record his own version.
Maffay’s version differs from the original in its arrangement and instrumentalization, but does not change the basic musical form or emotional message. The cover was a huge success. As his was the most famous version of the record available in West Germany, many people did not realize for a long time who had originally written and performed the classic song.
A cornerstone of West German rock history: Peter Maffay concert photo, Sven Mandel, Germany, 2022 (Source: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
An all-German classic
Even though Karat did not achieve full recognition for their song, the band members always spoke favourably of Maffay’s version and were pleased with the success that it had in the West. Karat and Maffay recorded and performed their song together many times after 1989 including at a joint appearance to mark the 10th anniversary of reunification on 3 October 2000.
Many other artists have also covered the song, but Maffay’s version is played most often and remains the best known. His interpretation ensured that Cross Seven Bridges became an all-German hit and achieved the status of a German classic.
Property information
Designation
- Date 1978/1980
- Gallery The Two Germanies
- Category Art&Culture
- Land of Origin Germany
- Dimensions 22x22x0.5 cm (WxHxD)
- Material paper, vinyl
Property information
Designation
- Date 1978/1980
- Gallery The Two Germanies
- Category Art&Culture
- Land of Origin Germany
- Dimensions 22x22x0.5 cm (WxHxD)
- Material paper, vinyl
About the Deutschlandmuseum
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Experience history
2000 years
12 epochs
1 hour
