Glücksgefühle Festival: Ski Aggu says artists should be free to take a stand

Ski Aggu used his performance at the Glücksgefühle Festival to make a forceful case for artists speaking their minds. “If you have an opinion, never let anyone forbid you from expressing it,” he told the audience.

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If you have an opinion, never let anyone forbid you from expressing it.

The rapper said it should be entirely normal for people to stand up for values such as democracy, freedom of speech and liberty. Artists, he added, should be allowed to take a position and stand up for the causes they believe in. “As long as I am standing on a stage, I will always stand for an open society,” he said, calling for people to stick together.

The dispute began after festival organizers asked performers at the Hockenheimring not to talk about politics. Alphaville was initially disinvited after singer Marian Gold had made political comments at an earlier concert. Co-organizer Markus Krampe said visitors had complained because they wanted to switch off at the festival and avoid issues already dominating the news. The organizers described the event as “completely apolitical” and said it was built around the promise of “Good vibes only.”

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As long as I am standing on a stage, I will always stand for an open society. And I want, and I hope, that we all stick together.

After several media reports, Alphaville was invited back, but the band stayed away. Gold had described the original request as a “gag order.” Krampe later called his decision “super stupid.”

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This was super stupid.

Other performers also backed the band. Mallorca hit singer Mia Julia said, “We have to speak up to open certain eyes.” DJ Beauty & the Beats canceled an appearance. Tom Gregory played Alphaville’s “Forever Young,” while Nura also performed the song and openly challenged the festival’s position. “By the way, I am Black,” she said, arguing that anyone who booked her should not expect an apolitical show.

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We have to speak up to open certain eyes.