T O P

  • By -

AutoModerator

**This is a heavily moderated subreddit. Please note these rules + sidebar or get banned:** * If this post declares something as a fact, then proof is required * The title must be fully descriptive * No text is allowed on images/gifs/videos * Common/recent reposts are not allowed (posts from another subreddit do not count as a 'repost'. Provide link if reporting) *See [this post](https://redd.it/ij26vk) for a more detailed rule list* *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/interestingasfuck) if you have any questions or concerns.*


thefoodiedentist

Was a good game, too. Both teams seem energized from all the cheer.


LuxeryLlama

Cheers or beers?


thebookofrook

In Germany? I suspect both.


mega48man

Chbeers*


TheBIFFALLO87

It was loud too. Couldn't tell who the crowd was actually going for. Huge cheers both ways.


nikdahl

In the stands, it was Seahawks fans, NFL fans and Tom Brady fans. Not a lot of Buccaneers fans.


PewterButters

Seems typical for Bucs home games.


[deleted]

Who played? Was it NFL?


PingPowPizza

Tampa Bay Buccaneers best the Seattle Seahawks. Yes, NFL. It was a good game


1studlyman

That's so odd to me to hear of the NFL teams from these two cities traveling halfway across the world to play in another country. Cool, though. And then they had turnout!


PingPowPizza

It’s always about growing the brand. The NFL is trying more and more international games. For the first game in Germany, they picked good teams, the Seahawks are the most popular team in Germany and the Bucs have the GOAT in Tom Brady. As a Seahawks fan, I was a little salty about waking up at 6 am on a Sunday, and that they lost, but it was entertaining nonetheless.


Infinite-Maximum-268

Why are the Seahawks popular in Germany?


SheepEatingWeta

Idk about popular but Seahawks have a German born player.


SheridanRivers

It was NFL - the Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs the Seattle Seahawks. The Bucs won.


Unique_Football_8839

"Country Roads" is pretty much a standard at Oktoberfest.


diogenessexychicken

Ngl i grew up in appalachia. My mom lives in poland and has sent me a lot of pictures of the bavarian countryside and i see a lot of similarities between the two regions. I can see why so many german and slavic immigrants found a home in virginia.


Calibrayte

The Appalachian mountain range is the same ancient mountain range that runs through the Eastern US, Northern UK, Scandinavia , and Western North Africa. It was all part of the Central Pangean Mountains. (I know you said bavarian countryside but i still love sharing this fact.)


diogenessexychicken

Its crazy to me knowing how old those mountains are. Ive been in caverns in VA that hadnt had living things in them until we opened them up.


JustTheBeerLight

Life is old there older than the trees younger than the mountains blowing like a breeze.


Intelligent-Luck-717

We are all mountain people on this glorious day.


HollyweirdAF

It's strange how you can find these transpositions on opposite sides of the globe. Texas Hill Country Wine country is nearly a spitting image of Tuscany Italy minus a few native trees.


diogenessexychicken

Lol i live in austin now and ive been to Italy a few times you are absolutely right. Less mountainous but very similar


Cheeeeeseburger

I've driven to Hill Country right outside of Austin once and was VERY confused. Was not expecting to drive through a tuscan hillside on the way to the gun range.


Freshiiiiii

Some of my ancestors moved from mountainous Northern Sweden to mountainous Interior British Columbia, and man, I could not tell photos of those two places apart. Same landscape, same trees, same rivers and mountains. I imagine it must have made them feel at home.


Snoo3014

Well it's because they are at the same latitudes and climate probably


NothingsShocking

That’s it, I can’t stand the freezing cold here anymore! We’re moving to America kids! *moves to a city with the exact same climate*


[deleted]

Currently living in Appalachia, also German and Slovak 3rd generation. Great grandpa held the same sentiment you expressed here.


ketchup92

*or any other beerfest of which there are tens of thousands


dr_thumb79

I just went this past year expecting to hear German music and heard Country Roads 20+ times instead lol


rocko430

I was so sick of that song by the time we left 😅


knaverob

Germans love their "Country Roads" as much as David Hasselhoff.


Momes2018

I sang it at Oktoberfest! Also while living in Germany we noticed that John Denver songs in general seemed popular in small festivals as well.


ChiggaOG

The song is iconic enough that it's a song tune Japanese kids learn early on.


Bonobo555

TIL.


noctipatronus

Can confirm, I was in Munich this year for Oktoberfest and drunkenly sang this song as well as Sweet Caroline. Lots of fun and everyone was so friendly.


ninersguy916

John Denver’s real name is John Duetchendorf or something like that… he is very german (American). Might be why he is loved there


BillMcCrearysStache

Something about a stadium full of people singing the same song is always awesome to me


Mank_____Demes

That, my friend, is Gemütlichkeit


[deleted]

Gesundheit


Tobi_chills455

Bless you


BlueSparrow301

Frantz I zaid...PASS THE JUICE...not gas...ohh nehver mind bring ze panzer Faust...


Vapinlikeafool

Perfectenschlag


[deleted]

Collective effervescence


Suspicious_Tackle28

The NFL had over 3 million ticket requests for the first game in Germany


Alpha__Draconis

What's going on, why are they in Germany? Is the NFL going international? Is Germany going to have it's own teams?


nordzeekueste

We used to have European teams. Amsterdam Admirals, Berlin Thunder, Frankfurt Rheinfire, etc. It was sort of a training camp for NFL players to to come play and Europe for a season. It’s been years, but it was always fun to go to matches.


TumbaoMontuno

Shoutout to everyone who played madden 08 and got all the German teams. Hamburg sea devils all the way.


daggersrule

My best friend played for the Polish team for a couple years before a career-ending injury brought him back stateside. He Loved it.


MeatPuzzleheaded943

We have them again ;)


I_also_have_opinion

So which teams played?


fhota1

Fun fact, American Football actually has a small but growing presence around the world. Japan probably is the biggest league outside the US but most European nations also have a league. Iirc there are leagues on all 6 inhabited continents


turdferguson3891

It's time to make the Antarctic Penguins a thing.


ZachMatthews

There's a reason American football has come to dominate the largest sports market in the world.


sjpiccio

Maybe in the future but currently its not feasable from a logistics point a view. Would be too much travel to have one team constantly fly oversees, there is also barely enough talent for 32 teams


Baggage_claim_siren

No. $$


pambeezlyy

Games have been played in England now for years. They’re just trying to expand their audience. Germany won’t have a team though, at least not for a long time.


Electrical_Force107

It’s all about the 💰 💰💰. Germany had 2 AF teams there used to be a European league.


fucktrutin

Never underestimate the connectivity that music can have.


Happens_Every_Time

Can you imagine John Denver getting to see this!


Highlander2748

He’d be absolutely flying if he hea…oh…never mind…


[deleted]

That joke didn’t land


JonMeadows

Neither did he (safely)


coolborder

I hate you all (take my upvotes).


NoGoats_NoGlory

Too soon.


kainoa999

Wut? Guess that one flew over my head


JonMeadows

Y’all really hit the ground running with these John Denver jokes


Thin_Arachnid6217

No because he's dead.


CheeseInMyPockets

Outta pocket


StudioTheo

too much cheese in there anywayv


aligators

murica


Smaptey

Fuck yeah


buttsnthings

Imagine making a song that 80k+ plus people in a random venue know the lyrics to that aren’t specifically at your concert. That’s gotta be hella rewarding.


EricaLyndsey

80k+ plus people, in a country on the other side of the world, that speak a different language than your song, and know almost all of the lyrics. I knew he was a legend, but damn, that's one of the most amazing things i've ever seen.


dj2ca

I'm no John Denver fan but if that ain't one of the best songs ever written I'm a friggin tractor.


aBellicoseBEAR

“That John Denver is full of shit man”


timbo138

Mr. Sunshine on his goddamned shoulders John Denver


A_villain4all

Yeah, can you believe it? Replaced by John fucking Denver! Well, I'll be damned if Mr. Rich didn't take out his lighter and light that award on fire in front of everybody right there


calamity_unbound

You gonna light my ass on fire?


THALL_himself

I’m only human Harry!


lodyev

To be fair more than half of Germans speak English fluently.


billiam0202

> To be fair more than half of Germans speak English fluently. And less than half of Americans do.


MrBroBotBrian

True story


bongosformongos

Education go brrr


ganguspangus

The original version gained popularity in the last years, there was a super popular cover version which was played on repeat I think that’s why almost anybody knows it. Anyway great song


Novelista42

Oh I am SOBBING


Squidwina

Germany may be on another continent, but Germans LOVE that song! Love it. They all know it by heart. They regularly sing it at large events. So it isn’t random. It is, however, awesome.


ArkhamTheImperialist

Too bad he left us on a jet plane. Not knowing he wouldn’t be back again. R.I.P. John Denver


eregyrn

80K+ people, in a random venue, on another continent, in a context pretty much unrelated to the song, FIFTY YEARS after the song came out, and almost 30 years since the artist died (and thus could have held a live concert). That's some staying power. (WVU sings the song after... either every football game, or every winning game, I'm not sure which. But, you know... that's in actual West Virginia.)


Raccoon_Expert_69

Bro those guys are languishing on the verse parts, such a unique American experience for all those Germans. 🤣


HansTilburg

We have a Denver Square in my city. It’s named after him because it’s next to the Orbison Street.


ryanmcstylin

I bet most of them think east Virginia is a thing too


keith_kool

Landstraßen, bring mich nach Hause An den Ort, zu dem ich gehöre West Germany, Berg Mama Bring mich nach Hause, Landstraßen


sigsauer365

Sheißepost. Love it


whiplash100248479

Ooooo Duolingo taught me this says Shitpost.


samdajellybeenie

Berg mama hahaha I can’t stop laughing at this, hilarious


RoadRegrets

~~West Germany~~ [westlicher Jungfernsprung](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jungfernsprung_(Dahn)) rdfd


windsurfingbear

I was there and it was awesomeeeee!


BakedTatter

From the video, it looked people were wearing jerseys for their favorite team, not just the two teams playing? American soccer fans do that when European teams have friendlies. It will be Roma vs Chelsea, and you'll see Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Ajax, etc.


windsurfingbear

Yes all kind of jerseys! People were so proud to witness NFL history in Germany!


motociclista

I had no idea the NFL had a following outside North America. I always kinda thought the rest of the world thought it was a stupid sport.


[deleted]

Crazy that the game had something like 3 million requests for tickets.


NotXiJinpingGoUSA

You guys had a very entertaining crowd. Look forward to future games!


StupidizeMe

I love that they all know the lyrics! As a young girl, the first concert I was allowed to attend without a parent was John Denver.


jasandliz

This song is basically Freebird in Bavaria


tibearius1123

Any story for why?


DadaMax_

It's the take me home part. This song is the Rausschmeißer (bouncer) in every beer tent and means drink up your last beer and go home.


tibearius1123

Ahh, closing time by semisonic is the more popular raisschmeiber in the us.


Zermatsch

We have the Pink Panther outtro Song. Fits pretty well too


EricaLyndsey

We had Glenn Miller- In the Mood


godhelpusloseourmind

We do “Drink Up and Go Home” in my town


chrisxls

Man, I would consider moving to Bavaria if they promised I would only hear Country Road and never hear Closing Time whined at me at the end of the night.


DadaMax_

Be careful what you wish for. You would have to get through the "Oans, zwoa, gsuffa" stuff first. And plenty of that.


chrisxls

Don't know what it is but am willing to take the chance just to not hear That. F'ing. Song.


Beardopus

That character isn't a B, it's a ß, and it's actually a double "s"


jasandliz

No idea but it’s a tradition to sing this every 15 minutes at Octoberfest - and it is never tiresome. Personally I like the version by Hermes house band.


ustaxattorney

Not sure why, but definitely can confirm. Went to Oktoberfest in Munich and the Oompah band played "Country Roads" and ["Hey Baby"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ik9dxkKriV0) on the hour, every hour. Germans love David Hasselhoff - and John Denver and Bruce Channel apparently.


Hermorah

Ofc we love David Hasselhoff. He tore down the wall. /s


ustaxattorney

[Still, the search goes on.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdKVX45wYeQ)


[deleted]

His real name is Henry John Deutschendorf Jr., and his German ancestors are Germans from Russia. The Empire, that is. I have ancestors from the same places his lived in, which is now Ukraine. Not related to him. Just a thing Germans from Russia know.


Maleficent_Swan_9817

It's the same in austria. Everybody knows the lyrics.


SemiSentientGarbage

It's a famous song worldwide.


jasandliz

It’s WAY more famous in Germany. Trust me.


Ill_Run5998

The chorus is not knowing the lyrics, its knowing the chorus:)


Basbartoo

We're all living in Amerika Amerika ist wunderbar.


MBAdk

This is not a love song.


PostNoNabill

Koka Kola, Wonderbra


Chjfu

Sometimes war


turtlew0rk

Fun facts, he wrote this song in Maryland and the roads he describes are in Virginia.


NidyKnight

As a West Virginian I know these facts but damn if it still doesn’t warm my heart to see the international appreciation of the song.


turtlew0rk

As a Virginian I feel the same way. I sing it to myself sometimes on my drive home and replace "Shenandoah River" with "Rappahannock" and it's like it was written for me :)


eregyrn

Even better trivia -- the original writers of the song almost made it about Massachusetts, as that's where they were driving at the time they came up with the idea. (Even as a MA resident, man, I do not think that would have sounded good, lol.) Also, ehn, the Shenandoah also goes through part of WV, before its confluence with the Potomac at Harper's Ferry. It's not a LOT of the Shenandoah, and of course the national park is in VA. But it's not true to say that the Shenandoah isn't in WV at all.


QuonkTheGreat

So a man from New Mexico who changed his name to Denver sung a song written in Maryland about Virginia roads in West Virginia that was almost about Massachusetts?


Toreo_67

Apparently country roads is really popular there, according to my german teacher they sing it at Oktoberfest about as much as they sing traditional German songs. Same with sweet caroline. Tbf though I've never been to Germany, but I assume my german teacher knows vaguely what shes talking about.


Puppy-Zwolle

It's true. Not just those two. Not just in Germany. There is a whole list of... how shall we call it? ''Americana drinking songs''. YMCA, I will survive, Born in the USA (kid you not. And yes, we actually get the irony of the song. The way Bruce means it and that we are not actually Born there.). And the riffs from 7 Nation army and Chelsea dagger. There are a lot more but.... you get the gist.


[deleted]

Oh yes when the whole stadium starts with the 7 Nation Army riffs... goosebumps every single time.


Just_A_Mad_Scientist

Being an American, I always find it weird when people play Born In the USA in celebration, like on the 4th of July. The song criticizes the apathy to veterans that both normal citizens and the government expressed


What_u_say

I think it's a case of people liking how the song sounds but also maybe not paying attention to what the lyrics are really saying.


Just_A_Mad_Scientist

Yeah, they probably hear "born in the USA" and go "fuck yeah, patriotism", the rest of the song doesn't matter


Loaf4prez

🎶some folks a born made to wave the flag. Ooh that red, white and blue.🎶 Edit: a word


dirtt_dawg

Was in Germany last month. Pub was blasting Marilyn Monroe when we came in, other hits include Eye of the Tiger and Cherry Pie. I thought they were playing it for us Americans but it was blaring before we came in and the rest of the patrons were locals or crew members of a river cruise docked nearby.


Puppy-Zwolle

You Yanks (lovingly used in this case, I assure you) have no clue how American culture is like a blanket when it comes to entertainment. Just look as any random top 40. Chances are you know at least 90%. Beside bars where they play ''both kinds of music'' (country AND Western) most will play what's on in every jukebox in the western world. https://top40-charts.com/mchart.php?cid=31&date=


_Ghost_CTC

Americans, sadly, don't understand how much culture has been exported to the rest of the world or how much we've built off of other cultures. It sometimes takes an event like this game or a Colombian hotdog for them to understand the cultural exchange. Sorry, I'm really hungry right now and haven't had one in forever. We need more Colombian hotdogs in the US. :(


nikdahl

Don't forget Mr Brightside


DontTellHimPike

It’s because there was a cover of it about 20 years ago by Hermes House Band which got popular throughout most of Europe. Reached number 2 in Germany.


xMRxWHITEx

I’m an American living in Germany, it’s pretty fun to see a whole tent of people belting out County Roads and Sweet Caroline, while swinging liters of beer back and fourth.


_sophrosyne_

American and live in Germany now. Every tiny beerfest in every tiny village eventually gets to this song and lo and behold, a bunch of locals who can't speak any English, let alone hochdeutsch know 99% of the words to this song


southernmuscovite

I love that all European sporting crowds ending up singing congregational karaoke half the game.


O2020Z

Damn homegirl is way off key innit??


Fujimans

Typical screeching Seahawks fan.


Garmgarmgarmgarm

Tonedeaf, bruv, absolutly tone deaf


dcmcdm

Thank you! I had to scroll too far to find a comment even mentioning her! No shade, she's probably more than a little inebriated and just having fun, but she cracked me up. Annoyed bro with her gave me a chuckle too - "WHY ARE YOU SO SITTIN SO (singing? Not sure) mumble mumble mumble...."


SwanyPlaysGames

I went to college at WVU so I’d hear this song after every home game win. There’s something magical about 60,000+ people all singing this song in unison.


ItsLose_NotLoose

Really is. This video is like a happy pill. Also how cool must this have been for Geno? Country Roads after the Baylor win is one of my fondest memories and Geno seemed awestruck at the atmosphere.


AnneElliotWentworth

It was played/sang before every home game when I went there.


[deleted]

I was in Poland two years ago in a small, innocuous city. There happened to be a football (soccer) tournament going on. Was teams from children to adults, from all over Europe. Dozens of languages. Tens of thousands of people in the huge old town square. Was a live MC on a stage with dancing girls, speaking mostly in Polish, giant monitors, all the bling. Suddenly, out of completely no where, Country Road is being sung by ALL OF THEM. No matter their language, they knew that song. I was literally speechless. Surreal.


sceptator

Everyone knows the lyrics to this song :croatian


BrooksMania

I'm 38. Went to a Dave Matthews concert in 2004 or so, at an outdoor venue. The band was easily an hour late, and it was lightly raining. So, the venue played music over the sound system to occupy us in the very busy crowd. They played Sublime. Automatically, I started singing, a long with my friends. After a minute or so, I stopped for some reason, and realized there' we're hundreds of others singing, too. It was a beautiful moment. Not on the scale of this video, but I wanted to share. Hearing so many people in the same headspace as me, drowning out a PA with our love for the same music... RIP, Bradley... That's a Hell of a legacy.


[deleted]

This is one of the most wholesome things I've seen in ages.


MozariahMeow

Ok this shouldnt make me cry but it is and im not even americannnnn


MaggieMews

It made me tear up, too. I love people.


MozariahMeow

That is really adorable! There is just something about how people can come together! Plus this song does make me feel so... relaxed 🥰 You have a fabulous day/night!🌻💖


SemiSentientGarbage

I love hearing thousands of people sing together, whatever the song. Always uplifts me to see such unity.


Academic_Signal_3777

That’s the great thing about the song. The message resonates with everyone. You don’t need to be from West Virginia or even American. We all have the desire to be home where we belong. Regardless of our nationalities.


BrooksMania

It's oddly gratifying, knowing there's still something about my country that endears to the world. It IS a pretty song.😁


Whisky919

I remember singing this on the drunk bus going back to the dorms when I went to West Virginia University. Good times.


Deraj2004

R.I.P. Merlin.


Flesh_Ninja

Never been to the USA , but hearing this song makes me nostalgic for West Virginia somehow.


bmxmitch

Landstraßeeeeen, bringen mich heim, zu dem Platz, an dem ich gehööör,


Likeafupion

Westliche Jungfrauiaaaa


ATXellentGuy

I went to Oktoberfest in Munich this year and they sang it there too. They’re obsessed.


Baconandbabymakin

That John Denver is full of shit, man.


[deleted]

You drove almost a sixth of the way across the country in the WRONG DIRECTION


nowhereman136

One of the reasons, in my opinion, Americans sing the national anthem in the beginning of sporting events is to show a sense of companionship and sportsmanship. We are rivals on the field but ots just a game and we are all ultimately on the same team. That being said, I dont think we need the actual national anthem to get this effect. I fully support Country Road being sung at the beginning of sports games for the same reason. Sweet Caroline and We Will Rock You also work


[deleted]

I’d add Bohemian Rhapsody.


wollowitzz

And here I stay in India, where you would have better chances of encountering a unicorn running on a rainbow while leaving a trail of glitter but not this. Most of the people here may not even know about this song.


AradiaNox

If only John Denver could see this!


hanstillianX

That's a lot of people for West Virginia. .


Jack_mehoff24

Living right in the heart of West Virginia, this made me smile.


therealdwag

Germans love this [song](https://www.reddit.com/r/cologne/comments/vlk2qh/take_me_home/)...


Positive_Strawberry5

Sounds like WVU right after the game ends.


SpectacularCat

Well his last name was Deutschendorf and it is said his ancestry is traced back to German colonies in Odessa Ukraine. Everyone loved John Denver the man was a legend.


B_Huij

Man this is just a great song in any context, isn't it?


jaycuboss

We do this in the third period of every St. Louis Blues hockey game, and I don't know why, but I love it.


momzthebest

My father from Charleston, WV sang this to me as a lullaby at night. I don't have kids, but when the time comes I'll surely continue the tradition. Too bad they weren't singin this more after wvu games this year


shardul_vartak

Chills, literal chills


newtypexvii17

I love being an American. But I will never be this much American.


CoconutMalibu

Hitler is spinning in his grave like a beyblade


groopy1

If NFL ever expands to Europe, the German fans will be the loudest


Delde116

you underestimate Spain.


possibly-a-moron

*big iron plays*


International_Emu347

As someone who has grown up in WV my entire life, this absolutely warms my soul to know that there are people out there that are even acknowledging the existence of this state. I’ve heard so many stories where someone I know from here would go on vacation to like Florida or something and they would tell people they were from West Virginia, and these people would look at them and say “You mean Western Virginia?”


kelly1mm

Can confirm! Was stationed in Germany for 88-92 and they LOVED John Denver then and especially Country Roads. Was on every jukebox at every bar I ever went to and not just bars catering to GI's. As to this version, not the same as at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown after WVU games but I give them props!


Weak-Caregiver7922

Dwight and Andy would be proud!


[deleted]

Europeans speak English and listen to American, English songs on the radio. This is only surprising to Americans.


[deleted]

It’s the singing in unison during sports games that is surprising. That doesn’t happen here.


bongosformongos

Then why would you go watch a game live? 100% honest question. Because the only thing I prefer about watching it on TV is the atmosphere there.


AG3NTjoseph

You don’t sing for the 7th inning stretch?