Starlight Express - current Bochum songs?

[steve10086]

I'm seeing Starlight Express in Bochum in a few months time (been once before, about 10 years ago) and wonder if anyone can tell me what the current song list it?

I know some of the new songs were added a few years ago but I understand other changes (influenced by the more recent touring version?) have been made since.

Don't want to go there looking forward to particular numbers if they are no longer in the show!

Many thanks :-)

[exedore]

Saw this a couple weeks ago. The current song list, according to the programme, is:

Intro of National Trains
Rolling Stock
Nennt mich rostig
'Ne Lok mit Locomotion (has the new Pearl bit about being 1st class)
Dann pfeift er mir zu
Fracht
AC/DC
Pumping Iron
Coda of Freight
Crazy
Hilf mir versteh'n
1. Rennen
Papas Blues (CB is still in the show but they cut Dein Freund)
2. Rennen
Bummellok
Starlight Express

2. Akt
Rap (new, hard to understand, thankfully the lyrics are in the programme)
GEKUPPELT
Girls' Rolling Stock
Mein Spiel
3. Renne
Nicht der rechte Zeitpunkt...
Starlight Sequenz
4. Rennen
Ein Rock 'n' Roll zu viel
Nur mit ihm (Only He, had been Du Allein/Only You recently)
Ein Licht ganz am Ende des Tunnels
Megamix

There's talk that with the cast change in May they'll be adding a new version of the overture. Also be aware that the arrangements aren't as lush as you'll remember them or hear on the 1989 live CD - they fired half the band a few years ago to cut costs.

[steve10086]

Thank you very much :-)

There are a few things I'll miss from that list, but I still managed to enjoy the last (very small) UK Tour, so hopefully this will still be spectacular (in comparison). Shame about the orchestra... seems to be a trend!

[steve10086]

Actually couple more questions ;-)

'Ne Lok mit Locomotion
Is this the traditional 'A Lotta Locomotion' or 'A Whole Lotta Locomotion' as in the UK Tour?

Dann pfeift er mir zu
Is this the upbeat 'He Whistled At Me' or the slower 'He'll Whistle At Me'?

Rap
Is this the one from the UK Tour? It was horrible!

Thanks again :-)

[exedore]

'Ne Lok is the traditional song, though the drums are more prevalent in the reduced orchestrations.

Dann Pfeifft is the more upbeat version with all the girls onstage.

The rap...is crap so I'm guessing it's the tour one. I genuinely had to look at the programme when I got back to the hotel to work out the words, and my German isn't THAT bad.

Fortunately, the spectacle level is INCREDIBLY high in Bochum, and will blow all memory of the tour away from your mind. There's no such thing as a bad seat in that theatre, but it's a matter of balance - sit further away and see some of the detail in the races but you're not as close to the bowl. Sit near the bowl and you may not see Greaseball clotheslining someine in a race. I've been in most areas of the house and always find there's something new and exciting to see no matter where I am.

[steve10086]

Apart from the Crap Rap, that's all great news :-)

'A Whole Lotta Locomotion' was awful and I don't know what posessed them to put it in the UK tour. So glad the real song is back.

Much prefer the upbeat version of 'He Whisled' :-)

We're seeing the show twice in one day, and for the afternoon we're in Middle Tribune Left (row 4) - so hopefully a good central view, assuming the seating is staggered enough to see over the people's heads in front!

In the evening we're in Tribune Left (row 1), so a more side view but closer to the stage and in the front row (hopefully no large barriers around the track blocking the view?).

Thanks again for all the info - much appreciated.

I am a 37 year old man, but I have to be honest and say I am so excited about this!!! :-)

[exedore]

The seats at the Starlighthalle are well raked, so the view is generally excellent unless you're three and don't have a booster seat. There are barriers along the racetrack, but at a normal adult seating height you should be fine. Oh, and I do recommend getting the programme. It's expensive at €9, but it's 70 oversized pages of photos in a square bound book with a magazine sized insert with the cast info. Sadly they don't give you a list of each performance's cast (the Abendbesetzung) with it, but they do let people take pictures of the rather awesome cast board. Given the high rate of injury, you're guaranteed a swing or three somewhere.

Also, while you're there, do eat at the Greek restaurant near the Bermuda Triangle and get cake at the Glass Cafe. Avoid the Italian places, they're cheap but VERY slow when you're in a hurry. If you are running late, a taxi takes about 10 minutes and will set you back €7. The drivers don't always speak English past numbers, but they all know what "starlight express" or "starlighthalle" means.

[steve10086]

Reporting back from my weekend in Bochum :-)

You mentioned a May cast change in one of your posts, but I dind't realise it was going to be on the day we were there. During the matinee there were lots of little changes/jokes, including some quite big chunks of lyrics sung in English! Then in the evening when we were sat in the front row of the tribune we got to 'high five' all the cast who were leaving as they did their final laps of honour. Could not have picked a better day to be there!!!

The show was amazing of course. Will definitely have to go back again one day. Are there ever rumours of the show closing? It wasn't full on Sunday, but still looked to be doing good business.

[safira]

Oh, these rumours. They exist as long as the show and they come back every year! As far as I know it´s still selling well and the new cast got the usual one-year-contract. So don´t worry.