Nana Mouskouri sings    O Tannenbaum

(a Christmas song)

Learn German Pronunciation While Singing

1)  Study or review pronunciations on my Guide to German Pronunciation for Singers.

2)  Listen to the song on the video to familiarize yourself with the melody.

3)  Aloud or to yourself, read the song lyrics below (without video), trying to use proper pronunciation.

4)  In the Guide, check any pronunciations about which you are unsure.

5)  Read the lyrics silently while listening to the video.  Be aware that two consecutive words may sometimes be sung on a single note, thus making your task a little more challenging. 

6)  Try to sing along with the video.

7)  You will have the most difficulty where the words are sung fast.  Practice saying those parts fast until you can do so successfully. 

8)  Start the video, but stop it after the first phrase has been sung.  Now, you sing what you heard (without the video running).  Then, listen to the next phrase, stop the video, then sing that phrase.  Repeat this sequence until you reach the end of the song.

9)  Repeat step 8 until you are doing reasonably well.

10)  Sing along with the video from beginning to end.  Then, marvel at what you have accomplished.

O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum,
wie treu sind deine Blätter!
Du grünst nicht nur zur Sommerzeit,
Nein auch im Winter, wenn es schneit.
O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum,
wie treu sind deine Blätter!

O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum!
Du kannst mir sehr gefallen!
Wie oft hat nicht zur Weihnachtszeit
Ein Baum von dir mich hoch erfreut!
O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum!
Du kannst mir sehr gefallen!

O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum!
Dein Kleid will mich was lehren:
Die Hoffnung und Beständigkeit
Gibt Trost und Kraft zu jeder Zeit.
O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum!

Dein Kleid will mich was lehren/
Das soll dein Kleid mich lehren.

TRANSLATION BELOW                    TRANSLATION BELOW

O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree
How loyal are your leaves/needles!
You're green not only in the summertime,
No, also in winter when it snows.
O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree
How loyal are your leaves/needles!

O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree
You can please me very much!
How often has not at Christmastime
A tree like you given me such joy!
O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree,
You can please me very much!

O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree
Your dress wants to teach me something:
Your hope and durability
Provide comfort and strength at any time.
O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree,
That's what your dress should teach me.