https://www.leipzig.travel/en/ Archives - Jim Murty’s TravelTravelTravel

Ja, they literally stop traffic and as we reflect on 35 years since the Fall of the Wall we do still have Ampel time for East German signs.

And other quirky stop-go ways of keeping motorists and pedestrians in sync around the world.

Berlin, East German and all Deutschland life today moves to the beat of the spritely little figure in the straw hat.

Which is for all its austerity the most resounding legacy of the GDR.

Along with the statues and wall reliefs of Communist icons in the German capital, Dresden, Leipzig and Chemnitz (Karl Marx Stadt) to remind the citizens of their history.

Put a straw hat on it

The Ampelmannchen, like much despite the interference of politicians, survived because of its popularity with the public.

He had been astride the East since traffic psychologist Karl Peglau came up with the idea in 1961.

With Ampelmannchen’s distinctive straw hat a nod to a summer photo leader Erich Honecker.

A small victory one would think for the oppressed East Germans to immortalise their Communist leader in bourgeoisie couture.

Come reunification there was clearly much to organise.

And despite the famous Teuton efficiency it was overlooked that there was a difficulty with differing signs and fonts between the two Germanys.

With the Western figure oddly more pencil-straight, regimental than the quirkier East German fave.

So while Westernisation swept over the East, the East hung on to their traffic signs and the West absorbed them.

The Ampelmannchen clearly would not be moved.

And as the ultimate signal of capital’s hold the Ampelmannchen has become synonymous with modern German life.

With shops proliferating around Berlin and around Germany, selling the little man with the straw hat.

Anything from ironically stationery to stickers to mugs to fridge magnets to mouse mats.

With mine taking pride of place at home now.

Now I’ll clearly always have Ampel time for East German signs.. and their people.

And make instant judgements on a people by which quirky signs they choose to guide us on our way around their towns and villages.

Now it’s green lights to Berlin with EasyJet with a sample return ticket for £82.99.

There have been many candidates for the Fifth Beatle, George Martin, Eric Clapton, Billy Preston. But we want to Get Bach to The Beatles.

Johann Sebastian Bach died on this day 171 years ago more than a hundred years before The Beatles formed in Liverpool.

But Paul McCartney credits the great Saxon (no, not the band but the state) for inspiring his work.

Merseysider Macca cites Bach in Blackbird while the trained ear will pick up a Bach piccolo trumpet on Penny Lane.

That Baroque sound is also unmistakable on the orchestral section in All You Need Is Love.

But it wasn’t just The Beatles who caught the Bach bug.

If it feels like Simon & Garfunkel’s Bridge Over Troubled Water and American Tune are timeless.

Then it is because it has its roots 100 years before as Rhymin’ Simon tells us on a US chat show.

In the Liepziger’s four-part chorale O Sacred Head Now Wounded.

A Whiter Shade Of Pale sounds like the title of something Bach would rattle it out.

Because it pretty much is and repackaged as Procul Horum’s Sixties classic.

While The Beach Boys’ melodies from California also borrow from Saxony’s finest.

You’ll hear it in their reworking of his Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring for Lady Linda.

Of course, a good toon is a good toon and we’re sure if Bach has done words he’d have found a rap rhyme to Toccata and Fugue in D minor.

Detroit’s favourite rapper Eminem sampled the great German in Brainless.

Only to be followed up (upBached) by Bonkers from Yonkers Lady Gaga and her Bad Romance and its harpsichord intro.

So Get Bach to The Beatles and a host of music royalty.

So think on it the next time you’re going to write a classic… dig out Johann Sebastian Bach.