11-07-2017 on RTLZWEI

Summer is finally here, people are enjoying the carefree life, and many are going on vacation. Sun, sea, beach, and the summer hits are blasting from the speakers again. Which song will be the big hit of this summer? The latest episode of RTLZWEI's music documentary "Pop Giganten" celebrates the biggest summer hits of the last 50 years.

The documentary also tells the stories behind these iconic summer hits. Behind many of these songs, there's more than meets the eye: "Club Tropicana" by Wham! is not just a carefree, feel-good summer hit, but its lyrics critically address the then-emerging trend of all-inclusive resort holidays. Likewise, the cheerful "Vamos a la playa" by Righeira is not about a relaxed beach life, but it deals with the consequences of environmental pollution and the nuclear threat during the Cold War in the 1980s.

Some songs were originally produced as a soundtrack for a movie before becoming global summer hits. Among the most famous examples are Pharrell Williams' "Happy" from the soundtrack of the animated film Despicable Me 2, and Justin Timberlake's "Can't Stop The Feeling" from the movie Trolls. Both tracks were nominated for an "Oscar" for Best Original Song.

The summer hits and the stories behind them are commented on by musicians such as Loona, Fernanda Brandao, Jürgen Drews, and Jürgen Milski, as well as hosts Nilz Bokelberg and Milka Loff Fernandes, and Germany's most successful curvy model, Angelina Kirsch. Also featured is music producer Alex Christensen, who created the big summer hit of 2000, "Around The World" by ATC.

Kommentiert werden die Sommer-Hits und die Geschichten dahinter von Musikern wie Loona, Fernanda Brandao, Jürgen Drews und Jürgen Milski, den Moderatoren Nilz Bokelberg und Milka Loff Fernandes sowie von Deutschlands erfolgreichstem Curvy-Model Angelina Kirsch. Ebenso kommt Musikproduzent Alex Christensen, der 2000 mit „Around The World“ von ATC den großen Sommer-Hit des Jahres kreiert hat, zu Wort.