It’s party-time time in the federal republic – the perfect moment for a German-themed playlist of get-ready tunes, midnight bangers and four in the morning weepies.
The right soundtrack is a crucial element of any big night out, or in, and that’s never truer than on New Year’s Eve when the challenge of looking back, looking ahead and staying in the moment – all at the same time – can only really be met through the medium of song.
For everyone celebrating in Germany this year, why not weave in some of the best of what the country has to offer musically? From absolute classics to the tracks which have set the country alight this year, we hope you’ll find something to make you want to dance, hug, cry and feel the love.
We’ve explained our selections below – and you can find the playlist here.
Happy listening and – from all of us at The Local – have a wonderful New Year’s Eve.
Zur Party – 6euroneunzig
6euroneunzig to me is representative of the young and wild music scene coming up in Berlin right now. It’s definitively Berlin: feisty, raunchy and vocally against the patriarchy – and all set to a techno beat.
Zur Party, is a great song for getting in the mood before going out to party through the night, if that’s what you’re into. Paul Krantz
READ ALSO: The most popular German language songs of 2025
Bauch Beine Po – Shirin David
Bauch Beine Po by Shirin David is a workout anthem that mixes house beats with playful rap lyrics about iced matcha lattes, Pilates and gym life, all wrapped up in a catchy chorus that’ll have you chanting Bauch, Beine, Po (“abs, legs and glutes”) even if you’ve never set foot in a German gym.
The music video is pure retro fun and Shirin David herself is a force of nature. She went from YouTube vlogs to topping the charts as one of Germany’s biggest female rappers. Tom Pugh
DER LETZTE SONG (ALLES WIRD GUT) – KUMMER feat. Nina Chuba
Sometimes you need a song that’s raw, honest, and a little bit punk. “DER LETZTE SONG (ALLES WIRD GUT)” by KUMMER and Nina Chuba is exactly that.
It’s about chaos, hope and the world feeling upside down – but with a chorus that insists “alles wird gut” (“everything will be fine”).
KUMMER, who leads the band Kraftklub, brings a gritty edge, and Nina Chuba, who originally blew up on TikTok with “Wildberry Lillet,” adds her unique style.
This track is a festival favourite and a great way to get a taste of Germany’s alternative music scene. TP
Der Kommissar – Falco
While looking ahead to the year to come, it’s also nice to shift up the vibe with a look back to where we’ve come from.
Enter Falco’s Der Kommissar, a smash hit from 1981 that has stood the test of time and still slaps. For millennials or younger, who weren’t here when it first ruled the airwaves, it’s one of those hits you’re sure you’ve heard before – even if you have no idea why or where or when.
Der Kommissar loosely translates as “police officer”. The song, about a drug-dealing couple evading a cop, was covered by After the Fire in English (1982), boosting its cult status. PK
READ ALSO: Music to our ears – The top 10 melodic German phrases
Lila Wolken – Marteria, Yasha & Miss Platnum
Another not so recent track, though it’s still 30 years younger than Der Kommissar, Lila Wolken is a must-listen for anyone who wants to feel the pulse of German party culture.
Perfect for New Year’s Eve, this anthem from 2012 is all about staying up until the clouds turn purple – literally.
The hook, Wir bleiben wach, bis die Wolken wieder lila sind, is iconic; you’ll hear it at festivals and parties all over Germany.
Marteria – arguably one of Germany’s greatest lyricists, brings raw energy while Yasha and Miss Platnum add their own flavour.
It’s the kind of song that makes you want to break free, hug your friends and watch the sunrise after a wild night out. TP
The Berlin band SEEED, featuring singer Peter Fox (second from right), playing a concert at Mellowpark in the capital in 2022. Photo: picture alliance/dpa/dpa-Zentralbild | Kira Hofmann
Love & Courvoisier – Seeed
Ten-piece band Seeed is one of Germany’s most successful musical exports, so if you haven’t gotten to know them by now, let this be your sign to do so.
While they became famous in alternative scenes in the States and elsewhere for their early work – which was markedly dancehall and reggae – their more recent music draws on a mix of influences from hip-hop to pop to afro-beats and more.
This track is a good-mood party song that sets the scene with good vibes for a big night out. PK
READ ALSO: The best places across Germany to watch New Year’s Eve fireworks
Golden – HUNTR/X
Every year people claim it’s getting harder to separate fact from fiction and IRL from VR, so why not greet the new year with one of 2025’s most successful songs – performed by a band that isn’t real.
Golden is a song about overcoming self-doubt and shining together, it’s part of the “KPop Demon Hunters” soundtrack, and it’s by HUNTR/X – a virtual group which nonetheless managed to top Germany’s summer hit charts and Breakthrough Artist lists in July-August 2025.
The chorus is super uplifting (“We’re goin’ up, up, up… Gonna be, gonna be golden”), and the mix of Korean and English lyrics makes it perfect for international fans.
It’s not German but it was a monster hit here, so why not give this one a spin. TP
READ ALSO: Why Spanish pop-star Rosalía sings in German in her latest single
Berghain – Rosalía feat. Björk & Yves Tumor
If you’re interested in Berlin’s legendary club culture, “Berghain” by Rosalía (with Björk and Yves Tumor) is a sonic journey you shouldn’t miss.
Released in late 2025, it’s a multilingual, orchestral epic that captures the mystique of the city’s most famous techno club.
Rosalía’s German verses, Björk’s ethereal vocals, and Yves Tumor’s experimental edge come together in a track that’s both haunting and uplifting. Whether you’re a fan of flamenco, electronic or avant-garde music, this song is a beautiful way to experience the spiritual side of Berlin nightlife. TP
