basta - X-MAS Special

In the organizer's words:

As contemplative and quiet as it may, should and must be in the circle of the family on the feast of love, this does not remotely apply to all Christmas celebrations outside the home. Not only basta thinks so!

But probably no band is as committed to festive joy as this one. Every December, the five Cologne natives thrill their fans at THE cult event, their "x-mas Special", which is sold out far in advance year after year. Contemplation is rarely offered here, actually only during the traditional last song "O du fröhliche", which is sung together with the audience. The rest of the time is spent celebrating.

To do this, basta draw on the most popular Christmas and other songs and give them a twist that is as hair-raising as it is obvious. In "Schinkenpelz", "Jingle Bells" becomes the story of a butter sandwich forgotten in the fridge, in their arrangement of Wolfgang Petry's hit "Wahnsinn" they sing about the desperate attempt to organize a Christmas tree just before Christmas, Spider Murphy's gang song "Skandal im Sperrbezirk" is relocated to the biblical Bethlehem, where Joseph fights for his reputation as Mary's fiancé. Not forgetting Nena's "99 balloons", which mutate into the disastrous "99 mulled wine sweets" at basta!

Get an impression? Neighbors in the apartment building would probably put a note on the door: "It might get a little louder tonight". That wouldn't be the worst idea. Christmas Eve can be quiet, calm and peaceful again.