Please Explain the European Infatuation with David Hasselhoff...!?
 

Let me begin with saying I love Europe and all that is European.

Which makes it all the more difficult for me to understand why *some* Europeans (in particular, Germans apparently) embrace all that is David Hasselhoff. Maybe it is not true and the US media is making up (and making fun of) the fact that he is well loved abroad. His "Hooked on a Feeling" is just hysterical, IMHO. But apparently it is a huge hit abroad.

Does anyone have any insight on the David Hasselhoff phenomena? Is it true? Is it a fraud? What is the appeal, if any?

In Paris it is Sharon Stone!

It is only Germans that love all things Hasselhof. Please be clear about that!

I am English and I absolutely no idea what the attraction is with this bloke. He's a talentless fool as far as I'm concerned.

Who is he?

Isn't he that Baywatch guy? I managed to avoid every episode of that show, and it wasn't easy to do! It seemed like it was on perpetually through the 80s and 90s.

I've heard that too about Hasselhoff, and I thought it was in France as well.

Now, shall we talk about the French love for Jerry Lewis?

ekscrunchy, here is a valuable link.

http://www.davidhasselhoff.com/splash.html

Maybe you have seen him on billboards and posters throughout Europe? Or out of respect for Charley1965 just in Germany?

_Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story_ (a cheesy but IMHO very funny movie with Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn) had a hysterical scene satirizing the German fixation on David Hasselhoff, in which the real David Hasselhoff proceeds to tell the losing German dodgeball team how ashamed he is of them - in German.

Ummm. have you ever heard the kind of music Europeans listen to? Hasselhof would be the second coming of MacCartney-Lennon compared to the techno pop garbage they have to listen to. Don't forget, Slim Whitman and Roger Whittaker were also huge over there.

All this was "long" ago in the 80ties. German Pay TV (Leo Kirch) produced and financed a show called "Baywatch". They needed to have a genuine "american star", for a genuine american show :-), so Leo promoted his show and David Hasselhoff. RTL did broadcast the repeats and since there weren't many homegrown stars and shows at the time, DH became quite famous. They did also broadcast "Knight Rider" before, so he wasn't totally unknown to Germans. Today DH is a dead duck in Germany, not spoken about any more.

I know he had quite a singing career in, Eastern Europe maybe? Is that hopefully over now too?

Woody Allen has replaced Lewis.

I agree. Why ANYONE would be fascinated with the buffoon is beyond me. I am sure he has some redeeming qualities, though I can't imagine getting close enough to figure out what they are!

I didn't know he was SINGING. That is beyond the pale. Now I have to run out to Napster and listen. Puh-leez!

Thanks for giggle on this Tuesday afternoon.

Woody Allen opened Match Point in Paris bcause he said the French appreciate him more. I read he's going to make another film there soon. and forgot the title.

Someone recently asjked this exact same question about a well-known political figure in the US.

Just ACCEPT it even though you read it in the "Inquirer."

All this bashing of David must stop!
Please check out this video to see for yourself what a great talent that this man truly represents.
http://tinyurl.com/85fah

>Now I have to run out to Napster and listen
The song's called "I've been looking for freedom." Try not to "disturb" you neighbors.

Because of his incredible acting talent displayed in Knight Rider, the foreign press treats him with KITT gloves.
((H))

Do you remember Richard Clayderhorn? Wasn't he some kind of musical star in Europe? And don't forget Yanni! I think Woody is doing his next film in the UK.

Lovejoy,

Oh my god......!!!

Sorry, Richard Clayderman.

Lovejoy, wow, thanks for the link. That is really something.

To others that are considering going to the link, here is the posted warning on the site:

"Be warned though, that pressing 'Play' may or may not cause you to die from an overdose of awesome. Just make sure you're sitting down and are ready to have your socks totally rocked off."

yeah..

and Elvis was quite popular over here (in Europe) too..

I'm European and I have no clue who he is.

The Romans had it right, of course - de gustibus non disputandum.

But still, it amuses me that people from the US would accuse some Europeans of doubtful taste. From where did come such tasteless abominations and lowlives, yet hugely popular successes, as Elvis and Howard Stern? And such sentimental saccharine bad-taste purveyors as Disney? To name just three examples of the lowest of the low a "culture" can produce?

The pot calling the kettle black...

WK

You have a point there Wally.

Maybe we should discuss who wins in the taste department for various items.

Cheese - Europe
Coffee - Europe
Men's bathing suits - USA

I've wondered about David Hasselhoff and his popularity in Germany. What about Tina Turner? Way more popular in Europe. I also am amazed when hearing Tom Jones (What's New Pussycat), and Nancy Sinatra (These Boots are Made for Walking)in Germany, not heard much in the USA any more, thank goodness.

Let's not worry too much about European likes and dislikes. What puzzles me most is the sequential rise and fall of overblown "stars" in the United States -- personages such as Marilyn Monroe, Madonna, Roseanne, Paris Hilton. They rise like Roman candles, explode in a burst of light, and fade into darkness.

And did you notice the really dated, self-parodying disco music that they played at the opening ceremonies of the Olympics? BIZARRE. There is some very different wiring between Europeans and Americans when it comes to such things.

Marilyn Monroe rose like a Roman candle, exploded in a burst of light, and faded into darkness? Was this some kind of joke that went over my head?

A number of jazz stars were far more popular in Europe than they were in the USA.

Hey, Zeus! Don't be dissing Slim Whitman. I have always liked him--he has a terrific range, and, well, I just like him...and I'm a classical music kind of girl.

If you can explain the American obsession with Paris Hilton, please do.

The only thing I can offer in regards to Paris Hilton is that many Americans find her to be very beautiful, thin, tan, blond, etc. That said I'm pretty sure she's got at least one up on David Hasselhoff. Wait, what am I saying? He's THE HOFF!!!!

Thank you, Lovejoy, for "Hooked on a feeling"! I really needed a good laugh!

David Hasselhoff may be many things, but a fool is not one of them, Charley1965.

I really don't like David Hasselhoff but...give me 50 Hasselhoffs before a Paris Hilton, sure...
Don't worry, I don't think she represents the US people..she has a hard time just to represent herself..

This is pretty funny. I can see David Hasselhoff as an elderly celebrity wearing dark socks with sandals and shorts. I had no idea that he was "back." When did that happen????

Richard Clayderman is a French pianist, despite his American-sounding stage name (cf. also Johnny Hallyday, Eddy Mitchell, etc.).

Jerry Lewis has never been adored by the French; he was popular with some critics, but the average French person cares nothing about him, especially today, when many people may not even recognize his name (and have never seen his movies).

Different countries seem to latch on to different stars from other countries, for various and often bizarre reasons. The French actress Sophie Marceau has always been popular in Japan, for example—perhaps because her eyes could almost sorta kinda look a bit Japanese. "Bobby Dallas" (that is, Patrick Duffy) was wildly popular in France at one time, for reasons I cannot fathom. It's all very odd.

Man. . . that video was awesome! I am glad I produced it on my 1996 Dell laptop complete with clipart.

Likes and Dislikes:
Ask any Spaniard why boys wear jeans that are too short (my American standards) and they will ask why American men hang their jeans off their butts and wear them so baggy that there could be whole villages within.

On the dancefloor in Spain, sometimes guys bust out the air guitar, and it is considered cool. Do the "raise the roof" gesture and you will be laughed off the floor (I learned that one the hard way. . . sigh)

I explain the David Hasselhoff infatuation likeso: he is hot in a very canned kind of way, and he has been consistent. If you watched nightrider and are now making decisions, you are going to love him because he hasn't changed so much (like girlscout cookies and tootsie roll pops).