Americans might knowDavid Hasselhoffbest as the ace of pre - peak television seriesKnight RiderandBaywatch . But in Germany , he ’s been apopularsinging attraction since 1985 , when his albumNight Rockerbecame a genius . In June 1989 Hasselhoff releasedLooking for Freedom , an record album with a title caterpillar track that seemed to speak forthwith to citizens in European countries search republic . That runway had been playing since 1988 in anticipation of the album ’s release .
On November 9 , 1989 , theBerlin Wallfell . Was it coincidence , or did Hasselhoff help motivate a revolution ?
In a young consultation withTime , Hasselhoff takes no acknowledgment for that seismic variety in Germany , despite the fact that some of the role player ’s buff have knitted the two memories — his popularity and the adjournment of the wall — together , leading some to believe he was partly responsible . Some of the same citizenry who began chipping away at the wall dividing East and West Germany had been thrum the song for months prior . Some have even secern Hasselhoff his medicine help inspire change . Others held up signsthankinghim for the fall of the wall .
“ You ’re the man who sing of exemption , ” a cleaning lady once told Hasselhoff , before ask for his John Hancock .
The wall , of course , came down ratherabruptly , shortly after a premature proclamation that East Germans could take advantage of relaxed travel restrictions , and Hasselhoff demurrer when asked if he play a role . “ I never ever say I had anything to do with institute down the wall , ” he toldTime . “ I never ever read those words … There was the guy fromKnight Ridersinging a Sung dynasty about freedom . Knight Riderwas sacred to everyone and hopefully we ’ll convey it back as a movie . I was just in the right stead at the correct time with the veracious song . I was just a man who sang a song about exemption . ”
After the bulwark fell , Hasselhoff was invited to sing on a crane hovering over its remains on New Year ’s Eve in 1989 , which you may witness in the video above . Hasselhoff recently returned to Berlin for another serial publication of concerts to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of the wall being tear down .
[ h / tTime ]
