music
Würzburg bans Ballermann’s hit “Layla” at the folk festival
The Kiliani folk festival takes place in the Bavarian city – but without the Ballermann hit “Layla”. Photo: Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/dpa
© dpa-infocom GmbH
The song “Layla” by DJ Robin & Schürze has been number 1 in the German single charts for almost three weeks. But the hit caused controversy because of the lyrics. Now the city of Würzburg is reacting.
Würzburg has banned the playing of the Ballermann hit “Layla” at the Kiliani folk festival in the city. “It will be ensured that the song will no longer be played in the future,” the “Mainpost” (Tuesday) quoted a spokesman for the city as saying. The background is the lyrics, which critics perceive as sexist.
“Layla” by DJ Robin & Schürze has been at number 1 in the German single charts for almost three weeks and is considered a hit at folk festivals, especially among young people. Nationwide, however, a debate has broken out about the lyrics of the song, which is about a prostitute.
The city of Würzburg had already concluded an agreement with the folk festival operators that the controversial “Donaulied” – the text of which is about rape – may no longer be played. The agreement includes all song lyrics that have racist or sexist content, the newspaper reports. Now “Layla” should no longer be played at the festival.