Downloading German Songs:
Tips and Tricks for iTunes
Deutsche Musik für Mac und Windows
How to Find and Download German Songs/Artists
> German iTunes: Introduction > iTunes Tips: Part 1 > iTunes Tips: Part 2
This KRAFTWERK album is available
online from Apple's iTune Store.
All right, now that you know what's there (Part 1: Downloading German Songs from iTunes), it's time to learn more about how to find German songs and artists at the U.S. iTunes Music Store. If you read this first, you can save a lot of time and trouble. Here's a step-by-step guide (also see related links below):
STEP 1: Download the free iTunes Software (Mac or Windows)
If you don't already have iTunes on your computer (all Macs come with it), you can download it for free. Windows users must have Windows XP or Windows 2000. Other requirements: A high-speed (DSL/cable/LAN) connection, a CD-RW drive (for burning CDs). Mac users may want to check that they have the latest version of iTunes (only works with Mac OSX). WEB > iTunes Site (for Mac and Windows info)
WEB > ITunes Comes to Windows (PC World - About.com)
WEB > Mac and iTunes (Focus on Macs - About.com)
STEP 2: Go to the iTunes Music Store (see photo)
Once the installation is set up, open iTunes and click on the Music Store icon (green). Normally you will be taken to the U.S. store, but you can select among many iTunes stores in several countries (see below). But you can only buy from the store in your home country, unless you have a way to set up an account elsewhere.
STEP 3: Search for a Song or Artist (see photo)
In the search box at the top right of the iTunes window, type in the name of an artist, a song, or a German keyword. Hit return and in a few seconds you'll have a list of related songs. The illustration below shows part of the results for a search using "weihnachten" (Christmas). Here's a partial list of Austrian and German artists available from the U.S. iTunes Music Store: Interpreten/Interpretinnen.
NEW: I recently discovered another simple way to find German artists/songs. Here's the step-by-step: (1) Under the "Choose Genre" menu on the left side of the US iTunes Store homepage, look for "Radio Charts" (six rows down). (Don't click on the pull-down menu!) (2) Click on "Radio Charts." (3) In the menu that appears, scroll down in the left column to "German Pop" (or "German Folk"). (4) Click on "German Pop." An alphabetical list of German artists then appears in the middle column ("Artist"). (5) Now you can browse the list! Note that (a) not all German artists appear here and (b) some of those listed have no songs in the US iTunes Store.
STEP 4: Listen to Songs and Buy
Once you've found some German songs or albums you like, sample them by double-clicking on a song. If you like it, you can buy it easily by clicking "Buy Song." Each song costs a penny less than a dollar (not counting sales tax). Or you can buy an entire album. Many albums cost only $9.99. Before buying you need to set up an iTunes account with a credit card.
EXTRA TIP: German Music Videos
The iTunes Music Store also offers streamed video of high quality. I enjoyed watching the Rammstein music video of "Amerika" after I downloaded the song. The music videos and movie trailers are free to view, but you can't download them. You need the latest version of QuickTime (included with the iTunes software).
STEP 5: Link to the Lyrics in German and English
Once you have your songs, you can find the lyrics (in German and English) for many of them here at the German Language site. Or do it the other way around: find the lyrics and then get the song from iTunes.
STEP 6: Enjoy Listening to Your Music
Now you can make play lists, transfer your iTunes to your iPod (if you have one), burn CDs, etc. Enjoy! Viel Spaß!
NEXT > iTunes Tips: Part 2 - How to Use iTunes "Browse" Feature
WEB > iTunes Music Store (information)
Part 1: Downloading German Songs from iTunes
Deutsche Musik für Mac und Windows. Mac and Windows users can now download German music by German artists from the U.S. iTunes Music Store.
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