I'm in Love with a German Film Star

"I'm in Love with a German Film Star" is a post-punk song by the British band The Passions.^[2] It was released as a single by Polydor Records on 23 January 1981,^[3] and reached No. 25 on the UK Singles Chart.^[4] It was the band's only charting single. The song was later included on the band's second album, Thirty Thousand Feet Over China (1981).

"I'm in Love with a German Film Star"
Single by The Passions
from the album Thirty Thousand Feet Over China
B-side	"(Don't Talk to Me) I'm Shy"
Released	23 January 1981
Genre	Post-punk new wave[1]
Length	3:57
Label	Polydor
Songwriter(s)	The Passions
Producer(s)	Peter Wilson
The Passions singles chronology
"Swimmer" (1980) "I'm in Love with a German Film Star" (1981) "Skin Deep" (1981)
Official audio
"I'm in Love with a German Film Star" on YouTube

The lyrics were written by the band's vocalist Barbara Gogan about Steve "Roadent" Connelly, a one-time roadie for The Clash and Sex Pistols, who had minor roles in several German films^[5] and played the Joker in the 1978 miniseries Das Ding [de].^[6]

The song features Clive Timperley's Echoplex guitar.

The song is featured in the 2006 action adventure video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories on the in-game radio station Emotion 98.3.

Cover versions

Linoleum covered the song on their second album and also released it as a single in 2000 on the Fierce Panda label.^[7]

The American rock band Foo Fighters covered "I'm in Love with a German Film Star" as the B-side to their 2005 single "Best of You". The British electronic duo Kish Mauve recorded a version for the B-side of their 2006 single "Modern Love".

It was also recorded by the American singer-songwriter Chris Whitley for his 2006 album, Reiter In.

"I'm in Love with a German Film Star" was also covered by the British artist and filmmaker Sam Taylor-Wood, who released it as a single on 20 October 2008 on the German Kompakt label.^[8] It was produced by Pet Shop Boys, who also contributed a full length "Symphonic Mix". Other remixes were provided by Gui Boratto, Mark Reeder and Jürgen Paape. The single reached No. 1 on the UK Dance Singles Chart in November 2008.^[9]

On 12 April 2010, the band Dubstar released a cover version of the song for an Amnesty International charity project.^[10]

In 2021 the belgian tribute band Echo City Waves released a new cover of the song.

Track listings

The Passions

All tracks written by The Passions.

7" single (POSP 222)

1. "I'm in Love with a German Film Star"
2. "(Don't Talk To Me) I'm Shy"

Linoleum

7" single (NING 093)

1. "I'm in Love with a German Film Star"
2. "Sirens"

Sam Taylor-Wood

7" single (KOMPAKT POP 13/7)

1. "I'm in Love with a German Film Star (Original Radio Edit)"
2. "I'm in Love with a German Film Star (Mark Reeder's Rundfunk Mix)"

12" single (KOMPAKT POP 13) and download

1. "I'm in Love with a German Film Star (Gui Boratto Mix)"
2. "I'm in Love with a German Film Star (PSB Symphonic Mix)"
3. "I'm in Love with a German Film Star (Mark Reeder's Stuck in the 80's Mix)"
4. "I'm in Love with a German Film Star (Jürgen Paape Mix)"

CD single (KOMPAKT POP MAXI CD 3)

1. "I'm in Love with a German Film Star (Original Radio Edit)"
2. "I'm in Love with a German Film Star (PSB Symphonic Mix)"
3. "I'm in Love with a German Film Star (PSB Symphonic Instrumental Mix)"
4. "I'm in Love with a German Film Star (Mark Reeder's Stuck in the 80's Mix)"
5. "I'm in Love with a German Film Star (Gui Boratto Mix)"