Oldschool

Released in 2015, Oldschool represents a pivotal moment in Nena's late-career discography. Following a period where she famously bristled at being defined by her 1980s success, this album serves as a deliberate reconciliation with her legacy. The collaboration with Samy Deluxe was a significant stylistic pivot, injecting a contemporary urban grit into her synth-pop foundation. This partnership resulted in a record that sounds remarkably modern compared to the pop-rock of her 2000s 'comeback' era. Lyrically, the album is highly self-referential, particularly on tracks like 'Berufsjugendlich' and the title track, where she addresses the 'horror' of time passing with humor and defiance. Despite its upbeat production, the inclusion of 'Bruder' - a rare and poignant reflection on the death of her first son - provides an emotional gravity that anchors the album's lighter moments. Critically, it was seen as a bold, if polarizing, attempt to modernize a legacy act, successfully maintaining her commercial dominance in the DACH region.