What does "Weichspülmusik" mean?

Question

Some people I have to do with frequently call music that plays in radio "Weichspülmusik", like

Diese Weichspülmusik möchte ich jetzt nicht hören.

I always wonder what that means. Can anyone please clarify?

Softrock, but without Rock. – user unknown Feb 20 '12 at 06:52 — user unknown, Feb 20 '12 at 06:52

Takkat · Accepted Answer · 2011-06-25T19:55:21.433

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In German "Weichspüler" is a fabric conditioner. In TV commercials they always have a very smooth and soft music to underline the softness of fabric after being treated with their product.

Here is an example for this.

Whenever people refer to "Weichspülmusik" they mean this kind of mainstream but very soft music. Another saying for similar music is "Kaufhausmusik" (music being played in shopping centers to make people buy more) and "Fahrstuhlmusik" (elevator music).

edited Jun 25 '11 at 19:55

answered Jun 25 '11 at 19:48

Takkat

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There's a wonderful term for "Kaufhausmusik" and especially "Fahrstuhlmusik" in English: Muzak. – Jürgen A. Erhard Jun 26 '11 at 01:32
Sehr lehrreich, vielen Dank. Und jetzt kenne ich den Weichspüler "Lenor"![Wahrscheinlich wird er in Frankreich unter einem anderen Namen verkauft...] – Georges Elencwajg Jun 26 '11 at 07:53
"Muzak" is a related english term. – Joachim Sauer Jun 27 '11 at 06:17
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Muzak is a trademark. Elevator music is the most common non-trademark term for this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muzak_Holdings – hippietrail Jun 27 '11 at 07:46
@hippietrail: I know, it's just that I heard the term Muzak many times when referring to this kind of music (and not specifically to a Muzak Holdings product). Usually in some comedic setting where someone is using the term to set the mood or make fun of it. It may even be a genericized trademark. – Joachim Sauer Jun 27 '11 at 08:19
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@Joachim: Yes I think most people learn the generic sense of muzak before the learn it's a trademark as did I. Still it's worth warning people depending on what context they may wish to use it in English. – hippietrail Jun 27 '11 at 08:21
I would agree with Tomalak Geret'kal that "Weichspülmusik" is referred to almost every pop music in Germany - at least by a lot of people I know. So while the basic meaning may be similar to "Elevator music", what people actually consider to be it may differ a lot. – ladybug Jun 27 '11 at 09:05
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I already heard Janis Joplin in a Supermarket. – user unknown Jun 27 '11 at 20:50
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@user unknown: but Janis Joplin is never ever "Weichspülmusik" ;) – Takkat Jun 27 '11 at 20:56
Yes - that's why I mentioned it here. – user unknown Jun 27 '11 at 21:01
"music being played in shopping centers to make people buy more" - actually no. It's just to calm down and stay longer. – bot47 Jun 28 '11 at 16:05
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+1 for Fahrstuhlmusik. Reminds me of "The Girl from Ipanema", played in the elevator in "The Blues Brothers". – takrl Aug 24 '11 at 12:25
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I think "Fahrstuhlmusik" can be associated with fun and swing and groove, whereas "Weichspülermusik" is almost always meant in a negative way, meaning that every edge or individuality is removed. – donquixote Mar 17 '14 at 18:44
E.g. I would not call the "Girl from Ipanema" Weichspülermusik. – donquixote Mar 17 '14 at 18:47
@donquixote In the Blues Brothers elevator verision you would, wouldn't you? – I'm with Monica Feb 20 '18 at 08:30
I am not at all convinced of the etymology surmised here. Do you have any references that support the claim that the term "Weichspülmusik" found its way to music played in shopping centres via fabric conditioner ads? – O. R. Mapper Apr 10 '22 at 20:00

score 7 · Answer 2 · answered Jun 25 '11 at 19:11

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The word literally means "fluffy music".

A Google search doesn't reveal anything explicit, but it looks to me like it refers to cheap, happy, pop music with little substance but high sales value. Think X Factor exports.

answered Jun 25 '11 at 19:11

Lightness Races in Orbit

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score 1 · Answer 3 · edited Jun 27 '11 at 06:43

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Manchmal meinen die Leute allerdings auch, dass die Musik etwas unterschwellig vermittelt (Brain-Wash).

edited Jun 27 '11 at 06:43

splattne

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answered Jun 27 '11 at 06:27

iceteea

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Interesting secondary meaning! – Christian Geiselmann Jul 14 '19 at 20:09
Gibt es dafür deutliche Belege? – user unknown Dec 07 '23 at 16:11

score 0 · Answer 4 · edited Apr 10 '22 at 21:29

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For me everything outside heavy metal is "Weichspülmusik". It is also a question of personal music taste. For some is this or that music genre great music, for others the same genre Weichspülmusik or simply Weichspüler

edited Apr 10 '22 at 21:29

SwissCodeMen

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answered Apr 10 '22 at 15:47

Thomas Tischler

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Hi Thomas! Willkommen auf german.SE! Dein Beitrag ist eher eine Antwort darauf, was du als Weichspülmusik empfindest. Relevanter ist hier, was das Wort "Weichspülmusik" bedeutet. Ist dein Beitrag mehr als ein bloßer Meinungsbeitrag? Das lässt sich gegenwärtig nicht so richtig erkennen. – Jonathan Scholbach Apr 10 '22 at 19:16

What does "Weichspülmusik" mean?

4 Answers4