Lemon Ice

Lore & Background

Lemon Ice was formed after Geeno, under his real name Gunther Göbbel, had reached the Final 5 in season 2 of the German Pop Idol series Deutschland sucht den Superstar (DSDS) in the 2003/2004 season. Born on May 6, 1979, Göbbel was eliminated in the top 5 round after receiving 12.58% of the vote. He had originally not advanced to the top 13 but was brought back as a wildcard and advanced to the Top 5. After the show, he released a Latin-themed single titled "Caramba!" as part of the duo Meant 2 Be with German Turkish singer Sedat (full name Sedat Türüc), and later established the record label Utopic Music.

Geeno then joined forces with rapper Jay Low, whom he met through the live club scene, to form Lemon Ice. The duo worked with music producer David Brandes. Their debut single, a cover of Ben E. King's "Stand By Me," was released on the label Icezone Music and became a hit in Germany and Austria. The accompanying video featured Giuliana Marino, German Playmate of the Year 2005. Brandes also managed to place the version on RTL II as background music for the television station's film previews program.

A second single, a cover of Yazoo's "Only You," achieved relative success on German, Austrian, and Finnish charts. A third single, a cover of Milli Vanilli's "Girl You Know It's True," was a Top 30 hit in Germany. In 2007, two further singles were released: another cover of "Girl You Know It's True" and a cover of Richard Marx's ballad "Right Here Waiting." Both made the German Top 30. With the latter, the band released their debut and only album, One, containing the four singles and many other cover versions. Their last release was "Hey Lady" featuring Raheema, after which the duo separated.

Reader's Guide

Lemon Ice occupies a modest but notable place in German pop history as a cover band that achieved commercial success in the mid-2000s. Their work, produced by David Brandes, capitalized on the familiarity of classic songs, updating them for contemporary audiences. The duo's debut single "Stand By Me" became a hit in Germany and Austria, demonstrating the enduring appeal of the original while introducing it to a new generation. Their subsequent covers, including "Only You" and "Girl You Know It's True," also charted, showing a consistent ability to select songs with broad appeal.

The group's significance lies partly in its connection to the German Pop Idol franchise through Geeno's prior participation, which gave him a platform before forming Lemon Ice. Their album One, though their only full-length release, compiled their singles and additional covers, serving as a snapshot of their output. The duo's separation after "Hey Lady" marked the end of a relatively brief career, but their chart entries in Germany, Austria, and Finland indicate a regional impact. Lemon Ice's legacy is that of a cover act that successfully navigated the German music market during a period when such reinterpretations were popular.

Did You Know?

• Geeno, under his real name Gunther Göbbel, reached the Final 5 in season 2 of Deutschland sucht den Superstar (DSDS) after being brought back as a wildcard.
• The duo's debut single "Stand By Me" featured a music video with Giuliana Marino, German Playmate of the Year 2005.
• Lemon Ice's only album, One, contained their four singles and many other cover versions.