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Olaf 'Der Flipper' Malolepski Turns 80 After Six Decades in German Schlager

A 2022 viral remix of 'Wir sagen danke schön' brought him a fresh wave of fans.

Overview

  • Malolepski, who turns 80 on Friday, continues to perform as “Olaf der Flipper” after Die Flippers disbanded in 2011.
  • With Die Flippers he sold more than 40 million records and logged 23 top‑ten chart entries along with 63 gold or platinum awards.
  • His first major success arrived in 1969 with “Weine nicht, kleine Eva,” which hit No. 8 in Germany and reached the top five in Switzerland.
  • The group’s fortunes flipped in 1986 when “Die rote Sonne von Barbados” topped ZDF’s Hitparade and moved them from dance halls to arenas.
  • A remix of the 2009 track “Wir sagen danke schön” went viral in 2022, turning into a party staple and landing him sets at festivals like Parookaville and Rock am Ring.