31. All bands had to sing in German
Like film, popular music posed a threat to the integrity of the GDR. Unlike movies, unsuitable music could be heard in private on radios picking up stations from West Germany. Thus the SED tried to develop its own version of popular music to keep kids away from capitalist groups. The State invented its own dance-moves (seriously) and made all East German bands sing in German. This made it easier to censor and intended to avoid capitalist cultures becoming popular. Some bands were banned, but others which subtly hinted at dissatisfaction with the GDR such as Karat became very popular.