#DECODED BLOG CW19 2025

⛓️ DECODED: What just happened in culture & marketing? We got you — no scroll required.

🕊️ Margot Friedländer Dies at 103 — Germany Mourns a National Witness

A Holocaust Survivor Who Left a Legacy of Remembrance

On May 10th, Margot Friedländer passed away at the age of 103. She wasn’t just a Holocaust survivor — she was one of Germany’s most important living testimonies.

Born in Berlin in 1921, Friedländer survived Theresienstadt concentration camp and spent the post-war decades speaking, writing, and educating. Her memoir "Try to Make Your Life" became a cornerstone of remembrance culture. Her death marks more than the passing of an individual. It’s the fading of living memory. In a time where antisemitism and historical revisionism are creeping back into mainstream discourse, voices like hers are more vital than ever. Germany mourns — and must remember.

Margot Friedländer received the BAMBI Award in the "Courage" category in 2024.

🎤 RIP Xatar — A Germany Rap Icon Dies at 43

A Legacy Built on Hustle, Music, and Ambition

1981 - 2025

The sudden death of rapper, entrepreneur, and cultural icon Xatar (Giwar Hajabi) has shaken the german rap community. Born in Iran, raised in Bonn, and famously forged in both the underground and the charts. From his music to his Goldmann Tower label to the fast-food chain Haval Grill, Xatar turned hustle into brand. More than a rapper, he was a symbol — of migration, ambition, controversy, and survival. He died at 43. A legacy built too fast, ended too soon. Ruhe in Frieden.

🎶 Willy Will Drops TOCA — Another Banger for the Playlist A Track That’s Catchy, Consistent, and Unstoppable

If you blinked, you might’ve missed it — but TOCA just dropped, and Willy Will isn’t here to play. The track blends his usual bounce with club-ready punch, serving up hooks that stick. More than just another song, TOCA keeps building a catalog that’s consistent, catchy, and algorithm-proof. The verdict? Not just a drop. A replay button moment.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/intl-de/artist/7COHnUQjxEVi5SggMxlu4E?utm_medium=share&utm_source=linktree

👑 Pope Leo XIV — America Just Got Its First Pope

A Historic Shift for the Catholic Church

History was made in the Sistine Chapel this week: Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been elected as the 267th pope, choosing the name Pope Leo XIV. This marks the first time an American leads the Catholic Church — an institution historically dominated by European power structures. It’s a symbolic shift that may hint at broader transformations: geographically, theologically, and politically.

🌷 Belated Mother’s Day — But Let’s Be Real: Moms Deserve Daily Credit

Celebrating the Everyday Resilience of Moms Everywhere

Mother’s Day — a day to honor the sacrifices, love, and support of mothers. A moment to celebrate the women who hold families together with grace, even when no one is looking. On social media, we saw heartfelt tributes, flowers, and family time, while Netflix reminded us that motherhood isn’t just a Hallmark event. It's about daily resilience, multitasking, and invisible care work that too often goes unnoticed. So yes, Mother’s Day has passed. But the appreciation moms deserve should be every single day.

Credit: Netflix

🇩🇪 Friedrich Merz Becomes Germany’s Chancellor — After a Historic Second Vote

A New Era for German Politics in a Divided Landscape

After a Historic Vote Germany just experienced a political first: a second round of voting was required to elect the new Chancellor, and it went to CDU’s Friedrich Merz. While his leadership style has been polarizing, the process itself made history. Never before has a chancellor been elected in a rerun — underscoring rising political fragmentation and the high-stakes nature of Germany’s current coalition dynamics. New chapter, uncertain terrain.

🛒 Cheyenne Ochsenknecht x Aldi — Hackenporsche, But Make It Fashion

A Shopping Trolley Transformed Into a Cultural Flex

You didn’t see it coming — but you probably saw it on TikTok. Cheyenne Savannah Ochsenknecht’s collab with Aldi turned the Hackenporsche (aka shopping trolley) into a fashion statement, complete with glossy shots, streetwear styling, and a wink of irony. What started as a parody of German practicality became a clever blend of humor, design, and genuine hype — turning the trolley into a cultural flex. In one video, Cheyenne swaps outfits with a Silver Influencer, showing that style — and the Hackenporsche — works across generations. She even luxyfies it with chains, jewelry, and full fashion energy. From supermarket aisles to style feeds, this remix rolled in fast — and made an everyday object feel totally new.