That might be the question of those who do not know this band. And this question is not that easy to answer. The WG-virus which infects parts of the audience is the result of:
At first it is important to know what the guys are singing. They sing a-cappella which means that they normally sing without any instruments. Only with the possibilities their body gives to them the produce this incredible sound. I am always fascinated that they do it so well you are not missing any instruments at all. Just sometimes they use percussion-instruments (shakers etc.). On former CDs they had drums playing with them as well. But only because the guys were sure it fits to the song.
But that is not enough to make the virus become infectous. Another very important part is that they are singing in german. The lyrics are too important to just listen to the music. But even that works out well like the shows in the states and Canada showed very well. The audience partly did not understand any german but loved the show. The lyrics are completely written by one of the guys. Sometimes a cover-version might be heard but it will always have new lyrics.
But only a melody and nice lyrics are not enough to make good a-cappella-music. Because the arrangements are extremely important part of the work that has to be done. This job is also done by one of the guys. Because of the arrangements the audience listens to sounds and harmonies only made of 5 voices that make you not missing one single instrument. That is what makes me wonder everytime I hear them even after 6 years.
That is what you can hear on the CDs but that will not surely lead to be infected. It might be worse. Another important part of the show is the choreography, although it is different from normal boygroups. It fits more to the lyrics. Even if they use headphones that allow them to move around, use the entire stage and dance they have to be fit enough to be able to sing properly. And that is extremely difficult if you move a lot. So less is more in this case. The choreography underlines the lyrics and makes the people laugh in most of the songs. Because bound to the choreography is the acting in the show. The mimic of the guys makes the audience burst out in spontaneous laughter very often, even the one who have senn them ceveral times. You will find them if you look for people already grinning while the others are still listening hardly.
And even all this ist not enough to describe what makes a concert of these guys. Another "ingedient" is still missing. The moderation is one of the most important things in the show. It makes the show becoming a comedy-happening. Often the audince will get muscle-ache from laughing the next day. At hte moderations you will find the ones who already know the show even much better. They are already rolling over the floor laughing while the others are still listening. A concert of these guys is therefor the best medicine you can get against stress and bad temper. Promised!
Last but not least the Wise Guys celebrate an afterglow. That means that they will come to the audience after changing and relaxing for a few moments. There the fans can get autographs and pictures and talk to them about the concert with those who have stayed. Which other band is still so close to the audience???
Who has been getting curous now and needs a sample before his or hers first concert should get the Live-CD or the DVD. That is where you have the moderation as well. But the best solution would be to just join one of their concerts. The guys are on tour all around germany and sometimes outside germany as well. Just watch out for them.
If you have read all this you might want to know:
What are their names?
Who is doing what?
Just for you I have programmed a little band-picture to play around with a little: