On Friday, June 20th, cult German band Tokio Hotel released their new single ‘How to Love’. Since their debut in 2005, they have thrived in the music industry, releasing hit songs such as ‘Durch den Monsun’ or ‘Schrei’ (2005), gathering thousands of fans in the late 2000s and early 2010s. Then in 2014, they switched to a different style, blending electro-pop and synth-pop, giving a new look to the band’s talent and versatility.
The new single is released shortly after a love song called ‘Hands up’ (March 2025). Following a love song, ‘How To Love’ is about someone who is going through a breakup, or what seems to be the end of a relationship. That person then realises that they are better off alone. In the verses, the listener can feel the despair caused by the breakup with the lines “Burning up all your things” and “You cut, so deep”, paired with the pre-chorus, where the lyrics seem to express an even deeper pain: “My reflection disappears as I’m staring in the mirror, not a single tear left to cry”. This leads to the chorus, which is a more hopeful message to the fans: “Oh my God, I need to fall back into love with myself”, “No, I don’t need no one”. Here, the narrator and the listener are encouraged to focus on themselves rather than pouring themselves into painful relationships and to take their independence as individuals.
‘How to Love’ is a perfect example of how good yet different from their original style Tokio Hotel’s songs can be, with an upbeat melody contrasting with the lyrics. Along with the song, they have started a trend on TikTok, which consists of writing “I love myself” on a mirror as seen on the album cover, using their song in the video. All of these details emphasise the message of hope and self-confidence that the band wanted to bring with this new single.
With this new lively release, the fans are assured to spend an amazing summer, waiting expectantly for their upcoming Europe tour ‘ARENA TOUR 2026’!
Written by: Shan Gosselin
Edited by: Marieke Weeda
