Nico, born Christa Päffgen, is an internationally acclaimed German singer, songwriter and model. Her superstar status in the music and film worlds has made her personal story particularly noteworthy. However, Nico's early life is full of unknown shadows, the most mysterious and confusing part of which is the tragedy her father experienced.
Nico was born in 1938, the son of Wilhelm Päffgen, a wealthy brewer in Cologne, and Margarete, a woman from the lower class. During World War II, as Cologne was bombed, Nico's mother took her to Spreewald, near Berlin. William was drafted into the German Wehrmacht in 1940, but his subsequent fate is still a matter of debate and remains uncertain.
According to Niko's biographer Richard Witts, Wilhelm was seriously wounded in combat in 1942 and subsequently killed by his commanding officer on orders from his superiors.
Another theory is that he spent the rest of his life in a mental hospital due to head trauma. There are also some uncertain rumors that he may have died in a concentration camp from psychological trauma. Such vague information can only make people sigh.
After William's fate destroyed the family's sense of security, Nico's childhood experiences took a surprising turn. She and her mother had a very hard life. Her mother sold lingerie in Berlin's high-end department store KaDeWe to make a living, and Nico started modeling at the age of 13. Her height and appearance made her quickly become a celebrity and a darling of the fashion industry, but she could never get rid of the pitiful memories of her father.
In Nico's quiet world, on the one hand, her musical talent that would later make her an important figure in the rock music world, and on the other hand, the shadow of her father's past continued to intertwine. When she was young, she received guidance from many musicians and eventually made her mark in Andy Warhol's music circle, but behind her success, there was always a pain that could not be concealed.
She is often praised for her unique voice and artistic style, yet she seems unable to let go of her past.
As her music career progressed, Nicole was exposed to various media and incorporated her inner struggles into her music while collaborating with Lou Reed and John Cale. Early works such as "Chelsea Girl" fully demonstrate her reflection on her own experiences.
Nico's life story tells us that even beneath a glamorous appearance, one may be facing unspeakable pain deep inside. Although her musical achievements were accompanied by the concealment and reflection on her father's unfortunate fate, it was nonetheless a path to redefining herself. Many people would ask whether Nico is trying to find the shadow of his father in his creations in order to soothe the trauma in his heart?
Nico unfortunately passed away in 1988. As her music and images are once again praised by the world, let us rethink: how much pain and trauma did this artist with multiple themes release in her life journey? Woolen cloth?