Jörg Bergmeister
A Canadian songwriter whose intimate, textured soundscapes and poetic lyrics turned quiet introspection into a powerful artistic statement.
Born 1976 (age 50)·German racing driver·Birthday: February 13·Generation X
Biography
Leslie Feist, known mononymously as Feist, built a universe in a whisper. Her journey began in the punk and indie collective Broken Social Scene, but her solo work carved a distinct path defined by sonic curiosity and emotional precision. Her 2007 breakthrough album, 'The Reminder,' with its unexpected pop hit "1234," introduced a global audience to her warm, crackling voice and knack for crafting melodies that feel both familiar and deeply personal. Rather than chase pop stardom, Feist retreated, spending four years crafting the intricate, layered 'Metals,' an album that traded immediacy for rich, atmospheric depth. Her process is one of careful collage, building songs from found sounds, guitar loops, and harmonies that feel lived-in. In an era of maximalist production, Feist's power lies in restraint and the space she allows her lyrics to breathe, exploring themes of memory, connection, and the quiet dramas of everyday life with a novelist's eye for detail.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Jörg was born in 1976, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jörg Was Born
The biggest hits of 1976
#1 Movie
Rocky
Best Picture
Rocky
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Jörg's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1976Born
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1981Started school
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1989Became a teenager
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Could drive
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1994Could vote
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Turned 21
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2006Turned 30
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 40
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 50
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Her song "1234" was featured in a landmark iPod Nano commercial, driving 'The Reminder' to multi-platinum sales.
- Won four Juno Awards in 2008, including Album of the Year for 'The Reminder.'
- Nominated for the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 2008.
- Her album 'Metals' won the 2012 Polaris Music Prize for the best Canadian album of the year.
- Co-wrote and performed "The Water" for the 2017 Best Picture Oscar-winning film 'The Shape of Water.'
Did You Know?
She left high school at age 15 to tour with her friend's punk band, Placebo (not the UK band).
Feist was the voice of the female teacher in the animated children's series 'Bob's Burgers.'
She temporarily lost her voice due to vocal cord nodules early in her career, forcing a shift in her singing style.
An accomplished visual artist, she has directed several of her own music videos and created album artwork.
“"It's a weird alchemy, turning the lead of your life into gold, or at least something that shines."”
