Editing David Hasselhoff (section)

===1980s===
Six years after his debut live performance, Hasselhoff released in 1983, his debut single "I Get the Message".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/es/David-Hasselhoff-I-Get-The-Message/release/9433344|title=David Hasselhoff – I Get The Message|website=Discogs|year=1983 |access-date=January 21, 2021}}</ref> In 1984, Hasselhoff made a guest appearance on the first season of ''[[Kids Incorporated]]'', performing "[[Do You Love Me]]", which became the lead single from his upcoming debut studio album, ''[[Night Rocker]]'', which was released in January 1985. The album was a big success in Austria, reaching number one there and being certified Platinum. In 1987, Hasselhoff released his second studio album, ''[[Lovin' Feelings]]'', which reached the top-twenty in Austria and [[West Germany]], and being certified Gold in the former country. That same year, due to the popularity of ''[[Knight Rider (1982 TV series)|Knight Rider]]'' in Europe at the time, Hasselhoff embarked on his first headlining tour across Austria, with a special guest appearance from [[KITT]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stripes.com/news/from-the-s-s-archives-hasselhoff-not-his-car-is-a-big-hit-in-europe-1.54362|title=From the S&S archives: Hasselhoff, not his car, is a big hit in Europe|website=Stars & Stripes|access-date=January 21, 2021}}</ref>

In 1988, Hasselhoff released the song "[[Looking for Freedom (song)|Looking for Freedom]]", which became a hit in Europe, especially in West Germany, where it reached number one for eight consecutive weeks.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}} The song was also certified Platinum in West Germany and became the best-performing single of 1989 in the country.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}} "Looking for Freedom" also topped the charts in Austria and Switzerland; and reached the top-twenty in France and Belgium.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}} Due to its success, Hasselhoff released it on June 21, 1989, his third studio album [[Looking for Freedom (album)|of the same name]], which was produced by German music producer [[Jack White (producer)|Jack White]]. The album was a commercial success, reaching the top-five in Austria, West Germany and Switzerland; and being certified [[List of music recording certifications|three-times Platinum]] in Europe.<ref name="GerHits">{{cite web|url=http://www.musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/Hasselhoff%2CDavid/single|title=David Hasselhoff German peak positions|publisher=IFPI Germany|access-date=November 9, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120418102553/http://www.musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/Hasselhoff%2CDavid/single|archive-date=April 18, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was noted for his performance of the song at the [[Berlin Wall]] on New Year's Eve 1989, two months after the Wall had [[Fall of the Berlin Wall|come down]], but nine months before [[German reunification|unification]] took place. Wearing a piano-keyboard scarf and a leather jacket covered in motion lights, Hasselhoff stood in a bucket crane and performed the song along with the crowd. The performance has had a lasting impact on [[Culture of Germany|German pop-culture]] with Hasselhoff commenting that the song became an "anthem" and "song of hope" for the people of [[East Germany]]. In 2004, Hasselhoff lamented the lack of a photo of him in the [[Checkpoint Charlie Museum]] in Berlin.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/3465301.stm|title=Did David Hasselhoff really help end the Cold War?|date=February 6, 2004|newspaper=BBC|access-date=August 30, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2014/11/09/362595983/how-mr-hasselhoff-tore-down-this-wall|title=How Mr. Hasselhoff Tore Down This Wall|website=NPR.org|access-date=August 30, 2016}}</ref> In July 1989, Hasselhoff released his first compilation album, ''[[Knight Lover]]'', which contains 17 greatest hits from his first two albums ''Night Rocker'' and ''Lovin' Feelings''. The album reached the top-twenty in Switzerland; and the top-forty in West Germany.