The big birthday interview
He rarely shows his home in Zurich. But here the artist gives a private insight into his life.
Actually you would have to show him the ID card. This man should be 75? And yet: it's true. We meet Udo Jürgens privately in his home in Zurich. And are tied up by this man. This voice, this charm, this joie de vivre! There he stands before us, the legendary singer and composer of "Merci Chérie", "Greek wine" and, and, and. No trace of arrogance. Since the first question is formally pressing ...
Mr. Jürgens, you radiate a vitality, as if aging did not matter at all.
Udo Jürgens : Aging is not a disease. My creativity has even increased with age. But I also know that I'm in the surf of life. Nevertheless, I enjoy every day and consider the time I have left as a gift.
If you are composing yourself a birthday song, what would you say?
Udo Jürgens : "Learn and think." Both should be done every day.
Who did you learn most about in life?
Udo Jürgens : Musical by Gilbert Bécaud and Charles Aznavour. In my private life clearly by my brothers John and Manfred and my son-in-law Thomas, who is a professor of philosophy.
Do you often look back?
Udo Jürgens : Of course! I accept my past. I do not really regret anything, I have to say. Not even the things that have gone in the pants. My mistakes were the salt in the soup, they shaped me. It has been my experience that it is important to be open about your mistakes and to face them in order to do better in the future.
Can you give us an example?
Udo Jürgens : For example, it's a real problem to be married to me because I'm a very freedom-loving person. Therefore, I no longer intend to make a woman unhappy by marrying her (laughs).
So you have become reasonable in the point?
Udo Jürgens : As far as women are concerned - certainly! But I'm still not the sensible person who has his life fully under control with all the consequences. I still need people who look at me a bit because I do not care about a few things. For example, I do not deal with my financial situation. I know that's good, but that's enough for me. My manager, Freddy Burger, is forcing me every year to see through everything in the presence of a lawyer. I do not feel like doing that at all. But he insists that I am well informed about everything business. I am very happy that Freddy Burger has been at my side for 30 years. It is a very trusting collaboration.
They are obviously very loyal in professional matters.
Udo Jürgens : Yes, I am loyal and affectionate. I like to work with people for a long time. My orchestra leader Pepe Lienhard has accompanied me for decades. And my first manager, Hans R. Beierlein, to whom I really owe so much, has worked with me for 14 years.
Hans R. Beierlein has a big stake in your career. Few know that you wanted to give up singing in 1963.
Udo Jürgens : I was never really excited about singing. I always wanted to be a musician. My dream was entertainment music composer. When I met Hans R. Beierlein, a separate chapter started. He said to me, "Look, the mess you've sung so far, let's forget it!" He came with a portfolio of songs from Bécaud to Jacques Brel. And then it started. These texts came out as "an honorable house". That was like a revolution. One must not forget that the songs previously only three topics knew: cowboy, sailor and Italy songs. To get away from it and to have a feeling for life was the great challenge that I somehow felt and which somehow I managed to achieve.
Everyone in the German-speaking world can sing along to their hits. "I've never been to New York" is even followed by young bands like Sportfreunde Stiller.
Udo Jürgens : That makes me happy, of course. I think that's a funny idea and that's why I sang along. Especially since "I've never been to New York" is the strangest title of my entire career. I wrote it in 1982. And nothing happened. He was even just the back of a single. Everyone thought it was beautiful, but not exciting at all. Only many years later, this title was discovered as Gassenhauer.
Suddenly there were whole Udo Jürgens parties, where songs like "At 66 years", "But please with cream" and "Greek wine" became cult.
You are known as an entertainer - even in Japan. Did you, as a little boy, dream of becoming world famous?
Udo Jürgens : You will not believe it, but my self-confidence as a child and adolescent was more than limited. It was very modest, I must admit. I'm not that today, that I would have this "oops, now I come" mentality even remotely on it.
What moments does Udo Jürgens particularly enjoy in his life?
Udo Jürgens : I really enjoy every moment when I can sit down at the piano and play in front of other people. When I realize that people are touched by what I do. This is all a form of enjoyment. Otherwise, I try to learn to accept life in its ups and downs. To recognize and to see that life in its entirety does not consist simply of permanent sunshine, but that one must develop and fight for this. And if you penetrate to understand that slowly, then it's a lot better.
Your second wife Corinna once said to you many years ago: If you're 75, Udo, then the girls will still run after you ...
Udo Jürgens (laughs): I think that's very funny, that's what she said. With the girls, that's not quite true.
Her relationship with Corinna ended despite divorce not in the Rose War. That does not succeed many ex-pairs.
Udo Jürgens : It makes me happy that I still have contact with the people of my life. I recently had dinner with Corinna. We laugh so much together, and sometimes about ourselves. And I have to say that today I know why I married her in 1999. Because she was and is always a positive and happy person. That then a lot of things went wrong with us, is so, and we are both. But that does not stop us from seeing each other, calling us. I think it's very nice that you have such a wonderful relationship.
They will go on a big tour again in autumn. Do you not long for peace after so many exciting decades in show business?
Udo Jürgens : No, I do not see any age limit. It may also be related to the total freedom that I have at work. Nobody is pushing me to make an album, to write songs. I have arranged it so that everything comes only from my willingness, if I have desire and time.
Honestly, what would you have said if you'd been asked at the beginning of your career, if you're still on stage in 2009 ?
Udo Jürgens : When I met my manager Freddy Burger more than 30 years ago, he said to me, "If you're over 70, I guarantee you, we'll still have the halls sold out. You are a guy who is not tied to a time with his music and his being. "At that time, I thought, he's crazy! Today I am pleased that Freddy Burger has been right.
On your birthday, ZDF is broadcasting a big gala in your honor. Your children Jenny, John and Sonja will be there. And also friends and colleagues like Hans Dietrich Genscher.
Udo Jürgens : In the course of my life, I have met many people whom I admire. This undoubtedly includes the politician Hans Dietrich Genscher. The moment when, on my birthday, September 30, 1989, he stood on the balcony of the Prague Embassy and the events after, the fall of the Wall, I will never forget. Hans Dietrich Genscher is a great person and I am honored that he counts among my circle of friends.
Finally, we would like to know from you which of your songs you love the most.
Udo Jürgens : Oh, that's hard. I wrote about 1000 songs. But I think "Why only, why" and "What I want to tell you" are among the most beautiful songs I have composed.
Is there a wish that you would like to have fulfilled for your birthday?
Udo Jürgens : The only thing I want is health. Although that may not sound very original.
Mr. Jürgens, we thank you for the interview and wish you all the best for your 75th birthday!
TOURNEY DATA 2009:
25. 10. Nordhorn • 27. 10. Ravensburg • 28. 10. Ulm • 30. 10. Offenburg • 1. 11. Frankfurt • 3. 11. Leipzig • 4. 11. Magdeburg • 5. 11. Chemnitz • 10. 11. Wuppertal • 11. 11. Lemgo • 13. 11. Düsseldorf • 14. 11. Cologne • 15. 11. Essen • 17. 11. Braunschweig • 18. 11. Oldenburg • 20. 11. Hamburg • 21. 11. Berlin • 24. 11. Würzburg • 25. 11. Regensburg • 27. 11. Nuremberg • 28. 11. Munich. Sequel follows.
Ticket hotline: 0 18 05/57 00 70
