She released her first album in 1992. Since then, she has won seven Echos, three folk music crowns and even received a 10-times platinum millennium record for her best-of album, which stayed in the German charts for no less than 347 weeks. Today, Andrea Berg is 50 years old and has no intention of sitting back.
There's no need to be modest with Andrea Berg: Eight of her last albums made it to the top spot in the German album charts. Berg is regarded as the most successful singer in the history of the German charts and she owes her success to a successful team. In addition to album producer Dieter Bohlen, Berg works with DJ Bobo on her tour and music. She prepared the "Seelenbeben" tour with him and he was involved from conception to realization.
At the center of the new tour is a large dragon that forms Andrea Berg's stage. In Florian Silbereisen's ARD show "Das große Schlagerfest", Berg presented it: 38 meters long, 34 meters wide, and the highest platform, the head, is twelve meters high. This is fitting, as many of Berg's songs are about mythical creatures, including "Drachenreiter" from her latest album. "I take people into my dreams," says Berg proudly to Silbereisen. Andrea Berg told us in an interview what else you can expect on her tour and what she thinks of her Swiss fans.
In November, you will be stopping off with your tour at the Hallenstadion in Zurich. What can visitors expect from the tour?
It will be a gigantic stage show. I'm really looking forward to it. When my fans come to one of my performances, the most important thing for me as an artist is to entertain them. But as a person - Andrea Berg - I don't just want to entertain my fans, I want them to have an unforgettable evening, to be able to switch off for a while, have fun and recharge their batteries. I always want them to remember this evening for a long time to come.
"As a person - Andrea Berg - I don't just want to entertain my fans, I want them to have an unforgettable evening."
What is it like working with DJ Bobo? Are you also friends in private?
René and I have known each other for a long time. I really like his work, and of course a friendship develops after a long collaboration, which I really appreciate. We prepared my tour together in the USA, and then of course René was also on board when we realized our plans and started the tour.
You have been working with Dieter Bohlen for some time now. How well-rehearsed are you already?
We share a musical affinity, are very creative together and inspire each other.
What connection do you have to Switzerland?
"My fans from Switzerland are usually the ones who get in the mood and go all out."
I like Switzerland. There is hardly any other country where you can find such peace and harmony with nature. Even if people say that the Swiss are reserved and a rather critical audience, I can't confirm that. My fans from Switzerland are mostly the ones who get into the mood and go all out.
Your current album is called "Seelenbeben". Why is that?
For me, Seelenbeben means being alive, feeling intense emotions, loving with all my heart - with all the negative but also positive feelings. This ranges from the deepest pain to euphoric happiness. I am at a point in my life where I want to accept and celebrate love and life as they are.
What is important to you in your music?
I want to make people switch off, so that they can escape from everyday life for a while. Of course, I also want to make them think, but above all I want my fans to have fun and realize that I enjoy what I do.
You often sing about feelings and love in your songs. Are you an emotional person?
I would say that I am a controlled emotional person. Of course you need emotions in music, you want to convey feelings. I think that a person without emotions is in a bad place in the music business. I live life, and my fans feel that.
Do you have an all-time favorite among your songs? If so, which one and why?
That's very difficult to say. I like all the songs on my albums, otherwise I wouldn't have recorded them. But of course there are one or two songs that stand out. On the current album "Seelenbeben" that would be "Sternenträumer" - for me it's the emotionally deepest and most important song. I believe that this will also be a central song for me in the coming years. With "Sternenträumer", René Baumann, with whom I wrote the song, has delivered his masterpiece!
How do you relax?
I relax best with my family, surrounded by all our dogs and animals at home.
You always look very sexy on stage. How happy are you with your body?
I am very happy with my body. I like the way I am. To be honest: I don't want to be 20 again, with all the love crises and insecurities. No matter how old you are, if I feel like it, I'll still be wearing miniskirts when I'm 70.
You turned 50 in January. What was that like for you?
I am exactly where I want to be at the moment. I have the privilege of reaching many people and making them happy. I am healthy, my family is healthy. I have a man by my side who accepts me for who I am and loves me. It's important to stay young at heart.
ANDREA BERG
Sun, 13.11.16, Hallenstadion Zurich
Mon, 31.7.17, Flumserberg Open Air
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