As Germany's most successful musician, Herbert Grönemeyer no longer has to prove himself. He recently showed that, contrary to malicious rumors, he can also dance well.
Herbert Grönemeyer, you are going on tour again and will also be playing in St. Gallen in the AFG Arena on June 10. Is it actually more fun performing than being in the studio?
"It's like kissing without a partner."
The studio is such a tinkering job. You tinker away and are happy about the creation of something. The real joy comes from playing live. There are the people on whose faces something happens, which then reflects on you. It's a kind of mutual joy. In the studio, it's more like having to kiss in front of the camera without a partner. And in the hall, you have a partner. It's better kissing there. I also like being in the studio, but I much prefer being on stage.
Do you prefer playing in large halls or in a small club?
In terms of musicality, a small club offers more musical possibilities, you can play in a more differentiated way. The bigger the hall or stadium, the more energy you have to use. But the technology is much better today, I didn't hear anything myself in the past.
Do the songs change on tour?
When we started the tour last year in May, the songs were relatively new. The songs were fresh, you didn't know how it would work with the audience. We played quite a lot of the new record, which we never usually do. You're nervous and don't know how the songs will be received.
Were the reactions as you expected?
The songs on the new record are more reserved: "Morgen", "Fang mich an" and also "Feuerlicht". You always think you have to give the monkey sugar, always push it. And then you realize that the songs have a completely different tenderness. They are more tender, and that's how the audience treats them.
Don't your fans prefer to listen to the old classics?
At first you assume that they want the old favorites: "Männer", "Alkohol", "Flugzeuge im Bauch", "Mensch". But then you realize that they also like to get involved with something new: They want something fresh. That's why I make new albums, to cook up something new every now and then.
Is it true that you no longer like playing your hit "Männer"?
Yes, it only appears in a medley now. The song was never meant seriously, with lines like "Men are already blue as babies". Other songs are of course much closer to my heart. Today it's just a bit of fun.
The Hoopieshnoopie remix of "Fang mich an", the last song on your last album "Dauernd jetzt", is probably also meant as fun?
Well, this remix is actually the original! Yes, I wanted it to be so danceable. The Belgian Stromae inspired me to do it, I saw him live - and I really wanted to write a number like that. I like this electronic and also this "dancey" thing. I love this kind of musician, because I'm actually also a keyboard player. The number has something mischievous and light about it.
Grönemeyer goes dancefloor ...
Yes, I was jumping around in the studio during the number - but at first my band thought: "Oh Herbert, what's this again?" But the number went down well with the audience and I liked playing it too.
In 1993, Bela B. and Wiglaf Droste sang the song "Grönemeyer can't dance" - you refuted that in the video for "Fang mich an" and also live at the Echo Award. My compliments!
Thank you - and yes: I wanted to show everyone! And that's why I practiced a lot for it.
Apart from Stromae, which other new artists do you like?
Bilderbuch is currently the most interesting German-speaking band. They play funk, ironically and with Austrian humor. I miss that in this singer-songwriter scene and folk wave that is coming back now. There's a lack of bite, too much "Save me!", too much "Help me!". The men sing far too low. Too larmoyant! But Bilderbuch are fresh!
"Adele can't beat Grönemeyer" wrote the media, because her album "12" sold even better than Adele's "25" at the start nine years ago. Your record remained unbroken - does that make you proud?
Not at all, in fact I have great respect for Adele's success. It used to be
much easier to make a successful album. Today there's this flood of releases and you can only get through it if you work very hard. I think Adele is great, by the way, because she has paved her own way very easily. I've also seen her live.
With your label Grönland, you yourself promote the music of young artists. Let's be honest: do you even have time to take care of that?
You ask if I'm just the breakfast director in this company? Well, I don't take care of the day-to-day business, there are good people working for me. I'm more responsible for making sure that the spirit of the label is right. I go to the concerts and talk to the bands. That's how I get to know exactly what's going on. And I think it's important for me not to sit in a tunnel and strum to myself, but to be part of a scene and that music is happening around me.
This interview came about very spontaneously - you are on a short visit to Switzerland. Do you like being here?
Yes, I had a happy relationship here and lived here for a while. I really like the Swiss. That's why I'm also looking forward to the concert in St. Gallen.
HERBERT GRÖNEMEYER
10.06.2016, AFG Arena St. Gallen
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