KVR Audio

Compyfox · Post by **Compyfox** » Tue Dec 23, 2014 12:27 am

Not only is the recent "Joe Cocker has passed away" report shocking, but after logging in to GMX just a minute ago to check my spam folder, I was infomed that German singer/songwriter/entertainer/Schlager/Chanson singer Udo Jürgens also passed away last Sunday (21.12.2014).

Udo Jürgens won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1966 for Austria with the song "Merci, Cheri".

Perhaps you might also know him from songs like "Griechischer Wein", "Ehrenwertes Haus", "mit 66 Jahren", "Aber bitte mit Sahne" (all around the same time), the German title theme of Tom and Jerry "Vielen Dank, für die Blumen" (thanks for the flowers), or even the title theme of the French/Japanese animation series "Il était une fois… l’Homme" (known as "Es war einmal... der Mensch"/Once upon a time... man"), called "1000 Jahre sind ein Tag" (1000 years are but a day).

He also wrote Musicals, like "Helden, Helden" (based upon the stage play " Arms and the Man"), and themes for the Soccer World Cup (for Germany in 1978 and 1990, for Austria in 1998).

Jürgens stood on stage for over half a century as entertainer - with his trademark bathrobe in the later sections of his shows. He died at the age of 80 while taking a walk, due to acute heart failure in Münsterlingen, Switzerland.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Udo_J%C3%BCrgens

What is a bit shocking to me...

"Pop/Schlager Music" was always a huge part for the older members of my family. And I also enjoyed a lot from the 70ies and 80ies that was played on German radio as well (which can be considered "pop" and "schlager" music). I even met Udo Jürgens at some point while I was still a kid. And recently, a fellow of mine wanted to go to his announced farewell tour in 2015.

I did not expect this report to be honest.
Guess time doesn't stand still for anybody.

And while we're at it, we are also getting towards Johannes "Jopi" Heesters 3rd anniversary of his death...

Tricky-Loops · Post by **Tricky-Loops** » Tue Dec 23, 2014 2:06 am

I wasn't a big fan of his lyrics but I appreciated him as a good pianist and songwriter. He had a pretty hard time the last years because of the divorce and the burglary in his house...

valerian_777 · Post by **valerian_777** » Tue Dec 23, 2014 6:10 am

trimph1 · Post by **trimph1** » Tue Dec 23, 2014 8:12 am

Sad...

trimph1 · Post by **trimph1** » Tue Dec 23, 2014 8:12 am

DP...

Ingonator · Post by **Ingonator** » Tue Dec 23, 2014 8:17 am

Compyfox wrote: Udo Jürgens won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1966 for Germany with the song "Merci, Cheri".

Actually Udo Jürgens was not german but austrian. German ESC winners were Nicole in 1982 and Lena Meyer-Landruth in 2010 (Lena is actually from my hometown Hannover...)

Anyway Udo indeed made some nice songs.

RIP Udo...

Compyfox · Post by **Compyfox** » Tue Dec 23, 2014 8:02 pm

You're right. He played and won for Austria:
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_der_ ... g_Contests

But his song was in German charts for 14 weeks! Not counting consecutive "party hits" releases.

Fixed the first post.

Tricky-Loops · Post by **Tricky-Loops** » Tue Dec 23, 2014 10:05 pm

BTW, he played jazz piano in New York, so "Ich war noch niemals in New York" wasn't true!

Compyfox · Post by **Compyfox** » Wed Dec 24, 2014 11:20 am

The song is telling a story after all...

Udo Jürgens passed away on 21-12-2014 (at age 80)