Oberpfalznetz - May 24, 2002
by Wolfgang Houschka translation by Astrid Nolde-Gallasch"As long as the people like it, I will do my songs"
The Irish pop star Chris de Burgh goes on tour in autumn - at the Regensburg Donauarena on October 4 Munich. When he comes up the stairs between all the business people in their fashionable single-breasted suits, this man in his faded jeans looks different. Especially at a noble place like the "Bayrischer Hof" in Munich. There he sits in his deep salon chair in front of two journalists and asks "Have you seen the goal by Zinedine Zidane?" It has soon been discovered that Chris de Burgh is a football fan through and through. Later he will meet Markus Babbel, now he has a tip for the football world championship. From an Irish point of view, as he says in advance, and then he oracles: "The final will be between Germany and Ireland. In the first half the Germans will make two goals, but we will make three goals in the second half." But you don't have to be a clairvoyant to know that this won't happen. He knows it and presents this smile that has accompanied him for 25 years. He will go on tour across the German speaking countries from September 23 on. During this concert tour Chris de Burgh will be in the Regensburg Donauarena on October 4. There are no posters hanging yet, and it is questionable, if they are really needed. For his fans are of the true and enduring kind. They don't care about the critique's fight which happens always again during his tours, if the music of the 54 year old Irishman should be considered "soft rock" or "art rock". He himself doesn't care either. "As long as the people like it, I will do my songs", he says and adds "I'm a lucky man." Lucky, because he can still sing and also compose. Chris de Burgh will present eleven new songs on his new album that will be released in September. It will be called "Timing Is Everything". And maybe there is another "Lady In Red" on it. By the way, this song resides in the everlasting bestseller charts on rank 27. The castle owner from Ireland, born in Argentina and father of four children is really as you remember him from numerous TV appearances, especially with Thomas Gottschalk: Friendly, open, obliging. A lucky case for journalists. No short answers, printable sentences instead. For example this one: "Paul McCartney is my hero". But he, as a cosmopolite in matters of music, has never met this megastar. But therefore he has met two others: George Harrison and Ringo Starr. And again he was a "lucky man". For the Beatles have always fascinated him and they still are a musical role model today for Chris de Burgh's sons and daughters. McCartney is almost sixty, he himself isn't far away from that. Is music still fun? Isn't all this travelling on all continents annoying for this man of Great Britain? This autumn alone there will be 65 shows for him, who objects completely to miming. The Irishman repeats: "I will do it, as long as the people want to hear me." And already he is back with his favourite theme, that doesn't really belong on this page: football. Chris de Burgh once explained to his 11 year old son Michael that he also plays in stadiums. "Football?", asked the boy. "No, music", answered Daddy Chris and added "But there were as many people, as when the FC Liverpool kicks."