Fraenkischer Tag - October 10, 2002

by Leopold Teuscher

translation by Astrid Nolde-Gallasch


In the end the forum is cheering


Chris de Burgh full of energy in Bamberg

The franconian is hard to get into top gear, but when he has caught
fire, he can't be stopped. Chris de Burgh made this experience too on
Tuesday night in the forum. In the end a completely enthusiastically
audience laid to the feet of the world-famous song poet.

Where does the small Irishman take all this energy from after almost 30
years in the music business? The meanwhile 54 year old is on stage in
Bamberg without a break for almost three hours and surprises the
audience with a versatility that some didn't believe him capable of.
Many think of soft ballads when they think of Chris de Burgh, but the
man is a real rocker, who can really bang with his excellent band - of
course on a high level.

"Time Is Everything" is the name of his new album. "Guilty Secrets" is a
song from it with which he enters the spotlight in the forum. But the
beginning is a bit slow-moving. No cheering at the beginning as it is
often usual. Chris de Burgh has difficulties to bring the audience, most
of them in a mature age like the star himself, to clap along to. But
after an hour this suddenly changed. As if he had pressed a button the
fans who were neatly sitting on their chairs earlier stormed to the
front towards the edge of the stage and celebrated their idol who was
within reach from then on. Roses were brought on stage, Chris de Burgh
thanked with a little kiss - a star to touch. Cheek to cheek.

Of course, the singer who is blessed with a great voice also sings some
of his big ballads like "Lady In Red" or "Don't Pay The Ferryman". But
Chris de Burgh doesn't want to live off the past. This can be felt
clearly. "Lebanese Night" is one of his new songs which is reminiscent
of oriental sounds and is all about life in an almost endless war.

The new musical style of the nice Irishman is powerful and dynamical. He
greeted the round-about 2500 visitors in the forum, which has only been
filled by two third, in the German language and congratulated the
Bambergers on their beautiful town which he got to know by walking
through it earlier. But then the rocker changes again to a bard,
assembles the band members with bongos and guitars in an intimate circle
for quieter sounds.

A versatile evening, that passes in a flash and finishes only around
23:00h with a furious final and several encores which have been demanded
by the audience frenetically. Exhausted, Chris de Burgh let himself fall
on the back, to show that he has given all. Then he reaches with both
arms towards the seething crowd in front of the stage and gives his fans
his hands thankfully. A moving end to a great concert evening.