Westdeutsche Allgemeine - October 28, 2002
by Carsten Dilly translation by Astrid Nolde-Gallasch"Look here, I am one of you"
Maybe Chris de Burgh isn't the world's biggest singer. Or pianist, guitarist, songwriter, dancer. But he is such a popular figure, you can't create a better one. On Saturday the well filled Arena could become convinced of this fact. White short, black trousers - he almost appeared like a family father who briefly jumps on stage between washing his car and watching sports on TV. No allures, no trained poses. Chris de Burgh brought ordinariness, the ideal average to perfection. In the best way! And exactly this is the success recipe of the small Irishman: Always in eye contact with his audience. It works since 25 years. The final of the German tour should become a long evening, staying clear from any irritating nuances. Without any audible breaks, he presented to his thirsty fans a lovely mixture of newer songs ("Save Me") and older hits ("The Lady In Red"), blended with excellent ingredients of rock, folk, pop and blues. Sometimes oriental ("Lebanese Night"), sometimes sibirical ("Natasha Dance") or unmistakeably British ("Saint Peter's Gate"). His audience gets infected, storms the seated hall in the middle of the concert. Chris de Burgh wouldn't be the charming guy he is, if he didn't receive every gift that was reached up to him personally. Chris thanks nicely, gives kisses, and bundles together a smattering of German: "Danke schön! Guten Abend! Wie geht's?" The singer doesn't leave any wishes open, mixes many mini concerts with each other. For an acoustical intermezzo he gathers his musicians in a half circle around him, sings a touching "Another Rainbow". Or he sings his "Borderline" alone at the piano, only to sprinkle in an exercise for people who learn the piano. Of course he plays wrong - intentionally. His message: "Look here, I am one of you!" Yes, only nicer.