Beloved artist Udo Jürgens resumes his melodious performances.
Last year, legendary musician Paul McCartney made headlines with the aid of AI, releasing what seemed to be a "new" Beatles tune titled "Now and Then". Fast forward to ten years post his demise, the well-known German singer Udo Jürgens is also joining the fray with an unheard track: "Als ich fortging".
As the world marks the 10th anniversary of Jürgens' passing away, aged 80, his enduring hits like "Ich war noch niemals in New York", "Griechischer Wein", and "Aber bitte mit Sahne" continue to echo through time.
Jürgens' musical journey spanned over 6 decades, and it often happens that lesser-known tunes are created only to be shelved or overlooked due to various reasons. The song "Als ich fortging" is one such example, as declared by Sony Music. Originally penned for his 1985 album "Treibjagd", this song was ultimately omitted due to a lack of alignment with the album's theme. It remained forgotten until a rediscovery during archival work. It was ultimately the songwriter's children, John and Jenny, who decided to give this composition a posthumous release.
A remarkable find
Lyricist Michael Kunze crafted the lyrics for "Als ich fortging". The song underwent a metamorphosis thanks to the expertise of experienced drummer and producer Curt Cress. The renewal process, similar to the release of the Beatles' "Now and Then" the previous year, relied on the power of AI.
"All we had was a demo recording, devoid of multitracks, no drums, guitar or piano - nothing," explained John Jürgens. AI allowed for separation of the vocals from the remaining elements of the demo. "We then had an 'a cappella' version," he continued. The voice recording was in superb condition, enabling Curt Cress to rework the instrumental parts according to his expertise.
John Jürgens reminds us, "It's such a blessing we stumbled upon this. We'd always sought after something Udo wrote." Jenny Jürgens shares a similar sentiment, expressing confidence that her father would have supported the song's release. The song seems to tell a compelling story laden with profound emotions, reminding listeners of Jürgens' legacy and his eventual departure.
"Als ich fortging" is featured in the album "udo 90", scheduled for release on September 27th, in honor of what would have been Jürgens' 90th birthday three days later. The album showcases 90 singles by Udo Jürgens swept over the period 1965 to 2014. "Als ich fortging" holds a special place as track 91. A music video was also created for the song, featuring renowned German actor Albrecht Schuch in the lead role amid the vibrant charm of Vienna.
Udo Jürgens' children, John and Jenny, were responsible for the posthumous release of an unheard track by their father entitled "Als ich fortging". This song was originally written for Jürgens' 1985 album "Treibjagd" but was ultimately omitted due to a lack of alignment with the album's theme.
Following its discovery during archival work, the song underwent a transformation with the help of lyricist Michael Kunze and experienced drummer and producer Curt Cress. The renewal process involved the separation of vocals from the demo using AI technology, enabling Curt Cress to rework the instrumental parts.
