Helene Fischer - breathless to the top
For some, she's the Taylor Swift of German Schlager, for others, as insignificant as mixed bread. Lately, Helene Fischer has been keeping a low profile, enjoying her private life. Perfect conditions for a round birthday celebration, if only Ralph Siegel wasn't involved.
"Love tastes like caviar, girls are there to be kissed," echoed in 1979 in one of the biggest songs by Ralph Siegel. "Moscow" was the title, Dschinghis Khan the group that sang it, a costumed cultural appropriation gang with a healthy dose of "Hey Reiter" and "Ho Reiter" under the Cossack hat. Not three years later, a completely different tone prevailed with Siegel. Once again, Bernd Meinunger had written the lyrics, Siegel had composed, the interpreter a 17-year-old from Saarbrücken, Nicole Hohloch, briefly Nicole, "Ein bisschen Frieden", the song. The rest is history, and that is quite well known.
Almost four decades later, the grandmaster of the ESC has nothing to do with such stylistic evolution. The most successful German singer, as the 79-year-old puts it, is venturing into dangerous territory. In the leading medium "Freizeit König", not to be confused with "Freizeit Revue", "Freizeit Aktuell" or "Freizeit Spaß", Siegel criticized that Helene Fischer would be musically moving too far away from her core competence of Schlager, instead opting for a kind of "American-German Pop".
American-German Pop?
American-German Pop? What Lord Siegel negatively connotates is actually an excellence seal par excellence. American-German Pop, how polyglot that already sounds, the verbal bridge between Motown and Munich, Philadelphia and Paderborn, Seattle and Schönkirchen. Who wouldn't want to lie in this drawer and make themselves comfortable between Lady Gaga and Lena Valaitis, Pharrell Williams and Roland Kaiser, Taylor Swift and Tina York?
Helene Fischer has certainly earned this commercially quite comfortable spot, so it's all the more understandable that the birthday girl to be, and also young mother, is taking it a bit easier these days. Last year, she completed the aptly named "Rausch" tour. Alone 26 songs adorned the setlist at the premiere in Hamburg, 71 concerts were played by Helene Fischer and her ensemble, over three-quarters of a million tickets were sold.
Shortly after the end of the gigantic tour, the singer published a collaboration version of her biggest song, "Atemlos durch die Nacht", together with Shirin David, a pumped-up, rap version, not quite the expected stroke of genius, but at least a veritable attempt at - a greeting to Mr. Siegel - American-German Pop.
Private life largely under lock and key
And what else is going on in the Fischer household? A lot, one can assume at least. For over five years, she has been in a relationship with the dancer and acrobat Thomas Seitel. In 2021, the two were delighted by the birth of their daughter Nala. In public, one sees and hears little of this, Helene Fischer still guards her private life with the greatest care. Only once, in September 2023, did the matrix flicker briefly when a little fan asked her at a concert in Vienna how the daughter was doing. The baby is doing great, Fischer answered, "a tiny little sweet mouse has already become of it. We are very, very happy."
In the summer, Helene Fischer was even spotted on the dream ship with her ex Florian Silbereisen. A love comeback with the once captain of her heart? Rather not, it was said that she had celebrated the birthday of a good friend on board.
You'll have to wait a bit longer for their tour comeback, as Fischer fans will have to be patient until summer 2026. The 360-degree stadium tour is set to begin then, promising new records in size and show effects. "I think it's very challenging to top their previous heights," Ralph Siegel had commented. We'll find out in two years at the latest. For now, let's celebrate: Cheers, Happy 40th Birthday, Helene Fischer!
Despite Ralph Siegel's criticism of Helene Fischer's musical exploration of American-German Pop, her collaboration with Shirin David on a rap version of "Atemlos durch die Nacht" showcased her willingness to experiment with different genres, extending beyond her traditional Schlager music.
In her private life, Helene Fischer maintains a tight-lipped approach, revealing little in public. A rare moment of openness occurred when she shared her excitement about her daughter's well-being during a concert in Vienna, describing her as a "tiny little sweet mouse."
