Peter the Magnificent
In recognition of Peter Maffay, Johannes Oerding is giving up his own evening. To show his appreciation, Germany's top musician Peter tells the TV show host and everyone present captivating tales from the life of a music industry icon.
As Johannes Oerding drives the scooter, Peter Maffay rides up on a Harley in true style. The close friendship between the host and this year's guest of honor is no longer a secret. So it's no surprise that Johannes has no major announcements in his baggage but instead starts the evening with the first cover song. Audience members aren't even seated on the couch before Maffay's classic "Über sieben Brücken musst du gehen" is already playing through the speakers in an Oerding German pop style.
20 number one albums and over 50 million records sold don't just speak for themselves. The impressive stats of this music industry legend also mean that the music takes a backseat on this very special evening. Sammy puts it nicely at one point: "I'm literally hanging onto your every word. I wouldn't need any music today. All your stories are enough for me," confesses the Broilers frontman. And it's true: a risque ballad ("Tiefer"), delicate jazz-soul ("So bist du"), tender spectacle pop ("Nessaja"), atmospheric offbeat hip-hop ("Schwarze Linien"), heartwarming piano-meets-guitar melancholy ("Wenn wir uns wiedersehen", "Ich fühl wie du") and dynamically arranged musical pop ("Wann immer") rightfully receive enthusiastic applause. But it's when Germany's most successful musician shares his life story and his views that listeners really pay attention.
Fifty years in the music business
"There should actually be three or even five Maffay evenings," explains Eva. She's right, because there are striking parallels between the candidates present and the legend among them. For example, Eva once stood in front of a small village stage as a 12-year-old and didn't have the courage to play the lead role in a "Tabaluga" performance. "In hindsight, that moment was so difficult for me that I swore I wouldn't let it happen again. The next time, I threw caution to the wind and joined my first band," says the Juli boss. The German rock legend once sang "Happy Birthday!" live on the main stage for Tim Bendzko's mother, who idolized Peter Maffay's work for years. Sammy used to love to party to Maffay's vintage pop hits. If you include the enchanting magic of "Tabaluga", everyone on the sofa has a personal connection to the man who has been enthralling audiences on Germany's stages for the last fifty years.
This year, he wants to go on a big tour "one last time". He wants to devote more time to his young daughter in the future. "Our family is very important to me," says Peter. The future and the present are exciting and thrilling, but not as enthralling as the past. Peter has many memories that go back a long way. "I discovered music when I was 14," he says. His first producer, Michael Kunze, helped him conquer the world of pop. As a rocker, he was allowed to open for his idols, the Rolling Stones, for a total of six concerts in 1982: "We were booed and had full bottles of Coke thrown at us. But we made it through. That was a lesson for me," recalls Peter.
"That evening was incredible!"
The topics on the sofa run out of time. There's too little time for all the exciting stories. Peter talks about how he skipped school, how his father became an escape artist, and how the story of "Tabaluga" began. At home in front of the screen, you'll get goosebumps listening to these stories.
At the end, Peter Maffay surprises his "friend" Johannes with a "Boss" version of Oerding's hit "Blinde Passagiere". Then everything is said. Well, almost. The guest of honor wants to share one more thing: "That evening was incredible!" whispers the 74-year-old with a wide smile on his face. We agree, dear Peter. We agree.
Peter Maffay's life story is far from over, but his passion for music remains undiminished. From his humble beginnings in 1969 to his current status as Germany's most successful musician, Maffay has experienced many magical moments. As he looks back on five decades of making music, he continues to create memorable experiences for himself and his fans. And who knows what he'll do next? One thing's for sure - Peter Maffay is in a league of his own, and we'll be watching him closely as he continues to write his own unique chapter in music history.
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Source: www.ntv.de
