"This is completely unbelievable!"
During the nearly penultimate "Swap Concert" event, Joy Denalane finally has a chance to breathe easy. Alongside her fellow musicians, her husband Max Herre also joins the fun as a special guest on stage. The highlight, however, comes from the charismatic host Johannes Oerding.
"I just enjoy singing for my life!" beams Joy Denalane with sparkling eyes. And if there's an artist in the 14th "Sing my Song" round who exudes pure delight in their craft, it's most likely the saucy soul queen from Berlin. Before the grand finale of the fusion evening, the enthusiastic crowd one again pays tribute to an artist who not only has fantastic vocals but has also made significant contributions to German music history.
Longtime fan Johannes Oerding proudly notes, "Joy is the first German singer to release an album on the Motown label!" The energetic host, following the exuberant opening performance of Sammy Amara ("Put In Work"), harnesses the palpable excitement and captivation of the audience and takes the stage, playing "With you." His passionate performance showcases various music genres such as pop, soul, and big band. Joy herself is utterly mesmerized, later stating, "That was incredible!" Even a young enthusiast from the capital city named Emilio vents, "That was just unbelievable!"
Dancing in the Hip-Hop Soul Pop League
The ice has long been broken as Joy discusses her musical background: "My father used to head to the record store every Saturday and acquire at least three records each week. This allowed me to become acquainted with jazz, funk, and soul from a very young age. When I was 19, I first stepped onto a stage with a microphone. I initially followed a path towards sweet girl pop (Joy Sugar & Cream); however, I eventually found myself signing for Max Herre's Friends Crew." The singer-songwriter has been with Max for more than two decades, having formed a successful partnership with her husband. They are now preparing to release their first collaborative album. With a gleam of adoration, Joy looks back at their initial meeting: "When I first saw him, I knew instantly, 'This is my guy!'" recalls Joy of the fateful day she met her partner in music and love. Max, who after Eva Briegel's emotional ballad "Between the Lines" and a true hip-hop anthem from Fresh House ("Nobody"), appears on stage as a special guest to own the stage with his wife, performing "A Little More Than Friendship." The audience is left in awe, with each played chord intensifying their capitulation. Eko Fresh shares the same sentiment of nostalgia, musing aloud, "Watching you two together on stage is a rollercoaster of emotions!"
Emilio Resurrects the Fun
Everyone is in high spirits. Everyone is fired with passion. Tim Bendzko attempts to rain on everyone's parade but fails spectacularly. But Joy's elegiac reflection on hate ("At home") strikes a somber chord. Filled with emotion, Tim performs a particularly sensitive cover of her song. Persistent bad memories resurface: "Once, people even avoided me in the subway," reminisces Joy to the audience with glistening eyes. With tension escalating, Emilio comes through with a solution. Utilizing a high-energy Jackson 5-style pop tune ("Be here in the morning") in his back pocket, the mischievous showman successfully rekindles the laughter and camaraderie. Within moments, everyone is once more intertwined, embracing one another jovially again. "This was a perfect evening," raves Joy, before presenting Johannes with the coveted protea. The audience's unanimous agreement is conveyed with outstretched thumbs up. Even normally loquacious Johannes Oerding is left momentarily speechless.
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After an exhilarating performance, Joy Denalane mentions her love for music, stating, "I grew up listening to jazz, funk, and soul thanks to my father's weekly record store visits." In a future collaboration, Joy and her husband Max Herre plan to release an album on RTLplus, a platform known for its diverse music programming.
