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Thomas Anders

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Thomas Anders, born Bernd Weidung in 1963 in Koblenz, is a German singer, songwriter and producer. He grew up in the village of Mörz and performed as a child under the name Bernie von der Mosel. After finishing school he studied musicology in Mainz, intending to become a music journalist. At the start of his career he spent years trying his luck as a schlager singer under the stage name Thomas Anders, but his first singles on CBS and Hansa failed to chart. In 1983 he met the producer Dieter Bohlen.

Music and breakthrough

Together they formed the Eurodisco duo Modern Talking. Their breakthrough came in 1985, when the video for You're My Heart, You're My Soul was shown on the German music programme Formel Eins. The song reached the top ten in thirty-five countries and spent six weeks at number one in Germany. It was followed by You Can Win If You Want, Cheri, Cheri Lady, Brother Louie and Atlantis Is Calling, all of them number ones in Germany. The music was simple and catchy, with English lyrics, a high falsetto voice and plain rhythms. In 1987 the duo split after a quarrel. They reunited in 1998 and continued until 2003. By their own account they sold 120 million records together.

Influence

His solo career in the 1990s was not very successful, apart from the Spanish-language Barcos de Cristal in 1994 in Argentina. After 2003 things went better, with This Time in 2004 and the German-language Pures Leben in 2017. In Eastern Europe he is regarded as a musical icon, and according to the source he is the best-selling foreign artist in Russia.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to You're My Heart, You're My Soul and notice Thomas Anders's high falsetto above the simple, unbroken rhythm. Can you hear how few chords it takes to make a hit?

Discography

Studio albums

See also

Categories: Artists