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Udo Jürgens

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

Udo Jürgens was born Jürgen Udo Bockelmann in 1934 and grew into one of the best-known Austrian composers and singers in the German-speaking world. As early as 1952 he was playing with his own quartet in Klagenfurt, in dance and jazz cafés. He wrote nearly a thousand songs and performed to packed halls in Germany, Austria and Switzerland until his death in 2014.

Music and breakthrough

After two earlier attempts, he won the Eurovision Song Contest for Austria in 1966 with Merci, Chérie. His song Warum nur, warum? from 1964 was recorded by Matt Monro as Walk Away and reached the top of the British charts. Later came Griechischer Wein, Aber bitte mit Sahne and Mit 66 Jahren. He sang Buenos Días, Argentina in 1978 together with the German national football team. In 1979 his disco record Udo '80 was released. His songs inspired the musical Ich war noch niemals in New York in 2007.

Influence

Jürgens broadened German-language pop beyond the traditional post-war schlager repertoire. He combined it with a modern pop sound and with French chanson, and his melodies reached listeners of all ages. Since 2015 he has been recorded as the artist who has spent the longest time in the charts, well over fifty-seven years.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Griechischer Wein and notice the difference between the calm verse and the singalong chorus. Where do you hear the wistfulness in the melody?

Discography

Studio albums

Mentioned in other articles

Categories: ArtistsSchlager