May 12, 2006
Retro FM 88.3, Moscow
Translated by beilie

Thomas Anders’ interview for the morning program on radio “Retro FM”.

Retro FM: Vetrova Yana and Roman Yemelyanov are still with you. And one person has visited us. He’s right here – a wonderful singer, well-known musician, idol and soloist of once-popular but non-existent group “Modern Talking” Thomas Anders. Good morning, Thomas!

TA: Good morning!

Retro FM: Welcome to Moscow!

TA: Thank you very much.

Retro FM: And welcome to Retro FM as well. It’s good that you came here; let us disturb you a bit. So, what will we start with? What does Thomas Anders’ morning look like? When does it start, and what do you eat on breakfast? What do you need to do in order to feel yourself in good spirits?

TA: Oh my God, it really depends on where I am, at home or in hotel, and also because of my boy; he’s getting up at seven.

You know, in the morning I can’t eat, and I don’t feel like that. I just take my cup of coffee. Two times a week I’m busy with my personal trainer, and then I immediately go to office.

Retro FM: Are there some special exercises that you do in the morning in order to keep your voice perfectly in order? Something like “tymbyrly, tumbyrly...” Can you show us this?

TA: No. I’m very sorry about that, but I do not do anything with my voice. I don’t sing every day; my voice comes naturally, and it’s not a classical voice. Sometimes I don’t sing for one or two weeks. When I start singing, it takes me about 5 minutes just to be in a good shape with my voice. And in the studio 5 minutes is enough for me to get ready.

Retro FM: We’d like to give our listeners an opportunity to talk with famous singer and musician. Call us right now!

- Hello, my name is Andrei, I’m calling from St. Petersburg. I’d like to ask Thomas Anders if he has any pets – fishes, birds? I know that Thomas is not indifferent to dogs... If so, how does Thomas combine his love towards animals and busy tour schedule?

TA: We had a dog; it was a Maltese, totally white. I had this dog for fifteen years. And I don’t want to think about what kind of dog will be my next one. You just need... it takes your time for remembrance, because the memories and reflections are still yours. It will be definitely not a big dog, because I travel a lot between Ibiza and Germany, from Germany to Ibiza. So, the size will be the same, maybe, a small dog to carry.

Retro FM: Thomas, you know, in the Soviet Union during the first appearance of Modern Talking we didn’t have any pictures, records or CDs. Everything was spreading out by pirates. And we could hardly understand, who’s singing – a girl or a guy? It was so difficult to make it out!

There’re even some legends, that you, Thomas, used some special hormones in order to make your voice high and tender. Tell us honestly: did you do that?

TA: It’s strange! I don’t have a very high voice. George Michael’s is much higher. The sound, the manner is different. I’m a classical baritone. I was 21 year old, and my voice was a bit softer and higher than nowadays. I have to compare it with nowadays; now I became older, and my voice became darker.

Retro FM: Today we meet not only Thomas Anders, but a German as well. Soon a World Soccer Championship will start in Germany, and we cannot help asking about sports. Whom will you root for, will you go to matches, and what do you think concerning Germany’s chances to win the championship?

TA: At the moment I really don’t know if I really will be in Germany, because we’re planning to do a tour in Russia, from the beginning of June till 2nd or 3rd. So, I don’t have any tickets for games, because I never know if we’ll have a time, and I don’t want to do reservations for games.

As for the World Championship, I have a very special TV-show in Germany, so I’m into the football, but I don’t play. I’m not so involved in that. And what about the chances of Germany, it... has not so much chances. But this team can find some forces all of a sudden, and I cross my fingers for them and I hope they’ll do well.

Retro FM: Well, June is June, but the final game will be in July! You didn’t know that?

TA: I’m planning to go to Ibiza at that time, but if I’ll have a chance to go to the final game with Germany, I’ll take a plain from Ibiza to Berlin.

Retro FM: What changes do you see since your first visit to Russia? What did you think of it for the first time, and what does it look like now? I suppose, there’re some changes – Russian people, who come to your concerts?

TA: Oh yeah, Russia has changed; when the country changes, its people changes as well. First time I’ve been here in 1988; that means 18 years ago! And there’re unbelievable changes. You know, Sheremetyevo airport is quite familiar to Frankfurt’s. And I’m coming there so often! Some parts of the streets, hotels were not like that in the first years; they became quite European. The only thing I really would like to change is the weather, but it’s not in my hands.

Retro FM: Thomas, do you know someone amongst our show-business stars? I mean, Russian singers?

TA: I know Alla Pugacheva; I think that everybody in the world knows her. In Germany we don’t have channels with Russian music. TATU... is very international. But we don’t have a chance to know Russian music. If I’m here, in the hotel, I don’t understand the language; it’s very hard for me. But I see the development of Russian music. In 90-s it was very-very... 8-10 years behind, but nowadays it is much more closer, and they do believe in what they’re doing. And they don’t look at the other music of the West.

Retro FM: I’m holding in my hands a new Thomas Anders’ album, which is called “Songs Forever”. Thomas said that there are songs of 80-s, which were beloved by everyone. Thomas, can you tell us a few words about this album?

TA: It’s a beautiful album! And you should buy it. These are songs from the 80-s; as for me, I call them “pearls of 80-s”. These songs will stay forever, that’s why the album is called “Songs Forever”. It has a special sound; it’s not the sound that you know from Thomas Anders! It is jazz with a big orchestra.

I’ve found out that a lot of older people over thirty years of age really love different kind of music, “grown-up music”, and they don’t want to listen to the charts. And now I can sing songs for this adult audience.

Retro FM: There’re lots of covers nowadays; people turn to 70-s and 80-s again and again. Why is that? Because pop and disco music have exhausted its potentialities, and one cannot create something new in this genres? Or, probably, Thomas Anders has written himself out?

TA: The reason why I did it with the 80-s... First of all, I had my youth in 80-s. Second part is that I have started my career at that time, and the third part is that I have a show in Germany, called “Eighties show”. So, nearly at your hands that I should do something with 80-s. It was my thinking: I just wanted to do a concept of the songs from the special decade. I like music of 70-s, but I’m not so attached to it. As for me, more important is 80-s. So, this is my attitude towards these times. I have changed the songs to “grown-up pop” and that’s why I’ve got an orchestra.

Retro FM: So, after the short break – good morning, Thomas, one more time!

TA: Hi, this is Thomas Anders, and I hope you’re fine today. You did a right choice, because you’re at the Retro FM!

Retro FM: I suppose, my next question is not really correct, and this topic is quite boring; however, the audience would not forgive me if I wouldn’t ask it. Do the fans and Russian (and not only Russian) audience have a chance to see and hear “Modern Talking” band again?

TA: No. I don’t think so. This is over; it’ll never repeat again. This is because I don’t want to work with my ex-partner again anymore. It’s something to do with character. I think if we would do it again for the third time, it wouldn’t have magic anymore. I think, Modern Talking is leaving for past.

On the other side, I think, we’re too old. Dieter is about the end of 50-s, and I’m in my 40-s; it’s crazy to restore anything.

People should take MT in their hearts and should listen to albums; we had a lot of albums. It has just passed.

Retro FM: Thomas, whoever comes to visit us, even if he doesn’t have a hearing or voice, has to sing!

TA: What a nice tradition!

Retro FM: Maybe, a few lines from YMHYMS...

TA (sings a refrain): Thank you!

Retro FM: Our broadcasting is over; Thomas, can you say something at parting?

TA (on pure Russian): I’m Thomas Anders; I like Retro FM!