March 17, 2006
 

Press conference of Thomas Anders and "Holiday On Ice" in Moscow

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- I’d like to ask Mr. Anders about his impression from this experience, truly unique even for his long-term career. You’ve never written any songs for ice-shows before, have you?

- I’ve never written for ice-shows, everything has started a few years ago, when Mr. Steenhuisen called me and asked if I could write something for the Holiday on Ice. I was surprised about that! I’ve tried to think of what could it be. But that was not the end!

First of all, I was very surprised about that, because I didn’t expect it, and because the Holiday on Ice is so fantastic and well-known show for more than 50 years! Of course, I was much honored to write a song for it. We were talking, and I was always asking, what kind of song should it be, and Mr. Steenhuisen told me that this show should be something very emotional, with regard to dreaming... so, it was a key word for me, and I started working.

- Mister Anders, you have performed a very beautiful song, and everyone liked it. But I have a question for you: this year you have nominated yourself for Eurovision-2006, but you couldn’t pass the national selection round. Tell us, if you were truly disappointed, and why do you, a star, need such a contest?

- Finally I took the second place in Germany, and I feel a little bit sad that I’ll not go to Athens, because I really counted on you, Russians, that you would give me twelve points. Anyway, maybe, you’ll do it for my colleagues, “Texas Lightning”. But I had great feelings to be there and to do this.

You know, it was a ballad, called “Songs that live forever”, and it’s really as beautiful as the song for “Holiday on Ice”.

Why? Actually, this contest is very dynamic, and I was much honored to do that, because I was asked by a German TV to go from Germany to that international competition.

You know, sometimes life gets to be boring, and it was a reason for me just to do this. I’m pretty sure that I had a great time with it, and the second place is not too bad.

- A few years ago you wrote a song for the movie “The Stockholm marathon” and played a role in it. Did you ever have any plans to continue it - to write soundtracks and to act in movies?

- In the case of “Fantasy” show it was not me who performed it. I looked at the video and saw the dancers making the show on ice. Anyway, in the near future I’m not going to write anything for the movies; but you never know, and life always brings us surprises.

- Thomas, how many times have you been in Russia, and when did you visit it for the first time?

- I didn’t count, but I think it will be at least 40 or 50 times in Moscow. Yes, forty, “four” and “zero”! As I remember, my first time was in 1988.

- What have influenced your decision to write a song for ice show – a world-famed brand of “Holiday on Ice” or a pretty sum of honorarium?

- You know, it’s a winning situation, when you have the famous show and the famous artist. You’ll never lose!

It’s really an excellent show, and you have to see it. I have seen it so many times, and I look at them – it’s something unbelievable what they’re doing! I’m very proud that I wrote a song for them, and I’m very happy that I can see this show and hear my own song.

- Thomas, tell me, please, are you going to represent the Russian premiere of the show “Fantasy”? As I suppose, it is very important for you – if you came here for a few hours. What are you going to do in Moscow except this conference?

- First of all, it’s my shortest visit to Moscow. I’m not planning anything except the conference; I’ll give a couple of interviews and will go back to Germany, because tomorrow I have to be in studio.

Yes, sure, I will be here in April. I will perform. Not only sitting in the public; I will perform. On ice. (laughing)

- Thomas, you have put on sale a new album. I’d like to hear about it – how did the thought to arrange this project in an unusual jazz style come into your head?

- As far as I know, it will appear in Russia only on March, 20.

I have always liked this kind of music, and I decided to take for the album some songs from the 80-s and to arrange them in a new way, making them like “swing” and “jazz”. And I hope that people will like them as much as I do.

- What Russian cities are you planning to visit this year? And, probably, you’ll reveal the secret concerning the style of your next album? Or it will be as surprising as always?

- I have no idea, how many cities I will have to visit. Therefore, I have to ask my manager; there’re lots of visits and more to come. And I think I’ll sing the songs from my new album, and I’m pretty sure that it will be lots of Modern Talking songs. It will be a part of new Thomas Anders, and a part of old songs; I’m on the stage for more than 30 years, and I have something to sing!

- Thomas, do you think that the show “Fantasy” will be popular here, in Russia? You know, the shows, which are popular in USA or Europe, not usually known by Russian audience. Will the show “Fantasy” be able to win over our country?

- I’m pretty sure that the Russians will like this fantastic show, because the figure-skaters’ performing is really nice!

- A few years ago you gave a wonderful interview to the newspaper “Trud”, and you told us about your wife and your family with great love. Are you going to bring them to Moscow to the premiere of the show?

- Unfortunately, my wife is still on holidays, but I promise I’ll bring my wife next time, and you’ll have a chance to talk with her. And thank you very much for the compliment!

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