The reactions to the press releases from beginning of October
that Thomas gets a casting show in Russia and also his Album
will appear only there in the spring next year differ strongly
under the fans. A part of them were totally horrified to see
nothing of Thomas in Germany in the future, the other part was
glad for his success in the east. We wanted to know from Thomas
with pleasure a little bit more background on these subjects to
agree and to hear from him whether his German fans must be
worried, to hear in the future only some news from Russia.
TAO:
The press announcements on this subject are relatively
identical. Because you enjoy a very high popularity in Russia,
it was very easy for the producers of the show to try a start
with you. What was the fact, that you said “yes” to this
engagement?
Thomas: The original idea comes from a producer from Germany who
has developed a broadcasting concept. The Russian television
transmitter has catered this concept more and more to my person,
so that it became a Thomas Anders-Show.
TAO: You are saying in
the press, you will be the "super - juror" and the format
is catered on you. How can we understand this?
Thomas:
I have
the last decision, who of the talents will get the opportunity
to sing in the live shows.
TAO: On witch market will the new
Girl-band take place and would you definitely not produce them
and care for them as a manager, so that is what you can read in
the press?
Thomas: I won’t produce the band because I have no
time for this. So it will be shown, how far I will give them
assistance in the beginning.
TAO: „American Idol“ and „DSDS“ are
now in the 6 th and 7 th season. In England it’s the 375 th
time, that they search on “britain’s got talent” a singer. Are
there also planned more seasons for this casting show in Russia?
Thomas: So that depends on the success of this format. At the
moments there is only one season planned.
TAO: The press says
that you are now the “Russian Bohlen” or „the eternal second is
now doing the same things than Bohlen“. Many of your fans don’t
like such a kind of articles. How do you think about these, when
you read such headlines?
Thomas: You know, the press always
needs a cliff hanger, so that the readers read the whole article
and not just the headlines. That belongs to my job! If I should
be the “eternal king of the rednecks” to be the first, than I am
very satisfied with my second place. Belonging to the “Russian Bohlen” it’s not that easy. So Dieter Bohlen isn’t the inventor
of the format DSDS, the real inventor is called Simon Fuller. He
has the rights and the patent, and I am going to make a for the
Russian Market catered format.
TAO: So you will spend more time
in Russia in the future, like you currently do now. Pre-castings
in different cities, Saturday-evening Liveshows in Moscow,
probably you don’t need to check out from your hotel room in the
next month. How do you manage all this with your family?
Thomas:
So that is definitely a misimpression. The expenditure of time
is smaller as speculated. There are like in Germany some Pre-
castings, but at these I don’t take part. Afterwards I am going
to join castings in different cities in Russia, which also can
be seen on TV. Everything will need around 1 week, because I am
going to travel in a private - jet to come from one place to
another. The count of the liveshows is not clear at the moment.
So in general you can say that it is an expenditure of time of 3
weeks in comparison to 10 weeks time range. So less time than I
currently need for shows.
TAO: Now the topic new album. In some
press articles you can read that the new album will be released
only in Russia. Now the German fans are very unsure, because in
your last posting in the forum you haven’t said anything about
this. How about the new album in Germany? When is the release
date?
Thomas:
So that is the press again. Of course will the new
album be released in Germany. Maybe with a short time remaining,
because I sing for West- Europe some other songs for the album.
TAO: Where is the difference between the Russian and the German
album? Are they going to be produced in another way or are there
really some other songs on every album? If yes, why is that?
Want the Russian fans to hear another TA than the German ones?
Thomas:
My new Management has the opinion that the album has to
be adapted to the taste of music for each country. But definite
is nothing, so it can be that there are one or two other songs
in France, Spain or in Far Eat than in Germany, because I want
to work with some local producers. Ronan Keating had also for
his song “We’ve got tonight” different duet partners in every country.
TAO:
Is there any possibility for the German fans to get
the Russian Album?
Thomas: Yes via Internet! And probably also
via Amazon.
TAO: Are there any single releases before release date of the
album, to shorten the waiting time a bit?
Thomas: For sure there
will be one single release, but I don’t want to announce the
date right now, because there are often some know-it-alls, in
the fact that it won’t be release at that date, with a better solution.
TAO: „Songs Forever“ was released in spring 2006. How
do you valuate the fact that there are now four years between
two albums?
Thomas:
So that is sometimes reality. Because I want
to release a great album, it takes sometimes more time than
planned.
TAO:
40-50 million viewers in Russian TV, 250.000 advance bookings
for your new album and for sure you will tour through Russia….
of course your German fans are happy because of your success in
Russia. And basically everybody knows that the tradesman Thomas
Anders has to sing there, where he earns money. But there is
still another aspect and many of your German fans don’t have the
money to fly to Moscow to join a live concert of you. When you
see that dimensions the Germany TA-fans feel very small and
there is the fear that you will leave Germany more and more and
your fans here can see less than ever of you here. Can you take
the fear and frustration of off them, that you are not just the
Russian pop star Thomas Anders in the future?
Thomas: So look at
question number 5, where I explained a bit, how long I will have
to stay in Russia for the casting show. So often I am very
helpless about the attitude of some German fans that I prefer
fans from other countries. So my luck is to sing in different
countries and to give my shows there. If I only would sing in
Germany, there won’t definitely be any reason for discussion.
For example some artists from America. They play concerts around
the globe and not the most time in the USA and they also don’t
release an album every year. When they are on world tour, they
play 2 years at a stretch and not just only in their country. So
this year there is really no reason to complain for the German
fans. The concert on the 14 th of February was great and I
released a DVD in summer. Of course are there some years where I
give more shows and in some years less. Our sense of time
completely changed. We consume everything like in fast motion.
Every day, every week something new, faster and more. Just two
weeks after a concert some fans ask for another one. In July was
the release of my DVD und immediately some fans asked for the
next album. And sure after the release of the next album some
fans asking again for the next album, hopefully not to wait 4
years again. I see a big danger in that fact.
TAO:
Is it still fun or just routine for you to record a pop album,
especially after „Song forever“.
Thomas: It is always fun to hear
new songs and to fill them with life.
TAO: One last question.
Witch musical development potential do you see for yourself and
what are your aims in music?
Thomas: I really don’t know. I am
not able to plan the next 10 years.
Now the next
album is that what counts.
TAO:
Thank you very much indeed, that you had the time for our questions.
Thomas: No problem, I will always do.
TAO: We wish you
success for prospective projects, also if we can watch them from
Germany just with a distance in between.
Thomas: You’re welcome!
© Text und Fotos: ThomasAnders-Online.com
Our special thanks go to Andreas (Gute Laune) for the
translation