ESC legend Peter Urban talks about his retirement

Almost everyone knows the voice of Peter Urban (75): He has been commenting on the Eurovision Song Contest for 25 years – but the final on May 13 in Liverpool will be his last: Urban is retiring from ESC. The MOPO has with the music journalist about his recently published autobiography On Airtalked about allegations of fraud against the NDR and about Helene Fischer as a participant for Germany at the ESC.

MOPO: Mr. Urban, you voluntarily stop commenting on the ESC after 25 years: head or gut decision?

Peter Urban: A mixture. While writing the book, I realized that I’ve spent more than a third of my life with the ESC. Then I thought: “Wow, that’s a long time.” And before more and more voices come up saying “Can the old bastard finally stop?”, I’d rather do it now.

Germany has regularly occupied one of the last places at the ESC in recent years. Why is that?

Record labels have reported a post featuring artists just starting out in their careers. There was never a real conviction. We need seasoned musicians.

For example Helene Fischer, to name a show superstar from Germany?

Helene Fischer is a dazzling singer – with the right song, who knows? But I think English is the better language for classic pop songs.

What makes a good ESC contribution?

The song has to be special: a song that goes to the heart. The ESC is currently changing, it is open to special styles of music. That’s why I like our contribution so much this year: It’s visually striking and the sound is also special.

Your personal opinion is always clear in your comments in the ESC final.

is that clear Yes, that’s right. If I find something particularly good, then I say so. But only in the short moderation. I think you can do that without influencing people. I once made the mistake of speaking my mind before the song. That was wrong. I would never do that again.

A whole generation knows no other voice than yours at the ESC.

But I’m only realizing this now. I go to the supermarket and the cashier says: “You can’t just stop.” That’s really moving and of course flatters you. But there are other problems in the world as well.

What makes the ESC so special for you?

This is a one-time event. Once a year, that’s a wonderful thing. There are rarely such television events where everyone is still watching something together. It’s a great feeling when people watch the ESC together at public viewings, in pubs or at parties.

Speaking of public viewing: This year, the big ESC parties will no longer take place on the Reeperbahn, but will be produced in a television studio in Liverpool. Ironically, in a year in which a band from St. Pauli competes for Germany. What do you make of it?

dumb, right? I think that’s a pity. I don’t know the reasons, I have nothing to do with that.

party singer Ikke Hipgold, the runner-up in the preliminary round, recently made allegations of fraud against the NDR and also attacked you, demanding your resignation. Does that offend you – just before your last ESC?

To be honest, I don’t really care. The preliminary round is over. His allegations are stupidly based on an article that contained false quotes that I never said.

I’m allowed to express my opinion and say: “I’d rather go to Liverpool with ‘Lord of the Lost’ than with the other applicants of the preliminary round.” I prefer to comment on a German entry that has a chance internationally, a better result to reach.

Let’s talk about your life with music. Hamburg plays a decisive role here. What does the Hanseatic city mean to you?

I was here once when I was 16 from Quakenbrück. I saw the Alster and thought: “Wow, this is where I want to go.” My parents wanted me to study in Münster, but I was drawn to Hamburg. I knew:The world is more open here, here the cultural diversity is much greater. I’ve seen an incredible number of bands in small clubs, for example at Onkel Pö. Hamburg is my home. I can’t even imagine living in another city. My path would have been very different without Hamburg. I probably would have become a teacher – like my father.

Uncle Pö has a very special place in your heart, doesn’t it?

Yes, this is an incredible club. In Europe it was unique. In a room for 250 seats one could see artists who later became world famous. And I and my band also played there, we were the house band with our group. That was the thriving nightlife.

Despite the crisis in the culture industry caused by the corona pandemic, would you advise young people to become musicians?

If you have the passion, then you do it anyway. But: It is not made easy for you. You have to be on the road all the time to sell records and get exposure. To survive as an artist in today’s world, you have to make sacrifices.

After almost 75 years with music: do you sometimes have the feeling that you are “overhearing” with the thousands of songs you have heard in your life?

I’ll check that.  In my free time I hardly listen to music. I prefer to watch TV or football. If at some point I stop doing radio shows, maybe that will change. However, it’s only recently that I’ve been listening to old records again.

Do you have a record collection at home?

Yes, I still have 2000 records. I used to have 13,000. Unfortunately they are not in alphabetical order, the last move messed everything up.

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What do you do as an ESC pensioner? Spending more time with family?

Also yes. But I also have my radio show on NDR 2 and my podcast “Urban Pop”. I will also support my wife in her work. She owns a patisserie company specializing in low-sugar cakes and wants to expand. Then I will help and be seen more often as a chauffeur to drive the trailer. I won’t bake.