Udo Jürgens
Jürgen Udo Bockelmann (since 2010 as Udo Jürgens Bockelmann; 30 September 1934 – 21 December 2014), better known as Udo Jürgens, was an Austrian composer and singer of popular music whose career spanned over 50 years. He won the Eurovision Song Contest 1966 for Austria, composed close to 1,000 songs, and sold over 104 million records. In 2007, he additionally obtained Swiss citizenship.
He is credited with broadening German-language pop music beyond the traditional post-war "Schlager" (hit song) in the 1950s by infusing it with a modern pop appeal and French chanson style. His compositions and arrangements attracted fans of all ages. Until his death at age 80, he continued to fill venues in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
In 1952, Udo Bolan, as he was called then, formed the Udo Bolan Quartet in Klagenfurt, Austria, appearing regularly at the Café Obelisk in Klagenfurt with Englishman Johnny Richards on drums, Klaus Behmel on guitar, and Bruno Geiger on Bass. The quartet played regularly at various dance and jazz venues and also broadcast on Radio Alpenland and the British Forces Radio network produced by Mike Fior.
In 1950, he won a composer contest organized by Austria's public broadcasting channel ORF with the song "Je t'aime". He wrote the 1961 worldwide hit "Reach for the Stars", sung by Shirley Bassey.
In 1964, Jürgens represented Austria for the first time at the Eurovision Song Contest 1964 with the song "Warum nur, warum?", finishing sixth. The UK participant, Matt Monro, was impressed with the melody and covered the song (with English lyrics by his manager Don Black) as "Walk Away", which reached number four in the UK Singles Chart and number 23 in the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Jürgens' song "Sag ihr, ich lass sie grüßen" came fourth in 1965's contest, and on his third try, he won the Eurovision Song Contest 1966 in Luxembourg with "Merci, Chérie", which became an English-language hit for Vince Hill, another cover by Monro, and one of Jürgens' most recognized compositions. Jürgens' version alone sold over one million copies, and he was awarded a gold disc by Deutsche Vogue in 1966.
In the following years, Jürgens wrote songs like "Griechischer Wein", "Aber bitte mit Sahne", "Mit 66 Jahren", and—one of his biggest successes—"Buenos Días, Argentina", which he performed together with the Germany national football team in 1978 in Argentinia.
In 1977, he invited The Supremes to appear as guests on his televised and recorded gala concert. The Supremes (Mary Wilson, Scherrie Payne, and Susaye Greene), who were on a brief farewell tour of Europe at the time, performed two of their own hits, "You Are the Heart of Me" and "You're My Driving Wheel", as well as a duet with Jürgens' "Walk Away" in English.
In 1979, he released a disco album entitled Udo '80, which spawned the hit single "Ich weiß was ich will". This song was also released as a 12" disco single in an extended remix for nightclubs.
Few people know that Udo Jürgens was an inspiration for Shepard Fairey to establish the label OBEY Clothing. ...
Source: Article "Udo Jürgens" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.
Acted in
UDO!
2024
Stars unterm Funkturm – Die Zeit der großen Unterhaltungsshows
2019
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Weihnachten mit Udo Jürgens
2016
Soundtrack Deutschland
2015
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Von Udo Jürgens bis Helene Fischer
2015
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Udo Jürgens - Das letzte Konzert: Zürich 2014
2015
Die Helene Fischer Show 2014
2014
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Merci Udo Jürgens
2014
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Udo Jürgens - Mitten im Leben
2014
Der Mann, der Udo Jürgens ist
2014
as Himself
Kunscht!
2014
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Der Mann mit dem Fagott
2011
as Udo Jürgens
Der Mann mit dem Fagott
2011
as Himself
Sesamstraße präsentiert: Ernie & Bert Songs
2011
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Sing! Inge, Sing!
2011
as Himself
Leonard Cohen: Bird on a Wire
2010
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Musikalische Reise
2010
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Udo Jürgens - Einfach ich - Live 2009
2009
Udo Jürgens - Jetzt oder nie: Live
2007
Udo Jürgens - Der Solo-Abend - Live am Gendarmenmarkt
2006
Semperopernball
2006
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Udo Jürgens - Es lebe das Laster - Live 2004
2005
Weihnachten auf Gut Aiderbichl
2003
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Die ultimative Chartshow
2003
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Elefant, Tiger & Co.
2003
Udo Jürgens: Mit 66 Jahren - Live 2001
2001
V.I.P.
2000
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Starnacht am Wörthersee
2000
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Alexandra – die Legende einer Sängerin
1999
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German Television Award
1999
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Millionär gesucht! - Die SKL Show
1998
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José Carreras Gala
1995
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Die Harald Schmidt Show
1995
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Goldene Henne
1995
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ECHO-Verleihung
1992
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Jux und Dallerei
1992
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Musik liegt in der Luft
1991
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Musik liegt in der Luft
1991
as Self - Singer
Schmidteinander
1990
Die schnelle Gerdi
1989
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Flitterabend
1988
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Ein Abend in Gold
1988
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Seitenblicke
1987
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4 gegen Willi
1986
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Wedden, dat..?
1986
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Melodien für Millionen
1985
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Vorsicht, Musik
1982
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Das Traumschiff
1981
as Udo Jürgens
Tag des deutschen Schlagers
1981
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Verstehen Sie Spaß?
1980
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Udo Jürgens – Aber bitte mit Sahne´77
1977
as Udo Jürgens
Auf los geht's los
1977
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Musik & Gäste
1976
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Rendezvous bei Caterina Valente
1976
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Système 2
1975
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Musik ist Trumpf
1975
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Der große Preis
1974
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Die Montagsmaler
1974
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Klimbim
1973
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8 x 1 in Noten
1973
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Acht nach 8
1973
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Don-Lurio-Show
1972
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Midi trente
1972
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A Kettle of Colour
1972
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Jenny und Jonny oder Alle Kinder dieser Welt
1971
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Baden-Badener Roulette
1971
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Dalli Dalli
1971
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Drei mal neun
1970
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Münchner Bilderbogen
1970
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Wünsch dir was
1969
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Unsere kleine Show
1969
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Peter Alexander präsentiert Spezialitäten
1969
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Françoise et Udo...
1968
as Udo
Píseň pro Rudolfa III.
1967
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Das Spukschloß im Salzkammergut
1966
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Die Caterina-Valente-Show
1966
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The Battle of the Mods
1966
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4-3-2-1 Hot and Sweet
1966
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Talentschuppen
1966
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Meine Melodie
1965
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Hör hin, schau zu!
1965
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Questo pazzo, pazzo mondo della canzone
1964
Der goldene Schuß
1964
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Vergißmeinnicht
1964
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Musikauktion
1964
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Unsere tollen Tanten in der Südsee
1964
as Pitt van Rees
Hochzeit am Neusiedler See
1963
as Udo Jürgens
Unsere tollen Nichten
1963
as Pitt van Rees
Tanze mit mir in den Morgen
1962
as Max Kainz
Drei Liebesbriefe aus Tirol
1962
as Martin Hinterkirchner
Unsere tollen Tanten
1961
as Pitt van Rees
Werner Müllers Schlagermagazin
1961
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Musik aus Studio B
1961
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Treffpunkt Telebar
1961
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… und du mein Schatz bleibst hier
1961
as Udo
Schlager von morgen?
1961
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Hotel Victoria
1961
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Stars in der Manege
1959
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Lilli, a Girl from the Big City
1958
as himself
Bambi Awards
1948
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