Four hungry coaches, a squad of newcomers willing to learn with big dreams and an explosive firework of emotions: The start of the twelfth season of “The Voice Of Germany” does not take a long time to get started. Neither does Peter Maffay.
The dream of a great pop career and a life in the fast lane: This year, too, countless musical diamonds in the rough are jostling in front of the gates of the TV studios in Berlin-Adlershof. Their goal: to gain the attention of the illustrious jury. This time, in addition to the baseball nerd Mark Forster, who is now part of the show inventory, Silbermond frontwoman Stefanie Kloß, ex-Reamon boss Rea Garvey and German pop veteran Peter Maffay prick their ears. The latter also marks the beginning of the thickest “Here I am!” exclamation mark.
While the other coaches are already fidgeting on the show stage, the good Peter first drives up in proper style on the heavy motorcycle, only to collect an extra portion of applause from the cheering studio audience seconds later. The jubilation from the outside should quickly take a different direction. After all, the four coaches are only there to help and support the actual stars of the show on their way to the pop Olympus.
For the twelfth time, the famous four buzzer armchairs turn around – in the hope that real sound fireworks will be ignited on stage. The coaches are not disappointed either. Already the opening performance by Richard from Hamelin moves the masses to tears. “I felt the dumpling in your throat,” winks Peter Maffay. Mark Forster is also impressed: “Your presence has dignity and elegance,” ennobles the man in the black cap. Seconds later, however, colleague Stefanie Kloß throws her arms in the air. “I choose Steffi,” Richard whispers into the microphone.
It shouldn’t be the only trump card of the evening. Shortly before the end of the show, the Silbermond singer secured the future singing services of singer-songwriter cuddly bear André from Herford. He not only inspires with robust campfire qualities (“A Whiter Shade Of Pale”), but also with stirring wisdom: “What doesn’t come from the heart can’t reach hearts,” the bearded bard puts it in a nutshell.
Many other candidates also came with heart, body and soul. Everyone wants to grab one of the coveted team spots. A guarantee for lasting admiration has always been the transport of great feelings. The 31-year-old Bella from Tübingen sets the bar high in this regard. 17-year-old pop brat Sophie (“ABCDEFU”), rocking receptionist Sissi (“Just Like A Pill”), Swiss blues explosion Bruno (“Georgia On My Mind”) and the singing between the festival stage and the opera hall, Nel from Hamburg (“Chandelier”) weighed in.
But the performance bird of the debut evening was shot down by a student from Heilbronn named Julian. Even before his grandson sings the first note, the grandfather, who is cheering on the backstage area, is “proud as Bolle”. Grandfather and grandson have been making music together since Julian was a child. “We’ve sung Peter Maffay’s ‘I never wanted to be an adult’ together a hundred times,” says the grandpa.
With an impressive street music version of the Sheeran hit “Shivers”, the 22-year-old brings the whole hall to a boil – and not only that. The coaches are also blown away. When Peter Maffay was also awarded the contract for the team, there was no stopping him. On the stage, everyone joins in singing Maffay’s song, which “means so much” for grandchildren and grandfathers. Tears flow. Music connects. Once again. For almost two hours you carry the really big emotions “from heart to heart”.
After successful work, Peter Maffay accompanies his new protégé to the edge of the stage: “I’ll work my ass off for you!”, the master whispers in his student’s ear. The final is in two months. We are excited to see whether Julian and Peter will board the stage together again.
