Michelle: She has now closed this chapter

Singer Michelle (50) has been a fixture in the pop cosmos for many years. 2022 is a very special year for a musician: The 50-year-old celebrates her 30th stage anniversary. To mark the occasion, a new album will be released this Friday (May 13). For “30 years Michelle: That’s it… not yet!” she not only re-recorded 18 hits, but also added twelve new songs.

Michelle was in the studio for a duet with her daughter Marie (22), who comes from the relationship with colleague Matthias Reim (64). “We were colleagues and worked together very professionally,” said the pop singer. In an interview with the news agency spot on news, Michelle also talks about love, the Eurovision Song Contest and her aborted participation in “Let’s Dance”. In addition, the singer reveals whether she would undress again for “Playboy”.

On your new album you sing about love in all its facets. How important is love to you in your own life?

Michelle: Love is more than just a great, inexplicable feeling. It is a phenomenon that releases incredible energies, can work wonders and simply multiplies, gives strength, generates courage and feelings of happiness. “For love, all people are equal, whether rich or poor.”

On the album there is a duet with your daughter Marie. What was it like being in the studio with her? How proud are you that she, too, is taking off as a singer?

Michelle: I’m proud of all my daughters and support them with all my strength to find and go their way. Marie is a great artist and not only does she write wonderful texts, she will also go her own way as a performer – of course I see that as a proud mother. In the studio, however, we were colleagues and worked together very professionally. “Four hands, two hearts” has become a great mother-daughter song in which we are both on an equal footing.

Matthias Reim is also represented. What do you value in each other?

Michelle: Well, what does he appreciate about me, you actually have to ask him. We have a child together, which will of course bind us together for life.

Songs about homosexual love are rare in hits. Why was it important to you to take countermeasures with “Romeo and Julian”?

Michelle: Is that so? The hit is the music that I make and I also see Romeos and Julians in my audience. Apart from the fact that the title is important in terms of content, it’s also just a shambles musically. The fact that he tells the story as a matter of course is the most important component and statement in this song. I’ve often, let’s say, ignored what’s supposedly standard in Schlager. I prefer to do my thing and follow my gut feeling.

Twelve new songs can be heard on the album. Why wasn’t it enough for you to just publish a best-of for the anniversary?

Michelle: On the one hand, there are already a lot of best-of albums and on the other hand, as a singer, I’m creative and bubbly. I’m a musician and I make music. Of course, for the 30th anniversary, I want to offer my fans something modern, the way I feel about my music today, not like back then. That’s why I brought the old songs into the present together with Tim Peters and turned them into new hits, which all look great in their new guise and sound fantastic.

The album will be released just one day before this year’s Eurovision Song Contest final. You were on the ESC stage yourself in 2001. How do you remember it?

Michelle: That was an incredible time, very exciting. In fact, it was all so huge and exciting, 21 years ago now. That was something very special for me.

You are part of the German ESC jury this year. Do you have a favorite?

Michelle: I have the honor of acting as President of the German jury. That’s why I’m following the ESC very closely this year. Everything else is secret for this reason.

You’ve been on stage for 30 years. What was the biggest high for you, what was the biggest low?

Michelle: I don’t look much into the past and I don’t have a value system for highs or supposed lows. I think everything is correct and often you don’t even know what an alleged low point is good for and what value it actually has as a result. As I said, the ESC was something very special.

Looking back over the years, would you have liked to have done anything differently?

Michelle: No, absolutely not. You can hardly treat yourself more unfairly. Looking back from the future and pretending that you had the experience before and should have done something differently – that’s not fair. Nobody knows where a “better done differently back then” would have led, that applies to everyone. I’ve experienced a lot and been very lucky in my life, but I’ve also done a lot for it. I’m healthy, have great children and that’s something to be thankful for.

What have you learned about yourself over the years?

Michelle: Listening to my gut and following my feelings. Most people don’t do that enough in today’s world.

In addition to your big anniversary, you also took part in “Let’s Dance” in 2022. How was this experience for you?

Michelle: “Let’s Dance” was a great experience. It was so much fun, but also incredibly hard work. You dive into the world of professional sports as an amateur and amateur. It’s not just “dancing”, there are so many rules, laws and muscles and tendons that you didn’t even know before. Going from zero to 100 was awesome, despite personal training beforehand, it was a big challenge. The whole thing has absolutely nothing to do with the small choreos in my stage shows.

You had to cancel your participation due to health problems. Are you feeling better now?

Michelle: I’m doing absolutely great, because the worrying strains that the doctors urgently advised against do not occur in everyday life or at one of my concerts when I sing. Six days, sometimes ten hours of standard dance training, is simply an unbelievable extreme phase that challenges the body athletically and almost artistically.

Did you learn something that you can now use for your stage shows?

Michelle: Yes, I will definitely not be doing ballroom dancing! (laughs)

You turned 50 this year and appeared a second time in “Playboy”. What tips do you have for women of the same age who are not (anymore) happy with their bodies?

Michelle: I believe happiness has to come from within. Then you see yourself differently than when you are dissatisfied. Getting older doesn’t mean losing beauty and that’s part of life – it’s better to accept it and live healthy.

Is there an age or limit where you wouldn’t be willing to do a photo shoot like this?

Michelle: I’m not for borders. However, I’ve been allowed to do it twice now and I think that’s enough. I don’t feel the urge to repeat it now.

You have a busy schedule. How much time do you take for your family, do you take specific breaks?

Michelle: Family, my daughters, time for life, refueling and enjoying is very important. It’s not uncommon for me to have working days longer than 18 hours – because of all the travelling. I have a great job and appreciate everything I get to experience. But a break from it and time for private life is of course also important.