Herbert Grönemeyer did not tour Germany for four years. In Kiel, his return at the start of the tour caused huge applause – the concert revealed pure joy of playing.
There is a need to catch up. He hops to the rhythm of his music, stretches his arms in the air. Herbert Grönemeyer races across the stage, dances in his own way, with a big grin on his face. After years of abstinence, the musician visibly enjoys the ovations of his audience and absorbs the mood on Tuesday evening in Kiel. “We give everything,” calls the 67-year-old to the crowd. In front of 9,000 fans in the sold-out Wunderino Arena, Grönemeyer celebrated the acclaimed start of his first tour in four years.
With a musically stirring concert, the musician and his band have made a very successful start to the tour. Grönemeyer’s repertoire on the “That’s going on tour 2023” ranges from soft tones and classic pop to dance music. Only after 2 hours and 45 minutes did the audience in Kiel finally let him off the stage – Grönemeyer and the band have already given three wonderfully tempered encores.
“Wear light dance shoes”
The musician actually wanted to tour Germany’s large halls and stadiums again in 2022 for the first time after long years of pandemic. But nothing came of it. Almost a year ago, Grönemeyer had to cancel his anniversary tour “20 Years of Man” due to a corona infection. So now back to Kiel – where he already started his previous tour in 2019. “Put on light dancing shoes and be in the best of moods,” read the musician’s Facebook page a few hours before the concert began.
The fans welcome Grönemeyer with open arms. It starts with the beautiful piano ballad “Tau” about happiness and togetherness, and then immediately continues with the pop title song “Das ist los” from the new album. Grönemeyer’s 17th studio album was released at the end of March. “Herbie” and his eight companions perform many of the 13 songs. With “Herzhaft” the musician manages to make thousands of fans in the north sway. The new record is well received by the public. “I think we have chances,” says Grönemeyer.
Serious tones and hit songs
“And always new beginnings, the world is spinning in the spin cycle,” sings the musician. After years of isolation in times of pandemics, war and great uncertainty, the singer is looking for “perspectives that will take us further” in “Deine Hand”. And looks ahead: “Orbán, Le Pen, Rasputin – who is the next killer queen?” Art, like music, is “already there to take fears seriously and at the same time to formulate a perspective,” Grönemeyer explained on the release of his new album.
“Come on now!” calls Grönemeyer between his songs. And sometimes he gets political on stage for a moment. In history, every protest ultimately led to something. “Sometimes it just takes a little longer.” “The Key” is about flight and migration. In the beautiful dance number “Fearless”, Grönemeyer sings “Freedom, modern times. Above all, free from fear – strength lies in unrest”.
But the well-established hits are not missing either. “Men”, “Bochum”, “Music only when it’s loud” or “Full Moon” bring the arena to a boil. “Human” must not be missing. The mourning song “Der Weg” is still moving viewers.
Shortly before 11 p.m. the last notes of “Immerfort” sounded. “You were terrific, terrific,” said Grönemeyer. The same applies to him this evening. At the start of his new tour, the musician shows pure joy in playing. According to the organizers, several concerts on his tour are already sold out. 15 more appearances are planned until June 9th.
Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
