Jenny Jürgens
“My father made timeless music”
Udo and Jenny Jürgens in September 2014 at the presentation of the TV documentary “The man who is Udo Jürgens”. Three months later, the singer died of acute heart failure.
© imago/Action Pictures
The most beautiful children’s songs by Udo Jürgens can be heard on a new album. “This is our gift to his fans,” says Jenny Jürgens.
Almost nine years after the death of Udo Jürgens (1934-2014), a new album will be released on September 15th. With “The flowers bloom the same everywhere” 18 of his most beautiful children’s songs plus four bonus tracks are being reissued. The songs were written 50 years ago and were originally on the album “Jonny & Jenny – All the Children in the World”.
The texts come from the well-known author James Krüss (1926-1997), who wrote classics such as “Timm Thaler or The Sold Laughter” and “Henriette Bimmelbahn”. Udo Jürgen’s daughter Jenny (56) tells in an interview with the news agency spot on news how the new edition came about and how it feels for her to still hear her father’s voice so often.
How did the idea come about to publish your father’s most beautiful children’s songs again?
Jenny Jürgens: My brother John and I manage our father’s estate. He left behind a huge body of work. Sifting through and processing this is insane, time-consuming work. We also want to surprise people – and I think no one expected a children’s album. The children’s album is our gift to Udo’s fans. The nice thing is that Udo’s songs are still relevant even after 50 years. My father made timeless music that never goes out of style. And he actually composed it himself. There really isn’t anything like that anymore today. He was a real chansonnier.
What makes Udo Jürgens’ children’s songs so special?
Jürgens: He doesn’t just sing about banal topics, but also about war and poverty. His songs make the children feel like they are being taken seriously – and children like that. As a child, I also wanted to be taken seriously. And the songs have lost none of their relevance. Unfortunately, one almost has to say. There is still war and much suffering in the world. This has always been the case and always will be. The world is beautiful, but unfortunately people are the way they are.
Do you have a favorite song?
Jürgens: Yes, that’s the song we named the album after: “The flowers bloom the same everywhere.” The title says so much. That children all over the world play the same games and have similar dreams. I think it’s so nice that the next generation can now hear these songs again and that Udo’s voice can be passed on to them. It always surprises me how many young people know his songs.
What is it like for you to hear your father’s voice again and again?
Jürgens: It’s nice. You know, the grief and the pain changes. It will now be almost nine years since he died. Of course I miss him, but you learn to deal with the loss. Anyone who has been through something like this knows what it’s like. It’s nice to remember him and continue to experience him in his songs. And you shouldn’t forget that he was 80. His death was unforeseen, but at some point life is over and you can’t change that. This finality is a shock. Still, it’s a good thing that we have to leave at some point.
In what way?
Jürgens: I believe that this is what motivates people. If you lived forever, you would put everything off and probably just live lazily through the day, since you can do everything later. But this is how you set goals that you want to achieve. For example, I would like to travel a lot with my husband. I am very aware of finality and also a very organized person. That’s why I’ve already taken care of the will, living will and all the formalities so that my loved ones know what to do when the time comes. The only thing that worries me is that as you get older you lose more and more people and probably have to deal with a lot of farewells.
You seem to be enjoying your life even more…
Jürgens: Yes, I’m very lucky that I can only do what I want to do. That is a great freedom. I live on a farm in Mallorca with my husband and his two sons, where we always have a lot of work. I stopped acting a few years ago and now concentrate on my passion, photography. In 2009, I founded the project “Herzwerk – Active against poverty in old age” together with the DRK-Düsseldorf, where I am always involved. Well, I’m very busy and I don’t know what else I could do. Not to forget, of course, the work on Udo’s estate. Many people always think that they can quickly release a few songs. But this is a lengthy process.
Last year, the musical journey through time through his career – “Da Capo” – was released, now the children’s album. Can we now look forward to music from Udo Jürgens every year?
Jürgens: I don’t know whether it will be something every year. But in any case, we want to continue to let his voice resonate. Since, as I said, we want to surprise people, I can’t reveal what we’re planning next yet.