Link to the Video

 

**Gared plays the Eurovision melody on a melodica; Chris ‘joins’ with an otamatone**

Inka Schneider (Host): “Do you recognize the melody? ESC. Eurovision Song Contest. And here with us: The stars Lord Of The Lost. Now at DAS!”

 

**Show Theme saying “Welcome to DAS!, today with Inka Schneider**

 

(00:26)

Inka: “Good evening, nice to have you here. The countdown is on. Only 6 weeks then the time has come. ESC. Eurovision Song Contest. And he and his band will be representing us: Chris Harms, frontman of the Band Lord Of The Lost. The pop-glam-metal-band from Hamburg won the German ESC preliminary and will be going to Liverpool in the middle of May. Welcome and congratulations. Good to have you here.”

Chris: “Thank you for having me. It didn’t have it far from St. Pauli. Thank you.”

 

(00:49)

Inka: “You are from Hamburg, so we cross our fingers even more. But the great is, everyone wants to speak to you, of course, and to hear ‘Who is Lord Of The Lost? Who is Chris Harms?’ and probably everyone is asking: Are you nervous?”

Chris: “Well, it comes and goes in waves. You can’t be nervous for two months straight; you will go insane. And the good thing is, we have experience. We played hundreds of concerts and exist for almost 15 years. Of course, the ESC is a new experience, also the quantity of PR is a new experience, but it’s not that we are totally taken by surprise and now have to learn to swim in cold water*. But it’s a challenge and a lot of fun and we can sit on the red sofa, which wouldn’t have happened without the ESC.”

[*It’s a reference to the German saying of ‘being thrown in cold water’. In English you would use ‘to be thrown in at the deep end’.]

 

(01:30)

Inka: “Yes, because usually we or a lot of people don’t know and listen to your music. You belong to a specific genre. Metal, pop, glam, how would you describe it yourself?”

Chris: The good thing is, I don’t have to describe it, because all the other people do and find different comparisons and every comparison is ok, every genre they call it is ok for me. ‘Because we fluctuate between metal and rock and pop and gothic and glam, although that’s mostly mirrored in the optics. I don’t have to describe it, all the others do.”

Inka: “And we will hear it soon. The good thing is, at the moment one event comes after the other. So, only just you won the preliminary, then you just met the King.” 

**switch to the video of the meeting** 

“King Charles was here with Camilla. And you as a band have been there, too, and played in his presence. And we see here the Federal President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Behind him, Charles and Camilla, as they…”

Chris: “Tschentscher* was there, too…” [* First mayor of Hamburg]

Inka: “… Tschentscher, too, the whole crew. And here…shake hands…did he say something?”

Chris: “Yes…”

Inka: “[I mean]Charles? What did he say?”

Chris: “…They whispered him in the ear again, grossly, who we are, but he didn’t understand it completely, so I said, that we’re playing at the ESC and then he said ‘Oh yes, good luck. Where does it take place again? Liverpool?’ and then he walked further. “ 

**Switch back into the studio** 

“So, we had kind of a conversation with him, but it switched from one to the other, so two minutes we five from the band talked to him. It was very good. A very kind person. It was a very pleasant encounter.”

Inka: “Yes, but was it something special, because it was the King, or…”

 

(02:53)

Chris: “Well, I am not a person that is super excited about monarchy itself and I didn’t have sweaty hands or something. A human is a human and every encounter is fine, but of course it’s always something special to meet someone personally, even if it’s only a short shake hands, that you know your whole life from television. And especially a person who is known by everyone, that everyone has its eyes on. Where like thousands of movies are made about. That was indeed special, but I wasn’t super nervous about it.”

Inka: “Yeah, but he is really special. When he was here, because he talked in German, he made jokes with the people, was very affable, greeted a lot of people personally…”

Chris: “And he speaks German really well…”

Inka: “…yes, speaks German very well. So, it was a really special visit.”

 

(03:39; Jingle instead of a video about the “ocean race” sailing regatta)

Inka: “Lord Of The Lost. Our representants at the Eurovision Song Contest and here with us, singer and guitarist Chris Harms. Nicola Millies and Antje Althoff will make you curious.”

 

(03:49 Video)

Chris: “Moin! MOIN*!”  [*Greeting in northern Germany]

Off-Voice: “Five guys from Hamburg.”

Chris: We are Lord Of The Lost from St. Pauli.”

Off-Voice: “Who can look quite different sometimes…” – “Liverpool, ESC and they will represent us.”

Barbara Schöneberger [Host at the preliminary]: “And with this, we have a winner!”

Off-Voice: “Dark-rock at the time-honored Song Contest, that also catches frontman Chris Harms off-guard.”

Chris: “Would you pinch me again?”

Barbara: “Yeah, I’ll pinch you. Does that go through all of that lacquer?”

Off-Voice: “Since 2009 in the business, the five [guys] play all around the world, go on tour with cult bands such as Iron Maiden, filling stadiums.”

Chris: “We have songs that are brute and martial and almost without any melody and on the other hand there are heartbreaking piano ballads.” **sings ‘…the power behind the snake…’ (Song ‘Satans Fall’; Festival Of Love)** 

Off-Voice: “The music is the one, the fancy outfits the other trademark.”

Chris: “For us it would feel odd, going on stage without this transformation and only in jeans and t-shirt.”

Off-Voice: “Looks like fun and geniality. The Lord Of The Lost: Chris Harms.”

(05:24 end of the video)

 

Inka: “Yeah and it looks as if one would really like to see you live on stage. I really have to say that after I’ve seen all this.”

Chris: “I also would love to see us live on stage, but I can’t.”

Inka: “It’s too much to do right now. Shall I pinch you again or were you able to realize everything by now?”

Chris: “Try it. I didn’t realize everything by now. I’ll ask again in the next show… Well, yes, step by step it reaches me, but the thing is the penny’s dropping real slow, when you realize that we really will go to that ESC or when we were kids it was called Grand Prix. As kids all of us sat, stood and danced in front of the television when it was on and we all have been musicians already and you want to stand on this stage, you want the show, you want to make music and to perform there is of course a secret wish as a musician and a kid watching it. And that we are really going there and that it’s not only a small national contest, is still hard to realize. I think we must be there to grasp it.”

 

(06:28)

Inka: “I mean, it’s one thing to have a secret wish as a kid, but to actually make an application… You already said, you are big, you are stars within your scene, but you still said at some point ‘We make an application’. How did that happen?”

Chris: “Well, I wouldn’t call us big, but thank you. I don’t think we are big, but we aren’t small anymore. We already applied over the last few years. First out of curiosity and  curiosity becomes ambition, because when they don’t take you, you start to think ‘Damn it, why not?’ and then we realized that our songs are material, which is ESC-relevant in our eyes, that there is really a song about openness, diversity, love and about a really good message. And that we have with the new album the optics/visual appearance that fits like made for the ESC, because we are normally a bit darker. So, we tried it again and this year it somehow worked.”

 

(07:27)

Inka: “And the album was already there and it was a success in the charts and then ‘Blood & Glitter’ the song you now have chosen or the ESC, that you performed at the preliminary… Did you have a feeling while being on stage ‘Hey, today this will work out. We will catch them’?”

Chris: “I thought there might already have been enough wonders. Last year we had this mega tour with Iron Maiden, this year another one, the new album which went directly on the first place of the album charts, so I thought it’s enough with the big surprises, the big success and I was completely sure that Ikke Hüftgold will win. Partyschlager* is a big and important genre in the German music business and for me it was clear that he will win. I put that behind myself, I was totally fine. At this point, greetings to Ikke. We had a lot of fun backstage and I thought ‘Well, it has been a nice experience.’.”

[*A subgenre of the German ‘Schlager’, especially for parties, carnival, fairs, where people drink a lot of alcohol.]

Inka: “No. Way more. You got the ticket.” 

Chris: “Yeah. And then there was the public voting and my boys around me jumped around and I crumbled, I’m more of a silent person and enjoy off-stage, and that…that’s where the penny started to drop and it’s still falling.”

 

(08:36; another jingle)

Inka: “Yeah, cool and dark voice, fog, glitter, glam, everything you can imagine, even for a show at the ESC. You already said, you are usually a more silent person. Usually one would think only the tough make it to the garden/backyard*, they are real rocker, but you aren’t nothing like the cliché of a rocker. Not really.” 

[*It’s the German version of the saying ‘Only the tough get through’]

Chris: “Yeah, I’m not a garden person, so I don’t have the ambition to make it to the garden. You would have to do a lot of gardening.”

 

(09:02)

Inka: “So what kind of person are you?”

Chris: “I don’t know. I never tried to define and question that, ‘because I never saw a necessity. That might say about me, that I’m very ok and relaxed with what I am. So, I don’t have to question myself what kind of person I am. I know I’m more of a quiet person, I of course have a desire to stay in the focus, otherwise I wouldn’t be a singer on stage, but I only need the show on stage. If we’re off-stage as a band and at signing sessions, I’m quite happy in the second row. And also, as a guest at concerts, I’m not in the front, in the pit, dancing or screaming. I stay in the back, looking like this **makes kind of a resting bitch face** and that means I really like it, ‘cause I’m kind of an analyst. I watch, want to understand the song, to understand the musicians, to understand the show. Yeah, a quiet connoisseur. But that doesn't interfere with me on stage, it’s a switch that flips…”

 

(09:55)

Inka: “Probably because of the costume, too. Here we see how you do your makeup. So, it’s the transformation in this different role, isn’t it.”

Chris: ”Well, I even wouldn’t call it a different role. It’s more of an overdone version of myself and that happens with the boys, too. And it’s also the process that we need. I get this stage mood through that around one hour that we give ourselves.”

Inka: “I read somewhere that you said ‘Actually I’m a square. I like to stay at home, play with my son, I do sports, I’m vegetarian, I don’t drink, I don’t smoke’, so everything one has in mind about the cliché of a rocker, isn’t applicable to you.”

 

(10:32)

Chris: “Yeah, it’s kind of sad that there is always that stamp, as soon as you make music that is somewhat harder, you only achieve the inner circle by as much drugs as possible. It doesn’t have to be incompatible, but it still sticks to it. And that’s ok. Everyone shall live the lifestyle they want, but, well, I’m a father and have a weird hobby that became my job, now I have a weird job, but I still like being at home. I live in St. Pauli, but no bar sees me on the inside. But for that I have my boys of the band, they go partying for me.”  

 Inka: “Even more exciting, I think. And your fans, they have been more part of the metal genre, now there might be new ones from the ESC. There are thousands that make a pilgrimage to the finale every year…”

 

(11:23; Jingle instead of a video about the ESC regulars’ table and their analysis)

Inka: “Those ESC fans are already on your side.”

Chris: “They are unbelievably sweet. We have been at the ESC fan club meeting, there are different fan clubs, two weeks ago or something and it was so good and warm-hearted, unbelievable pleasant. We’re happy about that much new audience from different directions.”

Inka: “And they actually think that your chances are good. How do you gauge your own chances?”

 

(11:45)

Chris: “I am really, really careful. This self-perception/interpersonal perception… there is a huge gap between them. Of course, we totally like how we are, it would be a pity if not, if we would say ‘Well, we are only half-cool’, then we wouldn’t do that. Of course, we think it’s good, otherwise we wouldn’t be able to perform with confidence. But you simply don’t know if this element of surprise will shock the housewife next door, if that will give a good or a bad impression. And this is why I say with great conviction, that it’s important to enjoy it. Only then we are authentic, that we can have fun, then we can approach it with ease and not tensed up. Surely, it’s not irrelevant which place it will be, but we at least try to talk ourselves into it and say ‘Hey guys, let us simply be as good as we are, with our originality and authenticity’. And which place it will be…we’re not able to influence that.”

Inka: “And the good thing is, it can’t get worse than it was before and there are a lot of professionals, who are familiar with it and who know already the music of the other contestants and who say that your chances are quite good. And one of them is the oracle of the ESC. You know him and here he is:”

 

(12:59; Video message by Peter Urban, German commentator at the ESC)    

Peter Urban: “Dear Chris, Your Lordship, I’m not a permanent guest at your concerts, but I was really happy that you won the ticket to Liverpool. Because you are a new color in the palette of German ESC history, which became a bit pale over the last years. You are a loud, a strong color, a gaudy color, you are like a wind, a strong wind and that will blow you to a good ranking in Liverpool. I’m quite sure about that. Anyways, I’m looking forward to seeing you, to the time in England. And one thing is for sure: You will rock the show. See you in Liverpool. I’m looking forward to it. See you.”

(13:44; End of the video)

 

Chris: “And we are looking forward to seeing Peter. That’s affecting me. It’s super sweet.”

Inka: “Isn’t it? I mean, Peter Urban. Who, if not him, is familiar with it. I think he’s there [at the ESC] for 26 years. And this year will be his last one, so your first year at the ESC is his last one. He announced his retirement. Did you already meet in person?”

Chris: “We actually met recently in the context of another event and had a nice chat, so it was really pleasant. Unbelievable kind human and it’s always nice to…I know his voice since, I think in 1997 he presented for the first time…You see, I’m a bit familiar with it… I was 17 back then… you know, I’m old, I’m already 43…So with 17 I heard him for the first time and yes, it’s kind of an honor that we are able to make his last ESC a bit loud and colorful.”

 

(14:33)

Inka: “Right. When will you go to Liverpool?”

Chris: “We’ll be flying on May 3rd, there will be 10 days for different rehearsals, from technical rehearsals  to costume, red carpet, PR, bla bla bla bla… But we will only be back on May 1st, ‘cause in the middle of April we will be touring through South America and Mexico. The tour is booked for a long time, so we can’t cancel that easily.”

Inka: “So you’ll play a warm-up.”

Chris: “We will be playing a warm-up. In the warmth. It’s in the southern hemisphere then.”

Inka: “Well, I hope you won’t have a jetlag when you come back, but in 10 days that should be ok…”

Chris: “With 10 days we should make it.”

Inka: “…and then the adrenalin kicks in, you can see all the fans and the whole city will be in an ESC fever, in Liverpool…”

Chris: “ I can’t imagine anything of that, yet, everyone’s saying that it will be insane to be there and experience all of that, I’m totally excited. Because in 10 days you are able to feel a bit like home. I’m really excited.”

Inka: “I mean, how it feels like on a big stage, you [Chris] know that, you all [the band] know that…You’ve been on tour with the cult band Iron Maiden…”

 

(15:28; another jingle)

 Chris: “We have been asked again. That’s… I say it again and again, if Iron Maiden ask you to tour with them, it’s crazy. But if they ask again, it couldn’t have been that bad. It’s even crazier.”

Inka: “Great.”

Chris: “You have a once-in-a-lifetime-experience, two times. Somehow.”

 

(15:46)

Inka: “Yes, absolutely. What could possibly top this? Mark [20]23…”

Chris: “I don’t know, maybe the year after next year again…”

Inka: “The year of your life. Music and especially singing, you know that, makes happy. You sang and played the guitar with your mother in the past…”

Chris: “Yeah, she’s not a professional musician, but there was always a guitar at home and some Beatles’ songs and some other songs have always been played, also at bedtime there was always music.”

Inka: “So, therefore you know that and how it feels. And that singing knows no age, is proved the fun-loving and experienced choir members, Marie Laserre meets (met) here in Hamburg. You know them, too.”

 

(16:21 – 20:19; video/article about the Heaven Can Wait Choir)

 

Inka: “Super, the Heaven Can Wait Choir. By the way, they already visited us. They stood/sat here, we really have been crowded. It was such a great mood here. They all are in fact fantastic and all the stories, the one with the jaw prothesis, for example, that almost slipped out of his mouth. You know each other, too. You worked together. Where did that come from?”

Chris: “That was in the course of a documentary for the ZDF*, where they filmed the first meeting of us without knowing each other and where we made a song together and produced and released it. It’s called ‘We Were Young’, so what connects us all; we all have been young and it’s about that time when you walked as a child barefoot through grass and we all know that. And that experience with them was one of the most beautiful, most touching experiences in our career. I had almost tears in my eyes again. And they have now, end of April, an anniversary show, which we can’t attend unfortunately, ‘because we are in South America/Mexico, but they will make a racket at the St. Pauli Theatre again. I hope I’m able to see that soon.”

[*A German public television channel]

 

(21:20)

Inka: “Even if you can’t attend the concert, they are with you. At least in the feeling, in the heart, in the head and cross the fingers for the ESC, too.”

 

(21:28; Video from the documentary/’We Were Young’)

 

Inka: “What I think is absolutely beautiful, it’s never to late to do what you’re enthusiastic about, to live your passion.”

Chris: “No. That it’s expected from someone to stop being an artist because of hitting the retiring age, which doesn’t work. That maybe works when you are an insurance agent and that’s not your passion but simply your job. And then your job ends and you look forward to your free time. But when you are musician or artist, wholeheartedly, then it doesn't end, just because you are 64 or something like that. Never ever.”

Inka: “And that’s why they are thrilled and want to tell you something.”

 

(22:38; Video message by the Heaven Can Wait Choir)

“Hey, you Lords Of The Lost, what we always wanted to tell you: It’s so great that you will go to Liverpool to the ESC. And for that, the Heaven Can Wait Choir wants to congratulate you and crosses the fingers, so you’ll nail it!”

(23:03; End of the video)

 

Chris: “So cute. Thank you very, very much.” 

Inka: “Even more fans. So, more tailwind is almost not possible. What I think is interesting with you, Chris, is that you also come from a middle-class household, you said your mother has been a model in the past, you played guitar together, sang together. The father was an insurance salesperson. And when you were a child, you wanted to become a surgeon, have been interested in science…”

Chris: “Yeah, I wanted to become a doctor…”

Inka: “…wanted to become a doctor. What did the parents say when you suddenly stood in front of them with nail polish, makeup, kajal, lacquer and leather while saying ‘I’ll make metal music’?”

 

(23:35)

Chris: “Well, that was…It took a long time. I slowly started with nail polish with 14/15, I think, I’ve been a huge fan of Roxette. I still am. And of course there was her with glitter and sequins and steel blond hair and he always had a bit of nail polish, so what’s originally from the 80s and wave and it simply increased. And I think, when I was around 18, 19, 20, it was quite exhausting for my parents, because the music suddenly became really, really heavy and I think they worried about what is happening with him, but they kept those worries to themselves and supported me, came to every concert, so, really great respect. ‘Because it has been a non-lucrative art for a really, really long time. And maybe even not an art, but at least non-lucrative. Oh boy. Really…”

Inka: “Luckily there was always coffee and cake, when you came home. You still visit often your parents, who live here in Hamburg, too, to eat with them, so even while non-lucrative, it still worked and…I think it’s great that, although they might not understand everything at first hand what you are doing and what’s that for, they supported you. And by now, they are acknowledged critics. You also put their critics online…”

Chris: “Sometimes…”

Inka: “…And they have always the chance to be the first ones to watch the videos. And that’s the result.”

 

(24:50; Reaction video of Chris’ parents)

Knut: “So, now it’s time. We’re going to watch the new music video by Lord…”

Both: “…Of The Lost.”

Knut: “Ew. Somebody’s hanging there.”

Marion: “Oops.” *laughing* “Somebody’s hanging there.”

*Different reactions*

Marion: “Are you serious?”

(25:40; End of the video)

 

Inka: “So, slightly disconcerted, a little clueless, but quite complaisant, that’s how I would interpret it, wouldn’t I?”

Chris: “Yeah. Definitely. A mother’s love knows no ends. Also, not the ends of art.”

Inka: “Of course, we now want to listen to what you’re playing at the ESC, but what we get, with Gared on the keyboard, and you, Chris, is the softer version of ‘Blood & Glitter’.”

Chris: “The piano version.”

Inka: “The piano version. The acoustic piano version. So, I’m curious and I’ll lave the stage to you. Here you go!”

 

(26:06 – 29:00 Blood & Glitter, Piano Version)

 

**Applause**

 

Inka: “Chris and Gared from Lord Of The Lost!”

Chris: “Thank you!”

Inka: “With the song with which they will sing and play to the win at the ESC. My fingers are crossed. Well, and now you can catch your breath and come back to the sofa, Chris. And I’ll leave the stage to our star. Rainer Sass cooks, especially for you, something vegetarian.”

 

(29:20 – 32:56; Rainer Sass cooks cauliflower-curry) 

 

Inka: “Thank You, Rainer, perfect for me. For you, too?”

Chris: “Uhm, no. Curry and coconut unfortunately absolutely not. But in the beginning, when he was playing with garlic, I was absolutely into it.”

Inka: “You are vegetarian?”

Chris: “Almost every time, to be honest. There are moments, when I indulge in a piece of meat, when I know, where it is coming from. I think it’s called flexitarian, but 95% of the time vegetarian and if it’s possible, with pleasure also vegan.”

Inka: “What is it like on tour? Are you strict, too, or do you eat chips on the bus and…”

Chris: “Well, chips are in fact vegetarian.”

Inka: “…the chunk food.”

Chris: “No, uhm, health is important on tour. Health preservation comes from sleep and nutrition and our catering rider, so the instruction what we need, is basically vegetarian, because on tour we have absolutely no control, where it comes from and especially in other countries that aren’t reached [in terms of that topic] yet, it is sometimes difficult to implement that. But we try to do sports on tour, to stay healthy, because it is our job.”

 

(33:50)

Inka: “Yeah, I mean, one might think, musician is on a whim, but you are quite timed, aren’t you?”

Chris: “We are quite timed and, yeah, we have some free time, but that is also timed. You know from then ‘til then…and of course, at night on the tour bus, despite me, I’m totally out of it, but sometimes one’ll have one over the eight, if there’s no show on the next day. Of course, there is sometimes a party and it’s going crazy. But it’s not common. No-one is able to render a physical performance for a show while they’re out of order and always drunk. It doesn’t work.”

Inka: “As we’ve seen your mother earlier. Does she cook for all of you sometimes? ‘Cause I’ve seen a video, where you both answer questions of your fans and then you said, I think, ‘everybody’s mother’. What was it?”

Chris: “Yeah, she’s ‘mother of all of us’. Well, she always says ‘Gosh, all of you are my boys’.”

 

(34:44)

Inka: “So she already adopted the whole band…”

Chris: “Yeah, she’s adopted all of them. So, at my parent’s house we didn’t eat all together, yet, but when we are shooting music videos in Hamburg and the film studios are in Hamburg, which she actually still knows from her time as a model in the 60s and 70s, then she possibly comes and brings some potato salad with her and cooks for us and takes over the catering. And that with pleasure.”

Inka: “And will she go, she and your father, to Liverpool with you?”

Chris: “No. In fact they won’t. And in fact, I’m quite thankful for that. I’m happy whenever they are with me, but I also have the urge to take care of. It’s important for me to be there for them. And at a normal concert, that’s totally fine. But that Liverpool-situation is such an exceptional situation for me…”

Inka: “You need to keep your head clear.”

Chris: “Exactly. But I know that I don’t need to take care of and I even wouldn’t need to take care of, but I would love to do it. So, my parents will watch it laid-back in front of the TV and the rest of the family inter alia my son will actually come to Liverpool.”

 

(35:38)

Inka: “Will watch at home, laid-back in front of the TV. In fact, Liverpool, May 13, 9 p.m.[CEST], live. And I think, half a billion will watch it worldwide. I mean, did you already print some more signing cards, because afterwards it will go crazy.”

Chris: “Yeah, we already have signed 17 cards and we will do some more.”

Inka: “Well, I expect it to be totally different afterwards.”

Chris: “It’s already totally crazy. We have signing cards at our shop for 1€, which will be donated, ‘because we don’t want to make money with them and every week we need to sign 1k/2k  new ones, that’s how it is…it’s crazy. Everything that happens atm is totally crazy.”

 

(36:14)

Inka: “While you’ve been on tour with Iron Maiden, you have, I think it’s what one can see on your fingers…”

Chris: “Yes and no. This one [He means the roman numbers] was my first ever concert. Roxette, of course. This one is ‘give’ and ‘take’ and this is Lord Of The Lost [I think, he refers to the cross on each hand]. And here I have…There is ‘The Number Of The Beast’ from Iron Maiden, which has been my first album of Iron Maiden. There it is sung ‘666…’”

Both: “’The Number Of The Beast’…”

Chris: “ And I got it during the Maiden tour or after it. As a small reminiscence.”

 

(36:41)

Inka: “And where’s the spot for the ESC picture and what will it be?”

Chris: “I don’t know yet, but let’s say if we don’t be last place, but at least a place with which one can be content…maybe the number, our starting number, which we don’t know yet. We’ll see. I’ll maybe get a tattoo of the number somewhere.”

Inka: “So, there’s still some space left.”

Chris: “Yes, a bit. On the legs, on the back. On the back I’ll get a Disney princess, but that will be next year.”

Inka: “Your wife is a tattoo artist, isn’t she?”

Chris: “She’s a tattoo artist, yes.”

Inka: “Does she do all the tattoos?”

Chris: “Uhm, meanwhile yes, but I have been already tattooed when I first meet her.”

Inka: “So you didn’t meet for the first time while tattooing, you already knew each other.”

Chris: “No. I have been quite colorful already…”

Inka: “Here we can see her.”

Chris: “But meanwhile she’s even more colorful…”

Inka: “Really?”

Chris: “She has twice as much tattoos.”

 

(37:20)

Inka: “And if your son, he’s eleven, also says he wants tattoos? Would it be ok?”

Chris: “Well, who are we to say ‘No, you aren’t allowed to’. It’s important to be full grown and that’s mostly at 18. Sometimes later, sometimes earlier, so that’s the logical limit. And if he says ‘I want a tattoo here on the forehead’, I would say ‘Come on, wouldn’t you rather start on the shoulder or something like that and re-think about it?’, but you can’t prohibit something like that.”

Inka: “He’s certainly mega proud of his dad, isn’t he? I mean, he was certainly before, but now, ESC, he will be talked to at school, won’t he?”

Chris: “Yeah, of course. And he is super proud. And I have to be honest, when we won the preliminary, first thing I did was to leave the stage and called my son, he was still awake. And he was on the phone in tears and said: ‘Dad, I’m so proud of you’. I start crying again. And tears flooded my eyes, ’cause normally it is something you say as a dad to your kid. And he even wasn’t able to talk in tears, because he was so proud.”

Inka: “Naw, Chris, we are also proud of you…”

Chris: “I already start crying again.” 

Inka: “…the boys from Hamburg. Good to have you here, you have been here. Have a lot of joy and of course we wish you a great place, in best case the win, but nevertheless even without you can come home. Thank you very, very much. And tomorrow there will be our little Lord, Hinnerk Baumgarten, and he will talk with news spokesperson, Constantin Schreiber, about the luck. Would be nice if you join in. We wish you a lucky and good evening and have fun with your regional news.”

Chris: “Ciao, ciao.”

Inka: “Thank you.”

 

Translation: Elizabeth Czermack

Proofreading: Margit Güttersberger