Jürgen Cromer On the Making Of “Heroes”
Can you tell us about the inspiration behind "Heroes" and the story it tells?
Sure! “Heroes” has always been one of my all-time favorite songs. Bowie was an outstanding genius and this song is a one-of-a-kind combination of love, hope and desire against all odds. I wanted to strip down all this wall of sound to its core and let it unfold its power in just one instrument, transporting the message purely by the piano. By reducing all these elements, the melody gets the space to breathe and grow, just the way Johnny Cash did with his American Recordings.
Have you noticed any particular interpretations or connections that listeners have made with this masterpiece?
The reactions often are pretty emotional. Some choose it as their wedding song, some listen to it after a tough day. Sometimes I see people secretly shedding a tear. To me “Heroes” always will be special. The first person I played it to was my father right after I had finished it. It was the last time I played the piano for him before he passed away. There couldn´t have been a better song.
How does "Heroes" fit into your overall artistic vision?
Music to me has to be pure, come from the heart, transport meaning and emotion, create something new, comfort, provoke or surprise its listeners. Usually, I compose my own songs this way and also when I play a cover version of one of my favorite songs, it has to be something unique. Nobody wants to listen to a cover which is just a worse copy of the great original. So whenever I play a song of my musical heroes, whatever genre they are, rock, independent, electronic, punk, classical, I want to add my own style and give the audience a new perspective to what they already know. My music always tells a story and “Heroes” is one of the greatest stories music ever has told. That´s what music should be here for.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got started in music?
I started with the piano even before I went to school on my great-grandfather´s 100-year-old instrument. Music has always played a huge role in my family. There are singers, guitarists, my grandfather played the harp. From my early childhood on, I got up and there was music. My dad had the biggest musical influence on me. Music had to be played well and loudly. With my parents there was an unspoken rule: whoever bought a new record had to play it in the living room for the family. That way there was a cool mix of old classics and new artists and I kept playing the piano and started teaching myself the guitar. And of course, there were many excellent concerts.
What’s been the most memorable performance of your career, and why?
Well, my own one or one I was lucky to see? One of the best performances I saw recently was Royal Blood. The sound these two guys create on stage is like a punch, I absolutely enjoyed it. One of the performances of my own I´ll never forget was in December a couple of years ago. There were about 700 people, it was the most enthusiastic crowd I´ve ever played to. I finished my set with an interpretation of “Silent Night” and every person in the room joined in. To me, it was an absolutely memorable night.
