GERMANY – Who can forget the German national final this year. The national broadcaster decided to fully support Ukraine through their broadcast including a deeply emotional performance by Jamala and a winner who played his guitar featuring the Ukrainian flag. He wasn’t the favourite for the bookies but when we saw the live performances, we all knew it: MALIK HARRIS won and will represent Germany in Eurovision.
We remind you that Germany will perform directly in the Grand Final, on May 14th as the country is in the BIG5 group.
Today we got back the questions we posed to Malik and we are excited to share them with you!
What was it that motivated you at an early age to get involved with music and singing?
I grew up in a super musical family – my grandfather in the US was a successful opera singer, my grandmother in Germany a pianist and my father can play various instruments, plus my whole family has always had a great taste in music, so I grew up with amazing music playing at home all the time. Talking about Queen, Michael Jackson, James Morrison, Alicia Keys, Aretha Franklin, etc.. One day I just started singing along and realized how much fun I had experiencing my own voice and playing around with it which led me to buy my first acoustic guitar and start playing cover songs at the age of 13.
How did you inspire ROCKSTARS and what is the message you wish to convey to us?
I wrote โRockstarsโ after watching an episode of my favourite US showโ The Officeโ and hearing this quote: โI wish there was a way to know youโre in the Good Old Days – before youโve actually left them.โ That moment was so intense for me, that I immediately started crying and, after whipping away my tears, also wrote this song. Itโs about the โGood Old Daysโ of my childhood and youth, those lighthearted, mindless times when being happy was so easy and unconditional and how we all somehow leave those times behind at a certain point and get caught up in thoughts, doubts, our everyday lives and so on and so on. The realization of somehow having left those good old days was very painful but also made me realize something, which led me to the message I wish to convey: Iโm trying to remind all of us through this song that we should stop always looking for the good old days in the past, but rather try to find them in the present because they actually never really stop – we just have to change the way weโre looking for them.
An emotional and supportive of Ukraine, German final: What were your emotions singing with the heart of Ukraine on your guitar?
Itโs hard to put those emotions in words, to be honest. The whole evening was very intense for me because there were so many different feelings involved, but Iโm very happy that the show didnโt try to push the heavy topic of the situation in Ukraine aside but instead make it a very supportive evening, and has been a part of that makes me very proud because I think the very least we can all do right now is to show our support and solidarity with the people in Ukraine – which is also why I knew I had to make a statement and my guitar seemed like the best way to do that.
What were your emotions when Jamala performed on the 12POINTS stage?
Impossible to describe. I cried like a waterfall because I simply couldnโt hold those emotions back. In a way, her performance was both beautiful and tragic at the same time. It felt like a wake-up call for all of us to do something.
Germany seeks a better scoring in Eurovision after not so good results in previous years. Are you ready to bring Germany back to the first half of the scoreboard?
Yes, I am! Itโs time for a comeback!
Have you ever been to Italy? What is the first thing you wanna do when you land in Turin?
When I was younger I went to Italy with my best friend and his family but I canโt really remember anything other than the beautiful beaches. Last year I spent 2 days in Venice with my girlfriend which was beautiful and fun because it was right when Italy won the European soccer tournament and people went nuts! The first thing Iโll do in Turin is to have a glass of wine – Iโve heard great things (smiles)
Youโve been on some promo tours. What were the feedback and fan reactions you loved the most?
Oh, there were so many! I love my fans, I really do. The most beautiful reactions for me were when they told me their โside of the storyโ – how โRockstarsโ made them feel in terms of their own lives and what they consider their good old days and how the song made them change the way they think about the present. How it reminds them in countless moments to see the good things around them rather than focusing only on the bad things in front of them. Every time they tell me that I get goosebumps.
Do you see yourself as a ROCKSTAR ten years from now?
Iโd rather go with Popstar, but both would be fine with me. For sure! (smiles)
If you can choose NOW a big ROCKSTAR to perform your song with you in Turin, whom would you choose?
Definitely Freddie Mercury, no question about it. If it has to be a living Rockstar Iโd go with Tyler Joseph from Twenty Pilots or Dan Reynolds from Imagine Dragons.
ABOUT MALIK HARRIS
German-American singer and rapper Malik has been writing songs on his guitar for over a decade.
Harris comes from a very musical family; his grandfather was an opera singer, his grandmother a pianist, and his father plays several instruments and teaches cello.
The young starโs first singles, Say The Name (2018) and Welcome to the Rumble (2019), were hits on the German airplay chart and streaming platforms, which led to a solo tour in May 2019.
Malik has supported international acts including James Blunt, Alex Clare, Jeremy Loops, Tom Odell and LP.
an oikotimes original text
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