Europa : DIALOG mit Conchita Wurst
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- Опубликовано: 29 сен 2024
- ENGLISH SUBTITLES WILL FOLLOW SOON!
Benedikt Weingartner im Gespräch mit Conchita Wurst.
Aufzeichnung vom 15. Dezember 2015 im Rahmen der Gesprächsreihe „Europa: DIALOG“ (www.EuropaDIALO...) im Haus der Europäischen Union.
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„Ich glaube daran, dass die Grundidee Europas, nämlich das Konzept der Zusammengehörigkeit funktionieren kann! Deshalb werde ich nicht müde zu sagen, dass ich ein Fan von Europa bin“, bekennt Conchita Wurst im Gespräch mit Benedikt Weingartner.
„Werte sind für mich ein wichtiger Leitfaden und wurden mir von meinen Eltern vermittelt.“ Conchita orientiert sich an zwei entscheidenden Regeln, die alles beinhalten und Tom von seiner Mutter mit auf den Weg bekommen hat: „Sei respektvoll und tue niemanden weh!“ Gerade weil die Realität immer noch anders aussieht, sei es wichtig, dass die europäischen Werte im EU-Vertrag festgehalten sind.
Mit der gewonnenen Popularität versuche Conchita stets bescheiden umzugehen. Ein Idol oder Vorbild könne und will sie nicht sein. Sie sei Künstlerin und nur sich selbst verantwortlich. Jedes missionarische oder politische Engagement lehne Conchita mit der Überzeugung ab, dass „es in jedem Menschen das Potential gibt, das zu sehen, was für unsere Gesellschaft und für einen selbst das Beste ist“.
Im Hinblick auf die Flüchtlingskrise stellte Conchita fest: „Meine Definition von Integration ist der Wille beider Seiten, voneinander zu lernen!“
Informationen zur Gesprächsreihe und weitere Videoaufzeichnungen:
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Thanks a lot for this great discussion series! #EU #EuropaDialog #EuropeDialog #MusicInEurope
#BenediktWeingartner, it was the purest delight, listening to your charming, interesting interviews with beautiful, smart Conchita.
Ein ganz tolles Interview! Danke!
Ich bin fassungslos, wie ähnlich unser Gedankenflüss doch ist. Ich mag dich als Persönlichkeit .
Danke dir, einfach Danke.
I had had the pleasure to join this extraordinary interview in 2015. Since there are still no English subtitles, I made this translation:
Benedikt Weingartner: A warm welcome to Europe in dialog. Today's guest is someone who doesn't need to be introduced, I'm very pleased that Conchita Wurst is here. A boisterous greeting at the House of the European Union. Conchita, more than a year ago you appeared in front of the European Parliament receiving a similar applause, you sang and gave a press conference inside the European Parliament. Has Conchita ceased to be Austrian, but is now European?
Conchita Wurst: Indeed this concept of Europe became relevant in my life only after my victory at the Eurovision. I always considered myself to be a person who is interested in politics but not to an extent as these days, because I get invited to official events and important places in this world and I'm allowed to get to know important persons like Ban Ki-moon and it's overwhelming and incredibly nice that these people are interested in my opinion. Regarding the vibe of Europe, when I won the Song Contest I started travelling a lot, which is a privilege I like to do and this is only a very small aspect why I'm such a fan of Europe. We are lucky to be able to travel to Madrid as a matter of course and even when I forget my passport, it is still possible. And this is so beautiful, the concept of Europe, the common bond that dominated and hopefully still dominates this idea is a very nice one and that's why I never get tired of saying that I'm a fan.
BW: You have certain values that are important in your life. There is a recurring discussion about values, especially in this current situation with refugees etc., do European values even exist in your opinion?
CW: The European values actually do exist in written form, which is very laudable and well reasoned, but it's also a fact that sadly reality of human rights is a different matter. I'm lucky my parents imparted the in my opinion most important values to me and include everything you can read in an embellished form, because my mother is great.
BW: Can you explain what you understand by values?
CW: For me they are a directory, if you are uncertain if you have done anything wrong - following situation: My mother kept telling me, there are two rules, if you stick to them, nothing can go wrong. Be respectful and don't hurt anybody. This is what I live by and sometimes when I come into a situation where I get confronted with negativity, where I'm sometimes not sure if they are right, then I go into this checklist in my head and if everything is in order, then I know I haven't done anything wrong. In moments of uncertainty values are an aide for me to concentrate and focus. It happened again, I'm sorry, I'm not doing this on purpose (Conchita refers to the fact that the button of her top tends to burst open). That's why it's important to address these values again and again, even if they don't inspire me personally, it may be the case for other people and helps them to concentrate and focus on important matters.
BW: You told us beforehand what Europe means to you, a once estranged continent, that is now a diverse and beautiful place through peaceful cultural, scientifical and economical collaboration. You made this statement some months ago, is it still valid for the current situation?
CW: One can see that I had a moment to write this down properly. I still believe this, many years ago I decided to put my focus on positivity when I have a choice. Therefore I have to believe that this idea of Europe can still work and in many respect is does, in others not. Once again, positivity is the only thing that pushes me to say that everything will end well. It's not easy at the moment to dismiss all negative things, I'm a very emotional person and this situation affects me deeply, but I believe that people who are respectful and have love in their hearts will always be the majority. I have to believe this, otherwise I'd go crazy.
BW: An acquaintance of mine said the most thrilling part of the Song Contest, politically spoken, is the voting. Actually one could omit the singing because the competition between countries is very telling. You personally experienced it in the lounge when the points were announced.
CW: Without wanting to open the drawer of cliches, the audience at the Song Contest is still very specific, even if there a meanwhile more than 100 million people who watch this event, you cannot allocate this to the majority of the society. Still it was a very nice statement and this political situation to announce the voting is always at the forefront. Sitting in front of the tv, you know that Belarus will favour Russia and the other way round, but it was different with my victory and I was very pleased about that. Everyone who knows me, knows I'm not one to boast about all the things I have achieved, I'm very humble I'm allowed to live this life, but what I represented, what I sang seems to have touched people and knocked some out their stride and they thought, hmm I liked this better than what I'm actually supposed to vote for and that's extremely nice.
BW: We cannot get past the topic Song Contest, it changed your life in an instant. What changed apart from the success, did you experience any personal change?
CW: My life changed in all respects, as already mentioned I got to know many places and I never expected ever going to Australia as a Central European. A substantial change that is very important to me is that I got attention as an artist. I have already been in the show business for several years, I have an anniversary, I wasn't aware I have been on stage for 10 years already, it just happened and I learned a lot during this time, I had visions and ideas back then what I could do, but often the reply from people in charge was: Who is going to pay for it? That's all very well, but you neither have a hit, nor that, we don't have the budget to finance this video. And that changed, my dreams and visions all of a sudden are relevant. I got this gift to go through the world with open eyes, otherwise I'd have no material for my songs, photo shootings or videos, nothing. This victory brought me into a situation that I have to be attentive, I have to be a sponge, I have to be inspired by everything and this is such an incredibly nice feeling because it makes you grow and my aim is to become the best version of myself. You can only achieve this by listening, being alert and ready to learn. That was a huge gift I got though this victory.
BW: But the Song Contest also changed acceptance. Do you have more friends now?
CW: I think there were some people who would have liked to become my friends, but my circle of friends is exactly the same as before. What concerns this I'm not very socially competent, it is difficult for me to deal with strange people, which is a contradiction, I love to be on stage and I love to meet my friends and have conversations, but that's the reason why there is Conchita and Tom and Tom doesn't like to talk as much as me.
BW: We can check it out and invite Tom.
CW: He wouldn't come.
BW: He wouldn't come? We will still talk about Conchita and Tom, but for now I want to talk about the benefit of success, one wasn't able to recognise Austria after the victory, before there was sceptism and excitement, how can this be, who will represent us at the Song Contest and afterwards all the sceptics were huge fans, at least the majority. It became a hype up to political circles, do you sometimes think they misuse you for their purpose?
CW: No, this word instrumentalization is often mentioned and it happened during those 2 years, but they instrumentalized me and I them a bit. That's why it's totally ok and it's rather posh to be instrumentalized by the European Parliament.
BW: I didn't even mean that.
CW: And I'm very thankful for it, because it shows they see a relevance in what I say and do. And that was a new experience for me, before the victory nobody thought I could say anything of importance. I'm not sure this is the case now.
BW: Many say Conchita is an icon, but an intelligent one, very prudent, I had been told beforehand it will be a joy to talk to Conchita, she's an intelligent human being. I've already made this experience, we already had two interviews today. How do you feel about being made into an icon, you speak up for tolerance and acceptance, how do you feel about being a figurehead?
CW: I don't really have the possibilty to say, please refrain from it, I don't see myself as a figurehead or role model or symbol for anything, I only represent myself and my opinion. These titles are very flattering but nothing I can identify with, I make a lot mistakes and say things that many don't agree with and I don't know it all. Thank you for mentioning intelligence, it is very flattering. I think I have something one can call intelligence of the heart and I don't think it's the same as being literate, because I'm not, I don't like to read.
BW: How did you develop your emotional intelligence? I read your book and stumbled over the chapter coming out, which was certainly a significant moment in your biography and I can imagine that the way of finding your gender role and identity was not easy.
CW: Of course it wasn't easy but I think this is generally known under the term growing up, which we all experience and when you are a teenager and in puberty, everything is troublesome and you are not understood and don't understand anything yourself, but that's part of it, one has to test limits, one has to make mistakes, otherwise you don't grow and I believe I got my emotional intelligence from my parents, who taught me the essential things right from the beginning, you don't tear the other's hairs at kindergarden, because it hurts and you have to be polite, because otherwise you won't get pancakes. My parents always encouraged me to be polite, listen and be a good human being and make coexistance as easy and nice as possible.
BW: To deal with one's own freedom and respect others or accept them. But had it really always been that easy that you had been accepted?
CW: No, it wasn't easy, during my school days I was often discriminated because of my sexuality in several respects. But that's only my story and I'm not complaining, other kids are getting teased because they wear glasses or have red hair, I think everyone has to struggle with their own problems during these years. Mine was my sexuality and I think it hurt because I was insecure. I was raised in a very conservative way and when you learn that the society doesn't think homosexuals are great, your first thought is, my god, I'm doing something wrong. And then one gets insecure and through this insecurity it hurt when people put their finger exactly there, because I didn't know if it was okay or not, I didn't know if I deserved these abusive words. But with my little checklist, be respectful, don't hurt anybody, I became aware that the society was making a mistake, not I. And from that moment on I could listen to it and say, so what, do you want a kiss? And that changed me totally and opened so many perspectives in so many areas that I always scrutinised.
BW: The victory and success of Conchita visibly triggered a moral considering about tolerance, at least that was the impression. Is that really the case do you think Austria became more tolerant because of Conchita?
CW: No, after my victory I shook many hands that really had to pull themselves together to congratulate me, but that's not bad. I also take this pretended acceptance they attached to themselves, even if they act it only in public, they are respectful in that moment and take a step into the right direction. And I'm not naive, only because I won the Song Contest, to say: What shall I do next? Thats bollocks, but of course many things have changed and during this Song Contest time when I joined, not this year, you couldn't get past me. When you switched on the televsion or opened the papers, all of the time you had my (indicates face)....
BW: Did you watch television yourself at that time?
CW: I didn't have time for it. But I think many thought, I have to listen to it for the 16th time now, maybe I should pay attention and then thought, oh, it's not that stupid what she is saying. That's what I mean, if one is curious and listens, one can only win. And even if you find out that you don't think Mrs Wurst is terrific, you know what you don't like. And that's why I think many people changed their mind and were pleased I won.
BW: You travel a lot, red carpet in Los Angeles, Israel, Australia, the whole world, how do you experience it and on the other hand how do they experience Conchita who represents Austria?
CW: You are putting something in my mouth again, I don't represent Austria, but in this situation we are still in, where people flee from their homes and receive much help from us, everywhere around the world I was congratulated on what a great country Austria is. Everything is being observed and it makes me very proud. When I get invited somewhere, I assume they want me there, that's why it's very subjective. When I travel I don't see much except my hotel room, radio and tv-stations, therefore I can't even tell how a real confrontation would be like. I notice that the sound technicians and all other responsible people at the studio have their opinion and I noticed that the attitude of some of them was different from the time they first saw me until I finished. Suddenly they greeted me, wished me all the best and they'd be pleased if I came again. The first encounter had been a little bit more aloof to put it like that. That's why it's difficult to reply, but I notice the more I get into the East, people around me act differently than if I came to Spain. I had a 24 hours guard in the Ukraine, at the beginning I found it amusing and then I found it very scary, I never had a 24 hour watch in my life. You notice that the organisers are afraid, I polarise, I have an opinion that many don't like, that's why they are worried. That's a pity and these are my negative experiences and I notice I'm in a country where this can be a real problem. And this is frightening to experience this in 2015.
BW: Especaily in Belarus and Russia there had been a discussion and countermovement against Conchita.
CW: That's amusing, because these people spend so much time to rant and demonstrate against me and talk about me, really prestigious Russian politicians join a tv-show, where I am the main topic and talk for three quarters of an hour that I'm responsible for the flood and the downfall of Europe and when I hear that I think, wow thank you. But for the simple reason, I don't understand it, if there is something I don't like, I don't waste even a second, and they fill whole evening programmes. Sometimes I feel the need to thank them.
BW: That's their contribution to the marketing concept.
CW: I agree, these are proposals for solution or creative concepts.
BW: Let's get back to tolerance and acceptance, where there are discussions all over Europe about the refugee situation if we can manage it or not, our European values are in danger or we might lose them. How do you experience this discussion and situation personally?
CW: One of the main topics is integration. Sometimes if I listen to people or politicians on tv who insist on integration but according to their description it sums up to they have to adjust. And my definition of integration is the readiness of both parts to learn from each other. It can't be the proper way to force our culture on those people who flee from their homes and have their own culture inside their hearts. That cannot work. On the other hand I'm convinced that if I came into another country - one cannot compare this as I'm not fleeing from Austria, I'm inspired by cultural aspects - but I think both sides should be interested in learning from each other and apart from all the tragedy we can only gain.
BW: Is there a readiness to learn? You were raised in a small village, there are different talks in an inn than inside the city hall. Do you think the Austrians have a potential to change in their discussion?
CW: Every individial has the possibility to change if they want to. I can and will not missionize anyone, on the other hand nobody can missionize me. I'm conviced everbody can see what is best for an individual and the society and there are many problems I can't understand, because I'm not in this situation, I don't have children and mothers may think my kids go to school there and there is this refugee camp nearby, I think what nonsense, what could happen? But if I empathize with this mother, I can understand this aspect, but I think such things are a result of people being biased. And I'm convinced the colour of the skin, sexual orientation, religion don't form a character. One can be the most beautiful woman in the world, but still a beast. It's got nothing to do with it. And this current situation with these terrible terror attacks around the globe, it's not religion, it's fanatism and fanatism is extremely dangerous. That's what I believe.
BW: Fanatism that wants to scare and shake Europe and the world. Does the terror scare you as a public person? You polarise, did you discuss to take security measures with your team, because you could be in danger?
CW: No, not in that respect. I love Paris and have a very close relationship to that city and was allowed to sing and dance on one of the greatest stages there for one week. And when it happened I also thought I was in a public frame and you don't think about yourself being in that situation, but someone I know could have died easily. And then it's suddenly so close that one considers, what does it mean to be a celebrity and have an opinion and then I pause and say I won't allow this to happen, I will not do what I love so much and be scared. Even if it's difficult I'm a person who concentrates on the positive things and I repeat myself but deep in my heart I believe that people with love and respect in their hearts will always be the majority and I'll never get tired of saying this. I have to believe this because otherwise I would be sitting here frightened and wonder if anything bad could happen and I will not allow this, because it would mean that they have won.
BW: Jean Paul Gaultier wrote the foreword to your book and he said: Madonna is a macho in a woman's body, you are a Wonder Woman in a man's body.
CW: I have no idea what he wanted to say with that.
BW: Before that he also said something what we already talked about: This was a victory for the values I believe in and for which I fought throughout my career: tolerance and humanity.
CW: It's incredibly nice he sees it this way.
BW: I come back to it, you deny to be a role model, but you are one after all. Can you deprive from it?
CW: Of course, I say it all the time. It also leads to be reprimanded for not having fulfilled expectations. And I'm not having this, because I'm an independant human with opinions that are not liked by everyone. But I take the right to say and do what I want. And I make my life as fabulous as possible, if I follow these two rules and when I do that I'm safe. And therefore I refuse to justify myself for what I'm thinking, as long as it's not rubbish.
BW: Conchita is a stage persona created by Tom Neuwirth and not some marketing enterprise that benefits from it.
CW: Absolutely, it was my idea and didn't happen on the spot. It was not a procedure over many years, but took some weeks until I knew how I wanted to appear on stage. I'm honest, the beard was at first place owed to my laziness, because I look like an eleven year old when shaven. And that's not nice, therefore I decided to be a beared lady, but noticed very soon that this beard means a lot more to others than just my laziness. I immediately started a dialogue with everyone who didn't understand why I didn't shave like all other drag queens and I said you don't understand that this is my own truth. And I'm sorry if there is no drawer for you to understand, that's the way I feel beautiful and I want to look that way and if you aren't allowed to create an illiusion in show business, where otherwise? Even my surname that wasn't such a bright idea, as the pronounciation in English isn't really nice, just expresses it doesn't matter how you look. I can paint myself so beautifully, that everyone thinks oh my god, but then I turn out to be a bitch and that was it. Your looks, your religious confession don't form a character, therefore it only matters to me how I look, but it's completely unimportant for a society.
BW: When people talk about Conchita, there are many who say she, but others say he or both, are people confused?
CW: Absolutely. But that's also funny when they fidget around and don't know what to say and then I rescue them and tell them to just call me Conchita. I created a bearded diva who is a woman in my head, therefore I prefer to be addressed as Conchita when I'm her and I see it as a sign of respect to be addressed with female pronouns. Even if that is clarified, there always comes the question which rest room I use.
BW: Which one is it? I have seen you, if anyone is interested.
CW: For me it's clear to go to the ladies' room. I'm sorry for all the men here, but it's so much fun there. I often spent the major time of the evening there, because I had so much fun. It's an experience many of you will never have.
BW: It would be a suggestion. You often made it clear that Tom Neuwirth doesn't feel like a woman, but it's a stage persona.
CW: I'm just letting out fume. We are all ridiculous and reputable at the same time. A lawyer has a private life as well and may like to play canasta.
BW: A secret life.
CW: I didn't want to get as far as that. I have so many layers and facets in my character and my stage character had to be a woman, that's it. I love to be a man in my private life, although man - I'm thinking in drawers, I'm too short - I'll stay juvenile forever, a boy. And here the blouse bursts.
BW: Women are often very envious because of your waist and figure, but Conchita changed her appearance, why?
CW: For many people Conchita exists since two years. In reality she exists much longer and as already said I always work on the best version of myself and Conchita and I tried many things and found out they fitted or not, I don't have breasts anymore or robes and I'm getting to the version of Conchita I consider the most beautiful at the moment. And I think development and being creative are just great.
BW: Conchita is a singer. You released your first album after the Song Contest. When I look at the titles You Are Unstoppable or Heroes, is there any concsious message? Many singers say they want to deliver a message.
CW: Of course I want to transport a message, but I don't believe in it very much. But my music has to come from my heart. I have to sing what I feel and tell myself that I'm unstoppable because sometimes there are situations where you have doubts and don't know if it was a good decision or not. Therefore this piece of music is very egoistic, because I wanted to entertain myself in first place. Because I knew if it doesn't touch me, how can it touch you? It would be a technical procedure and I'd sing all the notes right and everyone would go home and say: It was nice, yes. But the voices that touch us and give us goosebumps and bring tears to our eyes live what they sing.
BW: Authenticy.
CW: A difficult word, I always get muddled.
BW: I shortly considered using it. But it went well. To generalise it, music and culture, when one says Europe is a peace and economical project, there is also a movement that says it's a music project. Do you think music can inspire people to the bottom of their heart and change the world, even if you deny it for yourself?
CW: My opinion is that music is essential, without music many things wouldn't be as forceful as they are. Whether it is positve or negative, but sound in itself has an impact on people and a potential to change things. By the way I hadn't known that sound consisted of 80 % silence, I learned that. Because of the vibration. Educational mandate fulfilled.
BW: Going back to the European cultural identity - the slogan of the European Unity is unity in diversity - did you personally experience this when travelling through Europe? And does it unite or separate, as one can see in the current discussion?
CW: It depends on how you regard new experiences. If you encounter a new culture with interest it can only bring you forward. And can only unite people, because they talk to one another, they get closer. And if you refuse anything unknown, you remain where you are, alone. One can imagine that I don't like to be alone, although I can do that too. When I travel I try to remember at least one or two words, I have a brain like a gold fish, so this is really a task for me, and try to eat a traditional dish, which is not always the best decision, but it is something new to try and as I already said, when you know what you don't want, it's great too. Therefore I love to talk to the natives and ask silly questions, like have Romeo and Juliet really been there, it's fun to do this shallow nonsense tourists stuff.
BW: Where are your favourite places in Europe, except Paris?
CW: When say this I'm always rewarded with laughter, but not for this reason, I love Amsterdam.
BW: This was not a laugh, but agreement.
CW: That's true, I haven't experienced that before. I love Amsterdam for a very simple reason, around the globe there is the Christopher Street Day, there are Rainbow and Pride Parades. And I had been to many of them and one of the first I was invited to was in Amsterdam. Of course I had known our Rainbow Parade before, where the scene is celebrating itself and it is fun and quite ok, but in Amsterdam - I arrived and had some hours to spend, so I turned on the televsion and thought, you don't understand anything, but the pictures may be nice and I switch on the television and all advertisements and trailers were with rainbow flags, everything was about the Pride events during those two weeks and the whole city was looking forward to the parade. And I was sitting there and my chin dropped to the floor. I have never seen an advertisement on the ORF for the Rainbow Parade.
BW: If the ORF got the idea to make an advertisement, would Conchita be the testimonial?
CW: That would be a business negotiation and we won't go any further into that. But it would be really nice if it would be natural to celebrate this festival in our society and country. To go back to Amsterdam, I was there and was so impressed. The streets were full of people, grandparents with little kids painted in rainbow colours jubilating and marveling about the beautifully decorated boats in the grachts and just having a fabulous afternoon. And that was so incredibly nice to see that this society just celebrated a part of the population. And three weeks later it's the turn of the footballers, then everyone is happy again and then it's Konigsdag when everyone is happy anyway. But this is so great, the LGBT community is an important part of their society. They show it and it's so incredibly nice.
BW: Do you think this will be the case in Austria too, in 20, 30 or 40 years?
CW: I was thinking about next week.
BW: We need a concept, what do we have to change to make it happen next week?
CW: On the one hand It's really nice that we have all these events and groups of people, no matter what sexual orientation or a much more mundane example, sports are relevant and taken seriously the way they are. I repeat myself, I'm sorry, it's respect towards a community I don't belong to in first place, but I want to support. And when there is a championship I think football is ok too.
BW: Is Conchita a football fan? You haven't convinced me yet.
CW: It's like this, I don't like to be excluded from a movement. When all my friends talk about the match yesterday and I haven't seen it..... I'm a complete football fan and say this went into the right direction, or didn't it?
BW: Good, Conchita wants to join everything, it's your own fault that I ask you the next question. Is Conchita a feminist?
CW: I am for equal rights in all respects and of course the gay community is close to my heart, but at the end of the day I don't want to reduce myself to it. An example: There was much ado about these traffic light-men when they were installed or are going to be removed again in Linz. I honestly have to say it had been nice to have them as support during the Song Contest and the many guests we had, but on the other hand I think it's one-sided if only we get specific traffic light-men. We cannot make traffic lights for all orientations or convictions, so just install neutral traffic-light men again and when there's the soccer championship we could have footballs, why not? It would be nice if they were creative and it answers the question about being a feminist. Of course I fight for my rights as a homosexual man, but I can't accept that women don't get the same salary as men in the same position. That's completely absurd, so am I.....? I have an opinon to everything, if that's valid.
BW: We can ask the audience afterwards. Gay community is a concern of yours because you are personally involved. A very common reproach to the gay community is that if you wouldn't make so much noise, it would be socially accepted already by a long time. It's not my opinion.
CW: Sorry, but there is a reason why one is loud. What should happen doesn't happen. Many people don't understand, we want the same rights and obligations a marriage is involved with. We don't want to pick the advantages and say let's marry and then so. And nothing further would happen. If homosexuals would be allowed to marry, nothing would happen. We would neither revolutionise the concept of marriage, nor would there be any disadvantage for heterosexual couples.
BW: Austria is a country of churches and many of them would collapse.
CW: They don't have to collapse. One can repurpose them. It would be a pity about the nice architecture.
BW: There is still a lot of persuading to do. You are a very close friend to Gery Keszler and the Life Ball is an important event in Vienna to inform about Aids and immune defciency. What more has to happen?
CW: It was always a concern of mine because I have friends in my closer circle that are involved and we openly talk about it and I have the pivilege to reach a lot of people. And if I can contribute that stigmatisation ends. I will do anything that is possible. Nowadays when you are hiv-positive, you are not doomed anymore, fortunately. I'm convinced that Gery will find an opportunity to challenge himself at Dancing Stars, having fun with a new project and expand his horizon, but he also shows how healthy and fit he is. This stigmata that all of these people are sick and weak and one can be infected by only hugging them is rubbish. If knowledge is linked with respect, if you know about something you can deal with it and if I only parrot someting, nothing good can arise from it. With Gery Keszler's participation an audience will be addressed that usually doesn't watch the Life Ball
BW: We involve our audience and we have received many questions. Conchita, how do you explain the fact that 90 % of your fans are female, often older and well educated?
CW: I have no idea. There are those Facebook statistcs and I'm talking as if I was 70 but I have no idea about this stuff. And these statistics say that the biggest group of my fanbase is between 14 and 21 and female, so I have nothing to oppose to that.
BW: Statistics are there to be opposed
CW: Absolutely and I'm happy about every fan. And there are many of my fans here today who have supported me in such an incredible way for a long time. Therefore I don't care if they are men or women, young or old.
BW: Did it ever happen that fans imitated you wearing a similar outfit?
CW: Not only fans. I dont want to over emphasize Paris but a club owner came to me and said none of my girls wants to shave anymore, they want to sport a beard and one doesn't need to do this and..... but I have o say I'm not the first bearded lady, only they are not so well known in the main stream.
BW: Are you religous or do you have any connection to Buddhishm?
CW: I think I am a spirtual person and there are energies we can't explain and I'm fascinated by that and it soothes you if you don't find your way forward. On the other hand I strongly believe in the power of the people surrounding me, the things they give to me and what I make out of them. I pay attention into all directions.
BW: As far as I know Tom even was an altar boy.
CW: Of course, in the countryside, give me a white dress and I'm there.
BW: How do I have to interpret that, apart from the wedding in white?
CW: You know what altar boys wear.
BW: How do you feel about the church today?
CW: I seceded from church but my Mum is very religious and she says, I know it doesn't mean anything to you, but I pray for you every day. That's really nice, to you it means something and helps you. It sounds silly when I say I don't have any objection against the bible - who am I to say that - but the concept of the Catholic church often leaves a nasty taste in my mouth and that's why I seceded from it. But as I have already often said I respect all religious convictions because people are religious for a good reason, because they benefit from it. Gosh, I haven't said anything about Buddhism. I haven't dealt with it consciously but I once saw an interview with the Dalai Lama and I thought wow, that's rather awesome what he has to say. He explained that he after 5 pm he doesn't - hang on - as head of this religion he doesn't eat anything after 5 pm for religious reasons, not because he is on a diet. As a Buddhist he's not eating after 5 pm, now I have said it for the 15th time for everyone to understand and then he said, you know what, when I get hungry after 5 pm I think Buddha is more interested that my body is fine and he doesn't care if I eat this cookie now. How great! This relaxed, pragmatic and realistic attitude, when I'm hungry, I'm hungry. If I'm supposed to do it doesn't matter. That took my fancy.
BW: What is good for me can't be bad. That would be a strange concept.
CW: But I believe many people can also benefit from penance.
BW: We are not discussing diets now. But the next question fits into the topic Buddhism and medidation, where do you retreat to you recharge your batteries?
CW: When I remove my wig and make-up I'm a different person. For example I would never speak dialect, except in the dressing room when I'm like this, because it feels unnatural. When I'm backstage and surrounded by people who know me inside out as Tom and Conchita, it gets mixed. Otherwise it feels unnatural for me to be on stage and speak dialect when I wear the wig. And what concerns recharging my batteries, when one is a drag performer and I'm not complaining, it's a decision and therefore the penance, then you except certain pain during the performance or appointments. It depends on the outfit, condition and then you want to maintain this illusion of a female as far as possible, so that certain parts are not visible and all men know that this is not very comfortable when you - whatever. And when everything is finished and I slip into my jogging suit I'm so relaxed that this is the moment I reset.
BW: Do you have certain rituals, do you listen to music or take a walk?
CW: I listen to music all the time. I don't have any rituals to relax, I do my vocal exercises every day, because I'm convinced one has to work very hard if one wants to get a Grammy and I want one. That's one kind of a ritual, when I can say I have managed that, I was diligent, I made my exercise. It's the same as going to the fitness room, you feel very well afterwards too and say to yourself: Well done.
BW: This leads to the question, how do you prepare for huge performances?
CW: Precondition is that I have warmed up my voice and painted myself a beautiful face, that I know the lyrics and basically know what to do. This jacket! It's from Jean Paul by the way.
BW: We will provide this video for him.
CW: Yes please. I don't have any absurd rituals I practise to prepare myself, I don't need any exotic things in my dressing room, I'm rather boring. I had a rehearsal today and we sang this song twice and afterwards the saxophinist said: "Couldn't you be a bit more troublesome? This went too smoothly", but I think in this respect I'm rather lacking in vanity.
BW: While we talk about singing, do you accept suggestions for songs and where shall I send it?
CW: There are several email addresses on my homepage and no matter where you send the songs to, they all end up with me, they are being collected and I listen to all of them, but I have to say a hit is a hit. And if not, it's not. I'm uncompromising about that. If it doesn't touch me, that was it.
BW: I'm not sure if I may ask.... who writes the songs or selects them, is it Conchita or Tom?
CW: That's not a question about the look, it's one heart that decides. In the course of getting prepared for the Song Contest I declined many songs that I knew would have to become hits according to the 'rules', they would sell and be played on the radio and when I selected 'Rise Like A Phoenix" I was aware that it was neither mainstream, nor cool and much too long and dramatic to be a radio song, but it drips straight from my heart. And that was the most important thing and I proceed in that way with all the songs I record.
BW: They are indeed varied, not just theatrical, but also ballads with a lot of text.
CW: Absolutely, this album is very colourful because it's my very first one and I wanted to mirror my music and my life with it. I see my life as - I used to say a musical, but then a journalist told me, why don't you say opera? And I thought, wow, opera is much more posh, my life is an opera and I need a song for every situation and on this album there are songs you can cry to, there are songs to dance along, that are dramatic or wash over you and I could listen to them all day long. I tried to convey that and don't know yet what direction it will take in the future. I don't know which genre I will pick first from this varied list.
BW: Will Conchita always exist?
CW: I don't know. I'm in favour of change and development and I'm 100 % sure that there will come a time when Conchita will still be Conchita, but with a different look.
BW: I read in an interview you can imagine to create another persona.
CW: Yes, I have some personas in my head and some of them have taken shape already and most of them are extremely spiteful, which is very funny. One of them makes compliments all the time, that actually aren't compliments at all. For example there is a song from Katy Perry where she sings if one ever felt as light as a plastic bag and disregarding the quality of these lyrics, this persona named Elenora would say: "Do you know these lyrics from my really good friend, did you ever feel as light as a plastic bag?" and then this person would reply yes or no and Elenora would say: "You know, a plastic bag would have been the best thing for your face this evening." That's Elenora and it's fun to slip into a role and be a little mean.
BW: Are you cynical?
CW: Tom is. Me not, no.
BW: I haven't noticed anyway. But I have an appropriate question: Is there a distinctive Tom voice and a different Conchita voice?
CW: I used to disguise my voice at the beginning and speak in a high-pitched voice and with a very German accent but over the time it was put into perspective more and more and now it's the same voice, only in High German and Styrian at home.
BW: A completely different question but fitting to the season, how important is Christmas for you?
CW: I looove Christmas, for me it starts at mid October at the latest.
BW: You are earlier than the Christmas markets.
CW: There can be 30 degrees and I see a Santa at a Billa supermarket, then I'm like: It has started! I decorate my apartment in a hysteric and tacky way. I already have a 3.5 m Christmas tree and I'm so proud, it is decorated with red roses and red hortensia. It's full of them and I love it, I exclusively listen to Mahalia Jackson sings Christmas carols all day long on record.
BW: Traditionally Austrian. This was a prelude for a question, an Austrian tradition are Christmas biscuits. Can I presume you bake some?
CW: No!
BW: There is something wrong.
CW: I can't make them or rather don't feel like it. But there are biscuits. I have many friends who are amateur or even professional bakers.
BW: I have some more questions, we don't have time for all of them.
CW: I should give shorter replies.
BW: Not at all, but we get back to European topics, which is appropriate. With the instinct that is characteristic of you, you already thematised the basic values of the Council of Europe as a young artist. Do you want to take a role in the activities and programmes of the Council of Europe with its 47 member states and in what form ?
CW: No. A privilege of art is to be allowed to change your mind constantly without having to justify yourself.
BW: Another question: Dear Conchita, how did you prepare yourself for the encounter with Ban Ki-moon and the speech in front of the European Parliament?
CW: I was completely overchallenged, because I couldn't really believe that there would be a talk and I would be allowed to say something. In first place I was pleased I would have the possibility to sing there, but that was a smaller aspect for Mr Ki-moon. I prepared a speech together with my media spokesman because I wanted it to be professional and didn't prepare myself at all for the personal meet, as I didn't want to interview or impress him with a lot of knowledge, of course I engaged myself in an embarrassing superficial way with his person to know who I am going to meet, as I didn't know much about the background. Then we met and it was charming. He came with his wife and had also been an ambassador in Austria for a long time and said in German that his German was not very well in spite of having lived here for so long. And I said, yes, it's really not well. And that broke the ice and it was really very nice and amusing and we talked about really relevant things. And it felt so well that I with my little wisdom in my head met someone who really has something to say and the power to change things and whose views aren't that different from my opinion. It was a big moment for me and he's one of the most important people we have on this planet.
BW: Another question, I'm impressed by your humility. Do you succeed in being modest by yourself or are you working on it practically?
CW: How does one practice modesty? You buy and give it back?
BW: There are certainly classes for it.
CW: I don't know, I think I'm a very relaxed person. Maybe I'm naive and don't care about a lot of things, for example I don't care about negativity against my person. I don't know if it's modesty, if I could produce some real success, I would boast about it. Don't get me wrong, I love what I'm doing but the entertainment business is not essential. It doesn't sate you or help to pay your rent, except you can do it as a main profession as I do, but't I don't consider myself that important, I'm grateful for this life and I know it's a privilege and even the fact that what I'm doing is the most beautiful thing in the world for me. Not many people have that luxury to go to work and not call it work, as it doesn't feel like it. I'm aware of that and very grateful. Part of it is my bringing up and if I find a treatment against cancer, I'll boast about it.
BW: What is your vision for the future for Europe and its society, what is important for you?
CW: In the current situation we all look questioningly at the people who would be responsible to put things straight, but they don't have any real answers or plans and why did this happen or not and then you wonder about the reason and I'm not a conspiracist. But some correlations are that obvious that one wishes that this greed for power would lapse. Because it's not a secret that the oil industry is not in favour of all of us driving electric cars. This is just one example about my perception about political development. I don't know if one can prove this with facts, but greed is just as dangerous as fanatism.
BW: Dear Conchita, many thanks for this talk.
CW: I thank you.
Кончита Вурст очень красивое создание и артист мирового уровня . Общественный деятель. Божественно красивый. Браво!
I ordered your book from Amazon, it stole a racist. They are so sick.. 😂 I am living in Berlin
May I ask when the3 EU DIALOG videos with Conchita will be available with the promised English subtitles? So much looking forward,, ty in advance!
Großartiges Gespräch, das noch viel tiefer ging als die herkömmlichen Interviews. Vielen Dank dafür!
👍
Oh I wish I was fluent in allemand!
Ich find dich ja wirklich toll, aber dein Outfit ist einfach unpassend :-( schade.....