Dieter Bohlen

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Dieter Bohlen
Bohlen in 2019
Born
Dieter Günter Bohlen[1]

(1954-02-07) 7 February 1954 (age 70)
Berne, West Germany
Occupations
  • Songwriter
  • producer
  • singer
  • television personality
Years active1973 (1973)–present (singer)
1978 (1978)–present (songwriter and producer)
Spouses
Erika Sauerland
(m. 1983; div. 1989)
(m. 1996; div. 1997)
Partners
  • Nadja Abd el Farrag (1989–1996, 1997–2001)
  • Estefania Küster (2001–2006)
  • Fatma Carina Walz (2006–present)
Children6
Musical career
Genres
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • keyboards
Formerly of
Websitedieterbohlenofficial.com

Dieter Bohlen (German: [ˈdiːtɐ ˈboːlən]; born Dieter Günter Bohlen, 7 February 1954) is a German songwriter, producer, singer and television personality. He first achieved fame as a member of the pop duo Modern Talking in the 1980s, and has since produced numerous German and international artists. He is also a judge on casting shows Deutschland sucht den Superstar and Das Supertalent.[3]

Life and career

1954–1984: Early life and career beginnings

Bohlen (right) with the band Sunday in 1981

Bohlen is the eldest son of building contractor

Georg-August-Universität, finishing his studies in 1978 with a degree.[4]

Bohlen was still in school when he started writing music.

Schlager singers. In 1978, he founded the short-lived duo Monza with Holger Garbode. Their first single, "Hallo Taxi Nummer 10", written and produced by Tony Hendrik, was Bohlen's first record and was unsuccessful. Monza released a second single, "Heiße Nacht in der City", a German-language cover of Nick Gilder's "Hot Child in the City", which also was unsuccessful. In 1980, he began working for the Berlin-based label Hansa. That same year, under the pseudonym Steve Benson, he released a solo single in English, "Don't Throw My Love Away".[citation needed] It was followed in 1981 by two other singles under that name, "Love Takes Time" and "(You're A Devil With) Angel Blue Eyes". None of them reached the top 100, which led to the abandonment of the project in 1981.[citation needed] Soon after, he joined the band Sunday, with which he appeared on the ZDF-Hitparade in early 1982 with the song "Halé, hey Louise". The song was covered by artists such as Ricky King. In 1983, Bohlen wrote the song "Mit 17" for Bernd Clüver, which reached the third place of the German pre-selection for the Eurovision Song Contest.[citation needed
]

1984–present: Successes as a producer

After Bohlen produced six unsuccessful singles in German for Schlager singer

Atlantis Is Calling (S.O.S. For Love)", and were also successful in other European countries as well as in Asia and Africa. In 1987, the band split up and Bohlen founded his solo project Blue System, which he ended ten years later. He also continued writing and producing for other artists, including C. C. Catch (whom he discovered), Sheree[8] (whom he signed when she was fifteen years old), and boy band Touché
.

In 1986, Bohlen wrote the title song "

Nur ein Lied" and reached place 5. Also in 1989, Bohlen wrote the soundtrack to the ZDF series Rivalen der Rennbahn, which was certified platinum in Germany that same year[10] and reached the top 5 in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.[11]

In 1991, Bohlen produced

but split up again in 2003.

Bohlen (left) and Thomas Anders performing as Modern Talking in 2003

In 2002,

ECHO for Producer of the Year,[16]
while "We Have a Dream" earned the ECHO for Rock/Pop Single of the Year (National).

Bohlen performing in Moscow in 2006

In March 2006, Dieter: Der Film, a satirical cartoon film based on Nichts als die Wahrheit, premiered. Bohlen did not voice his own role, but voiced the narrator. He wrote and produced the entirety of the film's soundtrack, which includes the previously unreleased Modern Talking song "Shooting Star". Later that year, he produced the song "Be My Boyfriend" for the duo Indiggo, which reached the seventh place of the Romanian pre-selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2006. Also in 2006, he published his third book, Meine Hammer-Sprüche.

In 2007, the German installment of the Got Talent franchise, Das Supertalent, was launched with Bohlen as one of the judges. Similarly to Deutschland sucht den Superstar, the fellow judges are changed regularly but he has been a judge each season. In 2008, he published two more books, Nur die Harten kommen in den Garten! Der Weg zum Superstar and Der Bohlenweg: Planieren statt Sanieren.

In 2010, Bohlen began working with Schlager singer

Seelenbeben[20]) topped the German and Austrian album charts. He ended their collaboration per email on 17 March 2018.[21] On 3 April 2019, Bohlen and Berg announced they would publish two new songs together.[22]

Artistry

Bohlen's productions are characterised by simply structured compositions. In the 1980s and 1990s, often working in the studio with Spanish producer

pop ballads
.

Copyright expert Paul Hertin from Berlin repeatedly claimed that Bohlen plagiarized several songs and thus breached copyright. For example, Hertin says that Bohlen used the melody of Babyface's "What If" for the production of Yvonne Catterfeld's "Für dich".[24] Based on Hertin's expert assessment regarding the plagiarism allegations, the Berlin prosecutor's office initiated a preliminary investigation against Bohlen, which was dropped.[25]

Other ventures

Bohlen signing autographs while attending a Camp David store opening in Oldenburg in April 2016

Casting shows

Bohlen has been on Deutschland sucht den Superstar, the German version of Pop Idol and American Idol, since the show was launched in 2002. He often makes blunt and controversial comments, including insults and wisecracks about contestants and their singing abilities (such as "You sing like a garden gnome on ecstasy" or "Your voice sounds like Kermit getting his arse kicked"), which led to comparisons with Simon Cowell in the German-speaking press.[26] He earns 1.2 million euros per season.[27] He has worked with most of the winners and occasionally with other candidates, such as first season third-placer Daniel Küblböck, yielding several major hits. Since the show was launched in 2007, Bohlen has also been a judge on Das Supertalent, the German installment of the Got Talent franchise, being the only judge to have been on every season.

Products and endorsements

Bohlen has signed numerous advertising deals with companies such as

Müller Milch, Makro Markt, S.Oliver, O₂, Roller (Möbelhaus), Wiesenhof, the Deutsche Bahn, and Unilever. He has been a longtime advertising partner of Camp David.[28] In 2020, he had been the face of Camp David for 10 years.[29]

Between 2002 and 2008, Bohlen published five books, ranging from autobiographies to advice books. In 2005, he released a perfume named Provocation.[30] In 2011, he founded the clothing label "Needs Clothing" along with Felix Werner.[citation needed] In 2013, he released a line of wallpapers through P+S.[31]

Personal life

A man with light-brown hair wearing sunglasses and a navy blue polo shirt. His mouth is slightly open. He is in front of a yellow wall with numerous items, such as a blackboard.
Bohlen in 2013

From 1983 to 1989, Bohlen was married to Erika Sauerland,[32] who he had met in 1974 in Göttingen.[33] They have three children: Marc, Marvin, and Marielin.[32] From 1989 to 1996, he was in a relationship with television personality and singer Nadja Abd el Farrag, also known under the stage name Naddel.[34] On 13 May 1996, Bohlen married model Verona Feldbusch in Las Vegas,[35] but they separated after four weeks.[36] The divorce was finalised on 27 May 1997.[37] From 1997 to 2001, he was in a relationship with Abd el Farrag again.[34]

From 2001 to 2006, Bohlen lived with model and dancer Estefania Küster. Their son Maurice Cassian was born on 7 July 2005.[38] Since 2006, he has been in a relationship with Fatma Carina Walz, who he met in Mallorca, Spain,[38] where one of the casting events for Deutschland sucht den Superstar was held. They have a daughter named Amelie (born 22 March 2011)[39] and a son named Maximilian (born 7 September 2013).[40]

Bohlen lives in the village of Tötensen near Hamburg.[27] He is left-handed,[41] but was forced to learn how to write with his right hand at grammar school. He plays tennis with his left hand because he started tennis after leaving school. According to an article by the Manager Magazine in 2018, Bohlen has a net worth of €250 million, making him one of the thousand richest Germans.[42]

Discography

Solo releases

Albums

Title Charts positions
GER

AUT
SWI

PL
iTunes
Dieter: Der Film soundtrack (2006) 13[43]
Dreamcatcher feat. Mark Medlock (2007) 2[44] 6[45] 14[46]
Das Mega Album! (2019) 4[47] 7[48] 9[49] 46[47] 1[50]

Singles

Title Charts positions
GER

AUT
SWI

FI

iTunes
"You Can Get It" feat. Mark Medlock (2007) 1[51] 3[52] 3[53] 20[54] -
"Unbelievable" feat. Mark Medlock (2007) 4[55] 19[56] 27[57] - -

With Modern Talking

With Blue System

No. 1 hits in West Germany/Germany

Year Title Artist
1985 "You're My Heart, You're My Soul" Modern Talking
"You Can Win If You Want"
"Cheri, Cheri Lady"
1986 "Brother Louie"
"Midnight Lady" Chris Norman
"Atlantis Is Calling (S.O.S. for Love)" Modern Talking
2003 "We Have a Dream" DSDS
"Take Me Tonight" Alexander Klaws
"Free Like the Wind"
"You Drive Me Crazy" Daniel Küblböck
"
Für dich
"
Yvonne Catterfeld
2004 "Du hast mein Herz gebrochen"
2007 "Now or Never" Mark Medlock
"You Can Get It"
2008 "Summer Love"
2009 "Anything but Love" Daniel Schuhmacher
2010 "Don't Believe" Mehrzad Marashi
2011 "Call My Name" Pietro Lombardi
2012 "Don't Think About Me" Luca Hänni
2013 "Mein Herz" Beatrice Egli
2016 "Glücksmoment" Prince Damien
2019 "
Cherry Lady
"
Capital Bra
2020 "Eine Nacht"
Ramon Roselly

Artists with Bohlen as producer (selection)

Awards

  • 1985: Goldene Stimmgabel, Most successful composer and producer
  • 1998: VIVA Comet – Lifetime Achievement Award
  • 2001: Top of the Pops Award, Top Artist Germany
  • 2003: German Book Prize, Second according to the public audience
  • 2003: Goldene Feder
  • 2003:
    Media Control
    Award, 25 Jahre Media Control
  • 2003: GQ Man of the Year
  • 2003: Unsere Besten, position No. 30 as the greatest German ever
  • 2003:
    Bambi
    , Pop National
  • 2004:
    Echo
    , best national producer
  • 2004:
    Echo
    , Single of the year We have a dream
  • 2008: Platin-Otto, Lifetime achievement award

Literature

By Dieter Bohlen

  • Dieter Bohlen, Katja Kessler: Nichts als die Wahrheit, Heyne, Munich 2002,
  • Dieter Bohlen, Katja Kessler: Hinter den Kulissen,
  • Dieter Bohlen: Meine Hammer-Sprüche, Heyne, Munich 2006,
  • Dieter Bohlen: Nur die Harten kommen in den Garten! Der Weg zum Superstar, Heyne, Munich 2008,
  • Dieter Bohlen: Der Bohlenweg – Planieren statt Sanieren, Heyne 2008,

About Dieter Bohlen

References

  1. ^ a b "Bohlen ließ sich einen Vornamen streichen" [Bohlen had one given name struck]. tz.de (in German). 1 August 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  2. ^ "Euro-Disco Music Artists". AllMusic.
  3. ^ Kowalsky, Marc (26 January 2013). "'Pop-Titan': So funktioniert das Unternehmer-Hirn Dieter Bohlen" ['Pop-Titan': This is how Dieter Bohlen's entrepreneur brain functions]. Die Welt (in German). Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d "Dieter Bohlen profile in Focus". focus.de. 6 May 2011. Retrieved 5 January 2017. Information using this reference is found on its different pages. (in German)
  5. ^ a b "Der Glücks-Anruf kostete Bohlens Mutter 50Cent (English: The lucky call costed 50 cents to Bohlen's mother)". bz-berlin.de (in German). 22 February 2008. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  6. ^ "Солист "Modern Taking" стал продюсером русской группы. ВИДЕО (English: Modern Talking member became the producer of a Russian band. VIDEO)". aif.ru (in Russian). 11 August 2008. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  7. ^ "Menschen bei Maischberger" am 28. November 2006, Thema. "Die Deutschland-Jury". presseportal.de (in German). Archived from the original on 9 July 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  8. ^ "Ronnie – Talk To Russia! (Glasnost-Mix)" at Discogs (list of releases)
  9. ^ ""Midnight Lady" by Chris Norman". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 22 May 2018. Shows peak positions in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, and the Netherlands. (in German)
  10. ^ "Sale certifications in Germany". musikindustrie.de (in German). Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  11. ^ "Rivalen der Rennbahn soundtrack by Dieter Bohlen". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 22 May 2018. Shows peak positions in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. (in German)
  12. ^ "Modern Talking biography by Sony Music Germany (archived copy)". Archived from the original on 26 March 2009. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  13. ^ "Prozess: Dieter Bohlen verliert gegen Thomas Anders". fan-lexikon.de (in German). 17 June 2005. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  14. ^ "Prozess gegen Bohlen: Thomas Anders verliert Millionen-Klage". Der Spiegel (in German). 17 February 2005. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  15. ^ Zeitung, Süddeutsche (8 December 2008). "Modern Talking: Das Geheimnis der Cheri Cheri Lady (English: Modern Talking: The secret of Cheri Cheri Lady)". Süddeutsche Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  16. ^ "ECHO-Helden 2004: Wir sind Helden räumten insgesamt viermal ab (English: ECHO heroes: Wir sind Helden got four prizes in total)". miz.org (in German). 6 March 2004. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  17. ^ "Schwerelos by Andrea Berg". Austriancharts.at. Retrieved 15 March 2018. Shows peak positions in Germany, Austria, and other countries. (in German)
  18. ^ "Abenteuer by Andrea Berg". Austriancharts.at. Retrieved 15 March 2018. Shows peak positions in Germany, Austria, and other countries. (in German)
  19. ^ "Atlantis by Andrea Berg". Austriancharts.at. Retrieved 15 March 2018. Shows peak positions in Germany, Austria, and other countries. (in German)
  20. ^ "Seelenbeben by Andrea Berg". Austriancharts.at. Retrieved 15 March 2018. Shows peak positions in Germany, Austria, and other countries. (in German)
  21. Tagesspiegel
    .de (in German). 17 March 2018. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  22. ^ "Andrea Berg und Dieter Bohlen wieder vereint (English: Andrea Berg and Diter Bohlen reunion)". mdr.de (in German). 3 April 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  23. ^ "Rolf Köhler: Bohlens Sänger ist tot (English: Rolf Köhler: Bohlen's singer is dead)". Stern (in German). 18 September 2007. Archived from the original on 19 August 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2009.
  24. ^ Hartmann, Guido (24 May 2004). "Berliner Anwalt zeigt Dieter Bohlen an (English: Berlin lawyer brings charges against Dieter Bohlen)". Die Welt (in German). Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  25. ^ "Plagiatsverfahren gegen Dieter Bohlen eingestellt (English: Plagiarism charges against Dieter Bohlen dropped)". Archived from the original on 26 September 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  26. ^ "Simon Cowell ist der Großmeister der Castingshows (English: Simon Cowell is the grand master of casting shows)". Die Welt (in German). 2 June 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  27. ^ a b "Dieter Bohlen: So reich ist der Pop-Titan wirklich (English: Dieter Bohlen: [Here's] how rich the Pop-Titan really is)". mz-web.de (in German). 20 May 2017. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  28. Tagesspiegel
    .de (by Jahel Mielke) (in German). 6 March 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
  29. ^ "Dieter Bohlen ist 10 Jahre das Gesicht von Camp David". prospekte.com (in German). 17 April 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  30. ^ "Dieter Bohlen: Provocation". Süddeutsche Zeitung (in German). 14 February 2008. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  31. ^ "Dieter Bohlen hängt an der Wand (English: Dieter Bohlen hangs on the wall)". journal-frankfurt.de (in German). 10 January 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  32. ^ a b "Dieter Bohlens Sohn will Youtube-Star werden (English: Dieter Bohlen's son wants to become a YouTube star)". mz-web.de (in German). 8 February 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  33. ^ "Wilde Ehe in Geismar (English: Wild marriages in Geismar)". hna.de (in German). 16 January 2010. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  34. ^ a b "Dieter Bohlens Kinder hassten Naddel zutiefst (English: Dieter Bohlen's children hated Naddel deeply)". Blick.ch (in German). 23 March 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  35. ^ "Nadja Abd el Farrag tritt gegen Verona Pooth nach (English: Nadja Abd el Farrag goes after Verona Pooth)". Stern (in German). 12 August 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  36. ^ "Zufälliges Treffen: Verona Pooths Sohn holt sich ein Bohlen-Autogramm (English: Incidental meeting: Verona Pooth's son gets a Bohlen autograph)". Stern (in German). 21 June 2013. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  37. ^ "Feldbusch contra Bohlen: Scheidung perfekt (English: Feldbusch against Bohlen: perfect divorce)". rhein-zeitung.de (in German). 28 May 1997. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  38. ^ a b "Dieter Bohlen: "Carina ist superlieb" (English: Dieter Bohlen: "Carina is super sweet")". focus.de (in German). 31 August 2006. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  39. ^ "Dieter Bohlen: Deutschland hat den Super-Papa (English: Dieter Bohlen: Germany has the super dad)". Süddeutsche Zeitung (in German). 25 March 2011. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  40. ^ "Dieter Bohlen: "Carina sieht schon wieder aus wie vorher" (English: Dieter Bohlen: "Carina already looks like she did before")". schweizer-illustrierte.ch (in German). 24 September 2013. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  41. ^ "Weltlinkshändertag: Diese Promis meistern's mit links (English: International Lefthanders Day: These celebrities are doing left)". stuttgarter-zeitung.de (in German). Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  42. ^ "Die reichsten Deutschen 2018 - Top 1000 Reichenliste (mm) | ReadSmarter Business- & Lifestyleblog". Readsmarter.de. 12 October 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  43. ^ "Dieter - Der Film by Dieter Bohlen - Music Charts". acharts.co. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  44. ^ "Dreamcatcher by Mark Medlock and Dieter Bohlen - Music Charts". Acharts.co. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  45. ^ "Das österreichische Hitparaden- und Musik-Portal". Austriancharts.at.
  46. ^ "Mark Medlock / Dieter Bohlen - Dreamcatcher". Hitparade.ch.
  47. ^ a b "Dieter Feat. Bohlen - das Mega Album! By Dieter Bohlen - Music Charts".
  48. ^ "Das österreichische Hitparaden- und Musik-Portal". Austriancharts.a.
  49. ^ "Dieter Bohlen - Dieter feat. Bohlen - das Mega Album!".
  50. ^ "'Dieter feat. Bohlen (Das Mega Album)' by Dieter Bohlen (International iTunes Chart Performance)". iTunesCharts.net. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  51. ^ "You Can Get It by Mark Medlock and Dieter Bohlen - Music Charts". Acharts.co.
  52. ^ "Das österreichische Hitparaden- und Musik-Portal". Austriancharts.at.
  53. ^ "Mark Medlock / Dieter Bohlen - You Can Get It".
  54. ^ Steffen Hung. "Mark Medlock / Dieter Bohlen - You Can Get It". Finnishcharts.com. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
  55. ^ "Unbelievable by Mark Medlock and Dieter Bohlen - Music Charts".
  56. ^ "Das österreichische Hitparaden- und Musik-Portal". Austriancharts.a.
  57. ^ "Mark Medlock / Dieter Bohlen - Unbelievable - swisscharts.com". Swisscharts.com. Retrieved 14 December 2020.

External links