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“Comeback - the big Chance”...

Arabella Kiesbauer charmingly presented the Show “Comeback- the big chance” which started on February 09th 2004 on German TV station Pro 7. This show offered 10 artists, who have been very popular some time ago, the sensational chance to celebrate a gigantic comeback. For nine weeks they competed against each other in different motto shows and were judged as well by a jury as by the TV audience at home. After each show one of the participants, who had the lowest number of points had to leave.
The jury consisted of: the Hit producer and multiple Grammy winner Harold Faltermeyer, the MTV presenter Anastasia and the third jury member changed every week.
Chris Norman, Haddaway, CCCatch, Coolio, Benjamin Boyce (Ex "Caught in the act" singer), Emilia, Markus, Limahl (ex-Kajagoogoo member), Jazzy (ex Tic-Tac-Toe member) were already fixed participants, the 10th artist was voted by the audience by phone in the first show. Here, the "Weather Girls were more popular than the singers such as Juergen Drews or Gunter Gabriel.
With the following lines, we want you to remember wonderful, though very strenuous and exciting weeks….

Monday 09th of Feb.2004 - Start of the live show from the “Coloneum” in Cologne
We were quite sure, that an exciting time would start for all of us fans and so we already thought about some ideas in advance how we could support Chris. Printed T-shirts would be a good choice, we thought. But what print is suitable, what color is striking? We chose red and the print should have been short and concise and so we decided at the end for a few, but very appropriate words: "Our No.1 Chris Norman. "
As it was Carnival time in Germany we went to buy red/white cheerleader pompons. Packed with them we went to the “Coloneum” directly from work in a good mood and highly motivated. Just in time for admission, we arrived and we immediately searched for other Chris fans! No difficult task, as we had previously announced before that they should watch out for our red T-shirts. So the rest of our fan block was found quickly. Shortly before the admission, we all got the letter "F" for fanclub on our tickets, why, we learned later in the foyer of the hall. Clubs and special guests with reservations were let into the hall first. In the foyer, the mood was really good. Many had brought self painted posters, which were checked by the security to make sure that this competition will be a fair one.
Some other fanclubs were also present, such as those of Benjamin Boyce, Haddaway or Markus.
Finally we were let in and the hall security placed us regarding our “Star affilation” We were guided to the block on the right, where also Chris’s picture was placed on the wall, so we sat under an oversized Chris photo, the perfect place!
Frank the "Warm-Upper heated up the atmosphere, introduced the present fanclubs and then the show started.

Chris sang, terrific as always, "Living next door to Alice".
It was great to hear that Harold Faltermeyer, one of the members of the jury, obviously was, "an old Smokie Fan" as he said himself and has always liked their songs a lot.
After Chris, of course all other participating artists were presented and during the advertising blocks, there were brief interviews with spectators. Just during the first break it was on us…Promotion is everything and finally we were brave in answering questions concerning Chris..Only the singing, we had rather left….
It was a very long evening, but also a very exciting one, although there was nothing to stake for Chris yet…
We were mighty curious to what the following shows would be like!
Most of the artists were really relieved to have managed the first step and of course Chris was relieved as well and he told us that he had been absolutely happy about our fan activities and he warmly thanked for our support. Until the next show in a weeks’ time, rehearsals, press events, photo shootings, interviews and much more would fill his calendar…
But there was also time for some relaxation after work and so Chris and Co. went for a bowling session on the weekend...guess who won! Right!

1st motto show : "Current chart hits"
Cold hands, red heated cheeks and a strange feeling……
This was what we had in the stomach and then cheer, cheer, cheer! Chris ranked 2 and that only one point behind Haddaway! Co-competitor Benjamin Boyce who had announced in a TV interview before the show that, Chris was "out" and probably not many would vote for him, definitely was taught better with the result of the TV audience voting: 10 points means No 1!, and thus result spoke a clear language at all! A huge success and an absolutely well deserved one indeed
But once again, one thing after the other...
After some free tickets had been put to our proposal at very short notice and we had phoned our fingers off, we were 28 fans at this time so our fan block had grown,(at the start of our mission we were less than 10 fans dressed in red T-shirts) It was noted that there were more organized groups of the other artists and they were also bigger than in the first show, which was the same with our fan block
As Chris had told us that he was 5th to go on this show we were not immediately required and so we could get ourselves organized: Who holds the posters? What do we shout when? When do we stand up?
Nevertheless the excitement became nearly unbearable when Chris went on stage to perform “Angel of Berlin” (his current single at that time which was unfortunately also sang by Martin Kesici, who was the winner of the Casting show “Star search” some weeks before) with so much feeling and power in his voice that Harold Falternmeyer directly started with a big praise for Chris's performance.
We were also pleased by the comment of "Uncle Stein (Thomas Stein - at that time head of BMG Ariola Germany) in a short introduction trailer: One of the best voices, which I know for a long time!"
The atmosphere in the Coloneum was once again bombastic! During a commercial break, a camera team with a huge microphone came to us and wanted to know WHY we like just Chris? You know yourself, that there is an entire catalog filled with answers really…
After all other artists had presented their songs, there was another short commercial break and then it became even more exciting, the hands turned even colder…

It was a big surprise that Chris (accompanied by Paul on bass, Geoff on the lead guitar and Bob on drums) was the very first on to perform. Certainly a positive effect because, as Chris told us later, he was already very excited and so this starting position, wasn’t wrong at all…Monday 09th of Feb.2004 - Start of the live show from the “Coloneum” in Cologne

We were quite sure, that an exciting time would start for all of us fans and so we already thought about some ideas in advance how we could support Chris. Printed T-shirts would be a good choice, we thought. But what print is suitable, what color is striking? We chose red and the print should have been short and concise and so we decided at the end for a few, but very appropriate words: "Our No.1 Chris Norman.
As it was Carnival time in Germany we went to buy red/white cheerleader pompons. Packed with them we went to the “Coloneum” directly from work in a good mood and highly motivated. Just in time for admission, we arrived at the “Colloneum”

2nd motto show 23.02.2004 "Eighties and German New Wave"
As already mentioned, the number of those who wanted to support Chris, grew from show to show. So much that we had to order additional tickets and to our joy many previously unknown fans joined us in the foyer and got their „N" on the ticket („N" for Norman). Do not ask how many we had been in the end, but an entire block was assigned to us in the studio! Everywhere red T-shirts, red pompoms and also red heart balloons…
And then the excitement began once again:
Although the Cologne’s “Jecke” were in the midst of carnival fever, plenty of viewers found their way to the “Coloneum” so the mood was great again from the very beginning.
This time, Chris was the 6th to perform on stage and we were all very much on tenterhooks to listen to his "Summer of" 69 " (original by Brian Adams) because this song seemed to be almost predestined for Chris’s voice.
Before Chris appeared on stage, a short clip was shown again (as it was always done as an introduction for every artist). Parts of the last show were presented and the artists could give their comments about the voting they had got. Chris pointed out very clearly, that he didn´t intend to join in the nasty remarks of the other artists, as some of them had already broadcasted on several TV shows some days before). A very pleasant characteristic and very likely for the TV audience even one more reason to vote for Chris again.
When he entered the stage, the hall trembled. Chris rocked the "Summer of 69" better than ever and even topped the original, as Uwe Fahrenkroog, member of the jury and successful producer of many hits) said after the performance. "A very solid Rock Performance", "Great” and "The Voice" were the descriptions, the Harold Faltermeyer held for him. Outrage "Buhs" given by the audience for Anastasias ‘comment, Chris was not "innovative enough" (Just to remember: the Motto of the show was "the 80s!)
As we had decided that we would follow Chris' good example not to wash dirty linen either, no comment concerning this statement!
That Chris could convince with his voice and musical abilities was once again shown by the audience Voting: maximum number of points, for the 2nd time in a row! Our joy was sheer boundless. And that Chris was also very pleased could be easily seen in the show, and he told us later on too.
After the show lots of press photos were taken and Chris had to do interviews before he signed countless autographs for the audience.

The mood after the show was great, as always. Chris told us that he had to do interviews before going for a short trip to Munich 2 days later. This time no time for a short relax, as there was the 3rd motto show "Disco and dance" on schedule 4 days later

3rd motto show "Friday 27.02.2004 Disco and Dance"
Certainly a motto, which not only us, as Chris fans made a little “shaky” but also caused the biggest stage fright for Chris, as it definitely is a style which usually is not really in his repertoire …
But, why should we cut a long story short: Once again, Chris taught us otherwise! An absolutely perfect song selection, a super performance, a nice introduction clip and an absolutely deserved victory in the show!
But let us start from the beginning again.
After Chris has spent a well-deserved day off on the shopping promenade in Cologne the rehearsal for the next show already started This time not only the respective song of the artists, but also the song "Survivor", the common song of all comeback stars, simply called "Comeback United" had to be rehearsed, which’s premiere should have been in the coming show
We already wrote about that Chris had been particularly happy about the votings of the TV audience. He was very concerned about a big thank you to his loyal fans for their great support.

In return we passed all your good luck wishes over to him and certainly, he had been enormously pleased! As already mentioned, for the first time the show was on a Friday and the lobby of the “Coloneum” was already very crowded when we arrived. Our fan block had, once again, increased in size... no surprise!
Chris should be seen as the 7th on stage and the more artists showed their performance, the more we got nervous. The evaluation was much better than last time and we thought: "At some point they have to say something critical." But then, after a short but once again nice interview in the trailer credits, Chris came on stage and within seconds the entire audience was “under his control”! His song "Midnight hour" (originally by Wilson Picket) provided plenty of applause and positive votes from the jury. And even Anastasia liked the soul in Chris’s voice! How would the rest of the jury vote? Uwe Fahrenkrog gave the maximum number of points and again, an absolutely enthusiastic Harold Faltermeyer rewarded Chris with the maximum number of points.
At this time still Limahl was leading by one point but the final voting was still to come. For the 3rd time in a row Chris was No 1 in the TV audience voting and we could hardly believe it in our joy, overall winner of the evening!
All our fears had been unnecessary…
But what should we say? Chris can just sing everything (as he will show us again and again in the
future) We were more than happy and Chris as well, what could also be clearly seen during the premiere of the song "Survivor" (release date was 8th of March 2004)
Harold Faltermeyer had called Chris “The voice” in one of the last shows and that was no surprise as you could hear Chris’s voice, apart from his solo parts, also very well in the chorus parts and “the voice” has once again set a clear mark also in the 3rd motto show!
The after-show party was finished in the early morning hours and Chris looked forward to spend a few days with his loved ones at home but “Life is what happens while you make other plans…”

4th motto show 08 March 2004: Ballads-the most beautiful Love Songs
Why should we continue writing about something we already know? His song “The first cut is the deepest” touched everyone, including the jury and Chris was…. Well, guess…!
Again No 1 of all votings!
What else happened? The fan block size increased again. Red T-shirt everywhere in the studio. Those who didn’t have printed ones enlarged our group by wearing any red shirts. Almost one third of the studio belonged to us…

5th motto show March 15, 2004: "Oldies and Classics" from the Beatles to Sinatra
It was pronounced almost two hours after the beginning of the show. The winner of today's edition and definitely in the next show the very sovereign: Chris Norman!
Well, this motto was not a real challenge for Chris. In this show he had the opportunity to sing one of his favorite songs. You surely still hear this famous "scream"?
"With a little help from my friends" was his song selection for this time and it was, Harold Faltermeyer who said: “the perfect choice! Doubtless!

6th motto show March 22, 2004 "Favorite songs"
As there were only a few artists left in this competition they were expected to present two songs each. Chris picked “Stumblin’ in”, sang together with C.C. Catch, and “Missing you” and then happened, what we all were scared about, but nobody seriously expected. Chris had to get into the so-called "kick off" with Limahl and the viewers at home had a second chance to keep him in the competition by voting for him. Fortunately, they did and Chris was the third artist in the Semifinal
Of course, there was much to talk about afterwards regarding why this voting didn’t go that well for Chris this time..

7th motto show: 29 March 2005 "Hard and Heavy" from ACDC to Bon Jovi
Chris sang "I still haven’t found what I'm looking for" (U2) in the first round and in the second "Rock'n Roll" by Led Zeppelin. Chris in his element!
The overall winner was Chris again, so he was one step further and we all shouted, "Finale, Finale". Incidentally, almost 50% of the spectators were Chris fans, dressed in red

Because of the fact that there were only two artists left for the finale, the production company had invented something very special. Chris played an unplugged concert for a few fans which was recorded and parts of that special event were shown during the TV Show. So we got a request from the casting agency to gather fans quickly, what was not so easy, because it happened in the middle of the week and unfortunately not everybody who wanted to join us, was able to get a day off from work within that short term. In a room of the pub “Paula„ in Hürth (which is close to Cologne) we had the great honor to participate to that special session. Chris played entirely without technology, just the guitar and his brilliant voice. We could ask for songs which Chris then performed. Some of these wishes made him sweat, but he finally managed to play them and we had lots of fun this evening .Unfortunately this kind of being so close to him won’t happen again in the future, what a pity…
The fans asked "completely spontaneous" questions which Chris also readily answered and we all got autographs on everything (we had our red T shirts signed and now they will be no longer washed!)
The final show came up and we were asked once again for volunteers to give another interview to answer the compulsory question "why Chris". Honestly not really many volunteers were found so, because the interview was broadcasted in the final show, it was on us again…

This was the moment which we were all so eagerly waiting for.
The grand finale Benjamin Boyce versus Chris Norman could start...
Arabella Kiesbauer welcomed the two adversaries and the mood was at the boiling point! It was very remarkable that both fan blocks did really behave fair. Everyone gave applause (for their star even more - enthusiastic of course), but it was a positive mood among the audience.
Chris and Benjamin were announced and were already in the stairway as boxers before a world championship fight,
espaliers of spectators they went through. Chris starting position was not more than 3 m away from us and we, wished luck by putting our fingers crossed. Chris was visibly agitated, but with his wink he said thanks. If one has come that far, he wants to win at the end!
This evening included a big surprise, but let’s talks about this later….
Both artists sang their personal favorites songs once again. Chris decided to perform "Summer of 69" again.
In the final Show only the TV viewers voted by telephone. This telephone number will not easily be forgotten. The jury gave comments, but it was more decorative accessories.
The second song, Chris sang, was "Lay back in the arms of someone" and the sensation was perfect. Suddenly Pete Spencer, Alan Silson and Terry Uttley came from the scenes and the original cast had been together again after more than 18 years. For sure, the audience was raging! Chris didn’t officially know about this surprise. However, the surprise was perfect!
The last song in this competition was the single, the winner was allowed to publish a few days later. "AMAZING", the title, was presented by Chris with a lot of sense and after that we had to wait for the decision. How would the audience vote? We are sure, all of us know or do not know how long an hour could be, sitting in the studio, while some comedy was broadcasted. Now the viewers were allowed to vote!
10 Minutes before midnight, it was finally done: The voting was over! Shortly before Arabella Kiesbauer, announced the official results three cameras were placed in front of our block and so we could guess what will happen:
With 56% of all votes Chris had won the “Comeback Show "and cheers broke out indescribable.
In never-ending applause Chris sang his winner song entitled "AMAZING" again and took the congratulations of all participants, and also the joint presentation of the song "Survivor" had introduced again …
After Chris had certainly spoken with his loved ones at home on the phone, he celebrated his victory jointly with the crew, his colleagues and the moderator until the early morning hours in a night club in Cologne. 8 exciting, funny, great but strenuous weeks ended and when we had breakfast with Turkish fast food on the next day, we reviewed the time, we were quickly agreed: This time is unforgettable. The "Comeback Time" and Chris were just AMAZING!!!

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"That was already very nice, but we will do another recording just to be safe... or how we cheer a puzzle….
When we were asked by a casting agency to gather fans for a film production, it was immediately clear to us that we would support Chris. The agency asked for participation of 50 fans, as supernumeraries, more precisely, for acting the audience in a music show. Just a few hours after sending e-mails or letters to the FC members we got a huge response! The new "movie stars" got their information about the necessary time and place of the shooting, and also some kind of "dress rule." Theme: "Autumn in the forest"-meant: green, brown, beige, etc...
And so the wardrobe was checked eventually nobody wanted to act in a movie or TV show dressed in old or even worn clothes. Some of you had to do extra shopping, because so many favorite colors didn’t correspond to the color concept, anyway even this also expands our horizons doesn’t it?
The sun was shining, 50 Fans in good mood, some were tired of the long journey, met at 9.00 clock in the morning in front of the studio in Cologne Ossendorf.
After the welcome and checking the list of participants, we were taken to the lounge by the representatives of the casting agency. OK, it was some kind of a studio with beer tent sets but there was also a small catering for us and the smokers even had the possibility, to smoke outside the studio and have a sunbath at the same time
A little later, the assistant director welcomed us and also briefly informed us about the content of the film. It is about a young man "Maximillian", who works in a call center and dreams about becoming a famous TV presenter. Unfortunately, all he reached was the position of a "Warm-upper" and now he’s standing in front of the audience of a TV show (in which Chris sang his song "Lay me down")- meaning in front of us- and spurred us to spend a big applause.
From that moment on, we certainly, clapped and whistled 10 times with all our power and heart, until the signal was given: "Thank you, the take is clean," which probably meant something like it has worked, it was perfect. Undoubtedly being a great audience is easy for Chris fans, but if you imagine that Chris was not even on stage, but we had to imagine that he was, it wasn’t that easy at all. Accordingly, we should look at the stage where nothing but a green stool stood, on which Chris should have a seat later. After several failures someone from our group had the saving idea: One of the participants had finished a poster puzzle of Chris, which we used as a "substitute" on the stool. It showed Chris down on his knees singing a song during a concert, so our acting it was no longer difficult.
A few takes later and the recurring phrase of the director "That was very nice, but for safety we prefer a second recording, we left the studio for a few minutes to shoot the 2nd Scene a little later. It was all about the reaction of the audience when they hear a new Chris new song for the very first time. To make it as authentic as possible, we could not previously hear the song, but the camera kept our emotions and reactions directly at the first hearing. It had been a weird feeling to know that a camera recorded a close up of you while you hear a brand new song for the first time…

Finally the 3rd Scene. The concert was over; we should give a big applause shout, scream and whistle. That was really no challenge for us!
Our work was done, his started now. After we had cheered into space, we were now asked to stay quite. Chris entered the stage, sat down on the green stool, which immediately developed a life of its own and constantly turned, and sang "Lay me down" to a playback. So we sat in the studio, not more than 8m from Chris and we had to behave extremely quiet until the obligatory "Thank you, Take is clean" sounded. Is that something you can expect from a real fan? Yes they could and we did, how we were supposed to. But hardly as the last syllable of "Thank you, Take is clean" was pronounced, enthusiasm went wild and Chris was obviously pleased. He welcomed all of us, waved and started the 2nd recording for safety. "That was very nice but for the safety…."
After the 3rd or 4 Repetition, not only Chris, but also his background musicians were filmed, Chris played the song again live and unplugged only for us and the film crew. A very special pleasure, the anticipation of the forthcoming tour later in the year rose to infinity.
Meanwhile, since our meeting at the entrance door of the studio about 5 ½ hours had passed and our and Chris "working day" was coming to an end. What followed was still a big thank you from the crew for our help and the recognition of the film team, that Chris sounds live just like he does on CD. We know that for ages, don’t we?
For those who have joined us that day, there is even a big "thank you" from us. It has been great fun spending the time with you all! We got in touch with many members and old friends. And to whom we owe all this? Exactly! Chris!