Klaus Nomi interview + Total Eclipse on German TV

Klaus Nomi on German show "Na Sowas!" in 1982, hosted by Thomas Gottschalk. Klaus sings a bit of "Mon coeur s'ouvre à ta voix", talks about his music and then performs Total Eclipse.


Gottschalk: For every episode, we need a big overture. Here it is.

*Klaus sings*

Gottschalk: Ladies and gentlemen, no technical tricks are used here on Na Sowas. That was the real voice of Klaus Nomi, live here in the studio. He sings mezzo soprano, which is rare. This is a real opera voice, but this wasn't enough for him and he was looking for something different. He went to America, where he has had great success. This is not the first time that someone who grew up in Germany has gone overseas to become famous and then returned. Now, please welcome Klaus Nomi!

Klaus: How are you?

Gottschalk: May I give you this?

Klaus: Thank you.

Gottschalk: Please take a seat. This is a real talk show with real talk show seats.

Klaus: Thanks very much. Oh...!

Gottschalk: Oh, your tail is in the way!

Klaus: I have a problem.

Gottschalk: But nice legs too, huh?

Klaus: *laughs* Thank you.

Gottschalk: Now Klaus....mezzo soprano. This is something very special?

Klaus: Yes.

Gottschalk: Did you learn to sing like this, or does it come to you naturally?

Klaus: I have always sung like this, ever since I was a child.

Gottschalk: And you started off with an opera career but didn't carry on with this, because you wanted something different?

Klaus: Well I always wanted to sing mezzo soprano, but it was a problem for me at school. My teachers were against it.

Gottschalk: They were?

Klaus: Yes, they thought it was something only for women.

Gottschalk: I don't think so. I think if someone has such a wonderful talent then he should use it.

Klaus: Yes, of course.

Gottschalk: But then came New York and you began to sing more rock?

Klaus: Yes, among others. But I still use the classical element as well.

Gottschalk: So you combine both the classical and the rock elements?

Klaus: Yes. Some of the songs on my LP are classic pieces, like the aria, and the song by Henry Purcell.

Gottschalk: And that was from "Samson and Delilah"?

Klaus: Yes.

Gottschalk: By Strauss?

Klaus: *laughs* No, not quite. Saint-Saens.

Gottschalk: Saint-Saens? My French is not so good. Ok, good. So now we are going to hear the more "rock" side of Klaus Nomi but of course with elements of the mezzo soprano voice. Ok?

Klaus: Yes, of course.

Gottschalk: We look forward to it.

Klaus: I have a present for you.

Gottschalk: A present for me from Klaus Nomi.

Klaus: A Nomi button.

Gottschalk: A Nomi button. I hope I can still take a seat with it...so, Klaus Nomi and "Total Eclipse". Yes? Thank you Klaus. This is great. I think Bio* will be really jealous, at least I hope so. He is already a big name in America, and now we present him here in Germany on Na Sowas with "Total Eclipse".

(*Bio = Alfred Biolek, the presenter of another talk show)