the golden voice

You know what they say, we all are singers. It's true: I grew up with it, so I guess I was lucky, having that kind of musical background where it's just natural to be a musician. Singing was always part of our life.

On the other hand, it's a lot harder to get noticed when everybody else is doing it, too: where I come from, being a singer – a good singer – is nothing special. People have told my I was talented, and it would be a nice and modest thing to say here I was just another hard-working musician.

But I don't want to lie: It's true. I am a genius. I'm so talented … it's never been much work for me. I just have this incredible voice, I can't stop listening to my songs myself. I have this huge collection of records – but you'd have a hard time finding anything in it that's not one of my own countless recordings. They're just outstanding! So, It was just a matter of time until someone discovered me.  It might have taken a bit longer due to the fact that we all sing more or less (did I say that already?), but well, it's obvious, that I am doing it on a whole different level. It's another world, a higher dimension. I don't mind all the others warbling along, let them have some fun, but if you want real art, you don't get past my work.
And, I hate to state the obvious: I have the looks.

This is very important when you perform:  The looks. Cool, sexy and a bit dangerous. Intense presence on stage. Beautiful skin tone and a body like a statue. Charisma. Like me. This is something that comes naturally, it is just impossible to learn it. Either you have it or you don't.
Obviously, I do.

Due to all these facts, I always knew I was bound to end up at the very top. It's just my destiny to be famous - and my duty, too. Don't I have to see to it that as many people out there as possible get the chance to experience my extraordinary gift? Wouldn't it be unfair to not let the public share the bliss of being enchanted by my golden voice? Everybody knows that fame soon came to me – it had to, after all – and I was ready to take my chance.

The rest is history. So yes, I think I deserve to be what I am today.

And yes, I feel offended by you asking my name. What do you mean, you never heard of me?

Enrico with the golden voice

Who is Mr. Trad?

For all we know,  he started his journey in a southern state he often lightheartedly referred to as his "sweet home", heading for the Missisippi delta area. Whether he ever arrived there or got lost on the way, we have no conclusive evidence as of yet. His reputation of general unreliability may suggest the latter to be likely.
We know for sure, though, that the person in question carried on the very joint of his leg an instrument of peculiar shape, feel and sound. From this fact we may assume that he was (and probably is) a musician, either by profession or amateur.

The weather conditions were interesting enough to be mentioned here: Although it was  a dry night on the day of his departure, it rained all the time.
The sun  shone with intense heat, making him "freeze to death", as he would put it. This may be an exaggeration, as he obviously was alive enough to report his travels in a song. Generally, the credibility of his statements may be disputable.

The song gives us a valuable hint as to what the purpose of his venture may have been. Seemingly he intended to meet a person he felt great affection for, and cared about, as the song asks her not to weep in more that one passage of it's lyrics. We even know the person's name, as it made it's way to the title of the song. Not knowing who she is, we decided not to publish it though, respecting the privacy of a stranger. (Even more so as our main source, the song, implies a connection to a person of possibly questionable reputation).

If you have any knowledge of Mr. Trad.'s true identity and/or whereabouts, please contact us through this blog.

A phantom drawing of the mysterious Mr. Trad.

drums

From the very start on, even when he was a little child, Diego showed a special talent for rhythm. He did o.k. in school, just average you'd say, but when it came to music, there was no denying that this was exactly what he was born for.

Diego would take any instrument, out of natural curiosity, try it and instantly come up with something that sounded like music of some kind ...

But really, rhythm was his passion. He used to tap and drum on everything that lend itself to it (and, let's face it, there aren't so many things that don't), sometimes including his younger siblings. At more than one point his parents considered sedative medication to „help him to fit in better“.

He did not get any special musical education. Well, history is full of evidence that this will not stop real talent from evolving. Later he would read everything he could get his hands on (no pun intended), as long as it related to music, absorb any information he overheard, listen to music, and learn.

Diego left school as early as possible, went to town and started to play in any band that didn't forcefully stop him. He grew, he learned, he got known for his style. Diego was happy – poor, but happy. Before too long, he was the best known free jazz percussionist in town.

Well, best known by the musicians. His complex rhythmic patterns and grooves, admired by his fellow musicians, were considered rather tiresome by the general audience. This way, he had to realize, he would be starving in the end.

Today, Diego still isn't rich, but he's making a living. Just sometimes he regrets he did not become an accountant or an engineer. He really hates playing in that mariachi band.

Diego makes a living

rock star

You have been one of ther most influential musicians of the last decades, critics found that you captured the spirit of a whole generation like very few bands in popular music. How do you feel when people compare you to, say, Harry and the Hairballs or Claws, just to name a few.

(laughs) well, who wrote that? Anyway, someone seems to like what we do. Cool.

Did becoming the superstar you are now change your life a lot? I know, this must be a question you are asked quite often in interviews like ours. 

Yes. Quite often.

I would like to ask you a few questions about your private life, the person you are when you’re not on stage, and how being as popular as you are affects your life as compared to the lifes that we, who do not stand in the spotlight of the mass media, know.

Oh. Why do you think this is interesting?

I’m sure our readers would like to know how your life is, compared to their own lifes, it might make them feel like they know you. Many of them are your fans, you know…

So you assume your readers are interested. How about you, you are a journalist, do you…

You know, I do this a lot. I ask these questions to some very popular person and our readers seem to like that. I help you celebrities get more and more popular and nobody remembers my name, ever. It’s not like I expect to reveal any groundbreaking news doing this.

So you would rather ask critical questions? Discover dark secrets? What are your dreams and hopes, what did make you want to become a journalist?

It is what I do best. I told stories as long as I can think, used to make up tales and told them to my hamster when I was a kid.
After school I dreamed of becoming an author, write a great novel and get the recognition I deserve, that sort of thing, you know? You must understand I come from a very simple background, we never had much money. Finally my parents convinced me to get into journalism. It puts bread on the table and I'm still able to write. You know what it’s like (or maybe not, I don’t know).
So I am in this field now, but I can do better. I know that one day I will get my chance to write „the“ big story. There is more to journalism than interviewing rock stars and I know I am good. Just waiting for my great moment. You’ll see!

I am sure you’ll get your chance. Our time is over, gotta get on stage now. Thank you for this interview.

But I …

get on stage now

scribble your own

The cat has grown older, but it‘s still there where it always was. It didn’t learn how to sing in all these years, would not even get through the front door of american idol with that voice.
The cat doesn‘t care, it is a legend anyway.
Everybody knows that.
And once you got used to the voice, you‘ll realize that it sings the best songs in the world. Seriously.
Here‘s to the cat.

the best songs in the world