4th April 2006

While Rainhard Fendrich and Hubert von Goisern resound from the loudspeaker, Patrick Haselwanter begins as the first speaker: "I grew up here and have experienced the development. The Turkish families have settled the town. It's a systematic creation of a ghetto." It is an unbounded cheek, the "Islamification" must be curbed.

Strache follows and does not want to put up with "an Austrian being worth nothing more". The mayoress drives over citizens, the comrades are no alternative, according to the placards: "The Indians couldn't stop immigrants, today they live in reservations. If you want a house, you have to wear a headscarf...." (Tiroler Tageszeitung)

Ö3 MusicBlog 5th April 2006

HC Strache likes Hubert von Goisern. Jörg Haider likes Wolfgang Ambros. Josef Pühringer likes Christina Stürmer. When politicians discover their love of music, artists often have no choice but to complain.

Hubert von Goisern is a polite person. In a letter released yesterday, he asked HC Strache not to play his music as background music at FPÖ (Freedom Party Austria) election events any more. He could have complained too. Like Rainhard Fendrich's management, who last year barred the Haider-clone from Vienna from misusing Austria's secret national anthem I am from Austria for his propaganda.

On tirol.com Hubert von Goisern's management found a report in which the following piece about a FPÖ election event was to be read:

While Rainhard Fendrich and Hubert von Goisern resound from the loudspeaker, Patrick Haselwanter begins as the first speaker: "I grew up here and have experienced the development. The Turkish families have settled the town. It's a systematic creation of a ghetto." It is an unbounded cheek, the "Islamification" must be curbed. Strache follows and does not want to put up with "an Austrian being worth nothing more". And so on. [Read the whole article (German)]

Now the artist's reply. Neatly formulated. Thus slightly cynical in its impression. Which certainly wasn't the intention. As I said. Hubert von Goisern is a polite person. [see letter, above]

I doubt that HC Strache gets such subtle thoughts. With politicians, who swing speeches like mallets, the poetic vein doesn't seem to me to be very pronounced. You probably have to go about a bit more directly. Like the Watzmann ensemble last year, who, after the premiere of the cult musical on the Klagenfurt Seebühne, refused to shake hands with provincial governor Haider, ignored his premiere party and boozed elsewhere instead. Jörg alone in the pub. Nothing came of the planned promotional photos. The smiles too tortured.

Christina Stürmer also looked pretty foolish three years ago when she discovered her portrait in a pamphlet for the Upper Austrian branch of the ÖVP (Austrian People's Party). Provincial governor Josef Pühringer wanted to suck up to his young voters a bit with the famous singer. Christina's management immediately threatened legal action. Unfortunately the printed forms were already out.

Clemens Stadlbauer