As of: March 9, 2024, 5:56 p.m
By: Jonas Erbas
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Andy Borg has been delighting many viewers with his “Schlager fun” since 2018.
But his television career almost ended before it really began.
Thyrnau – Andy Borg (63) has truly earned his reputation as a real hit star: The Vienna-born singer has been on stage since the early 1980s, not only achieving musical success with hits like “Adios Amor” and “Claire”, but also playing music also a notable television career.
He will remain unforgettable as the presenter of “Musikantenstadl” (until 2015) and as the host of his “Schlager-Spaß” show, which he has presented on SWR, MDR and ORF since 2018.
Pop star through talent competition: Andy Borg's breakthrough in “The Big Chance”
However, one chapter in the Austrian's career was particularly important: participation in the ORF talent competition “The Big Chance” in 1981. It “fundamentally changed his life,” according to Andy Borg's website.
As is well known, the then 21-year-old was discovered there by hit producer Kurt Feltz (1910–1982).
He also owes his stage name to the legendary hit lyricist: Andy Meyer became - based on the Swedish tennis star Björn Borg (67) - Andy Borg.
But the path there wasn't easy at all - and almost ended in temptation, as Andy Borg reports in an interview with
IPPEN.MEDIA
.
The pop star still remembers his appearance on “The Big Chance” well: “You don’t forget something like that.
And I think I speak on behalf of everyone who has ever taken part in a talent competition.” He tried his luck in “many talent competitions” and can “remember every single one”.
Schlager's career got off to a poor start: Andy Borg was initially rejected by ORF
At ORF, for example, it only worked on the second attempt, as the “Adios Amor” singer now reveals.
At first he was turned down: “I took part in the ORF competition twice, once they sent me home with the words: 'You hear about us.
…' But then I got another chance, a year later, and was actually allowed to appear on the show 'The Big Chance'."
Andy Borg made his big breakthrough in 1981 at the ORF talent competition “The Big Chance”.
© Christian Schroedter/Imago
The 63-year-old also remembers this TV appearance very well - and reveals: "On this first television broadcast, everything was borrowed from the ORF costume designer, except for the underpants and the socks." By the way: SWR recently explained why Andy Borgs “Schlager-Fun” is always spontaneous.
Sources used:
IPPEN.MEDIA interview with Andy Borg, andy-borg.de