New criticism of DJ Bobo

Accusations are regularly made against DJ Bobo that he cheated his way into his career using all sorts of tricks.But in addition to all the justified criticism: there is also certainly some envy behind it.

The “American Dream” in the Switzerland version is embodied by “our” DJ Bobo. The good-looking journeyman baker who achieved world fame with his Eurodance hymns. People were ‘praying for freedom’, ‘dancing with Somebody’ and ‘love was all around’ anyway. These were songs that put you in a good mood. Some, like “Chihuahua,” drown because of their own lack of demands.

He worked hard for this - in a typically Swiss style. What is regarded as the dishwasher legend overseas is known as the ‘Büezer’ here, someone who achieves self-employment and becomes a millionaire through his own efforts. You don't need above-average talent or even wild ideas to end up rich. Hard work and persistence are enough.

But it’s still rarely possible to get to the top without occasionally using your elbows. When DJ Bobo talks about “great business acumen,” it was always clear that this also includes a bit of shrewdness and robust determination.

But now, DJ Bobo’s “clean image” is showing “some clear cracks,” as the “Blick” newspaper stated in its recent story. Aha. Many of these allegations have already been made repeatedly and have remained with René Peter Baumann for several years. Sometimes it's about missing copyright information, sometimes he’s fallen out with former business partners or - as was recently brought up in a theatre play - he is said to have not paid a singer fairly.

Many of these accusations are certainly in the ‘grey area’. Of course, it's not nice when Bobo doesn't give a singer a share of the profits from her song, but such things are not uncommon in the music business. The fact that Lori Glori, the name of the cheated singer, allegedly didn't know what she was signing would be a clear violation of the boundaries. But it’s almost impossible to prove after 30 years.

What is undoubtedly true is that there is still a need for reform in the music industry, especially in pop, when it comes to the correct compensation of second-tier musicians.

DJ Bobo has never attempted to hide his own averageness  Photo: Zuger Zeitung

Bobo was never a “squeaky clean man” – and has never portrayed himself as such. He was (and is) a Bünzli. That makes him the darling of the Swiss. From the bakery to the villa by the lake. Dance, dance, build houses. Of course: he doesn't smoke. He doesn’t drink. But is a little asceticism enough to make him a “clean man”? Rather, Baumann, who is married for the second time, is living proof that, even with average talent and above-average business acumen, you can make it to the top.

And he recognised this early on. He never hid his own averageness: there were various technical options to get more out of your existing singing and rap talent, even in the 90s. Instead, he had them published as they were. Exactly: an “everybody”. Someone who probably cares more about how accurately his lawn is mowed than about hitting every note.

In the end, Bobo is also a great production. One that he always has under control. The musician monitors very closely what comes out of him. He rarely gives interviews. For his 50th birthday, he preferred to send out a pre-recorded conversation. There were no critical question. But lots of ‘down-to-earthiness’.

As much as the Bobo system amazes us, it triggers us. He succeeds in making us believe, through him, that we too could make it to the top and, at the same time, we struggle with the fact that he of all people made it.

In addition to all the accusations directed at Baumann– which are certainly worth discussing - there is always a bit of envy behind the criticism of DJ Bobo. An emotion that is as deeply Swiss as DJ Bobo himself.