Internet sensation “pyrotechnics”
The most surprising and bizarre hit of this European Football Championship
12.06.2024, 14:00
From nowhere into the spotlight: Niko Thoms goes viral as a “balcony ultra”. German fans sing his battle cry at the European Championship tests – and at Ballermann. “My everyday life is completely different,” he says. His job is currently on hold. The geriatric nurse is hoping for a European Championship hit.
“Pyrotechnics,” shouts Niko Thoms in a rough and deep voice, spreading his arms on his balcony, “it’s not a crime!” He draws out the vowels, the echo lingers for days like an earworm. First his neighbors heard the battle cry, then the geriatric nurse went viral as a “balcony ultra” on TikTok, Instagram and Co. – and now he can even be heard at Ballermann and in the German fan curve.
“If Germany is cheered on by this song and becomes European champions, everything will be perfect,” said Thoms. Whether during the German team’s test match in Nuremberg against Ukraine (0:0) or the dress rehearsal against Greece (2:1) in Mönchengladbach: the song echoed through the stadiums several times, and more and more spectators sang along.
“My everyday life is completely different”
Also in the opening match against Scotland on Friday (9 p.m./ZDF and MagentaTV as well as in the live ticker at ntv.de) singing is to be expected. “Goosebumps,” says Thoms about the sudden fame, “it’s indescribable. I haven’t fully realized it yet. I never expected it, it was never my plan. It happened overnight.”
Thoms, who actually works as a geriatric nurse, has become an internet celebrity in a short time. “My everyday life is completely different,” he said. His job is on hold. Mallorca stars like Ikke Hüftgold have contacted him, and Thoms has already made his first appearance on Germany’s favorite party island. It was the first flight of his life. “Something like that,” says Thoms, is something you only experience once: “If the pyrotechnics and the artist singing don’t continue like this, I’ll go back to geriatric nursing.” He wants to stay down to earth.
The Saxon is following the European Championship on television. “I don’t know yet whether I’ll be in the stadium,” says Thoms. When the 29-year-old watches the opening ceremony on TV on Friday, he can at least feel confirmed in his core message and enjoy the supporting program: UEFA’s controversial pyrotechnic show can take place after it has been approved by the fire department in Munich. 60 fireworks, ten smoke bombs and 60 other pyrotechnic items are to be used. It’s not a crime.