Francine Jordi made public in 2018 that she suffered from breast cancer. Today the singer is “very good”, as she reveals in an interview.
Francine Jordi (44) has had a steep career: at the age of 21, the Swiss singer won the Grand Prix of Folk Music in 1998, took part in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2002 and has released 14 albums to date. In addition, since 2015 she has been moderating the “New Year’s Eve Show” that emerged from the “Musikantenstadl”. In 2017, however, there was a big stroke of fate for her: Francine Jordi was diagnosed with breast cancer, which she initially did not reveal in public. Despite chemotherapy and radiation, she still stood on the stage and did not show anything. It wasn’t until 2018 that she announced that she had breast cancer and survived it.
Since the diagnosis, the pop singer “pays much more attention to my body and also gives it the necessary breaks,” she says in an interview with the news agency spot on news. In addition, Francine Jordi, who will release her best-of album “Herzfarben” on August 13th, tells of the highs and lows of her life and explains why cancer prevention is “the alpha and omega”.
Her new album is called “Herzfarben”. What is this title about?
Francine Jordi: From a musical point of view, I’ve tried a lot of different colors in my career and personally at the age of 44 you have actually experienced all emotional colors – from bright yellow to bright red to deep black. So there are two whole color palettes that come together and the whole thing is connected with a lot of heart.
Why was it now time to publish a best-of?
Jordi: It kind of happened that way. I am now in the middle of life and wanted to celebrate my 44th birthday rather than 45. But only because I like the number 44 more … (laughs) and on this occasion there was this résumé in musical form, including a handful new title.
How do you look back on your career? What were the greatest low and high points for you?
Jordi: The biggest highlight was definitely my Grand Prix victory in 1998 in Vienna. It all started with this victory and I owe so much to the song “Feuer der Sehnsucht”. Without this song I wouldn’t be allowed to do this interview here. There are also lows again and again and they are also very important, because you can only appreciate happiness when you have lived through the lows.
You were on stage at a young age. Looking back, how was it for you to be in the spotlight so early?
Jordi: I’ve always really enjoyed singing for an audience. I couldn’t imagine my childhood any better and more fulfilling than traveling the world with my family and singing. It was a dream for me.
Life is sorted from the age of 44, sing “Ab 44” in your song. How does this apply to you?
Jordi: It was a gradual process for me. Around the age of 30 I began to live more and more consciously and no longer just listen to my head, but to my heart. Because only my heart knows what is really good for me. I noticed better and better what my path was and what I would like to do. I also learned to say no and to cancel things that I didn’t want to do. But the process isn’t finished either … I think it’s going to take a lifetime.
What do you want for the next 44 years?
Jordi: The most important thing for me is health for my loved ones and for me. Everything else can be accepted and mastered with a positive attitude towards life.
The song “Verflucht” is about a toxic relationship. Have you ever experienced that too? If so, how did you get out of it?
Jordi: Of course I’ve seen that too! It is really a challenge to set yourself apart and to realize that you are only ruining yourself and that this actually has nothing to do with love. For me there was only one thing: break off contact and somehow distract me afterwards and just persevere.
You were diagnosed with breast cancer four years ago. How are you now?
Jordi: I’m doing very well and I’m very grateful for that! Of course, this topic has been with me for a lifetime now. But I have accepted that this is part of the contents of my backpack that I go through my life with.
How has the diagnosis changed your life? What did you learn from it?
Jordi: Such a stroke of fate always has something positive. I pay much more attention to my body and also give it the breaks it needs. I also always try to enjoy the moment more consciously and not worry about the future. Sometimes I succeed very well, other times not at all.
Why did you decide back then not to make the disease public and to continue to be on stage? Wasn’t that very exhausting sometimes?
Jordi: It was incredibly exhausting because the longer the therapy went, the weaker and weaker I got. But if the audience at my concerts had known about it, they would no longer have objectively estimated my performance. To my own amazement, my voice was always great and unimpaired. Not even my technicians, with whom I have worked for years, noticed anything.
How important is it to have regular preventive care?
Jordi: That is the be-all and end-all. I am the ambassador of the Swiss Cancer League and it is very important to me that everyone really does these preventive examinations. Not just the women. I was so lucky that I discovered my tumor at the very beginning. I wish everyone affected by this opportunity to be able to react early and quickly.
The “Musikantenstadl” or the “Stadlshow”, which takes place several times a year, was very popular on television. Do you think there will be new episodes again?
Jordi: They still exist, just by a different name. Now it’s called “New Year’s Eve Show with Jörg Pilawa”. For me it is the coolest show that I have been able to present so far. With Jörg Pilawa by my side, I can’t imagine a better partner. He gives me an incredible amount of space, is very accommodating and when I mess up, he saves me from any mess. What more do you want. (laughs)
You can almost only be seen in a good mood. How do you keep your zest for life?
Jordi: I also take a lot of time for myself. I am a person who likes to be alone and also needs this time. Then I meditate or go out into nature with my dog Theo. That is very good for me!
What personal and professional plans do you have for this year?
Jordi: I’m just happy to be able to go back to work now. This is a privilege that I have come to appreciate through Corona. I’m looking forward to the release of the new CD, the new songs and finally to be able to give concerts again and to finally see my fans in all of German-speaking Europe again in person.