German comedian Felix Lobrecht visits Switzerland – and laughs at Zurich tradition

Felix Lobrecht is one of the most popular comedians in German-speaking countries. The German is currently touring Switzerland and the tickets for the ten shows went like hot cakes. Lobrecht became known, among other things, for his podcast “Gemischtes Hack”, which he records together with moderator Tommi Schmitt. This has topped the Swiss podcast charts for years.

In the latest episode, Lobrecht now talks about the experiences he is currently having in Switzerland. Since staying in Zurich, he has become acquainted with the “Sechseläuten” for the first time in his life. He can’t pronounce the term at all – he says either “Segschelüüt” or “Sexilüüt”. But the event seems to have made an impression on him. Below is the dialogue with Tommi Schmitt:

Felix: «Speaking of the Middle Ages: I am in Zurich, Switzerland. Coincidentally, yesterday was one of the most important Swiss folk festivals, as I understand it. And I was just there live, because my hotel is next door.”

Tommy: “Roger Federer’s birthday or Hazel Brugger’s birthday – it has to be one of the two.”

Felix: “No, it’s the ‘Segschelüüt’.”

Tommy: “Oh, what is this?”

Felix: “At the Sexilüüt – now you see the bridge to the Middle Ages – winter is said goodbye and spring is ushered in. And uhm, the Swiss thought: ‘We need a great photo that winter is over. Shall we set fire to a snowman in the marketplace? Yes, let’s do it!” With the Sexilüüt it is like that, they build a pyre with a snowman on top of straw or cloth.”

Tommy: “Oh, I was just about to say that if it was made of snow it would be a short joke. He’d be gone in no time.”

Felix: “The snowman is on fire and the snowman just has fireworks in his head.”

Tommy: “Who came up with that, old man?”

Felix: “Wait Tommy. It is then flared and time is recorded from when the fire flares up to when the fireworks begin to explode. And the longer that goes on, the worse the summer will be. And I wasn’t alone in it coincidence with this folk festival, but also with the historically worst weather forecast ever.It took 57 minutes to the Böögg, that’s the name of the snowman, simply the Böög …»

Tommy: “Haha. The Böögg.”

Felix: “Haha, yes just the Böögg. With double O. Until the Böögg’s head burst. So it looks like it will be a very bad summer for Switzerland. »

Tommy: «Only for Switzerland? Or for all of us?”

Felix: “I don’t know. But I experience Switzerland as if you were in it, very friendly. But otherwise a bit isolated.”

Tommy: “Yes Yes.”

Felix: “I don’t think they think beyond Basel.”

After the dialogue about the Sechseläuten, the two entertainers continue talking about Switzerland, with Tommi admitting that this country is “his most embarrassing gap in education”. It is very interesting to see what image some Germans seem to have of Switzerland.

Tommy: Because Switzerland is so neutral and isolated, it doesn’t really matter. Then you realize that if it doesn’t get in the media and isn’t talked about, it’s not something you take as by-catch, as information – like who the head of government is or how often the elections take place. No idea. I have an incredible education gap in Switzerland.

Felix: “Tommi knows much more about Pietro Lombardi than about Switzerland.”

Tommy: “Right. Right.”

Felix: “Switzerland is really well positioned in terms of promotion. They always say: “Neutrality, neutrality.” But you can also talk a little bit about Switzerland’s role in World War II. Let me put it this way: “Friends, you financed Hitler. We wouldn’t have existed without you.” Yeah, cool with the gold, we don’t want to know where it came from.”

Tommy: “What I wanted to say about Zurich is that it’s a city, when you walk through it, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what Zurich is all about. How is that different from any other city? And you know what it is? The city ​​is ready. It’s ready.”

There are construction sites in Zurich, Tommi continues. But everything is “creepy clean”. In no other city is water as clean as in Zurich. “It seems like you don’t have to do anything anymore. Like when you play a computer game and build a city and say I’m done now and start again. This is what Zurich looks like.”

Then the other two topics will be discussed. They may talk about Switzerland again next week. Felix Lobrecht will be in the country for another ten days and will play shows in Bern, Basel, Zurich, Sursee and Amriswil. (cma)