Matthias Reim, a commanding and intense singer-songwriter who commands a devoted audience throughout Germany, first built his reputation by composing material for fellow performers such as Bernhard Brink, Roberto Blanco and Tina York. Only in 1990 did he step forward as a recording artist himself, issuing the album Reim. Its breakout single, “Verdammt, Ich Lieb Dich,” ruled the German charts for sixteen weeks and equalled the longevity mark previously set by Boney M. Throughout the remainder of the decade Reim kept issuing popular albums, yet an ill-fated business alliance with entrepreneur Alfred Reimann—encompassing ventures that ranged from computer outlets to hair salons—eventually drove him into insolvency. His private affairs proved equally unsettled, marked by three broken marriages and four children born to four separate mothers, one of whom is the well-known German vocalist Michelle. Drawing on those hardships, he composed and delivered the deeply felt album Männer Sind Krieger in 2007. German journalists praised the record as a set of perceptive tracks from a genuine survivor. Restored both artistically and financially, Reim resurfaced in 2010 with Sieben Leben; the project enjoyed strong sales and enthusiastic fan support, which he consolidated through an extensive concert trek preserved on the live album Sieben Leben: Live 2011. Two years later he attempted to eclipse the achievements of Sieben Leben by releasing Unendlich; the album swiftly ascended to the summit of the German sales rankings, and a holiday edition featuring an extra disc of Christmas material reached stores in time for the seasonal festivities.
