VIII. Gay Games Cologne 2010

No big sport event makes it without a theme song. So from the beginning of the planning for the Gay Games there was the desire for a song. Thus an international composer competition began.  A team of classified jurors had to select which of the submitted songs would be the official song of the Gay Games VIII Cologne 2010. They chose “Facing a miracle” and therefore the composer quartett from Sweden and the Netherlands.

Dan Sundquist, Ralph van Manen, Peter Hägeras and Bruce R.F. Smith were the lucky winners. But these names are also a win for the Gay Games VIII Cologne 2010. Each one of them has a high profile music background. Each of these names assures the quality of the song. Dan Sundquist for example is one of the biggest Swedish song writers and music producers. He produced more than 60 albums over the past 3 decades. He won 7 Grammys and 12 Platinum Prices in Sweden. For the Eurovision Song Contest he contributed 2 national winner titles – for Sweden and Norway.

The Dutch - Ralph van Manen and the Dutch-by-choice Bruce R.F. Smith, born in England are spoilt by success. Both are authors of great songs. With the hit “Testify to love” by Ralph van Manen the group “Avalon” reached Platinum status in the USA. From Bruce R.F. Smiths pen originates the Dutch contribution to the Eurovision Song Contest in 2005. His song “Engel van mijn hart” sung by Gerard Joling, won the first place of the Dutch charts and was honored as best song with the Buma Golden Harp Award.

The youngest of the quartet of song writers is Peter Hägeras. But the 28 year old has worked already with numerous artists. Among them Kayo, a Swedish singer, who represented her country in 2002 at the Eurovision Song Contest, with her group Afro-dite.  Different casting-show superstars also had a breakthrough due to his help, among them the winner of the Belgian X-Faktor Udo Mechels. The musical talent of Peter Hägeras was discovered very early. Already at the age of 19 he won a well respected Swedish music prize. His signature mark is catchy pop songs, which can be found on his personal album, published in 2007.