Xavier Naidoo (born 1971) is a German soul and R&B singer, songwriter and record producer based in Mannheim. He is a founding member of the band Söhne Mannheims and has a successful solo career, with his 1998 debut album Nicht von dieser Welt selling over one million copies. Most of his songs are in German, though he has released a few in English. His public career has also drawn wide controversy over song content, political statements and conspiracy theories.
Early life and career
Naidoo was born and raised in Mannheim to Catholic South African parents and grew up as a choirboy. While at school he sang in a gospel choir and a regional band. After relocating to the United States he released an English-language album in 1994 under the stage name Kobra. His first German-language album, released in 1998, won an ECHO Award and an MTV Europe Music Award, and its single Sie sieht mich nicht served as the theme for a film.
Chart success and controversy
Six of his following albums reached number one on the German album charts. His work has also been the subject of many controversies, including homophobic and antisemitic lyrics, political statements and climate change denial. In 2015 Germany withdrew his selection as its representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 after criticism of his right-wing views and lyrics, and in 2020 he was fired from a television judging role. In 2022 he distanced himself from radical and antisemitic views and apologised for earlier statements.