In a revealing and unapologetic interview with hi-fi+ magazine in May 2025, legendary singer Engelbert Humperdinck, now 89, delivered what many are calling his most candid artistic statement yet:
“I’m a pop artist, not a crooner — and I have no regrets.”
The declaration may seem subtle, but for fans and critics who have followed Humperdinck’s decades-spanning career, it signals a bold redefinition of a legacy often pigeonholed by labels. Known for hits like Release Me, The Last Waltz, and Quando, Quando, Quando, Engelbert has long carried the “crooner” tag — a term historically used to describe smooth-voiced balladeers in tuxedos, often lumped together with the likes of Dean Martin or Perry Como.
But for Humperdinck, that label has always missed the mark.
“They called me a crooner because I sang love songs. But listen again — my songs had pop rhythms, international flavor, and huge orchestrations. I didn’t just stand and sway, I performed.”
The interview, set in his Los Angeles home studio surrounded by gold records and vintage reel-to-reel decks, captures an artist still fiercely aware of his musical identity. Even at 89, he remains focused — sharp-eyed, eloquent, and quick to correct myths.
According to Engelbert, the distinction isn’t about ego — it’s about artistic intention.
“I was breaking rules when I came out in the ’60s,” he said. “I had the hair, the stage lights, the energy — I wasn’t trying to sound like Sinatra. I was trying to sound like Engelbert.”
This self-awareness resonates more deeply in 2025, as younger generations rediscover his catalog through digital remasters, YouTube performances, and TikTok trends. Songs like A Man Without Love have gained unexpected popularity in recent years — even featured in shows like Moon Knight — introducing him to millions who had never heard his name before.
Yet through it all, Engelbert insists on one thing: he never wanted to fit into a genre box.
“I recorded disco, country, ballads, gospel… I said yes to projects that felt right, even when critics didn’t get it. And I’d do it all again.”
When asked about regrets, he smiled gently.
“Regrets? None. I stayed true to myself. If some only remember me as ‘the man with the velvet voice,’ that’s fine. But I know what I was — a pop artist with soul.”
The hi-fi+ interview ends on a hopeful note, with Humperdinck hinting at one final studio album — a personal tribute to his global audience and to his late wife Patricia, who passed away in 2021. Though no release date is confirmed, he says it will be “his most honest work yet.”
At 89, Engelbert Humperdinck isn’t fading into nostalgia. He’s reclaiming his legacy — on his own terms, with a voice that still resonates, not only in melody, but in conviction.