Star has ennobled song

Letter carrier and composer delivers Hansi’s new hit

Letter carrier and amateur composer Dietmar Klingler (left) created the song that Hansi Hinterseer now sings.(Bild: zoom.tirol/Daniel Scharinger/Krone KREATIV)

Dieter Klingler looks back on life with "I sitz auf an Stoa", which also moved superstar Hansi Hinterseer. He has ennobled the song and published his version. A great reason for joy and an honor for the amateur composer. 

The year 2018, a break during a cycling trip in his home town of Alpbach. Letter carrier and amateur composer Dieter Klingler is sitting on a stone by a rushing stream, watching his family, thinking contentedly about his life - and a suitable song strikes his head like a bolt of lightning. "I immediately sang the melody, lyrics and title on my cell phone and then went straight to the rehearsal room at home." The rough version of "I sitz auf an Stoa" was finished within an hour. "Life has given me so much", it says - and actually there were only "a few songs that I shouldn't have done".

Soon after I had the idea for the song, I thought to myself that it was actually composed for Hansi. No one could sing it more authentically.

Dietmar Klingler

Calls from people who recognize themselves in the song
When performing with his former group "Tiroler Alpenbummler", he immediately realizes that this song moves people - "and many have called me over the years and asked if I wrote the song for them personally, because it very much applies to their own lives. Sometimes tears even flowed," says the 51-year-old in his small recording studio. And during the "Krone" visit, he reaches for the accordion with which he tried out the first notes of the hit.

Most requested song at radio station U1
Radio station U1 subsequently plays the song frequently. "For a while, it was the most requested song on the request hotline," recalls the composer of around 50 songs in total. In 2020, a video was added, filmed by a rushing torrent.

"At some point, Hansi Hinterseer became aware of 'Stoa'. And he ennobled the song by releasing his version in autumn 2023 - for his 70th birthday and 30th stage anniversary," says Klingler.

If I like something, I just do it. I heard the song "I sitz auf an Stoa" three years ago and I was immediately fascinated by it.

Hansi Hinterseer

Presented on his 70th birthday
Did he ever expect it? "Honestly, it was always in the back of my mind," muses the Alpbach native, "because no one else can convey the 'Stoa' more authentically than Hansi." The Kitzbühel star demonstrated this in the TV documentary surrounding his 70th birthday, among other things. Right at the beginning, the cinematic retrospective is accompanied by the 'Stoa' melody, at the end the music video can be seen in Hansi's version, also filmed at a torrent.

Hansi sings "I sitz auf an Stoa" on stage.(Bild: Scharinger Daniel)

Hansi was "immediately fascinated" by the song
Hansi reveals: "I heard the song three years ago and I was immediately fascinated by it." Does the star sometimes sit pensively "on a stoa"? "While working on the documentary and because of the numerous interviews about the 70s, the memories come up as well as those moments when I look back. In general, however, I'm someone who prefers to look forward."

Studio instead of stage: "Hansi maybe just the beginning"
Dieter has now left the vagabond life and the short nights as a musician behind him and is concentrating on composing. "I'm putting all my heart and soul into it, I've got some music coming out this year - and maybe Hansi is just the beginning."

A meeting between the Alpbach "hit supplier" and his prominent customer is planned for the near future, probably with a photo by a beautiful torrent.