Manuela Horn is a woman of many titles. She’s known as the “Austrian Amazon” for her height (6’2″ flatfooted) the “Queen of Oktoberfest” for headlining as an Oktoberfest hostess around the world, and my favorite, the personality that has gained Manuela the most notoriety– the “Yodeling Dominatrix,” an act that shows off her ability to crack a whip and carry a tune at the same time. Manuela says she developed her yodeling talents when she was 12 and practiced while on long family road trips through Austria.

In 2009 she yodeled her way onto the stage of America’s Got Talent, where she knocked the socks off of judges Piers Morgan, Sharon Osbourne, and David Hasselhoff. You can witness her performance here:

The Yodeling Dominatrix appears on Americas got Talent 2009 from Manuela Horn on Vimeo.

Manuela has mixed her comedy and music abilities to perform with several theatrical groups, but one of her longest running associations is with Teatro Zinzanni, a dinner and theater show that’s based out of the Seattle area. They opened new shows in San Francisco and Chicago and Manuela was sent to the Midwest to perform at the new show located in the Cambria Hotel in Chicago’s Theatre District. But just as the show was starting to get rolling, the pandemic brought the curtain down. Like so many performers around the world, Manuela found herself without a live audience, so she headed home to Graz, Austria.

At home she’s found time for other projects. Manuela’s music is super fun and all gimmicks aside, she’s a great yodeler and singer. She’s been learning to master the accordion, and even participated in a special accordion performance with Puddle’s Pity Party and “Weird Al” Yankovic. She also recorded one of the kinkiest holiday albums of all time– The Naughty Christmas Album. Yodel-lay-hee-OW!

I recently spoke to Manuela to talk about her career and asked her some Valentine’s Day advice. An excerpt of the interview follows, you can hear the whole interview on this week’s Tea’s Weird Week podcast.

Tea: Is Valentine’s Day celebrated in Austria?

Manuela: It is, but it’s not as highlighted or how would you say– celebrated– as you would do in America, like in America at school you would bring cards and stuff– we don’t do that. But our industry is trying to push all the chocolates and flowers on to the guys to surprise the girls or whatever love you share, you give your love something in that direction. But it is on our calendar.

Tea: Is yodeling romantic? Is it sexy?

Manuela: Oh my God, like I said if someone pokes the right spot I would say you go (gives an orgasmic sounding yodel)! If you haven’t heard that in the bedroom, you’ve been with the wrong lover. (laughs)

Tea: What advice do you have for people who are lonely and want romance this year?

Manuela: Especially in this pandemic! I guess left hand and right hand– give them some love, lotion those hands. Be good to yourself, I would say go out there and find someone but with the pandemic it’s me, myself, and I think– fuck it, order yourself some flowers and chocolate and champagne. You don’t have to share it, this year you can drink and eat it all by yourself. Man that’s– look on the bright side!

Tea: Is there a romantic phrase in German you can teach us?

Manuela: How about…Mein schnuckiputzi ich hab dich lieb.
Tea: (Tries to say it but fumbles)
Manuela: Very close. But it means something like my pumpkin, I love you very much.

Tea: Awww that’s great. I’m going to make a Valentine card that says that.

Manuela: Yeah, Snuckiputzi is a great word. Ooh, maybe I need to write a song now!

You can find Manuela on social media and her website, www.manuelahorn.com

Tea’s Weird Week episode 05: Tea talks to Manuela Horn in a cheeky interview about her career that includes demonstrations of her yodeling ability. Tea and Heidi discuss weird news including a fetus who is about to drop an album, a French orgy bust, reality manipulating technology, and the many lives of Mothman. Miss Information reveals our first trivia winner and we close out with a special Valentine’s Day treat: Manuela Horn’s yodelfied version of “Tainted Love.”

Listen here: https://teasweirdweek.podbean.com/e/teas-weird-week-episode-05-ask-a-yodeling-dominatrix/
For more podcast platforms we’re on, check out the Tea’s Weird Week page: https://teakrulos.com/teas-weird-week-podcast-4/

Check out my books:

American Madness: The Story of the Phantom Patriot and How Conspiracy Theories Hijacked American Consciousness: bookshop.org/books/american-madness-the-story-of-the-phantom-patriot-and-how-conspiracy-theories-hijacked-american-consciousness/9781627310963
Tea’s Weird Week: 2020 Review (e-book): https://www.amazon.com/Teas-Weird-Week-2020-Review-ebook/dp/B08SGL97YJ/ref=sr_1_1