Eurovision fever officially got underway on February 14 with the broadcast of "Our Song for Malmö." The program saw Germany select Eurodance trio Cascada to represent the country at this year’s song contest.
Image: picture alliance / rtn - radio tele nord
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The two-hour show, broadcast live from the TUI Arena in Hanover, was structured like a mini Eurovision Song Contest and featured all the familiar elements; a wide range of songs, an interval act courtesy of Lena Meyer-Landrut and of course a nail-biting voting process.
Hosted by broadcaster Anke Engelke, who alongside Stefan Raab and Judith Rakers fronted the finale in Düsseldorf in 2011, the program opened with a surprise appearance from Swedish singer Loreen, performing a live version of "Euphoria," the song which won the contest last year in Baku.
Credible and Diverse
With the preliminaries concluded, it was straight into the music. Twelve artists appeared with eight singing in English, the remaining four in their native German. Continuing the trend for very credible tracks established in 2010, the audience had a wide range of different styles to choose from. From the clinical, 80s-era synth beats of Ben Ivory and Blitzkids mvt to Latin American-flavored big band sounds from LaBrassBanda to tongue-in-cheek bubblegum pop courtesy of Betty Dittrich, there was a barely a genre which wasn't referenced.
On-stage larks: host Anke Engelke and 2010 victor Lena Meyer-LandrutImage: picture-alliance/dpa
Three-Part Voting Process
After all the performances and the brief interval appearance by Lena performing her current single "Neon," voting got underway with the results of the regional radio audience vote, delivered by representatives from each of the nine youth radio stations of the ARD broadcasting network.
The scale was tilted in favor of LaBrassBanda as every single station awarded the Chiemsee-based band the maximum 12 points.
However it was all change when attention turned to the official jury made up of last year’s Germany entrant Roman Lob, current singing sensation Tim Bendzko, official Eurovision commentator Peter Urban, 1984 competitor Mary Roos and actress and singer Anna Loos. Their twelve points went to New Romantic duo Blitzkids mvt and "Heart on the Line."
But it was the all-important TV viewers' vote which tilted the balance in favor of Eurodance trio Cascada who ended up closing the contest in first place with their track "Glorious," winning with 30 points in total. Runners up in second place were LaBrassBanda and finishing third, 14-piece outfit Söhne Mannheims, who mixed rap, reggae and soul.
A singer with a singular appearance: Nomi of Blitzkids mvt.Image: picture-alliance/dpa
The Experts Agree
Paul Jordan, known within the fraternity as Dr. Eurovision due to his Eurovision-related Doctor of Philosophy, while acknowledging its similarity to last year’s "Euphoria," liked the winning track.
"I think this one is very instant, and if we think back to Loreen, she showed it's possible to win with a dance track," he told DW. "It's a good omen that it's in my head after just one listen."
Eurovision aficionado and broadcaster Dave Goodman, a regular reporter at the event, also liked Germany's choice, pointing out that so far it is one of the few up-tempo tracks to have been chosen in the national selections.
"It's all about quality and instant appeal. Dance songs haven't traditionally triumphed at Eurovision, last year being the exception that proves the rule," he said, speaking from Tel Aviv. "Cascada will no doubt have a big hit in many of the voting nations before the contest. This could mean they do well in the end but it doesn't necessarily mean they'll win."
Germany at the Eurovision Song Contest
A look at more than 50 years of highlights from Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest.
Image: picture alliance / dpa
Over 50 years of ups and downs
Lena Meyer-Landrut's surprise win with "Satellite" in 2010 might have pushed Germany back into the Eurovision spotlight, but the country's relationship with the competition stretches right back to its launch in 1956. As Eurovision fever officially gets underway, DW takes a look at some of Germany's key moments from more than 50 years in the contest.
Playing the host in '57
Before the rule was established that the winning country hosted the next year's event, hosting duties were rotated among participating nations. Germany's turn came with the second contest. Broadcast from the studios of Hessischer Rundfunk in Frankfurt, this somewhat primitive production is a far cry from the contest's slick glamor now. Here is host Anaid Iplicjian (l) during the voting.
Image: HR/Kurt Bethke
Back-to-back zeros
One thing every country wants to avoid is the ignominy of being awarded no points whatsoever. Germany failed to garner any votes two years in a row. First in 1964 (with Nora Nova, pictured here) and again in 1965, putting the Swinging Sixties in the running for the country's worst decade at the contest.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa
A return to form
By the 1970s however, Germany was back with a hat trick of Top 5 placings on the finals board. Katja Ebstein represented Germany in 1970 and again in 1971 with "Wunder gibt es immer wieder" (Miracles Keep Happening) and "Diese Welt" (This World) respectively while Mary Roos (l) performed "Nur die Liebe läßt uns leben" (Only Love Lets us Live) in 1972. All three songs finished in third place.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa
Katja Ebstein's Eurovision trilogy
According to author John Kennedy O'Connor's official Eurovision history, singer Katja Ebstein is the most successful performer to have taken part in Eurovision without ever scoring a win. After her two high-charting songs in the early 70s, Katja was back representing Germany in the 1980 contest, finishing in second place with "Theater." The original Lena Meyer-Landrut you might say!
Image: Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
A little peace and a big win
After a handful of near misses, Germany finally scored a win in 1982 thanks to 17-year-old Nicole Seibert and her Cold War anthem, "Ein bißchen Frieden" (A Little Peace). It's still among the most popular and distinctive Eurovision songs, and its success inspired Germany to commission songwriter Ralph Siegel to compose no fewer than nine further entries for the country!
Image: picture-alliance/dpa
A return to hosting duties in '83
Germany was host nation for the 28th contest after their 1982 win. A divided Berlin meant the capital wasn't a practical option; instead the event was broadcast from Munich's Rudi Sedlmayer Hall. It was hosted by Marlene Charell, who announced points in three languages - leading the voting to drag on for over an hour. She also mangled her languages… awarding Sweden's points to Switzerland.
Image: imago stock&people
Gone with the wind...
Schlager outfit Wind have represented Germany at Eurovision three times and remain the only act in the history of the contest to finish in second place on two separate occasions. This feat was achieved at their 1985 debut where they performed "Für alle" (For All) and again in 1987 where they sang "Lass die Sonne in dein Herz" (Let the Sunshine into your Heart), the band's signature tune.
Image: imago stock&people
Still riding high in the 90s
Germany never managed a win throughout this decade but still came close with two admirable placings on the finals board. First in 1994, thanks to perky girl group trio Mekado, and again in 1999 with the German-Turkish six-piece band Sürpriz (pictured), Germany ended up in the Top 5; both songs closed the contest in third place.
Image: imago/Sven Simon
Where was Germany in '96?
As one of the five biggest financial contributors to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which hosts Eurovision, Germany now automatically qualifies for the final. That wasn't always the case, though. Due to record numbers wanting to participate in '96, the EBU introduced pre-selection to ensure only 23 nations made it through. Germany failed to qualify.
Image: Picture-Alliance/Photoshot
The voice of Eurovision
In more than fifty years at the contest, Germany has rotated through an ever-changing parade of some 23 broadcasters who provide the commentary for domestic TV and radio audiences. Consistency was established in 1997 with the arrival of radio host Peter Urban. With the exception of 2009, when illness kept him away, he's been behind the microphone at every Eurovision since his debut.
Image: imago stock&people
The Lena phenomenon
28 years since their previous win - and with performances and songs varying from the average to the outright abysmal - Germany returned to form in 2010, scooping the trophy with a slick pop track performance by young singer Lena with "Satellite." The quirky 19-year-old singer was credited with injecting Eurovision with some much-needed credibility.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa
Germany hosts again in 2011
It was a surprise to many when Düsseldorf and not Berlin was announced as host city for the 56th Eurovision Song Contest. The Esprit Arena on the northern bank of the River Rhine staged a spectacular show, combining the Germans' legendary efficiency with their love of a rowdy party. Lena returned to defend her title while media mogul Stefan Raab hosted alongside Anke Engelke and Judith Rakers.
Image: dapd
2013 and beyond...
This year sees Cascada take to the stage representing Germany with the track "Glorious". Whether the trio will lead the country to a third victory or crash and burn with the dreaded "0 Points" remains to be seen. Despite eleven countries declining to participate this year, a global television audience in excess of 120 million will certainly be tuning in to watch the tops and flops on May 18th!
Image: picture alliance / dpa
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Success in Malmö?
While countries periodically tend to re-jig the way in which their entry is selected, Dave Goodman says in the long-run how the song is chosen tends not to make a difference in the final.
"I think involving many people in a vote doesn't necessarily translate into success at the contest," he pointed out. "Often it's more useful for dragging out the national final to make it more exciting!"
How Germany will fare in the televized grand finale on May 18th is still unclear - and at this stage, with the majority of countries not yet having selected their entry, impossible to predict. One thing is clear to Dr. Eurovision Paul Jordan however: Germany is proving to be an engaging addition to the contest.
"I think the developments in Germany have been fascinating and have shown that it is totally possible to transform the fortunes of a country in Eurovision," he said. "Germany's songs have been so diverse, and I think that's to the credit of the organizers of the national final. A lot of countries should look to Germany as an example of best practice."
Not heard Germany's entry for Eurovision 2013 yet? Then stream "Glorious" from Cascada below!
