Blast from the past: Germany 1958
We know a lot about Eurovision and we want to share this knowledge with you! Therefore we’d like to bring you a blast from the past. Today, we go way back: to 1958, when Margot Hielscher sang her “Für Zwei Groschen Musik” for Germany. Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest Germany has always participated in the Eurovision Song Contest. Only in 1996 they didn’t manage to survive the audio semifinal. Germany managed to have high positions very often, but it was only in 1982 when the country had their first victory: Nicole managed to win the contest with her song “Ein bißchen Frieden”. In 2010 it happened again. Lena won with “Sattelite”. In recent years, Germany seems to have lost it with many songs ending up in last place or close to the last place. Michael Schulte was the exception with a 4th place in 2018. And this year, Isaak was 12th, so the only way is up for Germany. Lena Schlager 1958 Little is known about the 1958 national final. We know that it was held on the 20th of January in the Kleine Westfalenhalle in Dortmund. Eurovision 1957 host Anaid Iplikjan and Kurt A. Jung hosted the show. Twelve artists sang one song each. We know the singers, but only three titles of songs: Evelyn Künneke Erni Bieler Fred Bertelmann Gitta Lind sang “Etwas Leise Musik“ Lale Andersen sang “Die Braut der Sieben Meere“, 4th place Vico Torriani John Paris Margret Fürer Margot Hielscher sang “Für Zwei Groschen Musik“, 1st place Georg Thomalla Peter Lorenz Fred Weyrich We know that one of the songs was called “Drei Häuse Weiter”. However, it is unclear who sang it. source: Eurovision Artists Lale Andersen Margot Hielscher Margot Hielscher was born on September 29, 1919, in Berlin, Germany. She trained as a costume and fashion designer in the 1930s. While studying, she met famous singers and actors and decided to learn to sing and act as well. She worked in film as a costume designer before getting her first acting role in 1940. Margot became a popular actress during World War II, acting and singing in many films. She also toured as a singer to entertain soldiers. After the war, she performed for GIs and worked on the radio. In 1957 and 1958, Margot represented Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest. Hielscher appeared in 60 films and about 200 TV shows during her career. She was also known for her many singing performances and recorded over 400 songs. In the 1950s, she hosted Germany’s first TV talk show. Margot married film composer Friedrich Meyer in 1959. She lived in Munich for most of her life. Even in her later years, she continued to perform on stage. Margot Hielscher passed away on August 20, 2017, at the age of 97. She was buried in Munich next to her husband, Friedrich Meyer, who died in 1993. Margot Hielscher; photo Beeld en Geluid Für Zwei Groschen Musik “They chose miss Germany, miss France and miss Italy. There’s even a miss Fashion and miss Leg. But because everybody loves music, and there is no miss Jukebox yet, I would like to be miss Jukebox.”, that’s how the lyrics started. “Für Zwei Groschen Musik” (Music for Two Pennies) is a German song performed by Margot Hielscher at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1958. The music for the song was composed by Friedrich Meyer, who was Hielscher’s husband. The lyrics were written by Aldo von Pinelli and Ralph Maria Siegel. The song is a charming, nostalgic piece that speaks about enjoying simple pleasures in life, like music, which can bring happiness even when money is scarce. Margot Hielscher performed the song as Germany’s entry at the Eurovision Song Contest, held in Hilversum, the Netherlands. The contest took place on March 12, 1958. Hielscher’s performance stood out for its elegance and simplicity, and she sang the song with grace, wearing a stylish outfit and using a telephone prop on stage, just as she had the year before. While wearing a dress with a ‘Miss Jukebox’ sash, and having a vinyl single in her hands throughout the entire song, Margot scored only 5 points. “Für Zwei Groschen Musik” finished in seventh place.