Germany

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.

Malmö Messages: A draw among the Big 5 and Sweden

The big five and Sweden had their second rehearsal today. However, there is more happening: the draw also took place to decide in which part of the show the participants will perform. There is a change happening: half of the countries will draw a ‘producers choice‘. They can be placed anywhere. United Kingdom He might have called it the most homosexual act ever. Olly Alexander has four dancers around him, who seem to be dancing around each other somewhat combatively. The men have bare torsos, except for Olly’s torn shirt. Whether it is indeed the most homosexual act ever or not? No idea, but not much is left to the imagination. He seems to be rising in the bookmakers’ ratings, where he is now in tenth place. Olly Alexander drew the first half of the final. Germany Little has changed since last time for Germany. The act was already so well-defined that there is little left to change. The singing is important in the German entry. But whether Isaak makes enough of an impression to break Germany’s negative streak remains to be seen. The bookmakers give him a 23rd place. Isaak drew in the first half of the final. Sweden The Swedes are number three in line to create a full music video of their performance. It is exactly the same performance as during Melodifestivalen. We see Marcus and Martinus everywhere and nowhere. This afternoon in the press center, someone enthusiastically told of having done five interviews with them. We already knew that Sweden will open the final. France Less is more, the French must have thought. Slimane stands alone on the stage in white clothing while singing his “Mon amour”. He stands, sits, and lies down while singing. The a cappella part makes a deep impression. The bookmakers currently predict just shy of a top-5 spot, placing him sixth. France will perform in the second half of the final. Spain With a lot of gold in the background, a red sofa, and the two members of Nebulossa in black clothing, the act is complete. The lyrics of “Zorra” caused a lot of controversy, but the Spanish audience enthusiastically roars along with the song. The bookmakers have no faith in it. They rank the song in 24th place. Nebulossa drew producers’ choice this afternoon. Italy Fortunately, not everything remains exactly the same as during the previous rehearsal. Angelina Mango has a different dress: a black one, with much fewer flowers on it. That makes the overall busy impression during the performance a bit less intense. “La Noia” is currently fourth with the bookmakers. Angelina Mango drew producers’ choice. As mentioned, except for Italy, there are few changes. The big five and Sweden will be heard and seen for the first time during the semifinals, so there are equal opportunities for everyone. We think: abolish the big five if they really want equal chances. But then, who are we…

Malmö Messages: The Big Five plus Sweden

We haven’t heard from the big five plus Sweden yet. Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the host Sweden automatically qualify for the final. They had their rehearsal tonight. The United Kingdom was the first to rehearse. If you think you have ended up in the locker room of a boxing match; this is still the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö. Olly Alexander is wearing red pants and a white shirt. His hands are taped up. Around him are a number of dancers in red shorts and with bare chests. According to eurovision.tv, the camera moves in such a way that it seems as if the room is spinning. It could make you “Dizzy”. Isaak, representing Germany, appears to be in a very luxurious living room while singing his song “Always on the run”. We see a fire pit, lots of flames, and the cube coming down again. Isaak himself is dressed in black and is flanked by four backup singers; live singing matters here too. Marcus and Martinus are performing “Unforgettable” for Sweden. And as usual, the Swedes have the exact same act on stage as they did during Melodifestivalen. The twins are dressed in blue and black. On the LED screens behind them, and on the cube above them, many colors and patterns are visible. Occasionally, the title of the song also appears. The act is the same, but huge. The contestant for France, Slimane, is dressed in white during his “Mon amour”. He starts lying down and sings the first part of the song on his knees. Later, he stands behind the microphone and steps away from it to sing the last piece a cappella. The smoke machine does its job. The Spanish duo Nebulossa rehearsed next. Their song “Zorra” starts from the cube, which is now not hanging but has come all the way down. Mery is wearing pants with wide legs and a blouse with large puff sleeves. The red sofa, which Mery also was standing on during the national final, has come along to Malmö. There is smoke on the floor throughout the performance. Angelina Mango will perform for Italy in a red dress. On her arms and legs, we see some sort of plant images. The four dancers emerge from four large cubes to lift Angelina. She stands among them in front of a large throne made of branches. The whole scene is set against a backdrop of a sort of forest with bare trees. In short, there will be much to see during “La Noia.”

🇩🇪 Road to Malmö: Germany

We can not wait for the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö. Therefore, we have a closer look at one of the contestants every day. Today: Germany. Isaak Isaak Guderian, a gifted German singer and musical actor born in 1996 in Minden and raised in Costedt, has etched a remarkable path in the music industry, stemming from a musical household that laid the foundation for his early interest in guitar and piano. Embarking on his musical journey with street performances at just twelve, Guderian’s talent became evident when his rendition of Oasis’s “Wonderwall” on the X Factor TV show won the hearts of many at fifteen. Transitioning to a solo career by eighteen, he navigated through performances at various events until the pandemic shifted his course temporarily towards reliance on unemployment benefits. Another moment in 2021 saw Guderian clinching victory in the Show your Talent online contest, catapulting him into streaming success and garnering accolades from international stars like Pink. With hits like “Water to the Seed” and “Impact” amassing over a million streams each, and the chart-topping collaboration “Baby Steps” with DJ David Puentez, his career reached new heights. Guderian’s triumph in the German Eurovision selection for 2024 with “Always On The Run” further solidified his status as a notable talent. Residing in Valdorf with his wife Loreen and their two sons, Isaak Guderian continues to captivate and inspire with his musical prowess. Eurovision Song Contest – Das Deutsche Finale Prior to the German final Eurovision Song Contest – Das Deutsche Finale a talent show was held: Ich Will Zum ESC! Coached by Conchita Wurst and Rea Garvey, 15 talents competed for a ticket to the final. The show was won by Floryan. He was one of the 9 competitors in the final. Another contestant was returning artist Max Mutzke, who previously represented Germany in the 2004 Eurovision final. Marie Reim, the daughter of famous schlager singer Matthias Reim, was also part of the competition. But in the end, it was Isaak who won. Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest The only country participating in ALL the Eurovision Song Contests is Germany. Only in 1996, Leon did not reach the final with his “Planet of Blue”, as the song did not survive an audio final. A lot of times, Germany was close to winning. Only two times it really happened: in 1982 with Nicole‘s “Ein bißchen Frieden” and in 2010 with Lena‘s “Sattelite”. The last couple of years, Germany seems to have lost it, with very low scores. The Bookmakers Currently, the bookmakers predict a 29th place in the odds. Germany is automatically placed in the final, but the score is not too promising. However, we don’t know as staging and performance can also lift a song. Let’s wait and see. The song And this is the song:

Isaak

©EBU/Alma Bengtsson About Quick Facts NameIsaak Guderian Born1996 Nationality🇩🇪 German National SelectionDas Deutsche Finale 2024 In Eurovision2024 Malmö SongAlways On The Run (2024) Biography Isaak Guderian is a German singer and musical actor, born in Minden in 1996 and raised in Costedt. His musical journey began early, nurtured by his family’s musical background, where he quickly took to learning the guitar and piano. From the tender age of twelve, Guderian ventured into street music, courageously sharing his initial songs with the public. His musical prowess caught wider attention at 15 when he participated in the X Factor TV casting show, captivating audiences with his rendition of Oasis’s “Wonderwall”. Embarking on a solo career at 18, Guderian performed at various events and parties. However, the pandemic’s event bans forced him into a period of reliance on Hartz IV, Germany’s unemployment benefits. A turning point came in 2021 when Guderian triumphed in the Show your Talent online talent show, leading to a successful career earning from streaming platforms and his YouTube channel, where even the megastar Pink has praised his abilities, commenting, “Wow, this boy can sing.” Guderian’s discography includes hits like “Water to the Seed” and “Impact,” each surpassing a million streams on Amazon. His latest collaboration with DJ David Puentez, “Baby Steps,” soared to the top of the iTunes charts. In 2024, Guderian won the German selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 with his song “Always On The Run.” The song reached a 12th place in the Grand Final of Eurovision. Currently, Guderian resides in Valdorf, Westphalia, with his wife Loreen and their two sons, where he continues to inspire with his musical talent. Entries Always On The Run Country🇩🇪 Germany Year2024 LanguageEnglish LyricsGreg TaroIsaak GuderianLostLeo Jupiter MusicGreg TaroIsaak GuderianKevin LehrLeo Salminen BackingsAfra BoboFabian HauptGreg TaroNick March Results Semi Points: –Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: 117Position: 12Running order: 3 https://youtu.be/kVOHTxFOhak?si=zHmUVpUIqcc7VVpR

🇩🇪 Isaak represents Germany in Malmö

Isaak won Das Deutsche Finale, the German preselection for the Eurovision Song Contest. He will sing the song “Always on the run”, written and composed by Greg Taro, Isaak Guderian, Kevin Lehr and Leo Salminen. That is what the German audience and an international expert jury decided. Both agreed on Isaak’s victory. The full result of the contest is this: Isaak, “Always on the run”, 24 pts. Max Mutzke, “Forever strong”, 20 pts. Ryk, “Oh boy”, 13 pts. Bodine Monet, “Tears like rain”, 12 pts. Galant, “Katze”, 11 pts. Marie Reim, “Naiv”, 10 pts. Ninetynine, “Love on a budget”, 6 pts. Floryan, “Scars”, 3 pts. Leona, “Undream you”, 3 pts.

🇩🇪 Germany selects a song tonight

Tonight is the night of Das Deutsche Finale, the German final for the Eurovision Song Contest. Nine songs will compete from Studio Berlin Adlershof. The show will be hosted by Barbara Schöneberger. An international jury and televoters will select a song on a 50/50 base. The show starts at 22:05 CET. You can watch it here and here. These are the 9 entries: nr Title Artist 1 Love on a budget Ninetynine 2 Undream you Leona 3 Always on the run Isaak 4 Katze Galant 5 Scars Floryan 6 Tears like rain Bodine Monet 7 Oh boy Ryk 8 Naiv Marie Reim 9 Forever strong Max Mutzke Ryk was 3rd in the 2018 national final.Max Mutzke represented Germany in the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Can’t wait until tonight”.

🇩🇪 Floryan wins “Ich Will Zum ESC!”

After an exciting evening, in which three artists presented a possible German Eurovision entry, it’s Floryan who won the ticket to the German final. Floryan, the only member of team Rea (Rea Garvey) sang the song “Scars”. Both of the other contestants were members of team Conchita (Conchita Wurst). Although Anne Im (“Yellow brick road”) and Luca M. Wefes (“Farben neuer Tag”) also gained a lot of cheers from the audience, it was Floryan who received the most votes. The German final will be held on February 16.

🇩🇪 Germany: final of Ich will zum ESC!

Tonight the final of the show Ich will zum ESC! (I wanna go to ESC) will be held. Out of three candidates, one will be added to the German final next week. The coaches are Conchita Wurst and Rea Garvey. The show starts at 22:00 and you can watch it here and here. The three contestants are: Anne Im (team Conchita) Floryan (team Rea) Luca M. Wefes (team Conchita) A fourth candidate, Bibiane Z. (team Rea), had to withdraw due to an illness.

RiskyKidd

© Albin Olsson About Quick Facts NameShane Schuller Born17 June 1994 NationalityUnknown National SelectionEurosong 2014 – A Mad Show In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongRise Up (2014, with Freaky Fortune) Biography Shane Schuller, known better by his stage name RiskyKidd, is a British-Greek rapper and singer. He was born on 17 June 1994 in London, England, to a Jamaican father and a German mother. His musical career gained momentum when he moved to Greece at the age of 13. RiskyKidd’s distinct multicultural background influences his unique music style, blending elements from various genres. RiskyKidd began his music journey as a rapper, participating in school performances and local shows. His talent caught the attention of music labels, leading to his initial signing. In 2010, he collaborated with the successful Greek hip-hop group NEVMA for the song “Emena Thes,” which increased his recognition in the Greek music industry. The rapper garnered international attention when he represented Greece alongside the duo Freaky Fortune in the Eurovision Song Contest 2014. They performed the song “Rise Up,” which won them a 20th place in the competition. Despite not winning, the contest boosted RiskyKidd’s exposure and led to further opportunities in the music scene. He releases his music independently through Melody Gang, a joint venture with Gio Melody. RiskyKidd released numerous singles, but his first album came out in 2016: “I am RiskyKidd”. Songs like “Bang” and “Fire in the Night” followed. Two years later the song “Diamonds” came out. In May 2021 he released a single, “Demise”. In November of the same year, the album “I am RiskyKidd II” was released. In May 2022, the song “Smooth operator” and “Top G” were published. Entries Rise Up (& Freaky Fortune) Country🇬🇷 Greece Year2014 LanguageEnglish LyricsNikolas RaptakisTheophilus PouzbourisRiskyKidd MusicRiskyKidd Backings Mihalis ZeisVasilis Manthopoulos DancersArthour Geremyan (trampoline) Results Semi Points: 74Position: 7Running order: 13 Results Finals Points: 35Position: 20Running order: 10 https://youtu.be/c9y6A1uXLn8