Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest 1961

  • Rudolf Maluck
  • Ernst Bader
Finals performanceFinal result13th, 3 pointsGermany in the Eurovision Song Contest
◄1960 • 1961 • 1962►

Germany was represented by Lale Andersen, with the song "Einmal sehen wir uns wieder", at the 1961 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 18 March in Cannes, France. "Einmal sehen wir uns wieder" was chosen at the German national final held on 25 February.

Andersen was arguably the best-known singer yet to have taken part at Eurovision, being famous throughout Europe and beyond as the originator of "Lili Marleen", one of the most iconic songs of the Second World War. Aged 55 on the night of the contest, she was also the oldest, a record she would hold until 57-year-old Dado Topić took to the stage for Croatia in 2007.

Before Eurovision

National final

The national final was held on 25 February at the Kurtheater in Bad Homburg vor der Höhe, hosted by Heinz Schenk. Thirteen songs took part, with the winner being decided by a 21-member jury. It is not known by what method the songs were scored, and only the top four placements are currently known. One of the other participants was Christa Williams, who had represented Switzerland at Eurovision in 1959.[1]

Final - 25 February 1961
Draw Artist Song Place
1 Dieter Thomas Heck "Was tut man nicht alles aus Liebe" -
2 Friedel Hensch "Colombino (ich weiß ein Tag wird kommen)" -
3 Franck Forster "Es war ein reizender Abend" 3=
4 Christa Williams "Pedro" -
5 Fred Bertelmann "Ticke-ticke-tack" 2
6 Heinz Sagner "Jeden Tag voll Sonnenschein" -
7 Renée Franke "Napolitano" -
8 Rolf Simson "Wer das Spiel kennt" 3=
9 Ernst Lothar "Dich hat das Schicksal für mich bestimmt" -
10 Lale Andersen "Einmal sehen wir uns wieder" 1
11 Bobby Franco "Langsamer Walzer" -
12 Peggy Brown "Du bist meine Welt" -
13 Detlef Engel "Nach Mitternacht" -

At Eurovision

On the night of the final Lale Andersen performed 8th in the running order, following Sweden and preceding France. The song featured Andersen's trademark spoken-word singing style and was also unusual for including a refrain sung entirely in French, which was legitimate as at the time the European Broadcasting Union had yet to introduce any specific rules regarding language of performance. However "Einmal sehen wir uns wieder" failed to find much favour with the international jurors, picking up just 3 points and placing Germany 13th of the 16 entries. The German jury awarded 5 of its 10 points to contest winners Luxembourg.[2]

Voting

Every country had a jury of ten people. Every jury member could give one point to his or her favourite song.

Points awarded to Germany[3]
Score Country
1 point
Points awarded by Germany[3]
Score Country
5 points  Luxembourg
4 points  France
1 point  Netherlands

References

  1. ^ ESC National Finals database 1961
  2. ^ ESC History - Germany 1961
  3. ^ a b "Results of the Final of Cannes 1961". Eurovision Song Contest. Archived from the original on 28 March 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
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ParticipationArtists
Songs
  • "Always on the Run"
  • "Anouschka"
  • "Aufrecht geh'n"
  • "Ein bißchen Frieden"
  • "Black Smoke"
  • "Blood & Glitter"
  • "Bonne nuit ma chérie"
  • "Can't Wait Until Tonight"
  • "Diese Welt"
  • "Dieser Traum darf niemals sterben"
  • "Disappear"
  • "Dschinghis Khan"
  • "Einmal sehen wir uns wieder"
  • "Feuer"
  • "Flieger"
  • "Frauen regier'n die Welt"
  • "Frei zu leben"
  • "Für alle"
  • "Für zwei Groschen Musik"
  • "Ghost"
  • "Glorious"
  • "Guildo hat euch lieb!"
  • "Heute Abend wollen wir tanzen geh'n"
  • "Ein Hoch der Liebe"
  • "I Can't Live Without Music"
  • "I Don't Feel Hate"
  • "Im Wartesaal zum großen Glück"
  • "Is It Right"
  • "Johnny Blue"
  • "Junger Tag"
  • "Lass die Sonne in dein Herz"
  • "Let's Get Happy"
  • "Lied für einen Freund"
  • "Ein Lied kann eine Brücke sein"
  • "Man gewöhnt sich so schnell an das Schöne"
  • "Marcel"
  • "Miss Kiss Kiss Bang"
  • "No No Never"
  • "Nur die Liebe läßt uns leben"
  • "Paradies, wo bist du?"
  • "Perfect Life"
  • "Planet of Blue"
  • "Primaballerina"
  • "Reise nach Jerusalem – Kudüs'e Seyahat"
  • "Rockstars"
  • "Rücksicht"
  • "Run & Hide"
  • "Satellite"
  • "Sing Sang Song"
  • "Sister"
  • "So geht das jede Nacht"
  • "Die Sommermelodie"
  • "Standing Still"
  • "Taken by a Stranger"
  • "Telefon, Telefon"
  • "Telegram"
  • "Theater"
  • "Träume sind für alle da"
  • "Über die Brücke geh'n"
  • "Verliebt in Dich"
  • "Viel zu weit"
  • "Violent Thing"
  • "Wadde hadde dudde da?"
  • "Wer Liebe lebt"
  • "Wir geben 'ne Party"
  • "Wunder gibt es immer wieder"
  • "You Let Me Walk Alone"
  • "Die Zeiger der Uhr"
  • "Zeit"
  • "Zwei kleine Italiener"
  • Note: Entries scored out signify where Germany did not compete
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Countries
Artists
Songs
  • "Al di là"
  • "Allons, allons les enfants"
  • "Angelique"
  • "April, april"
  • "Are You Sure?"
  • "Einmal sehen wir uns wieder"
  • "Estando contigo"
  • "Neke davne zvezde"
  • "Nous aurons demain"
  • "Nous les amoureux"
  • "Printemps, avril carillonne"
  • "Sehnsucht"
  • "September, gouden roos"
  • "Sommer i Palma"
  • "Valoa ikkunassa"
  • "Wat een dag"