Ein Lied Kann Eine Brücke Sein
Encyclopedia
"Ein Lied kann eine Brücke sein" ("A Song Can Be a Bridge") was the German
entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1975
, performed primarily in German
by Joy Fleming
. The song was composed by Rainer Pietsch, who would go on to co-write several of French disco queen Amanda Lear
's hits in the late 70s and early 80s, and the lyrics were written by Michael Holm
, a successful singer in his own right with a large number of hits on the German Hit Parades all through the 70s.
On stage in Stockholm, Joy Fleming was backed by three British singers, Madeline Bell
of Blue Mink
and the duo Sue and Sunny
. Although not German speakers, the trio nevertheless sang the backing which included the last chorus performed in English. Sue and Sunny had been in the original line up of Brotherhood of Man
(although they had left the group long before the band entered and won Eurovision in 1976) and had backed Lulu
in Madrid
on "Boom Bang-a-Bang
" when she won the contest in 1969. They would return to provide backing at the next Swedish based contest, in Gothenburg 1985, backing Vikki Watson's "Love Is
" for the UK. Sue Glover also participated in A Song for Europe
, the UK selection contest for Eurovision in 1981. She performed as lead singer of the female group Unity who came last with "For Only a Day".
"Ein Lied kann eine Brücke sein" is notable in the history of the Contest for a number of reasons, one of them composer Rainer Pietsch's unconventional and highly energetic count-in as he conducted the orchestra in Stockholm; Pietsch loudly stomped his foot and yelled "One, two! One, two, three, four!" and right before the second verse he suddenly made a leap in the air. Footage of Pietch's fervent footstomping and jumping is frequently featured in German Eurovision documentaries.
The song is a dramatic and soul
influenced ballad, with Fleming singing that a song can be the means of changing oneself and reaching goals. Fleming also recorded the song in English, as "Bridge of Love".
The song was performed fourth on the night (following France
's Nicole Rieu
with "Et bonjour à toi l'artiste
" and preceding Luxembourg
's Géraldine
with "Toi
"). At the close of voting, it had received 15 points, placing 17th in a field of 19.
Despite its relatively low placing, the song has become something of a fan favourite, with the commemorative CDs released to coincide with the Congratulations
special in late 2005 featuring it. It has also been covered by a wide range of other artists over the past three decades, including fellow German Eurovision participant Guildo Horn
, and in 2002 it gave the title to Eurovision historian Jan Feddersen's anthology Ein Lied kann eine Brücke sein : die Deutsche und Internationale Geschichte des Grand Prix Eurovision (translated: A Song Can Be a Bridge - The German and International Entries to the Eurovision Song Contest).
It was succeeded as German representative
at the 1976 Contest
by the Les Humphries Singers
with "Sing Sang Song
".
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1975
Eurovision Song Contest 1975
The Eurovision Song Contest 1975 was the 20th edition of the contest hosted by SR and held in Stockholm, Sweden. The arena for the event was the newly built Stockholm International Fairs in Älvsjö in southern Stockholm. ABBA's victory in Brighton the previous year gave Sweden the right to host the...
, performed primarily in German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
by Joy Fleming
Joy Fleming
Joy Fleming is a German singer who is probably best-known for her performance in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1975...
. The song was composed by Rainer Pietsch, who would go on to co-write several of French disco queen Amanda Lear
Amanda Lear
Amanda Lear is a French singer, lyricist, composer, painter, TV presenter, actress and novelist....
's hits in the late 70s and early 80s, and the lyrics were written by Michael Holm
Michael Holm
Michael Holm is a German singer, musician, songwriter and producer.He is primarily known as a Schlager singer. Although his first appearance in the hit parade was in 1962 , he had his first big hit in 1969...
, a successful singer in his own right with a large number of hits on the German Hit Parades all through the 70s.
On stage in Stockholm, Joy Fleming was backed by three British singers, Madeline Bell
Madeline Bell
Madeline Bell is an American soul singer, who became famous as a performer in the United Kingdom during the 1960s, having arrived from the US in the gospel show Black Nativity in 1962, with vocal group The Bradford Singers.-Career:She worked as a session singer, most notably backing for Dusty...
of Blue Mink
Blue Mink
Blue Mink was a British five-piece pop group, that existed from 1969 to 1974. Over that period they had six Top 20 hit singles in the UK Singles Chart, and released five studio based albums...
and the duo Sue and Sunny
Sue and Sunny
Sue and Sunny were a vocal duo and session singers operating in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Although sisters, their full stage names were Sue Glover and Sunny Leslie...
. Although not German speakers, the trio nevertheless sang the backing which included the last chorus performed in English. Sue and Sunny had been in the original line up of Brotherhood of Man
Brotherhood of Man
Brotherhood of Man are a British pop group who achieved success in the 1970s, most notably by winning the 1976 Eurovision Song Contest with "Save Your Kisses for Me"....
(although they had left the group long before the band entered and won Eurovision in 1976) and had backed Lulu
Lulu (singer)
Lulu Kennedy-Cairns, OBE , best known by her stage name Lulu, is a Scottish singer, actress, and television personality who has been successful in the entertainment business from the 1960s through to the present day...
in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
on "Boom Bang-a-Bang
Boom Bang-a-Bang
"Boom Bang-a-Bang" was the United Kingdom entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 1969It was sung by Lulu, and was co-written by Alan Moorhouse and Peter Warne aka Michael Julien, the latter of who also wrote "Kiss Me, Honey Honey, Kiss Me" for Shirley Bassey....
" when she won the contest in 1969. They would return to provide backing at the next Swedish based contest, in Gothenburg 1985, backing Vikki Watson's "Love Is
Love Is (Vikki Watson song)
"Love Is", written and composed by James Kaleth and Vikki Watson, was the United Kingdom's entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 1985, performed by the latter composer, Vikki Watson, credited at Eurovision as Vikki....
" for the UK. Sue Glover also participated in A Song for Europe
A Song for Europe
A Song for Europe may refer to:*A Song for Europe, former name of British pre-selection competition for the Eurovision Song Contest, now known as Eurovision: Your Country Needs You...
, the UK selection contest for Eurovision in 1981. She performed as lead singer of the female group Unity who came last with "For Only a Day".
"Ein Lied kann eine Brücke sein" is notable in the history of the Contest for a number of reasons, one of them composer Rainer Pietsch's unconventional and highly energetic count-in as he conducted the orchestra in Stockholm; Pietsch loudly stomped his foot and yelled "One, two! One, two, three, four!" and right before the second verse he suddenly made a leap in the air. Footage of Pietch's fervent footstomping and jumping is frequently featured in German Eurovision documentaries.
The song is a dramatic and soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
influenced ballad, with Fleming singing that a song can be the means of changing oneself and reaching goals. Fleming also recorded the song in English, as "Bridge of Love".
The song was performed fourth on the night (following France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
's Nicole Rieu
Nicole Rieu
Nicole Rieu is a French singer, best known outside France for her participation in the 1975 Eurovision Song Contest....
with "Et bonjour à toi l'artiste
Et Bonjour À Toi L'Artiste
"Et bonjour à toi l'artiste" was the French entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1975, performed in French by Nicole Rieu....
" and preceding Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
's Géraldine
Geraldine
The feminine form of the first name Gerald. Famous women named Geraldine include:*Geraldine Ferraro, United States congresswoman and 1984 Vice Presidential candidate*Geraldine Chaplin, actress*Geraldine Fitzgerald, actress*Geraldine Page, actress...
with "Toi
Toi (song)
"Toi" was the Luxembourgish entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1975, performed in French by Irish singer Geraldine. The entry had a high pedigree, being penned by three authors/composers who had all written/composed previous Eurovision winners...
"). At the close of voting, it had received 15 points, placing 17th in a field of 19.
Despite its relatively low placing, the song has become something of a fan favourite, with the commemorative CDs released to coincide with the Congratulations
Congratulations (Eurovision)
Congratulations: 50 Years of the Eurovision Song Contest was a television programme organised by the European Broadcasting Union to commemorate the Eurovision Song Contest's fiftieth anniversary and to determine the Contest's most popular entrant of its fifty years. It took place at Forum,...
special in late 2005 featuring it. It has also been covered by a wide range of other artists over the past three decades, including fellow German Eurovision participant Guildo Horn
Guildo Horn
Guildo Horn He is mainly famous for his eccentric stage persona, which includes outrageous clothes and very extroverted antics.At the Eurovision Song Contest 1998, he came in 7th with the title "Guildo hat euch lieb!" ....
, and in 2002 it gave the title to Eurovision historian Jan Feddersen's anthology Ein Lied kann eine Brücke sein : die Deutsche und Internationale Geschichte des Grand Prix Eurovision (translated: A Song Can Be a Bridge - The German and International Entries to the Eurovision Song Contest).
It was succeeded as German representative
Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest
Germany has participated in every Eurovision Song Contest since its beginning in 1956, although its entry in 1996 did not qualify past the pre‐selection round, and therefore was not seen in the broadcast final. No other country has been represented as often. France and the United Kingdom come in a...
at the 1976 Contest
Eurovision Song Contest 1976
The Eurovision Song Contest 1976, the 21st in the series, was held in The Hague, Netherlands, on 3 April 1976. With Corry Brokken as the presenter – the first time a previous winner of the contest had played hostess – the contest was won by Brotherhood of Man, representing the United...
by the Les Humphries Singers
Les Humphries Singers
The Les Humphries Singers was a 1970s musical group formed in Hamburg, Germany in 1969 by the English born Les Humphries , who had been inspired to do his own version of the Edwin Hawkins Singers.The Les Humphries Singers dissolved at the end of the...
with "Sing Sang Song
Sing Sang Song
"Sing Sang Song" was the German entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1976, performed in German by the Les Humphries Singers.The Les Humphries Singers had had a series of hits Continental Europe and Scandinavia in the early 70s, most notably "Mexico" and "Mama Loo" . The group's usual line-ups...
".