Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest 1978
Encyclopedia
Germany was represented by Ireen Sheer
, with the song '"Feuer
", at the 1978 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 22 April in Paris
. "Feuer" was chosen as the German entry at the national final on 20 February, and was the second of Sheer's three Eurovision appearances; she had previously represented Luxembourg
in 1974
and would later be a member of a six-piece ensemble in 1985
, again on behalf of Luxembourg.
The 1978 German final is notable for the fact that voting was to be split in a 2:1 ratio between an "expert" jury and a panel of radio listeners but after hearing the songs, the expert jury decided that none was up to par and refused to vote, leaving the choice entirely in the hands of the radio panel.
in Baden-Baden
, hosted by Detlef Werner and broadcast on radio only. 15 songs took part with the winner originally intended to be decided by a combination of expert jury and radio listeners. However, once all the songs had been performed the expert jury stated that if these were the best songs on offer, Germany would be well-advised to withdraw completely from the 1978 contest as all were substandard. As the jury refused to vote, SWF decided that the decision would therefore be made by the radio listeners alone. Each member of the radio panel scored each song between 1 and 10 and the song with the highest average score became the winner.
Other participants in the final included Germany's Eurovision 1974
representatives Cindy & Bert
; Peter, Sue & Marc who would had twice represented Switzerland
in Eurovision and would twice more; and Helena Vondráčková
, Czechoslovakia's premier female vocalist who had won the Intervision Song Contest
in 1978.
and preceding Monaco
. At the close of voting "Feuer" had received 84 points from 14 countries (including a maximum 12 from Finland
), placing Germany 6th of the 20 entries. The German jury awarded its 12 points to contest winners Israel
.
Ireen Sheer
Ireen Sheer is a German-British pop singer, who has competed in several Eurovision Song Contests over the past four decades...
, with the song '"Feuer
Feuer (song)
"Feuer" was the German entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1978, performed in German by Ireen Sheer. This was Sheer's second Eurovision entry, in 1974 she had represented Luxembourg with "Bye Bye I Love You", then singing in French.The song is an up-tempo number about the power of love and how it...
", at the 1978 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 22 April in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. "Feuer" was chosen as the German entry at the national final on 20 February, and was the second of Sheer's three Eurovision appearances; she had previously represented 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...
in 1974
Eurovision Song Contest 1974
The Eurovision Song Contest 1974 was the 19th Eurovision Song Contest. It was held in the seaside resort of Brighton on the south coast of the United Kingdom...
and would later be a member of a six-piece ensemble in 1985
Eurovision Song Contest 1985
The Eurovision Song Contest 1985 was the 30th Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 4 May 1985 in Gothenburg, Sweden. The presenter was Lill Lindfors, and Norwegian duo Bobbysocks! was the winner of this Eurovision with the song "La det swinge"....
, again on behalf of Luxembourg.
The 1978 German final is notable for the fact that voting was to be split in a 2:1 ratio between an "expert" jury and a panel of radio listeners but after hearing the songs, the expert jury decided that none was up to par and refused to vote, leaving the choice entirely in the hands of the radio panel.
Final
The final was held at the studios of broadcaster SWFSüdwestrundfunk
The Südwestrundfunk is a public broadcasting company for the southwest of Germany, specifically the states of Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate. The company has main offices in three cities: Stuttgart, Baden-Baden and Mainz, with the director's office being in Stuttgart. It is an...
in Baden-Baden
Baden-Baden
Baden-Baden is a spa town in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is located on the western foothills of the Black Forest, on the banks of the Oos River, in the region of Karlsruhe...
, hosted by Detlef Werner and broadcast on radio only. 15 songs took part with the winner originally intended to be decided by a combination of expert jury and radio listeners. However, once all the songs had been performed the expert jury stated that if these were the best songs on offer, Germany would be well-advised to withdraw completely from the 1978 contest as all were substandard. As the jury refused to vote, SWF decided that the decision would therefore be made by the radio listeners alone. Each member of the radio panel scored each song between 1 and 10 and the song with the highest average score became the winner.
Other participants in the final included Germany's Eurovision 1974
Eurovision Song Contest 1974
The Eurovision Song Contest 1974 was the 19th Eurovision Song Contest. It was held in the seaside resort of Brighton on the south coast of the United Kingdom...
representatives Cindy & Bert
Cindy & Bert
Cindy & Bert are a German schlager vocal duo from Völklingen, Saarland consisting of Jutta Gusenberger and Norbert Berger...
; Peter, Sue & Marc who would had twice represented Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
in Eurovision and would twice more; and Helena Vondráčková
Helena Vondrácková
Helena Vondráčková is a Czech singer whose career has spanned five decades.- Early life/career :Vondráčková spent her childhood years in the town of Slatinany. She took piano lessons from an early age...
, Czechoslovakia's premier female vocalist who had won the Intervision Song Contest
Intervision Song Contest
The Intervision Song Contest was the Eastern Bloc equivalent to the Eurovision Song Contest. Its organiser was the Intervision, the network of Eastern Europe television stations. It took place in the Forest Opera in Sopot, Poland....
in 1978.
| Draw | Artist | Song | Average score |
Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cindy & Bert | "Was die Sterne lenkt" (What guides the stars) | 5.15 | 5 |
| 2 | Jochen Brauer Group | "Lieder die aus dem Radio klingen" (Songs that sound from the radio) | 4.07 | 11 |
| 3 | Marianne Rosenberg | "Nein, weinen werd' ich nicht" (No, I will not cry) | 5.03 | 7 |
| 4 | Andy Norden | "Susann" | 3.81 | 14 |
| 5 | Tony | "Mädchen wie Helena" (Girls like Helena) | 4.51 | 9 |
| 6 | Albatross | "Komm und bleib die Nacht bei mir" (Come and stay with me tonight) | 4.16 | 10 |
| 7 | Helena Vondráčková | "Männer wie du" (Men like you) | 3.98 | 12 |
| 8 | Peter, Sue & Marc | "Charlie Chaplin" | 5.31 | 3 |
| 9 | Brunhilde Lamberty | "Kennst du die Zeit" (Do you know the time) | 3.70 | 15 |
| 10 | Freya & Bernd Wippich | "Ich trag' deinen Namen" (I am called by your name) | 3.91 | 13 |
| 11 | Sunrise | "Liverpool" | 5.34 | 2 |
| 12 | Jonny Hill | "Louisiana" | 4.90 | 8 |
| 13 | Irene Sheer | "Feuer" (Fire) | 5.56 | 1 |
| 14 | Cindy & Bert | "Chanson d'été" (Song of summer) | 5.30 | 4 |
| 15 | Royal Brewery | "Ein Lied für Europa" (A song for Europe) | 5.04 | 6 |
At Eurovision
On the night of the final Sheer performed 13th in the running order, following TurkeyTurkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
and preceding Monaco
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
. At the close of voting "Feuer" had received 84 points from 14 countries (including a maximum 12 from Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
), placing Germany 6th of the 20 entries. The German jury awarded its 12 points to contest winners Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
.