đź“· Waterloo & Robinson
This year’s Eurovision Song Contest has been won by Austria. It was the 57th Austrian entry. Reason for us to go back to all the Austrian entries in history!
For the third episode, we will look back at the seventies. Austria entered the top-5 twice. They also sang in a minority language. They also had some deviant entries.
1971 – Marianne Mendt – Musik
Austria returned to the Eurovision Song Contest in 1971 after a two-year absence . They boycotted the Franco-ruled 1969 contest and protesting the four-way tie of 1969 by skipping 1970. Marianne Mendt performed “Musik.” Mendt, a jazz-pop singer from Vienna, delivered the song in her native Viennese German dialect, a rarity at Eurovision. Richard Schönherz and Manuel Rigoni composed “Musik” and also wrote its lyrics, giving the entry a swinging, soulful vibe about the power of music. At the contest in Dublin, “Musik” scored 66 points and finished 16th out of 18 entries.
1972 – The Milestones – Falter im Wind
The Austrian rock band The Milestones represented the country at the Eurovision Song Contest 1972 in Edinburgh with “Falter im Wind” (“Butterfly in the Wind”). Composers Richard Schönherz and Manuel Rigoni teamed up with lyricist Heinz Unger to craft this folk-tinged pop song addressed to a butterfly. They reflected on life’s impermanence. The song’s gentle melody and rich harmonies resonated with the juries. Austria earned 100 points and achieved 5th place. This was the country’s best Eurovision result since its 1966 victory, showcasing a high point for Austria before a brief mid-’70s withdrawal from the contest.
1976 – Waterloo & Robinson – My Little World
After skipping the contest from 1973 to 1975, Austria returned at the Eurovision Song Contest 1976 in The Hague with pop duo Waterloo & Robinson performing “My Little World.” The duo was already popular at home. They presented an upbeat, feel-good song that songwriter Gerhard Heinz had composed. Sung in English, “My Little World” celebrates the simple joys of love and life. It earned 80 points and reached 5th place, matching Austria’s 1972 success. This strong result followed ORF’s mid-’70s Eurovision hiatus, which was reportedly due to dissatisfaction with the contest’s scoring system at the time.
1977 – Die Schmetterlinge – Boom Boom Boomerang
Austria took a daring turn at the Eurovision Song Contest 1977 in London with the group Schmetterlinge and their song “Boom Boom Boomerang.” Known for their political cabaret style, Schmetterlinge delivered a satirical pop performance. In that performance they lampooned the commercial music industry, complete with nonsense “international” lyrics and zany on-stage antics. Group members like Georg “Schurli” Herrnstadt and Willi Resetarits wrote the music, while Lukas Resetarits provided tongue-in-cheek lyrics skewering formulaic pop. Despite the bold concept and humor, the entry earned only 11 points, placing 17th out of 18 countries. Notably, two members of Schmetterlinge had been part of The Milestones (Austria’s 1972 act), adding a nod to the country’s earlier Eurovision experience.
1978 – Springtime – Mrs. Caroline Robinson
In 1978, Austria was represented by Springtime, a pop trio formed by brothers Walter and Gerhard Markel with bassist Norbert Niedermayer. Their song “Mrs. Caroline Robinson” was an upbeat schlager-pop number with a humorous twist. It was written by the trio themselves. The lyrics told the quirky story of Caroline Robinson, the “top-witch of this town” who captivates everyone with her charm. Springtime’s performance in Paris was fun and energetic, and the song even became a hit at home. It earned a gold record in Austria. On the Eurovision scoreboard, however, “Mrs. Caroline Robinson” earned 14 points, finishing 15th out of 20 countries in 1978.
1979 – Christina Simon – Heute in Jerusalem
Austria’s 1979 entry was the soulful “Heute in Jerusalem” (“Today in Jerusalem”), performed by singer Christina Simon. Christina had a background as a jazz vocalist. This reflective ballad was composed by Peter Wolf with lyrics by Austrian artist AndrĂ© Heller. Musically it blended contemporary jazz and blues influences, and its lyrics carried a heartfelt plea for peace in Jerusalem. That was quite fittingly, the contest was held in Jerusalem just days after the Israel–Egypt peace treaty. Simon’s emotional delivery brought gravitas to the stage. Unfortunately, “Heute in Jerusalem” received only 5 points, ending up in 18th (last) place at the 1979 contest.Â
