Road to Rotterdam: San Marino

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 first episode, we will look back at the time when the world was still in black and white. It is said that already in 1956, Austria wanted to take part. However, they were too late to sent an entry, so the Austrian debut was in 1957. 1957 – Bob Martin – “Wohin kleines Pony” Austria debuted at Eurovision in 1957, when Bob Martin performed “Wohin, kleines Pony?” (“Where to, Little Pony?”). In February 1957, five artists competed in a national selection for the ticket to Frankfurt am Main, and each sang two songs. Bob Martin (real name Leo Heppe) won. The song is a light‑hearted, jazzy Schlager about a man’s adventures with his pony. Kurt Svab composed the music, and Hans Werner wrote the lyrics. Bob Martin, a Vienna State Opera chorus singer, lent an operatic touch to the whimsical tune. Despite its charm, Austria’s debut earned only 3 points and finished 10th (last place) in 1957. 1958 – Liane Augustin – “Die ganze Welt braucht Liebe” In 1958, Liane Augustin represented Austria with “Die ganze Welt braucht Liebe” (“The Whole World Needs Love”). Austria selected her internally. Günther Leopold and Kurt Werner wrote this romantic ballad with a gentle, cabaret‑style melody. A German‑Austrian singer and actress, Augustin made her name in Vienna’s postwar nightclubs. With Willy Fantl conducting, her polished performance earned 8 points and finished 5th for Austria at the 1958 contest. 1959 – Ferry Graf – “Der K und K Kalypso aus Wien” Austria’s 1959 entry was the internally selected “Der K. und K. Kalypso aus Wien” (“The Imperial and Royal Calypso from Vienna”), performed by Ferry Graf. The song was a playful novelty Schlager that blended calypso rhythms with Viennese waltz melodies. It was composed by Norbert Pawlicki with lyrics by Günther Leopold. They created a lighthearted homage to Vienna, even referencing Johann Strauss tunes in the lyrics! Ferry Graf was an up-and-coming Austrian pop singer at the time. The cheerful “Kalypso” received 4 points and finished 9th out of 11 entries in the 1959 contest. 1960 – Harry Winter – “Du hasst mich so fasziniert” In 1960, Harry Winter (stage name of Horst Winter) sang Austria’s entry “Du hast mich so fasziniert” (“You Fascinated Me So Much”) in London. The song was composed by the famed Viennese operetta composer Robert Stolz with lyrics by Robert Gilbert, giving it a classic romantic waltz-ballad character. Harry Winter was a veteran German-Austrian singer and bandleader, known for his background in jazz and swing orchestras of the 1940s. His Eurovision performance earned 6 points and placed 7th out of 13 countries in 1960. 1961 – Jimmy Makulis – “Sehnsucht” The 1961 entry saw Greek-born pop singer Jimmy Makulis represent Austria with “Sehnsucht” (“Longing”). The song was a gentle, sentimental ballad composed (music and lyrics) by Leopold Andrejewitsch, echoing themes of yearning and devotion. Jimmy Makulis had been successful in the German pop music scene of the 1950s, bringing an international flair as the first Greek artist on an Eurovision stage. Despite his rich voice, “Sehnsucht” received only 1 point (from the UK jury) and tied for last place in 1961. Makulis later took part in the Cypriot final, in 1984. 1962 – Eleonore Schwarz – “Nur in der Wiener Luft” In 1962, Austria chose for a national final again. All submitted songs had to be in threequarter-time. In the end, 4 out of 5 songs had Vienna in their title. The 5th one had the Praterallee (indeed in Vienna) in its title. Austria selected an operetta‑style entry: “Nur in der Wiener Luft” (“Only in the Vienna Air”). Eleonore Schwarz performed it in Luxembourg. Bruno Uher composed and conducted this waltz‑infused operetta number that celebrates Vienna’s culture. The lyrics lovingly mention the city’s waltzes, Johann Strauss, and famous landmarks. An opera singer at the Vienna Volksoper in the 1960s, Schwarz suited this classically styled piece. However, the grand Viennese operetta did not resonate with the juries. It scored nul points and finished last. The Austrian entry was one of four entries to receive zero points at the 1962 contest.