Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest 1957

Germany was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1957 with the song "Template:Lang", composed by Friedrich Meyer, with lyrics by Ralph Maria Siegel, and performed by Margot Hielscher. The German participating broadcaster on behalf of ARD, Template:Lang (HR), selected its entry through a national final. In addition, HR was also the host broadcaster and staged the event at the Template:Lang in Frankfurt.

Before Eurovision

Template:Lang

Template:Lang (HR) on behalf of ARD, organised and produced the German national final as part of the show Template:Lang.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref> Template:Lang was a regular game show starting in autumn 1956.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The selection of the German entry took place at the Großer Sendesaal des Hessischen Rundfunks in Frankfurt – the same venue as for the Eurovision Song Contest 1957 – on 17 February 1957 at 20:15 CET (19:15 UTC).<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">Template:Cite news</ref> The final was broadcast on ARD's Deutsches Fernsehen, and abroad on Österreichisches Fernsehen and Dutch television.<ref name=":1" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It was hosted by Hans-Joachim Kulenkampff and directed by Template:Ill.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> Template:Ill oversaw the production of the show.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

Four songs competed in the national final.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=":3">Template:Cite news</ref> HR had asked four composers to write entries for the selection.<ref name=":4">Template:Cite journal</ref> The artists were accompanied by the Tanzorchester des Hessischen Rundfunks under the musical direction of Willy Berking.<ref name=":1" /> A jury consisting of the eight directors of entertainment programs of the West-German broadcastersTemplate:Efn decided the winner.<ref name=":2" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=":4" /> They gave their votes via telephone and the results were shown on a scoreboard.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Stoeffler2007" /> Each juror distributed ten votes among his favourite songs.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> "Template:Lang", composed by Template:Ill, and with lyrics by Template:Ill, won the national final with a large margin and was selected as the German entry.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":7">Template:Cite news</ref>

National final – 17 February 1957<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":10">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Stoeffler2007">Template:Cite AV media</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Template:Abbr	Artist	Song	Composer	Lyricist	Votes	Place
1	Template:Ill	"Template:Lang"	Lotar Olias	Template:Ill	18	2
2	Template:Ill	"Template:Lang"	Template:Ill	Template:Ill	9	4
3	Paul Kuhn	"Template:Lang"	Template:Ill	Template:Ill	17	3
4	Margot Hielscher	"Template:Lang"	Template:Ill	Template:Ill	36	1

At Eurovision

HR hosted the Eurovision Song Contest 1957 in Frankfurt, when there was still no format in place for the previous year's winning broadcaster to host the following year,<ref name=":02">Template:Cite book</ref> and following Switzerland hosting and winning in 1956.<ref name="ESC1956">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="1956results">Template:Cite web</ref> "Template:Lang" was conducted by Willy Berking.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Hielscher performed seventh, following the Template:Esccnty and preceding Template:Esccnty.<ref name="1957results">Template:Cite web</ref> The song received eight votes, placing fourth in a field of ten.<ref name="1957results" />

In order to overcome language barriers, the lyrics include some greetings and simple words in other European languages.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The song's lyrics gave rise to what is generally considered the first performance with a prop in the contest history, with Hielscher in fact picking up a real telephone receiver during her performance.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Eurovision Song Contest 1957 was broadcast on ARD's Deutsches Fernsehen and on HR's radio station Zweites Programm.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Excerpts from the show were also broadcast on UKW West (WDR) on 29 April 1957 at 21:15 CET.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Voting

Each participating broadcaster assembled a ten-member jury panel.<ref name=":12">Template:Cite journal</ref> Every jury member could give one vote to his or her favourite song.<ref name=":12" />

Votes awarded to Germany<ref name="1957detailed">Template:Cite web</ref>

Score	Country
6 votes	Template:Esc
1 vote	Template:Unbulleted list

Votes awarded by Germany<ref name="1957detailed" />

Score	Country
6 votes	Template:Esc
2 votes	Template:Esc
1 vote	Template:Unbulleted list