View source for Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest 1957

{{Short description|none}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox song contest national year 
| Year = 1957
| Broadcaster = [[ARD (broadcaster)|ARD]]{{efn|{{lang|de|Arbeitsgemeinschaft der öffentlich-rechtlichen Rundfunkanstalten der Bundesrepublik Deutschland|i=no}}}} – {{lang|de|[[Hessischer Rundfunk]]|i=no}} (HR)
| Country = Germany
| Selection process = National final 
| Selection date = 17 February 1957
| Song = {{lang|de|Telefon, Telefon|i=no}}
| Artist = [[Margot Hielscher]] 
| Writer = {{Unbulleted list|Friedrich Meyer|Ralph Maria Siegel}}
| Final result = 4th, 8 votes
}}

Germany was represented at the [[Eurovision Song Contest 1957]] with the song "{{lang|de|Telefon, Telefon|i=no}}", composed by Friedrich Meyer, with lyrics by Ralph Maria Siegel, and performed by [[Margot Hielscher]]. The German participating broadcaster on behalf of [[ARD (broadcaster)|ARD]], {{lang|de|[[Hessischer Rundfunk]]|i=no}} (HR), selected its entry through a national final. In addition, HR was also the host broadcaster and staged the event at the {{lang|de|[[HR Sendesaal|Großer Sendesaal des hessischen Rundfunks]]|i=no}} in [[Frankfurt]].

== Before Eurovision ==
=== {{lang|de|Zwei auf einem Pferd}} ===
{{lang|de|[[Hessischer Rundfunk]]|i=no}} (HR) on behalf of [[ARD (broadcaster)|ARD]], organised and produced the German national final as part of the show {{lang|de|Zwei auf einem Pferd}}.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=28 January 1957 |title=Vorentscheidung für den 'Grand Prix Eurovision 1957' |work=Deutsches Fernsehen. ARD-Pressedienst |page=3 |language=de |issue=6/57 |oclc=183304021}}</ref> {{lang|de|Zwei auf einem Pferd}} was a regular game show starting in autumn 1956.<ref>{{Cite news |date=24 September 1956 |title=Zwei auf einem Pferd - Das neue Fernseh-Quiz |work=Deutsches Fernsehen. ARD-Pressedienst |page=1 |language=de |issue=40/56 |oclc=183304021}}</ref> The selection of the German entry took place at the [[HR Sendesaal|Großer Sendesaal des Hessischen Rundfunks]] in [[Frankfurt]] – the same venue as for the [[Eurovision Song Contest 1957]] – on 17 February 1957 at 20:15 [[Central European Time|CET]] (19:15 [[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]]).<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=17 February 1957 |title=Fernsehprogramm: Woche vom 17. Februar bis 23. Februar |work=Funk- und Fernsehillustrierte. Süddeutsche Ausgabe |page= |pages=24–26 |language=de |volume=25 |issue=8 |oclc=724368653}}</ref> The final was broadcast on ARD's [[Das Erste|Deutsches Fernsehen]], and abroad on [[ORF 1|Österreichisches Fernsehen]] and [[NPO 1|Dutch television]].<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=16 February 1957 |title=Binnenlandse televisieprogramma's |work=Omroepgids |page=39 |language=nl |volume=33 |issue=7 |oclc=72761986}}</ref> It was hosted by [[Hans-Joachim Kulenkampff]] and directed by {{Ill|Ekkehard Böhmer|de}}.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> {{Ill|Hans-Otto Grünefeldt|de}} oversaw the production of the show.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> 

Four songs competed in the national final.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=11 February 1957 |title=Fernseh-Quiz mit Vorentscheidung zum 'Grand Prix Eurovision 1957' |work=Deutsches Fernsehen. ARD-Pressedienst |page=5 |language=de |issue=8/57 |oclc=183304021}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite news |date=20 February 1957 |title=Am Sonntag fiel im Funkhaus... |work=[[Frankfurter Rundschau]] |page=7 |language=de |issn=0940-6980 |oclc=643528928}}</ref> HR had asked four composers to write entries for the selection.<ref name=":4">{{Cite journal |last=Grassl |first=Andreas |date=2025 |title=Neues von gestern: Der deutsche Vorentscheid 1957: Zwei auf einem Pferd |journal=Euro-Voice |language=de |issue=69 |page= |pages=94–97 |oclc=1190215751}}</ref> The artists were accompanied by the [[Hr-Bigband|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 broadcasters{{Efn|[[Westdeutscher Rundfunk|WDR]], [[Norddeutscher Rundfunk|NDR]], [[Radio Bremen]], [[Südwestfunk|SWF]], [[Süddeutscher Rundfunk|SDR]], [[Bayerischer Rundfunk|BR]], [[Rundfunk im amerikanischen Sektor|RIAS]], and [[Hessischer Rundfunk|HR]]<ref name=":4"/>}} decided the winner.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=19 February 1957 |title=Margot Hielscher und der Herr Minister |work=[[Frankfurter Neue Presse]] |page=4 |language=de |volume=12 |issue=42 |oclc=643825529}}</ref><ref name=":4" /> They gave their votes via telephone and the results were shown on a scoreboard.<ref>{{Cite news |date=19 February 1957 |title=Margot Hielscher won in Duitse TV |url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:110587392:mpeg21:a0228 |access-date=7 June 2025 |work=[[De Telegraaf]] |page=7 |language=nl |via=[[Delpher]] |volume=60 |issue=21603 |oclc=643834779}}</ref><ref name="Stoeffler2007" /> Each juror distributed ten votes among his favourite songs.<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 March 1957 |title=Das Wort hat: Der Leser |work=[[Hörzu|Hör zu!]] (Norddeutsche Ausgabe Hamburg) |page=53 |language=de |issue=11/1957 |oclc=724053084}}</ref> "{{lang|de|Telefon, Telefon|i=no}}", composed by {{Ill|Friedrich Meyer|lt=Friedrich Meyer|de|Friedrich Meyer (Musiker)}}, and with lyrics by {{Ill|Ralph Maria Siegel|de}}, won the national final with a large margin and was selected as the German entry.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":7">{{Cite news |date=17 March 1957 |title=Europa sang um die Wette |work={{ill|Bild+Funk|de}} (Ausgabe B) |page=7 |language=de |issue=12/1956 |oclc=643528928}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+National final – 17 February 1957<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":10">{{Cite web |last=Rau |first=Oliver |date= |title=Deutscher Vorentscheid 1957: Wenn Dein Ruf erklingt |url=https://www.aufrechtgehn.de/1957/02/wenn-dein-ruf-erklingt/ |access-date=22 May 2024 |website=aufrechtgehn.de |language=de}}</ref><ref name="Stoeffler2007">{{Cite AV media |title=Unser Lied für den Grand Prix – Die schönsten deutschen Beiträge |date=1 May 2007 |last=[[hr-fernsehen]] |last2=Stöffler |first2=Christian |type=Television production |language=de |publisher=[[Hessischer Rundfunk]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Brandin |first=Walter |year=1957 |title=Das Klavier über mir |work=Film + Funk: Schlagertextheft |page=17 |language=de |issue=27 |oclc=224763825}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Illo Schieder: Was machen die Mädchen in Rio? |url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/titel-details-502287 |access-date=21 August 2024 |website=Offizielle Deutsche Charts |publisher=GfK Entertainment |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Renée Franke: Ich brauche Dein Herz |url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/titel-details-2262962 |access-date=21 August 2024 |website=Offizielle Deutsche Charts |publisher=GfK Entertainment |language=de}}</ref>
!{{Abbr|R/O|Running order}}
!Artist
!Song
!Composer
!Lyricist
!Votes
!Place
|-
|1
|{{Ill|Renée Franke|de}}
|"{{lang|de|Ich brauche Dein Herz|i=no}}"
|[[Lotar Olias]]
|{{Ill|Peter Moesser|de}}
|18
|2
|-
|2
|{{Ill|Illo Schieder|de}}
|"{{lang|de|Was machen die Mädchen in Rio?|i=no}}"
|{{Ill|Willy Mattes|de}}
|{{Ill|Fini Busch|de}}
|9
|4
|-
|3
|[[Paul Kuhn (band leader)|Paul Kuhn]]
|"{{lang|de|Das Klavier über mir|i=no}}"
|{{Ill|Karl Götz|lt=Karl Götz|de|Karl Götz (Komponist)}}
|{{Ill|Walter Brandin|de}}
|17
|3
|- style="font-weight:bold; background:gold;"
|4
|[[Margot Hielscher]]
|"{{lang|de|Telefon, Telefon|i=no}}"
|{{Ill|Friedrich Meyer (composer)|lt=Friedrich Meyer|de|Friedrich Meyer (Musiker)}}
|{{Ill|Ralph Maria Siegel|de}}
|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">{{Cite book |last1=Hendrickx |first1=Jonathan |title=65 jaar België op het Songfestival |last2=van Biesen |first2=Jasper |publisher=Baeckens |year=2021 |isbn=978-90-5924-939-4 |location=Mechelen |page=20 |language=nl |oclc=1256401439}}</ref> and following Switzerland hosting and winning in [[Eurovision Song Contest 1956|1956]].<ref name="ESC1956">{{cite web |title=Lugano 1956 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/lugano-1956 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523155354/https://eurovision.tv/event/lugano-1956 |archive-date=23 May 2022 |access-date=29 May 2022 |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] (EBU)}}</ref><ref name="1956results">{{cite web |title=Lugano 1956 – Scoreboard |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/lugano-1956/final |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019013426/https://eurovision.tv/event/lugano-1956/final |archive-date=19 October 2021 |access-date=1 June 2022 |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] (EBU)}}</ref> "{{lang|de|Telefon, Telefon|i=no}}" was conducted by [[Willy Berking]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Thorsson |first=Leif |title=Melodifestivalen genom tiderna: de Svenska uttagningarna och de internationella finalerna |last2=Verhage |first2=Martin |publisher=Premium |year=2006 |isbn=91-89136-29-2 |edition=2nd |location=Stockholm |page=11 |language=sv |oclc=185355414}}</ref> Hielscher performed seventh, following the {{esccnty|Netherlands|y=1957}} and preceding {{esccnty|France|y=1957}}.<ref name="1957results">{{cite web |title=Final of Frankfurt 1957 – Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/frankfurt-1957/final |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517112718/https://eurovision.tv/event/frankfurt-1957/final |archive-date=17 May 2022 |access-date=3 June 2022 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union}}</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>{{Cite book |last=Willems |first=Geert |title=Douze points, twelve points : feiten en mythes over het Eurovisie Songfestival |publisher=Spectrum |year=2014 |isbn=978-90-00-33497-1 |location=Houten |page=109 |language=nl |oclc=890326991}}</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>{{Cite book |last=O'Connor |first=John Kennedy |title=The Eurovision Song Contest : 50 Years : The Official History |publisher=Carlton Books |year=2005 |isbn=1-84442-586-X |location=London |page=11 |oclc=694875849}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=O. |first=M. |date=17 March 1957 |title=De grote Eurovisieprijs voor het Europese lichte lied |work=De radio- en televisieweek |page=10 |language=nl |volume=13 |issue=11 |oclc=1399842623}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=O'Connor |first=John Kennedy |title=Eurovision Song Contest : das Beste aus sechs Jahrzehnten |publisher=Edel |year=2015 |isbn=978-3-8419-0358-7 |location=Hamburg |page=29 |language=de |oclc=904806648}}</ref>

Eurovision Song Contest 1957 was broadcast on ARD's [[Das Erste|Deutsches Fernsehen]] and on HR's radio station [[Hr2-kultur|Zweites Programm]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=3 March 1957 |title=Sieben Tage Fernsehen |work=Bild+Funk (Ausgabe B) |page=14 |language=de |issue=10/1957 |oclc=643528928}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=3 March 1957 |title=Frankfurt |work=Funk- und Fernsehillustrierte |page=33 |language=de |volume=25 |issue=10/57 |oclc=724368653}}</ref> Excerpts from the show were also broadcast on [[WDR 2|UKW West (WDR)]] on 29 April 1957 at 21:15 CET.<ref>{{Cite news |date=28 April 1957 |title=UKW des WDR |work=[[Hörzu|Hör zu!]] (Norddeutsche Ausgabe Hamburg) |page=56 |language=de |issue=18 |oclc=724053084}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Funkprogramm – vom 28. April bis 4. Mai 1957 |trans-title=Radio programme – from 28 April to 4 May 1957 |url=https://zeitpunkt.nrw/ulbbn/periodical/zoom/4323391 |access-date=8 September 2024 |work={{ill|Honnefer Volkszeitung|de}} |date=27 April 1957 |location=[[Bad Honnef]], West Germany |page=5 |language=de |via={{ill|Zeitungsportal NRW|de}}}}</ref>

=== Voting ===
Each participating broadcaster assembled a ten-member jury panel.<ref name=":12">{{Cite journal |date=January–February 1957 |title=Grand Prix Eurovision 1957 de la Chanson européenne |journal=Bulletin de l'U.E.R. |language=fr |publisher=[[European Broadcasting Union]] |volume=8 |issue=41 |page= |pages=109–113 |oclc=473721192}}</ref> Every jury member could give one vote to his or her favourite song.<ref name=":12" />

{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|+ Votes awarded to Germany<ref name="1957detailed">{{cite web |title=Results of the Final of Frankfurt 1957 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/frankfurt-1957/final/results/germany |publisher=Eurovision Song Contest |access-date=27 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210327155219/https://eurovision.tv/event/frankfurt-1957/final/results/germany |archive-date=27 March 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
! scope="col" width="20%" | Score
! scope="col" | Country
|-
! scope="row" | 6 votes
| {{Esc|France|1830|y=1957}}
|-
! scope="row" | 1 vote
| {{Unbulleted list|{{Esc|Belgium|y=1957}}|{{Esc|Italy|y=1957}}}}
|}
{{col-2}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|+ Votes awarded by Germany<ref name="1957detailed" />
|-
! scope="col" width="20%" | Score
! scope="col" | Country
|-
! scope="row" | 6 votes
| {{Esc|France|1830|y=1957}}
|-
! scope="row" | 2 votes
| {{Esc|Belgium|y=1957}}
|-
! scope="row" | 1 vote
| {{Unbulleted list|{{Esc|Netherlands|y=1957}}|{{Esc|Switzerland|y=1957}}}}
|}
{{col-end}}

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest}}
{{Eurovision Song Contest 1957}}

[[Category:Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest|1957]]
[[Category:Countries in the Eurovision Song Contest 1957]]
[[Category:1957 in German television|Eurovision]]