Ein Bißchen Frieden
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"Ein bißchen Frieden" ("A Little Peace" in English) is a song in German, written by prolific German Eurovision-writing duo Ralph Siegel (music) and Bernd Meinunger (lyrics) for the Eurovision Song Contest 1982 in Harrogate, United Kingdom. It was performed by 18-year old high school student Nicole, resulting in Germany's only ever win at the Eurovision Song Contest by a record margin of sixty one points, setting a new record for the largest winning margin.
The song was performed eighteenth on the night (following Ireland's The Duskeys with Here Today Gone Tomorrow). At the close of voting, it had received 161 points, placing first in a field of 18.
The performance was unlike most other Eurovision entrants in that Nicole performed while seated on a stool, playing a white acoustic guitar and accompanied by a backing group which included a harpist. The gentle ballad described a wish for world peace, with the lyrics sung in first person, and also describes the beauty of the natural world.
After winning the contest, Nicole performed the reprise in four different languages: German, English, French and Dutch, and released recordings in five additional languages across Europe : Danish, Italian, Russian, and a German-English-Dutch combination and a German-English-Italian combination. It topped the charts in many countries, selling more than three million copies and the English version was the last Eurovision winner to top the charts in the United Kingdom. The English version also holds the honour of becoming the 500th British Number One.
The song was chosen in an internet poll conducted by the European Broadcasting Union in 2005 as one of the 14 most popular songs in the history of the Eurovision, and was one of the entrants in the Congratulations 50th anniversary concert in Copenhagen, Denmark, held in October 2005. Although Nicole was not at the concert, it was re-enacted by dancers equipped with white guitars and a live orchestra as the original footage was shown in the background. Ein bißchen Frieden finished as the seventh most popular song in the history of contest.
The song was succeeded as Contest winner in 1983 by Si La Vie Est Cadeau by Corinne Hermès representing Luxembourg.
It was succeeded as German representative at the 1983 Contest by Hoffmann & Hoffmann with Rücksicht.
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| Preceded by: Making Your Mind Up by Bucks Fizz |
Eurovision Song Contest winners 1982 |
Succeeded by: Si la vie est cadeau by Corinne Hermes |
| Preceded by: "Ebony and Ivory" by Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder |
UK number one single May 9, 1982 |
Succeeded by: "House of Fun" by Madness |
