Austria in the Eurovision Song Contest

Austria

Austria

Member station ORF
National selection events
Participation summary
Appearances 50 (46 finals)
First appearance 1957
Best result 1st: 1966, 2014
Worst result Last: 1957, 1961, 1962, 1979, 1984, 1988, 1991, 2012 SF
Nul points: 1962, 1988, 1991, 2015
External links
Austria's page at Eurovision.tv
For the most recent participation see
Austria in the Eurovision Song Contest 2017

Austria has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 50 times since its debut in 1957. The country has won twice, in 1966, with the song "Merci Chérie" by Udo Jürgens, and in 2014, with the song "Rise Like a Phoenix" by Conchita Wurst. Austria currently holds the record for longest gap between wins, with 48 years between victories.

Austria finished last at its first attempt in the contest in 1957, before Liane Augustin gave the country its first top five result in 1958, with fifth. Having finished sixth in 1964 and fourth in 1965, Udo Jürgens won the contest at his third attempt in 1966. This would be Austria's only top three result of 20th century. The country's best result over the next 46 years (1967–2013) would be fifth place, which it achieved with Milestones in 1972, Waterloo & Robinson in 1976 and Thomas Forstner in 1989. Austria has finished last in the final a total of seven times, in 1957, 1961, 1962, 1979, 1984, 1988, 1991. The country also finished last in the semi-final in 2012.

After a three-year absence, ORF announced on 28 July 2010 that Austria would return to the contest in 2011.[1][2] Austria's previous best result of the 21st century was sixth, achieved by Alf Poier in 2003, until the 2014 contest in Copenhagen where Austria achieved its second victory in the contest, with Conchita Wurst placing first with 290 points.[3] In a complete reversal of fortunes in 2015, following a tie-break rule Austria was placed 26th and scored nul points along with Germany (27th), they became the first countries since the United Kingdom in 2003 to score nul points at the final. Because of this, Austria became the first host country to receive nul points.

Absences

Austria has opted out of participation in several Contests. The first of these was the 1969 Contest, which was staged in Madrid. As Spain was ruled at that time by Francisco Franco, Austria chose to boycott the Contest. Contest historian John Kennedy O'Connor points out, however, that Austria had given Spain two points in the previous event and since Spain only won by one point, the political protest was perhaps disingenuous.[4]

The following year, Austria was again absent. This was due to the unprecedented result in 1969 in which four songs tied for first place, a result which prompted several other countries to opt out as well.[4]

From 1973 to 1975, Austria stayed away as well. The exact reason for this is unclear, however the scoring system in use at one of these Contests - allowing all entrants a guaranteed number of points - may have been a factor.

The country was ineligible to compete in 1998 and 2001, as it had not achieved sufficiently high placings in the five previous years.[4]

Prior to the 2006 contest, Austria announced that they would not enter a performer in protest at their poor results in previous years, arguing that the musical talent of the performers was no longer the determining factor in Contest success.[5][6] They returned for the 2007 contest in Helsinki, but came second to last in the semi-final. National broadcaster ORF cited the 2007 result, as well as declining interest in the Contest among Austrian viewers, as the reason Austria would not return to the contest in 2008. ORF programme director Wolfgang Lorenz also hinted that Austria may withdraw from the contest indefinitely, stating "ORF has no desire to send more talent out of Austria to a competition where they have no chances...Should the situation change, we'll be happy to take part again". [7] Despite withdrawing, the final of the 2008 contest was screened on ORF.[8]

However, Edgar Böhm, director of entertainment for ORF, said that the semi-final format "still incorporates a mix of countries who will be politically favoured in the voting process" and "that, unless a clear guideline as to how the semifinals are organised is made by the EBU, Austria will not be taking part in Moscow 2009".[9] ORF decided not to participate in the 2009 contest, but did broadcast the final as in 2008.[10] The EBU announced that they would work harder to bring Austria back to the contest in 2010, along with former participants Monaco and Italy.[11] It was, however, confirmed that Austria would not participate in the 2010 Contest in Oslo.[12] In July 2010, the chairman of ORF, Alexander Wrabetz, stated that Austria would return for the 2011 contest, due to it being held in its neighbour Germany.[1][2][13] In 2011, Austria reached the final for the first time since 2004.

Contestants

Table key
  Winner
  Second place
  Third place
  Last place
Year Artist Language Title Final Points Semi Points
1957 Bob Martin German "Wohin, kleines Pony?" 10 3 No Semi-Finals
1958 Liane Augustin German "Die ganze Welt braucht Liebe" 5 8
1959 Ferry Graf German "Der K und K Kalypso aus Wien" 9 4
1960 Harry Winter German "Du hast mich so fasziniert" 7 6
1961 Jimmy Makulis German "Sehnsucht" 15 1
1962 Eleonore Schwarz German "Nur in der Wiener Luft" 13 0
1963 Carmela Corren German, English "Vielleicht geschieht ein Wunder" 7 16
1964 Udo Jürgens German "Warum nur warum?" 6 11
1965 Udo Jürgens German "Sag ihr, ich lass sie grüßen" 4 16
1966 Udo Jürgens German, French "Merci, Chérie" 1 31
1967 Peter Horton German "Warum es hunderttausend Sterne gibt" 14 2
1968 Karel Gott German "Tausend Fenster" 13 2
Did not participate between 1969 and 1970
1971 Marianne Mendt Viennese German "Musik" 16 66
1972 Milestones German "Falter im Wind" 5 100
Did not participate between 1973 and 1975
1976 Waterloo & Robinson English "My Little World" 5 80
1977 Schmetterlinge German, English "Boom Boom Boomerang" 17 11
1978 Springtime German "Mrs. Caroline Robinson" 15 14
1979 Christina Simon German "Heute in Jerusalem" 18 5
1980 Blue Danube German "Du bist Musik" 8 64
1981 Marty Brem German "Wenn du da bist" 17 20
1982 Mess German "Sonntag" 9 57
1983 Westend German "Hurricane" 9 53
1984 Anita German "Einfach weg" 19 5
1985 Gary Lux German "Kinder dieser Welt" 8 60
1986 Timna Brauer German "Die Zeit ist einsam" 18 12
1987 Gary Lux German "Nur noch Gefühl" 20 8
1988 Wilfried German "Lisa Mona Lisa" 21 0
1989 Thomas Forstner German "Nur ein Lied" 5 97
1990 Simone German "Keine Mauern mehr" 10 58
1991 Thomas Forstner German "Venedig im Regen" 22 0
1992 Tony Wegas German "Zusammen geh'n" 10 63
1993 Tony Wegas German "Maria Magdalena" 14 32 Kvalifikacija za Millstreet
1994 Petra Frey German "Für den Frieden der Welt" 17 19 No semi-finals
1995 Stella Jones German "Die Welt dreht sich verkehrt" 13 67
1996 George Nussbaumer Vorarlbergish "Weil's dr guat got" 10 68 6 80
1997 Bettina Soriat German "One Step" 21 12 No semi-finals
1998 Did not participate
1999 Bobbie Singer English "Reflection" 10 65
2000 The Rounder Girls English "All To You" 14 34
2001 Did not participate
2002 Manuel Ortega English "Say a Word" 18 26
2003 Alf Poier German1 "Weil der Mensch zählt" 6 101
2004 Tie Break German "Du bist" 21 9 Top 11 Previous Year
2005 Global Kryner English, Spanish "Y así" Failed to qualify 21 30
2006 Did not participate
2007 Eric Papilaya English "Get a Life - Get Alive" Failed to qualify 27 4
Did not participate between 2008 and 2010
2011 Nadine Beiler English "The Secret Is Love" 18 64 7 69
2012 Trackshittaz[14] German2 "Woki mit deim Popo" Failed to qualify 18 8
2013 Natália Kelly English "Shine" 14 27
2014 Conchita Wurst English "Rise Like a Phoenix" 1 290 1 169
2015 The Makemakes English "I Am Yours" 26 0 Host country3
2016 Zoë French "Loin d'ici" 13 151 7 170
2017 Nathan Trent English "Running On Air" 16 93 7 147
2018
NOTES:
1. ^ Specifically Styrian, a Southern Bavarian dialect spoken in Styria.
2. ^ Specifically Mühlviertlerisch, a Central Bavarian dialect spoken in Upper Austria.
3. ^ While Austria and Germany both finished with no points, Austria is listed as finishing "ahead" of Germany due to the tiebreaker rule that favours the song performed earliest in the running order. Therefore, Germany finished in 27th (last) place, with Austria in 26th.[15]
4. If a country had won the previous year, they did not have to compete in the semi-finals the following year. In addition, back in 2004-2007, the top ten countries who were not members of the big four did not have to compete in the semi finals the following year. If, for example, Germany and France placed inside the top ten, the countries who placed 11th and 12th were advanced to the following year's grand final along with the rest of the top ten countries.

Voting history

As of 2017, Austria's voting history is as follows:

Most points given in the grand finals only
Rank Country Points
1  United Kingdom 189
2  Ireland 164
3  Sweden 163
4  France 143
5  Germany 128
Most points received in the grand finals only
Rank Country Points
1  United Kingdom 114
2  Belgium 106
3  Ireland 98
4  Sweden 88
5  Spain 85

Most points given in the semis and finals
Rank Country Points
1  United Kingdom 188
2  Ireland 176
3  Sweden 168
4  France 143
5   Switzerland 134
Most points received in the semis and finals
Rank Country Points
1  United Kingdom 127
2  Ireland 126
3  Belgium 111
 France 111
5   Switzerland 110

Hostings

Year Location Venue Presenter
1967 Vienna Großer Festsaal der Wiener Hofburg Erica Vaal
2015 Wiener Stadthalle Mirjam Weichselbraun, Alice Tumler and Arabella Kiesbauer

Awards received

Marcel Bezençon Awards

The Marcel Bezençon Awards were first handed out during the Eurovision Song Contest 2002 in Tallinn, Estonia, honouring the best competing songs in the final. Founded by Christer Björkman (Sweden's representative in the 1992 Eurovision Song Contest and the current Head of Delegation for Sweden) and Richard Herrey (a member of the Herreys and the Eurovision Song Contest 1984 winner from Sweden), the awards are named after the creator of the annual competition, Marcel Bezençon. The awards are divided into three categories: Press Award, Artistic Award, and Composer Award.[16]

Year Category Song Performer(s) Composer(s)
2014 Press Award "Rise Like a Phoenix" Conchita Wurst Charley Mason, Joey Patulka, Ali Zuckowski, Julian Maas

OGAE

Organisation Générale des Amateurs de l'Eurovision (more commonly known as OGAE) is an international organisation that was founded in 1984 in Savonlinna, Finland by Jari-Pekka Koikkalainen.[17] The organisation consists of a network of 40 Eurovision Song Contest fan clubs across Europe and beyond, and is a non-governmental, non-political, and non-profit company.[18]

Year Song Performer(s) Composer(s) OGAE place OGAE result
2014[19] "Rise Like a Phoenix" Conchita Wurst Charley Mason, Joey Patulka, Ali Zuckowski, Julian Maas 4 221

Commentators

Between the 1970 Contest and the 1998 Contest every contest was commentated by Austrian radio journalist and actor Ernst Grissemann, with the exception of the 1979 Contest and the 1990 Contest. Grissemann admitted to future German commentator Peter Urban in 1995 that he only stayed for the dress rehearsal and then provided the Austrian commentary live from the ORF studios.[20] After 1998 Grissemann stepped down from the commentary and was replaced by Andi Knoll. Austria has also broadcast the contests where it was not competing, except for the 2010 contest.

Year(s) Television commentator Radio commentator Spokesperson
1957 Commentary via ARD Germany between 1957 and 1963 No radio broadcast Karl Bruck
1958
1959
1960 Emil Kollpacher
1961
1962
1963
1964 Willy Kralik Walter Richard Langer
1965
1966
1967 Emil Kollpacher
1968 Willy Kralik
1969 Did not participate
1970 Ernst Grissemann
1971 Hubert Gaisbauer No Spokesperson
1972
1973 No radio broadcast Did not participate
1974
1975
1976 Hubert Gaisbauer Jenny Pippal
1977
1978 Walter Richard Langer
1979 Max Schautzer
1980 Günther Ziesel
1981 Ernst Grissemann
1982 Tilia Herold
1983 Rudolf Klausnitzer
1984 No radio broadcast
1985 Walter Richard Langer Chris Lohner
1986 Hans Leitinger Tilia Herold
1987
1988
1989
1990 Barbara Stöckl Walter Richard Langer
1991 Herbert Dobrovolny Gabriele Haring
1992 Ernst Grissemann Martin Blumenau Andy Lee
1993
1994 Tilia Herold
1995 Stermann & Grissemann
1996 Martina Rupp
1997 Adriana Zartl
1998 Did not participate
1999 Andi Knoll Dodo Roščić
2000
2001 Did not participate
2002 Dodo Roščić
2003 Martin Blumenau
2004
2005
2006 No radio broadcast Did not participate
2007 Eva Pölzl
2008 Did not participate
2009 Benny Hörtnagl
2010 No broadcast
2011 Andi Knoll Martin Blumenau & Benny Hörtnagl Katharina Bellowitsch
2012 Stermann & Grissemann
2013 No radio broadcast
2014
2015
2016
2017 Kristina Inhof

Photogallery

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Klier, Marcus (27 July 2010). "Austria will return to Eurovision in 2011". ESCToday. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
  2. 1 2 "Song Contest: Österreich tritt 2011 wieder an" (in German). ORF. 2010-07-27. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
  3. "Austria wins Eurovision Song Contest". BBC News. 11 May 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 O'Connor, John Kennedy (2005). The Eurovision Song Contest: The Official History.
  5. Philips, Roel (18 June 2005). "Austria withdraws from 2006 Eurovision Song Contest". Retrieved 10 December 2006.
  6. Philips, Roel (20 June 2005). "Austrian Broadcaster explains withdrawal". Retrieved 12 December 2006.
  7. Holyer, Steve (20 November 2007). "Austria will not go to Belgrade". Retrieved 20 November 2007.
  8. Klier, Marcus (2 January 2008). "ORF likely to broadcast Eurovision Song Contest 2008". Retrieved 1 March 2008.
  9. Kuipers, Michael (3 June 2008). "Austria: ORF will decide in the Autumn". ESCToday. Retrieved 3 June 2008.
  10. Klier, Marcus (18 September 2008). "Austria: No return to Eurovision in 2009". ESCToday. Retrieved 18 September 2008.
  11. Floras, Stella (13 January 2009). "EBU working for Eurovision full house in 2010". ESCToday. Retrieved 30 July 2009.
  12. Klier, Marcus (22 September 2009). "Confirmed: Austria will not take part in 2010". ESCToday. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  13. Wrabetz, Alexander (2010-05-31). "Wrabetz will ORF-Antreten "sicher überdenken"" (in German). derstandard.at. Archived from the original on 5 June 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-01.
  14. Bild: ORF. "Auch Österreich wird zum begeisterten Song-Contest-Land". Nachrichten.at. Retrieved 2014-05-14.
  15. "Rules for the Eurovision Song Contest 2009" (PDF). European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 18 July 2009.
  16. "Marcel Bezençon Award – an introduction". Poplight.se. Archived from the original on 17 October 2013. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
  17. OGAE (15 June 2012). "Eurovision Fanclub Network". ogae.net. OGAE. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
  18. "Klubi-info: Mikä ihmeen OGAE?" [The club info: What on Earth is OGAE?] (in Finnish). OGAE Finland. 5 June 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
  19. OGAE International (28 April 2014). "OGAE 2014 Results". OGAE. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
  20. "Begegnung in der Box | Das Erste: Eurovision Song Contest - News - Mein Grand Prix". Eurovision.de. 2011-05-14. Retrieved 2014-05-14.
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