Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest 1980

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Eurovision Song Contest 1980
Country Germany
National selection
Selection processEin Lied für Den Haag
Selection date(s)20 March 1980
Selected entrantKatja Ebstein
Selected song"Theater"
Selected songwriter(s)
Finals performance
Final result2nd, 128 points
Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest
◄1979 1980 1981►

Germany was represented by Katja Ebstein, with the song "Theater", at the 1980 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 19 April in The Hague. "Theater" was the winner of the German national final, held on 20 March. This was Ebstein's third Eurovision appearance; she had previously represented Germany in 1970 and 1971, finishing third on both occasions.

Before Eurovision

Ein Lied für Den Haag

Katja Ebstein (1980)

The final was held at the Bayerischer Rundfunk TV studios in Munich, hosted by Carolin Reiber and Thomas Gottschalk. 12 songs took part and the winner was chosen by a panel of approximately 1,000 people who had been selected as providing a representative cross-section of the German public.[1]

Draw Artist Song Songwriters Votes Place
1 Mel Jersey "Du bist nicht mehr frei" Walter Gerke, Mick Hannes 3310 6
2 Costa Cordalis "Pan" Ralph Siegel, Kurt Hertha 4634 2
3 Marianne Rosenberg "Ich werd' da sein, wenn es Sturm gibt" Joachim Heider, Horst-Herbert Krause 2169 12
4 Roland Kaiser "Hier kriegt jeder sein Fett" Jürgen Triebel, Horst-Herbert Krause 2823 8
5 Stefan Waggershausen & Co. "Verzeih'n Sie, Madame" Stefan Waggershausen 3625 4
6 Katja Ebstein "Theater" Ralph Siegel, Bernd Meinunger 4828 1
7 Adam & Eve "Hallo Adam, Hallo Eva" Alexander Gordan, Norbert Hammerschmidt 2847 7
8 Montezuma "Montezuma Castle" Rudi Bauer, Gerd Thumser 3586 5
9 Tony & David "Minnesänger - Mädchenfänger" Alexander Gordan, Norbert Hammerschmidt 2784 9
10 Stefan Hallberg "Gib uns Zeit" Jean Frankfurter, Robert Puschmann 2266 11
11 Susanne Klee "Wenn du nicht weißt, wohin" Jean Frankfurter, John Möhring 3968 3
12 Viel-Harmoniker "In der Oper" Gert Wilden, Wolfgang Hofer 2462 10

At Eurovision

On the night of the final Ebstein performed 12th in the running order, following Norway and preceding the United Kingdom. The performance was memorable, featuring four mime artists, and at the close of voting "Theater" had received 128 points, placing Germany second of the 19 entries.[2] Only Greece and Norway failed to award the song any points at all.

The 1980 result gave Ebstein the distinction of being the only Eurovision performer to date to have finished in the top 3 on three occasions.

The German jury was composed of ten members and a jury president with no voting rights.[3] Each jury member gave each song between one and five points.[3] The total of these points was then converted to the known Eurovision voting format (12 points, 10 points…).[3] In case of a draw the placement was decided by a show of hands.[3] The German jury awarded its 12 points to contest winners Ireland.[4]

The show was watched by 17.35 million viewers in Germany, the highest TV rating ever measured in Germany for a Eurovision Song Contest final.[5]

Voting

References

  1. ^ ESC National Finals database 1980
  2. ^ "Final of The Hague 1980". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d Albers, Frank (2006). "Siggi und Karl - Viva la Eurovision". Euro-Voice (in German) (15). OGAE Germany: 39. OCLC 1190215751.
  4. ^ ESC History - Germany 1980
  5. ^ Quotenmeter; AGF; GfK. "TV-Reichweite des Eurovision Song Contests in den Jahren 1976 bis 2023 nach der Anzahl der Zuschauer". Statista. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Results of the Final of The Hague 1980". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.