Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest 1988

Germany was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1988 with the song "Lied für einen Freund", composed by Ralph Siegel, with lyrics by Bernd Meinunger, and performed by Maxi and Chris Garden. The German participating broadcaster on behalf of ARD, Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR), selected their entry through a national final. Maxi and Chris Garden had finished second in the 1987 national final.

Eurovision Song Contest 1988
Participating broadcasterARD[a]Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR)
Country Germany
National selection
Selection processEin Lied für Dublin
Selection date(s)31 March 1988
Selected artist(s)Maxi and Chris Garden
Selected song"Lied für einen Freund"
Selected songwriter(s)
Finals performance
Final result14th, 48 points
Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest
◄1987 1988 1989►

Before Eurovision

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Ein Lied für Dublin

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Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR) held the national final on 31 March 1988 at the Frankenhalle in Nuremberg, hosted by Jenny Jürgens. Twelve acts presented their entries live and the winner was selected by a panel of approximately 600 people who had been selected as providing a representative cross-section of the German public. Among the other participants was Cindy Berger, who had represented Germany in 1974 as half of Cindy and Bert.[1] The national final was broadcast on Erstes Deutsches Fernsehen and on radio station WDR 4.[2][3]

One of the songs which failed to qualify for the 1988 German national final, "Das Beste" by male-female duo Duett, later became embroiled in controversy when it was entered by the same performers in the 1990 Austrian national final, which it duly won in dramatic circumstances after the female singer had appeared to faint onstage during the initial performance. When the song's previous history subsequently came to light, Austrian broadcaster ORF had no choice but to disqualify it as a clear violation of Eurovision rules, handing the 1990 Austrian ticket to original runner-up Simone Stelzer.

Final – 31 March 1988
Draw Artist Song Songwriter(s) Points Place
1 Thomas and Thomas "Träumen kann man nie zuviel" Jean Frankfurter, Irma Holder 2,388 12
2 Tommy Steiner "Insel im Wind" Hanne Haller, Bernd Meinunger, Ramona Leiß 3,185 6
3 Tammy Swift "Tanzen geh'n" Ralph Siegel, Bernd Meinunger 3,172 7
4 Bernhard Brink and Gilda "Komm' ins Paradies" Matthias Reim, Jörg Wiesner, Ingrid Reith 3,538 3
5 Michaela "Ein kleines Wunder" Rainer Pietsch, Bernd Meinunger 3,171 8
6 G. G. Anderson "Hättest du heut' Zeit für mich" Ekki Stein, G. G. Anderson, Siegward Kastning 3,508 4
7 Rendezvous "Du bist ein Stern für mich" Hans-Rolf Schade, Werner Petersburg, Jutta Gröters 2,826 10
8 Ann Thomas "Regenbogenland" Hanne Haller, Bernd Meinunger, Ramona Leiß 3,351 5
9 Heartware "Ich geb' dir mein Herz" Jacques van Eijck, John Möring 3,021 9
10 Maxi and Chris Garden "Lied für einen Freund" Ralph Siegel, Bernd Meinunger 4,475 1
11 Christian Francke "In deiner Hand" Christian Franke, Andrea Andergast 2,596 11
12 Cindy Berger "Und leben will ich auch" Rainer Pietsch, Bernd Meinunger 3,769 2

At Eurovision

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On the evening of the final the duo performed 11th in the running order, following Ireland and preceding Austria. At the close of voting, "Lied für einen Freund" had received 48 points, placing Germany 14th of the 21 entries.[4] The German jury awarded its 12 points to contest winners Switzerland.[5]

The show was watched by 8.61 million viewers in Germany.[6]

Voting

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Notes

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  1. ^ Arbeitsgemeinschaft der öffentlich-rechtlichen Rundfunkanstalten der Bundesrepublik Deutschland

References

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  1. ^ ESC National Finals database 1988
  2. ^ "Fernsehen – Morgen" [Television – Tomorrow]. Der Nordschleswiger (in German). Aabenraa, Denmark. 31 March 1988. p. 12. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  3. ^ "Televisie en radio" [Television and radio]. Limburgs Dagblad (in Dutch). Heerlen, Netherlands. 31 March 1988. p. 13. Retrieved 26 October 2024 – via Delpher.
  4. ^ "Final of Dublin 1988". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 16 April 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  5. ^ ESC History - Germany 1988
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ a b "Results of the Final of Dublin 1988". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 16 April 2021. Retrieved 16 April 2021.