1996 Germany : Leon – Blauer Planet/Planet of Blue
Ooooooooooooooooooh, controversial!!!
1996 was a sad year for German Eurovision. After appearing in every Eurovision since 1956, this was the first year there was to be no German presence. The German public had chosen a song that they thought would be on the stage in Oslo, but for the one (and only) time ever the EBU had a ‘pre-selection’ contest.
Due to the influx of Eastern European countries wanting to enter, as well as the separate states that were once Yugoslavia, 30 countries had applied to be in the contest. So in the March the EBU had a pre-selection 8 jurors of each country were sent audio of the 29 songs (Norway were hosts and so automatically gained a place in the final) wanting the 22 tickets to the final. The bottom 7 would be out.
Hungary, Germany, Denmark, FYROM, Russia, Israel and Romania were out. Their songs never to be heard on the Eurovision stage.
So, Leon and his Blue Planet never made it. Shame, as the song was very contemporary for it’s time and probably the most relevant song that year. I mean, German music in 1996 was full of this dance style. It could have been big. We will never know.
The next year, the German preselection show was called “Der countdown laeuft” in honour of Leon’s failed song. Ironically Leon came back that year with another stomper of an entry, with another electronic song but with roots in Schlager and line dancing…. And came second.
I guess it was never meant to be…
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