# Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest 1957

Germany was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1957 with the song "Telefon, Telefon", composed by Friedrich Meyer, with lyrics by Ralph Maria Siegel, and performed by Margot Hielscher. The German participating broadcaster on behalf of ARD, Hessischer Rundfunk (HR), selected its entry through a national final. In addition, HR was also the host broadcaster and staged the event at the Großer Sendesaal des hessischen Rundfunks in Frankfurt.

## Before Eurovision
### Zwei auf einem Pferd

Hessischer Rundfunk (HR) on behalf of ARD, organised and produced the German national final as part of the show Zwei auf einem Pferd. Zwei auf einem Pferd was a regular game show starting in autumn 1956. The selection of the German entry took place at the Großer Sendesaal des Hessischen Rundfunks in Frankfurt – the same venue as for the Eurovision Song Contest 1957 – on 17 February 1957 at 20:15 CET (19:15 UTC). The final was broadcast on ARD's Deutsches Fernsehen, and abroad on ORF and NTS. It was hosted by Hans-Joachim Kulenkampff and directed by Ekkehard Böhmer [de]. Hans-Otto Grünefeldt [de] oversaw the production of the show.
Four songs competed in the national final. The artists were accompanied by the Tanzorchester des Hessischen Rundfunks under the musical direction of Willy Berking. A jury consisting of the directors of entertainment programs of the West-German broadcasters decided the winner. Each juror distributed ten points among his favourite songs. "Telefon, Telefon", composed by Friedrich Meyer [de], and with lyrics by Ralph Maria Siegel [de], won the national final with a large margin and was selected as the German entry.
National final – 17 February 1957 :
| R/O | Artist | Song | Composer | Lyricist | Points | Place |
| 1 | Renée Franke [de] | "Ich brauche Dein Herz" | Lotar Olias | Peter Moesser [de] | 18 | 2 |
| 2 | Illo Schieder [de] | "Was machen die Mädchen in Rio?" | Willy Mattes [de] | Fini Busch [de] | 9 | 4 |
| 3 | Paul Kuhn | "Das Klavier über mir" | Karl Götz [de] | Walter Brandin [de] | 17 | 3 |
| 4 | Margot Hielscher | "Telefon, Telefon" | Friedrich Meyer [de] | Ralph Maria Siegel [de] | 36 | 1 |

## At Eurovision

HR hosted the Eurovision Song Contest 1957 in Frankfurt, when there was still no format in place for the previous year's winning broadcaster to host the following year, and following Switzerland hosting and winning in 1956. "Telefon, Telefon" was conducted by Willy Berking and Hielscher performed seventh, following the Netherlands and preceding France. The song received eight points, placing fourth in a field of ten. The song's lyrics gave rise to what is generally considered the first "gimmick performance" in the contest history, with Hielscher in fact picking up a real telephone receiver during her performance. At the end of the song, she picks it up again and explains "on the telephone" that she can't talk anymore because her song is ending. It was succeeded as German representative at the 1958 contest by Hielscher again, with "Für zwei Groschen Musik".
Eurovision Song Contest 1957 was broadcast on ARD's Deutsches Fernsehen and on HR's radio station Zweites Programm. Excerpts from the show were also broadcast on UKW West (WDR) on 29 April 1957 at 21:15 CET.

### Voting

Each participating broadcaster assembled a ten-member jury panel. Every jury member could give one point to his or her favourite song.