Katja Ebstein
Encyclopedia
Karin Witkiewicz, also known as Katja Ebstein, (9 March 1945) is a German
singer. She was born in Girlachsdorf
(now Gniewków
, Poland
). She achieved success with songs such as Theater or Es war einmal ein Jäger. She was married to Christian Bruhn, who wrote many of her songs. She represented Germany
at the Eurovision Song Contest
three times: 1970
, 1971
and 1980
. Her best performance was in 1980
when she gained second place with the entry Theater. As noted by John Kennedy O'Connor
in his book The Eurovision Song Contest - The Official History, Ebstein is the most successful performer to have taken part in the contest, without ever winning. She is the only singer to appear in the top three on three separate occasions.
Albums
Her Awards
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
singer. She was born in Girlachsdorf
Gniewków
Gniewków is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Dobromierz, within Świdnica County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. Prior to 1945 it was in Germany....
(now Gniewków
Gniewków
Gniewków is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Dobromierz, within Świdnica County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. Prior to 1945 it was in Germany....
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
). She achieved success with songs such as Theater or Es war einmal ein Jäger. She was married to Christian Bruhn, who wrote many of her songs. She represented Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
at the Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
three times: 1970
Eurovision Song Contest 1970
The Eurovision Song Contest 1970 was the 15th Eurovision Song Contest, held on 21 March 1970 at the RAI Congrescentrum in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The Amsterdam contest is regarded as one of the most significant in Eurovision history for a number of reasons....
, 1971
Eurovision Song Contest 1971
The Eurovision Song Contest 1971 was the sixteenth Eurovision Song Contest and the first held in Dublin, Ireland. The new voting system that was introduced in this Eurovision did have one big problem: some juries gave fewer points out than others...
and 1980
Eurovision Song Contest 1980
The Eurovision Song Contest 1980 was the 25th Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 19 April 1980 in The Hague. The presenter was Marlous Fluitsma, although each song was introduced by a presenter from the nation represented...
. Her best performance was in 1980
Eurovision Song Contest 1980
The Eurovision Song Contest 1980 was the 25th Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 19 April 1980 in The Hague. The presenter was Marlous Fluitsma, although each song was introduced by a presenter from the nation represented...
when she gained second place with the entry Theater. As noted by John Kennedy O'Connor
John Kennedy O'Connor
John Kennedy O'Connor is an author, entertainment and political commentator, based in the United States. Born in North London, United Kingdom, he has written, reported and broadcast for numerous media organizations, as well as writing, creating and producing media events for a number of...
in his book The Eurovision Song Contest - The Official History, Ebstein is the most successful performer to have taken part in the contest, without ever winning. She is the only singer to appear in the top three on three separate occasions.
Her Hits
- Wovon träumt ein Weihnachtsbaum im Mai [What does a Christmas tree dream in may] (1969) - German version of the song "Do You Know How Christmas Trees Are Grown?", which is from the soundtrack of On Her Majesty's Secret ServiceOn Her Majesty's Secret Service (soundtrack)On Her Majesty's Secret Service is the soundtrack for the 6th James Bond film of the same name.Once again, the soundtrack to this James Bond adventure was composed, arranged, and conducted by John Barry; it was his fifth successive Bond film....
- Wunder gibt es immer wiederWunder Gibt Es Immer WiederWunder gibt es immer wieder was the German entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1970, performed in German by Katja Ebstein....
(1970) - 3rd in Eurovision Song Contest 1970Eurovision Song Contest 1970The Eurovision Song Contest 1970 was the 15th Eurovision Song Contest, held on 21 March 1970 at the RAI Congrescentrum in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The Amsterdam contest is regarded as one of the most significant in Eurovision history for a number of reasons....
- # 16 - Und wenn ein neuer Tag erwacht (1970)
- Diese WeltDiese Welt"Diese Welt" was the German entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1971, performed in German by Katja Ebstein. This was Ebstein's second, consecutive Eurovision entry; she had represented Germany at the 1970 contest with "Wunder gibt es immer wieder", which finished 3rd in a field of 12."Diese Welt"...
(1971) - 3rd in Eurovision Song Contest 1971Eurovision Song Contest 1971The Eurovision Song Contest 1971 was the sixteenth Eurovision Song Contest and the first held in Dublin, Ireland. The new voting system that was introduced in this Eurovision did have one big problem: some juries gave fewer points out than others...
- # 16 - Ein kleines Lied vom Frieden (1971)
- Inch Allah (1972)
- Der Stern von Mykonos (1973) - # 4
- Ein Indiojunge aus Peru (1974)
- Athena (1974)
- Es war einmal ein Jäger (1975) - # 4
- Die Hälfte seines Lebens (1975)
- Aus Liebe weint man nicht (1976)
- In Petersburg ist Pferdemarkt (1977)
- Du und ich (1977)
- Wein nicht um mich, Argentinien (1977)
- Weck mich, bevor du gehst (1977)
- Dieser Mann ist ein Mann (1978)
- Es müssen keine Rosen sein (1979)
- Trink mit mir (1979)
- Abschied ist ein bißchen wie sterben (1980) - # 10
- TheaterTheater (song)"Theater" was the German entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1980, performed in German by Katja Ebstein. This was Ebstein's third Eurovision entry, she had represented Germany in 1970 and 1971, with "Wunder gibt es immer wieder" and "Diese Welt" respectively, both times finishing in 3rd...
(1980) - 2nd in Eurovision Song Contest 1980Eurovision Song Contest 1980The Eurovision Song Contest 1980 was the 25th Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 19 April 1980 in The Hague. The presenter was Marlous Fluitsma, although each song was introduced by a presenter from the nation represented...
- # 11 - Dann heirat' doch dein Büro (1980)
- Traumzeit (1982)
Albums
- Katja (Liberty 1969)
- Wunder gibt es immer wieder (Liberty 1970)
- Mein Leben ist wie ein Lied (Liberty 1970)
- Freunde (United Artists 1971)
- Katja Ebstein en español (United Artists 1971) (not released in Germany)
- Wir leben – wir lieben (United Artists 1972)
- Katja (United Artists 1973)
- The star of Mykonos (United Artists 1974) (not released in Germany)
- Le soleil de Mykonos (United Artists 1974) (not released in Germany)
- …was ich noch singen wollte (United Artists 1974)
- Wilde Rosen und andere Träume (EMI Electrola 1974)
- Katja Ebstein singt Heinrich Heine (EMI Electrola 1975)
- Katja & Co. (Personality-Show) (EMI Electrola 1976)
- In Petersburg ist Pferdemarkt (EMI Electrola 1976)
- Liebe (EMI Electrola 1977)
- So wat wie ick et bin… kann nur aus Berlin sein (EMI Electrola 1978)
- Glashaus (Ariola 1980)
- Katja live (Ariola 1980)
- He du da… (Ariola 1980)
- Kopf hoch (Ariola 1981)
- Mein Name ist Katja (Personality Shor) (Ariola 1982)
- Traumzeit??? (Ariola 1982)
- Lyrikerinnen (with Lutz Görner) (Rezitheater-Verlag 1990)
- LiLaLutsche – ich rutsche auf der Rutsche (Children's Songs) (Igel Records 1991)
- Ebstein (Polydor 1994)
- Meisterinnenwerke (CAT Music 1996)
- Ave von Medjugorje – Pilgerlieder (mit Inge Brück) (CAT Music 1996)
- Ave from Medjugorje – Pilgrim songs (mit Inge Brück) (CAT Music 1997)
- Ave de Medjugorje – Chansons pelèrines (mit Inge Brück) (CAT Music 1997)
- Ave von Medjugorje (in Bosnian language) (mit Inge Brück) (CAT Music 1997)
- Lasst Euch nicht verführen! – Katja Ebstein singt und spricht Bertolt Brecht (Deutsche Grammophon 1999)
- Berlin… trotz und alledem! (Deutsche Grammophon 1999)
- Es fällt ein Stern herunter… (CAT Music 2001)
- Witkiewicz (EMI 2005)
Her Awards
- 1969: Goldene Europa best German newcomer
- 1972: Bravo Otto, Bronze
- 1981: Goldene Europa
- 1983: Goldene Stimmgabel
- 2000: Lale Andersen Price
- 2008: Verdienstkreuz am Bande des Verdienstordens der Bundesrepublik Deutschland ( German Cross)...for outstanding career and social engagement
- 2009: Fred-Jay-Price