Telegram (song)
Encyclopedia
"Telegram" was the German
entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1977
, performed in English
(the first occasion on which the German entry had not featured at least some lyrics in German
) by Silver Convention
, a trio at the time consisting of Austria
n Penny McLean (born Gertrude Wirschinger), German-American
Ramona Wulf (born Ramona Kraft) and American Rhonda Heath.
When Silver Convention entered the Contest in 1977 they were arguably that year's most established and well-known act; they had had a series of major disco
hits in Continental Europe, Scandinavia, the UK and the US; "Save Me
", "Fly, Robin, Fly
", "Get Up and Boogie", "No, No, Joe", "Tiger Baby", and "Everybody's Talkin' 'Bout Love" and Penny McLean had also scored several solo hits in her own right in Europe, "Lady Bump", "1, 2, 3, 4, Fire!". "Devil Eyes", "Nobody's Child" and "Dance, Bunny Honey, Dance". All of these were written and produced by the same team as their Eurovision entry; Sylvester Levay
and Michael Kunze, both of whom would go on to collaborate with other successful Germany based disco acts like Donna Summer
, Giorgio Moroder
, Boney M., Eruption
and Amanda Lear
.
The language rule was brought back in the 1977 Contest, four years after it had been dropped in 1973, meaning that each country again had to sing in one of their official languages, in Silver Convention's case German. However, both Germany and Belgium had already selected their respective entries when the rule was reintroduced by the EBU, thus Silver Convention and Belgium's Dream Express were allowed to sing their songs in English.
"Telegram" was performed sixth on the night (following Norway
's Anita Skorgan
with "Casanova
" and preceding Luxembourg
's Anne-Marie B. with "Frère Jacques"). At the close of voting, it had received 55 points, placing 8th in a field of 18.
The song is inspired by the disco
music popular at the time, with the group singing about their need to send a telegram to a lover to bring him to them. A carefully choreographed dance was performed with the song, with a uniting theme throughout being "connection," ostensibly with the woman and her lover, in which all three ladies linked themselves to one another by touching each other's shoulders, and then hips, as the connection "came back."
"Telegram" only turned out to be a minor commercial success for Silver Convention (#27 Germany), with one notable exception, in Sweden the song reached #4 and became their best-selling single. The song was also released as an extended 12" remix, the 5.50 version was subsequently included on the band's fifth studio album Summer Nights. After a number of revised line-ups Silver Convention disbanded in 1978.
"Telegram" was succeeded as German representative
at the 1978 Contest
by Ireen Sheer
with "Feuer
".
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...
entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1977
Eurovision Song Contest 1977
The Eurovision Song Contest 1977 was the 22nd edition series, and was held on 7 May 1977 in London. With Angela Rippon as the presenter, the contest was won by Marie Myriam who represented France, with her song "L'oiseau et l'enfant" . This was France's fifth victory, a record, which was equalled...
, performed in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
(the first occasion on which the German entry had not featured at least some lyrics in German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
) by Silver Convention
Silver Convention
Silver Convention was a German euro disco recording act of the 1970s. The group was originally named Silver Bird Convention, or Silver Bird.-Career:...
, a trio at the time consisting of Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n Penny McLean (born Gertrude Wirschinger), German-American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Ramona Wulf (born Ramona Kraft) and American Rhonda Heath.
When Silver Convention entered the Contest in 1977 they were arguably that year's most established and well-known act; they had had a series of major disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
hits in Continental Europe, Scandinavia, the UK and the US; "Save Me
Save Me (Silver Convention song)
"Save Me" is a 1975 single by Silver Convention, which became a hit in Germany. It also was heavily played in disco clubs in many countries. Silver Convention later re-recorded the song as Save Me '77. Today the original version of the song has appeared on several 70s disco compilations, as well as...
", "Fly, Robin, Fly
Fly, Robin, Fly
"Fly, Robin, Fly" is a 1975 record by the German group Silver Convention. The song was released as a single from their 1975 album Save Me. In the United States, it rose to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in November 1975, staying there for three weeks. The single also was #1 on the soul singles chart...
", "Get Up and Boogie", "No, No, Joe", "Tiger Baby", and "Everybody's Talkin' 'Bout Love" and Penny McLean had also scored several solo hits in her own right in Europe, "Lady Bump", "1, 2, 3, 4, Fire!". "Devil Eyes", "Nobody's Child" and "Dance, Bunny Honey, Dance". All of these were written and produced by the same team as their Eurovision entry; Sylvester Levay
Sylvester Levay
Sylvester Levay is a Hungarian composer. He was born 16 May 1945 in Subotica , in the North Bačka District of Vojvodina, Yugoslavia ; his name is pronounced in English similarly to "lave-ah-ee."...
and Michael Kunze, both of whom would go on to collaborate with other successful Germany based disco acts like Donna Summer
Donna Summer
LaDonna Adrian Gaines , known by her stage name, Donna Summer, is an American singer/songwriter who gained prominence during the disco era of the 1970s. She has a mezzo-soprano vocal range. Summer is a five-time Grammy winner and was the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach...
, Giorgio Moroder
Giorgio Moroder
Hansjörg "Giorgio" Moroder is an Italian record producer, songwriter and performer based in Los Angeles. When in Munich in the 1970s, he started his own record label called Oasis Records, which several years later became a subdivision of Casablanca Records...
, Boney M., Eruption
Eruption (band)
Eruption was a popular disco / R&B / Soul band in the 1970s and 1980s.-History:Silent Eruption was formed in 1974 in Britain. In 1975 they won the RCA Soul Search Contest, whilst their first single "Let Me Take You Back in Time" was released in 1976...
and Amanda Lear
Amanda Lear
Amanda Lear is a French singer, lyricist, composer, painter, TV presenter, actress and novelist....
.
The language rule was brought back in the 1977 Contest, four years after it had been dropped in 1973, meaning that each country again had to sing in one of their official languages, in Silver Convention's case German. However, both Germany and Belgium had already selected their respective entries when the rule was reintroduced by the EBU, thus Silver Convention and Belgium's Dream Express were allowed to sing their songs in English.
"Telegram" was performed sixth on the night (following Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
's Anita Skorgan
Anita Skorgan
Anita Skorgan is a Norwegian singer-songwriter. She was once married to Jahn Teigen, another successful Norwegian singer-songwriter...
with "Casanova
Casanova (song)
"Casanova" was the Norwegian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1977, performed in Norwegian by Anita Skorgan.The song is an up-tempo number, with Skorgan describing her husband, who is absent at the time. She is uncomplimentary about this, singing that he sees himself as a Casanova or a Don Juan...
" and preceding Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
's Anne-Marie B. with "Frère Jacques"). At the close of voting, it had received 55 points, placing 8th in a field of 18.
The song is inspired by the disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
music popular at the time, with the group singing about their need to send a telegram to a lover to bring him to them. A carefully choreographed dance was performed with the song, with a uniting theme throughout being "connection," ostensibly with the woman and her lover, in which all three ladies linked themselves to one another by touching each other's shoulders, and then hips, as the connection "came back."
"Telegram" only turned out to be a minor commercial success for Silver Convention (#27 Germany), with one notable exception, in Sweden the song reached #4 and became their best-selling single. The song was also released as an extended 12" remix, the 5.50 version was subsequently included on the band's fifth studio album Summer Nights. After a number of revised line-ups Silver Convention disbanded in 1978.
"Telegram" was succeeded as German representative
Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest
Germany has participated in every Eurovision Song Contest since its beginning in 1956, although its entry in 1996 did not qualify past the pre‐selection round, and therefore was not seen in the broadcast final. No other country has been represented as often. France and the United Kingdom come in a...
at the 1978 Contest
Eurovision Song Contest 1978
The Eurovision Song Contest 1978 was the 23rd of its kind, and was held on 22 April 1978 in Paris. With Denise Fabre and Léon Zitrone as the presenters - the first time more than one presenter hosted the contest - the contest was won by Izhar Cohen & the Alphabeta who represented Israel, with their...
by Ireen Sheer
Ireen Sheer
Ireen Sheer is a German-British pop singer, who has competed in several Eurovision Song Contests over the past four decades...
with "Feuer
Feuer
Feuer is the German language word for fire. From its origins, the word "feuer" has made its way into contemporary use as a family name.According to Israel's Diaspora Museum, the surname, Feuer, indicates that the ancestors of those bearing this name were the "shedders of light and wisdom" on their...
".