Lena Meyer-Landrut
Encyclopedia
Lena Meyer-Landrut known professionally as Lena, is a German singer-songwriter. She represented Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010
in Oslo
, Norway, and won the contest with the song "Satellite
". With her three entries from the German national final Unser Star für Oslo
(Our Star for Oslo), Meyer-Landrut set an all-time chart record in her home country by debuting with three songs in the top five of the German singles chart
. Both "Satellite" and her first album My Cassette Player
debuted at number one in Germany
, while the former has been certified double Platinum
since, the album has been certified five times Gold for sales of over 500,000 units. Meyer-Landrut represented Germany, for the second consecutive time, in the Eurovision Song Contest
at Düsseldorf
in 2011
with the song "Taken by a Stranger
".
, Germany. She is the granddaughter of Andreas Meyer-Landrut
, the Estonian-born West German
ambassador to the Soviet Union
in Moscow
from 1980 to 1983 and 1987 to 1989. She grew up as an only child
, and started taking dancing lessons at the age of five; initially doing ballet
and later practising various modern styles, including hip-hop and jazz dance
. Meyer-Landrut grew fond of singing and appeared as an extra
in a number of German television series; however she never received any formal acting or vocal training. In June 2010 she graduated from IGS Roderbruch Hannover, a comprehensive school
, receiving her Abitur
diploma
.
(Our Star for Oslo), a newly created national television programme to select the German entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2010
in Oslo
. The show was organised by public broadcaster ARD
and private television station ProSieben, as well as entertainer and music producer Stefan Raab
. Among 4,500 entrants, Meyer-Landrut was picked as one of the 20 contestants for the show. Asked about her motivation to apply, she stated, "I like to test myself. I wanted to see how I am perceived, and I wanted to hear what people with knowledge have to say about it. I personally can’t judge myself at all."
After her first appearance, performing "My Same
" by British singer Adele
, Meyer-Landrut received much praise from the show's jury panel and was instantly considered the favourite. The following week, Adele's "My Same" entered the German singles chart at position number 61. Meyer-Landrut reached the final of Unser Star für Oslo, mainly performing lesser known songs of international artists such as The Bird and the Bee
, Kate Nash
, Paolo Nutini
and Lisa Mitchell
. Out of her eight cover
performances, five of the original songs subsequently charted in Germany, with all but one reaching their peak chart position. In the final on 12 March 2010, Meyer-Landrut sang three songs specifically written for the contest, "Bee
", "Satellite
" and "Love Me
". Through televoting
, the audience chose "Satellite", written by US American Julie Frost
and Dane John Gordon, to be her designated song in case she wins the show. In a second round of voting, Meyer-Landrut was chosen as Germany's entry for the 55th Eurovision Song Contest, beating the last remaining contestant, Jennifer Braun
. The music video for "Satellite" was shot during the night of the final and premiered on German television stations four days later.
Throughout the show, Meyer-Landrut was seen as the clear favourite, often leading Internet polls by huge margins. One day after winning Unser Star für Oslo, all three of the songs performed by her in the final topped the German iTunes Store
sales chart, making her the first singer to achieve that. "Satellite" sold over 100,000 downloads
in its first week, becoming Germany's fastest selling digital release ever. Her three songs all entered the top five of the German singles chart, reaching positions number one, three and four, which no artist had ever achieved since charts were first released in Germany in 1959. "Satellite" was eligible to be certified gold after the first week and platinum after the fourth week of its release. The song has remained at number one for five consecutive weeks in Germany.
While competing at Unser Star für Oslo, Meyer-Landrut continued to attend school. The last show was held one month before the start of her final exams. Following her exams, she released her debut album, My Cassette Player
, on 7 May 2010. Produced by Stefan Raab, it includes the singles "Satellite", "Love Me" and "Bee", as well as two cover songs and eight unreleased titles. Meyer-Landrut is credited as a co-writer for the lyrics of five songs. The album debuted at number one in the German albums chart. It peaked at number one in the Austrian albums chart, number three in the Swiss albums chart, number five in European Top 100 Albums
, and has been certified five times Gold in Germany for sales of over 500,000 units since.
Following her success in Germany, Meyer-Landrut has said she would enjoy a singing or an acting career, but explained, "I'm not fixated on doing music my whole life." She stated she originally planned to study acting after graduating school, but now is unsure "if time allows". She has said her musical influences include Adele
, Kate Nash
, Vanessa Carlton
, as well as the German singer Clueso
and German pop rock
band Wir sind Helden
.
. Germany received a wild card during the running order draw, allowing the German representatives to pick the country's position for the final. They chose position 22 out of the 25 spots. Meyer-Landrut arrived one week before the show in Oslo, Norway, where she completed five rehearsals of her song "Satellite". Prior to the final, she was considered one of the favourites. Bookmakers regarded her second favourite behind Azerbaijan
's Safura
, while Google
projected she would win based on search volume in the participating countries. According to Norway's Aftenposten
she received the most media attention of all participants.
The final was held on 29 May 2010 at Oslo's Telenor Arena
. Appearing fourth from last, Meyer-Landrut wore a simple black dress
and performed on a bare stage with four backing singers
. Her pared-back presentation was a break from recent Eurovision trends, as it did not feature any form of choreography, dancers or elaborate stage show. "Satellite" received a total of 246 points, giving Germany its first win since 1982, and the first victory as a unified country
. The song won over Turkey's entry "We Could Be the Same
" with a margin of 76 points, the second-biggest in Eurovision history, second only to Alexander Rybak
's margin of 169 points in the 2009 contest
. "Satellite" received the maximum 12 points nine times and received points from all but five countries.
called "Satellite" the first "contemporary pop hit Eurovision has produced in decades", ushering in "a new era for the annual music jamboree". Meyer-Landrut's victory received much attention in Germany and the show was seen by 15 million viewers on German television (a 49.1 percent market share). She returned to Hanover
the following day, where she was greeted by 40,000 people. In June, "Satellite" regained the top spot in the German singles chart for one week and also peaked at number one in Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. It also topped European Hot 100 singles chart, being the first Eurovision song to achieve this.
Meyer-Landrut attempted to defend her title in the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest. She was the third winner to do so, and the first in over 50 years.
In the German dubbed
version of the computer-animated
film Sammy's Adventures: The Secret Passage
, Meyer-Landrut provided the voice for the character originally spoken by Isabelle Fuhrman
.
In January 2011, the TV-Show "Unser Song für Deutschland" was announced. The viewers of the show decided for Meyer-Landrut's 2011 Eurovision song. All twelve songs Meyer-Landrut performed during that show were recorded on her second studio album Good News
which was released on 8 February 2011. The album managed to reach a Gold status for selling more than 100,000 units in Germany in its first week of release.
On February 18, the "Unser Song für Deutschland" final was held and it was decided through televoting that Meyer-Landrut would perform the entry "Taken by a Stranger
" in the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2011
where it was placed tenth. The song was released on 22 February 2011.
In April 2011 she went on her first German tour in the largest concert halls in Berlin, Hanover, Frankfurt, Dortmund, Leipzig, Hamburg, Munich, Stuttgart and Cologne. The concert in Frankfurt was recorded on video and was released on DVD in May 2011 which went to #1 in German DVD chart.
Meyer-Landrut's demeanour has been described as "carefree", "laid-back and self-effacing". She has been said to possess an "adequate youthful megalomania", to "cultivate her forwardness" and to stand for "unadorned genuineness" and "sincerity". She has also been said to give "infatuation a rhythm" and blur the "fine line between puppy love and psychotic obsession". Her vocals have been both lauded and criticised. In an attempt to explain Meyer-Landrut's success, her appearance has been called a "mix of loveliness, professionalism and a little craziness". She has also been lauded for her stage presence and charisma.
German
Eurovision Song Contest 2010
The Eurovision Song Contest 2010 was the 55th annual Eurovision Song Contest, broadcast from the Telenor Arena in Bærum, Greater Oslo, Norway. It was the third time Norway had hosted the contest, having previously done so in 1986 and 1996. The 2010 winner was Germany with Lena singing "Satellite",...
in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, Norway, and won the contest with the song "Satellite
Satellite (Lena Meyer-Landrut song)
"Satellite" is a song performed by German singer Lena Meyer-Landrut, written by American Julie Frost and Dane John Gordon. It was Germany's entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 2010. The song was chosen via televoting during the national Eurovision pre-selection show Unser Star für Oslo on 12...
". With her three entries from the German national final Unser Star für Oslo
Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010
Germany is the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 winner, which was held in May 2010 in Bærum, Norway. The country's entry was selected in a series of competitive heats and a national final – Unser Star für Oslo 2010 – which was organised jointly by the public broadcasters ARD and NDR and the...
(Our Star for Oslo), Meyer-Landrut set an all-time chart record in her home country by debuting with three songs in the top five of the German singles chart
Media Control Charts
The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie...
. Both "Satellite" and her first album My Cassette Player
My Cassette Player
My Cassette Player is the debut album of German singer Lena Meyer-Landrut. It was released under her stage name Lena on 7 May 2010, and debuted at number one in the German albums chart...
debuted at number one in Germany
Number-one hits of 2010 (Germany)
The Media Control Charts are record charts compiled by Media Control on behalf of the German record industry. They include the "Single Top 100" and the "Album Top 100" chart. The chart week runs from Friday to Thursday, and the chart compilations are published on Tuesday for the record industry...
, while the former has been certified double Platinum
Bundesverband Musikindustrie
The Bundesverband Musikindustrie or simply BVMI represents the music industry in Germany. The association represents the interests of nearly 350 labels and music industry related enterprises....
since, the album has been certified five times Gold for sales of over 500,000 units. Meyer-Landrut represented Germany, for the second consecutive time, in 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...
at Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.Düsseldorf is an important international business and financial centre and renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Located centrally within the European Megalopolis, the...
in 2011
Eurovision Song Contest 2011
The Eurovision Song Contest 2011 was the 56th annual Eurovision Song Contest and was won by Eldar & Nigar performing "Running Scared" for Azerbaijan. The event took place in the Esprit Arena in Düsseldorf, Germany, following Germany's win in the previous year...
with the song "Taken by a Stranger
Taken by a Stranger
"Taken by a Stranger" is a song by German singer Lena Meyer-Landrut that represented Germany at the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 in Düsseldorf, earning 107 points and 10th place...
".
Early life
Lena Meyer-Landrut was born in HanoverHanover
Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
, Germany. She is the granddaughter of Andreas Meyer-Landrut
Andreas Meyer-Landrut
Andreas Meyer-Landrut is a former German diplomat. He was West Germany's ambassador to the Soviet Union in Moscow from 1980 to 1983 and again from 1987 to 1989...
, the Estonian-born West German
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
ambassador to the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
from 1980 to 1983 and 1987 to 1989. She grew up as an only child
Only child
An only child is a person with no siblings, either biological or adopted. In a family with multiple offspring, first-borns, may be briefly considered only children and have a similar early family environment, but the term only child is generally applied only to those individuals who never have...
, and started taking dancing lessons at the age of five; initially doing ballet
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
and later practising various modern styles, including hip-hop and jazz dance
Jazz dance
Jazz dance is a classification shared by a broad range of dance styles. Before the 1950s, jazz dance referred to dance styles that originated from African American vernacular dance. In the 1950s, a new genre of jazz dance—modern jazz dance—emerged, with roots in Caribbean traditional dance...
. Meyer-Landrut grew fond of singing and appeared as an extra
Extra (actor)
A background actor or extra is a performer in a film, television show, stage, musical, opera or ballet production, who appears in a nonspeaking, nonsinging or nondancing capacity, usually in the background...
in a number of German television series; however she never received any formal acting or vocal training. In June 2010 she graduated from IGS Roderbruch Hannover, a comprehensive school
Comprehensive school
A comprehensive school is a state school that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude. This is in contrast to the selective school system, where admission is restricted on the basis of a selection criteria. The term is commonly used in relation to the United...
, receiving her Abitur
Abitur
Abitur is a designation used in Germany, Finland and Estonia for final exams that pupils take at the end of their secondary education, usually after 12 or 13 years of schooling, see also for Germany Abitur after twelve years.The Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife, often referred to as...
diploma
Diploma
A diploma is a certificate or deed issued by an educational institution, such as a university, that testifies that the recipient has successfully completed a particular course of study or confers an academic degree. In countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia, the word diploma refers to...
.
Unser Star für Oslo
Despite having had no professional singing experience, Meyer-Landrut decided to take part in the talent show Unser Star für OsloGermany in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010
Germany is the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 winner, which was held in May 2010 in Bærum, Norway. The country's entry was selected in a series of competitive heats and a national final – Unser Star für Oslo 2010 – which was organised jointly by the public broadcasters ARD and NDR and the...
(Our Star for Oslo), a newly created national television programme to select the German entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2010
Eurovision Song Contest 2010
The Eurovision Song Contest 2010 was the 55th annual Eurovision Song Contest, broadcast from the Telenor Arena in Bærum, Greater Oslo, Norway. It was the third time Norway had hosted the contest, having previously done so in 1986 and 1996. The 2010 winner was Germany with Lena singing "Satellite",...
in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
. The show was organised by public broadcaster ARD
ARD (broadcaster)
ARD is a joint organization of Germany's regional public-service broadcasters...
and private television station ProSieben, as well as entertainer and music producer Stefan Raab
Stefan Raab
Stefan Konrad Raab is a German entertainer, television host, comedian and musician. Raab began his television career hosting the comedy show Vivasion in 1993 and has been hosting the late-night comedy show TV total since 1999. He became well-known in 1994 after composing a hit single spoofing...
. Among 4,500 entrants, Meyer-Landrut was picked as one of the 20 contestants for the show. Asked about her motivation to apply, she stated, "I like to test myself. I wanted to see how I am perceived, and I wanted to hear what people with knowledge have to say about it. I personally can’t judge myself at all."
After her first appearance, performing "My Same
My Same
"My Same" is a song by British soul singer Adele released on her debut album 19 and written and produced by Adele. It charted in Germany after German Lena Meyer-Landrut had performed it on the talent show contest Unser Star für Oslo , in which the German entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 2010...
" by British singer Adele
Adele (singer)
Adele Laurie Blue Adkins , known professionally as Adele, is an English singer-songwriter. She was the first recipient of the Brit Awards Critics' Choice and was named the number-one predicted breakthrough act of 2008 in an annual BBC poll of music critics, Sound of 2008...
, Meyer-Landrut received much praise from the show's jury panel and was instantly considered the favourite. The following week, Adele's "My Same" entered the German singles chart at position number 61. Meyer-Landrut reached the final of Unser Star für Oslo, mainly performing lesser known songs of international artists such as The Bird and the Bee
The Bird and the Bee
The Bird and the Bee is an American indie pop musical duo from Los Angeles, California, consisting of musicians Inara George and Greg Kurstin...
, Kate Nash
Kate Nash
Kate Marie Nash is an English singer, songwriter, and musician. She had a UK no. 2 hit "Foundations" in 2007, followed by the platinum selling UK number 1 album Made of Bricks. She was named Best Female Artist at the 2008 BRIT Awards....
, Paolo Nutini
Paolo Nutini
Paolo Giovanni Nutini is a Scottish singer, songwriter and musician from Paisley. His father is of Italian descent, from Barga, Tuscany, although both his parents are Scottish, his family having been in Scotland for three generations....
and Lisa Mitchell
Lisa Mitchell
Lisa Helen Mitchell is an Australian singer-songwriter who grew up in Albury, New South Wales. Her debut EP, Said One To The Other topped iTunes in Australia and this success brought her to the attention of boutique London-based publisher, Little Victories , a subsidiary of Sony/ATV, with whom she...
. Out of her eight cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
performances, five of the original songs subsequently charted in Germany, with all but one reaching their peak chart position. In the final on 12 March 2010, Meyer-Landrut sang three songs specifically written for the contest, "Bee
Bee (Lena Meyer-Landrut song)
-Credits and personnel:*Lead vocals – Lena Meyer-Landrut*Producer – Per Kristian "Boots" Ottestad*Music – Rosi Golan, Per Kristian "Boots" Ottestad, Mayaeni Strauss*Lyrics – Rosi Golan, Per Kristian "Boots" Ottestad, Mayaeni Strauss...
", "Satellite
Satellite (Lena Meyer-Landrut song)
"Satellite" is a song performed by German singer Lena Meyer-Landrut, written by American Julie Frost and Dane John Gordon. It was Germany's entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 2010. The song was chosen via televoting during the national Eurovision pre-selection show Unser Star für Oslo on 12...
" and "Love Me
Love Me (Lena Meyer-Landrut song)
"Love Me" is a song by German singer Lena Meyer-Landrut, co-written by her and entertainer Stefan Raab. It was one of three songs performed by Meyer-Landrut in the final of Unser Star für Oslo , the national pre-selection programme for Germany's entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 2010...
". Through televoting
Televoting
Televoting, telephone voting or phone voting is a method of decision making and opinion polling conducted by telephone. Televoting can also extend to voting by SMS text message via a mobile cell phone.- Broadcast contest televoting :...
, the audience chose "Satellite", written by US American Julie Frost
Julie Frost
Julie Frost is an internationally known award winning American songwriter, singer, guitar player and music producer. She is the first American songwriter to win the Eurovision Song Contest, as co-writer of the song "Satellite", which won the contest in 2010 for Germany...
and Dane John Gordon, to be her designated song in case she wins the show. In a second round of voting, Meyer-Landrut was chosen as Germany's entry for the 55th Eurovision Song Contest, beating the last remaining contestant, Jennifer Braun
Jennifer Braun
Jennifer Braun is a German singer. She was runner-up at the talent show Unser Star für Oslo, Germany’s national pre-selection show for the Eurovision Song Contest 2010. Her first hit single was "I Care for You".-Early life:...
. The music video for "Satellite" was shot during the night of the final and premiered on German television stations four days later.
Throughout the show, Meyer-Landrut was seen as the clear favourite, often leading Internet polls by huge margins. One day after winning Unser Star für Oslo, all three of the songs performed by her in the final topped the German iTunes Store
ITunes Store
The iTunes Store is a software-based online digital media store operated by Apple. Opening as the iTunes Music Store on April 28, 2003, with over 200,000 items to purchase, it is, as of April 2008, the number-one music vendor in the United States...
sales chart, making her the first singer to achieve that. "Satellite" sold over 100,000 downloads
Music download
A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
in its first week, becoming Germany's fastest selling digital release ever. Her three songs all entered the top five of the German singles chart, reaching positions number one, three and four, which no artist had ever achieved since charts were first released in Germany in 1959. "Satellite" was eligible to be certified gold after the first week and platinum after the fourth week of its release. The song has remained at number one for five consecutive weeks in Germany.
While competing at Unser Star für Oslo, Meyer-Landrut continued to attend school. The last show was held one month before the start of her final exams. Following her exams, she released her debut album, My Cassette Player
My Cassette Player
My Cassette Player is the debut album of German singer Lena Meyer-Landrut. It was released under her stage name Lena on 7 May 2010, and debuted at number one in the German albums chart...
, on 7 May 2010. Produced by Stefan Raab, it includes the singles "Satellite", "Love Me" and "Bee", as well as two cover songs and eight unreleased titles. Meyer-Landrut is credited as a co-writer for the lyrics of five songs. The album debuted at number one in the German albums chart. It peaked at number one in the Austrian albums chart, number three in the Swiss albums chart, number five in European Top 100 Albums
European Top 100 Albums
The European Top 100 Albums chart is the European adaptation of the Billboard 200 albums chart. It was created in March 1984.The European Top 100 Albums, commonly referred to as Eurochart Top 100 Albums shows the sales of an act in 19 European countries based on IFPI data.The European Top 100...
, and has been certified five times Gold in Germany for sales of over 500,000 units since.
Following her success in Germany, Meyer-Landrut has said she would enjoy a singing or an acting career, but explained, "I'm not fixated on doing music my whole life." She stated she originally planned to study acting after graduating school, but now is unsure "if time allows". She has said her musical influences include Adele
Adele (singer)
Adele Laurie Blue Adkins , known professionally as Adele, is an English singer-songwriter. She was the first recipient of the Brit Awards Critics' Choice and was named the number-one predicted breakthrough act of 2008 in an annual BBC poll of music critics, Sound of 2008...
, Kate Nash
Kate Nash
Kate Marie Nash is an English singer, songwriter, and musician. She had a UK no. 2 hit "Foundations" in 2007, followed by the platinum selling UK number 1 album Made of Bricks. She was named Best Female Artist at the 2008 BRIT Awards....
, Vanessa Carlton
Vanessa Carlton
Vanessa Lee Carlton is an American singer-songwriter and musician. Upon completion of her education at the School of American Ballet, Carlton chose to pursue singing instead, performing in New York bars and clubs while attending university. Three months after recording a demo with producer Peter...
, as well as the German singer Clueso
Clueso
Clueso is a German singer, rapper, songwriter and producer.Clueso, named after Inspector Clouseau in The Pink Panther, started making music in 1995. In 1998 he got to know his future manager Andreas Welskop and gave up his hairdressing apprenticeship. His first vinyl Clüsolo was released on BMG...
and German pop rock
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
band Wir sind Helden
Wir sind Helden
Wir sind Helden is a German Alternative Rock band from Berlin, established in 2001 in Hamburg. The quartet is composed of lead singer Judith Holofernes and musicians Pola Roy, Mark Tavassol, and Jean-Michel Tourette. The group's style has often been considered similar to that of the Neue Deutsche...
.
Eurovision Song Contest
Representing a "big four" country, Meyer-Landrut automatically qualified for the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2010Eurovision Song Contest 2010
The Eurovision Song Contest 2010 was the 55th annual Eurovision Song Contest, broadcast from the Telenor Arena in Bærum, Greater Oslo, Norway. It was the third time Norway had hosted the contest, having previously done so in 1986 and 1996. The 2010 winner was Germany with Lena singing "Satellite",...
. Germany received a wild card during the running order draw, allowing the German representatives to pick the country's position for the final. They chose position 22 out of the 25 spots. Meyer-Landrut arrived one week before the show in Oslo, Norway, where she completed five rehearsals of her song "Satellite". Prior to the final, she was considered one of the favourites. Bookmakers regarded her second favourite behind Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
's Safura
Safura Alizadeh
Safura Alizadeh is an Azerbaijani singer and saxophonist. Alizadeh took part in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010, where she brought Azerbaijan on 5th place, with song "Drip Drop". She later released her debut album It's My War, which made its way into several European countries...
, while Google
Google
Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
projected she would win based on search volume in the participating countries. According to Norway's Aftenposten
Aftenposten
Aftenposten is Norway's largest newspaper. It retook this position in 2010, taking it from the tabloid Verdens Gang which had been the largest newspaper for several decades. It is based in Oslo. The morning edition, which is distributed across all of Norway, had a circulation of 250,179 in 2007...
she received the most media attention of all participants.
The final was held on 29 May 2010 at Oslo's Telenor Arena
Telenor Arena
Telenor Arena, sometimes referred to as Fornebu Arena, is a multi-use indoor arena located at Fornebu in Bærum, outside Oslo, Norway. It serves primarily as a football stadium for Norwegian Premier League side Stabæk Fotball, but is also used as a concert venue...
. Appearing fourth from last, Meyer-Landrut wore a simple black dress
Little black dress
A little black dress is an evening or cocktail dress, cut simply and often quite short. Fashion historians ascribe the origins of the little black dress to the 1920s designs of Coco Chanel, intended to be long-lasting, versatile, affordable, accessible to the widest market possible and in a neutral...
and performed on a bare stage with four backing singers
Backing vocalist
A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
. Her pared-back presentation was a break from recent Eurovision trends, as it did not feature any form of choreography, dancers or elaborate stage show. "Satellite" received a total of 246 points, giving Germany its first win since 1982, and the first victory as a unified country
German reunification
German reunification was the process in 1990 in which the German Democratic Republic joined the Federal Republic of Germany , and when Berlin reunited into a single city, as provided by its then Grundgesetz constitution Article 23. The start of this process is commonly referred by Germans as die...
. The song won over Turkey's entry "We Could Be the Same
We Could Be the Same
"We Could Be the Same" is a song by Turkish band maNga that was performed as the Turkish entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2010, held in Oslo, Norway, and which came in second place.-Selection:...
" with a margin of 76 points, the second-biggest in Eurovision history, second only to Alexander Rybak
Alexander Rybak
Alexander Igoryevich Rybak or in Belarusian Alyaksandr Igaravich Rybak , born 13 May 1986 in Byelorussian SSR is a Norwegian singer-composer, violinist, pianist, writer, and actor...
's margin of 169 points in the 2009 contest
Eurovision Song Contest 2009
The Eurovision Song Contest 2009 was the 54th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest and was hosted by Russia after their win in 2008. It took place between 12 and 16 May 2009 at the Olympic Indoor Arena in Moscow, Russia....
. "Satellite" received the maximum 12 points nine times and received points from all but five countries.
2010–present
The BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
called "Satellite" the first "contemporary pop hit Eurovision has produced in decades", ushering in "a new era for the annual music jamboree". Meyer-Landrut's victory received much attention in Germany and the show was seen by 15 million viewers on German television (a 49.1 percent market share). She returned to Hanover
Hanover
Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
the following day, where she was greeted by 40,000 people. In June, "Satellite" regained the top spot in the German singles chart for one week and also peaked at number one in Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. It also topped European Hot 100 singles chart, being the first Eurovision song to achieve this.
Meyer-Landrut attempted to defend her title in the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest. She was the third winner to do so, and the first in over 50 years.
In the German dubbed
Dubbing (filmmaking)
Dubbing is the post-production process of recording and replacing voices on a motion picture or television soundtrack subsequent to the original shooting. The term most commonly refers to the substitution of the voices of the actors shown on the screen by those of different performers, who may be...
version of the computer-animated
Computer animation
Computer animation is the process used for generating animated images by using computer graphics. The more general term computer generated imagery encompasses both static scenes and dynamic images, while computer animation only refers to moving images....
film Sammy's Adventures: The Secret Passage
Sammy's Adventures: The Secret Passage
Sammy's Adventures: The Secret Passage is a 2010 Belgian animated film produced in English...
, Meyer-Landrut provided the voice for the character originally spoken by Isabelle Fuhrman
Isabelle Fuhrman
Isabelle Fuhrman is an American teen actress. Fuhrman is best known for playing Esther in Orphan.-Life and career:...
.
In January 2011, the TV-Show "Unser Song für Deutschland" was announced. The viewers of the show decided for Meyer-Landrut's 2011 Eurovision song. All twelve songs Meyer-Landrut performed during that show were recorded on her second studio album Good News
Good News (Lena album)
- Charts :- Sales and certifications :-Release history:-External links:* on YouTube...
which was released on 8 February 2011. The album managed to reach a Gold status for selling more than 100,000 units in Germany in its first week of release.
On February 18, the "Unser Song für Deutschland" final was held and it was decided through televoting that Meyer-Landrut would perform the entry "Taken by a Stranger
Taken by a Stranger
"Taken by a Stranger" is a song by German singer Lena Meyer-Landrut that represented Germany at the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 in Düsseldorf, earning 107 points and 10th place...
" in the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2011
Eurovision Song Contest 2011
The Eurovision Song Contest 2011 was the 56th annual Eurovision Song Contest and was won by Eldar & Nigar performing "Running Scared" for Azerbaijan. The event took place in the Esprit Arena in Düsseldorf, Germany, following Germany's win in the previous year...
where it was placed tenth. The song was released on 22 February 2011.
In April 2011 she went on her first German tour in the largest concert halls in Berlin, Hanover, Frankfurt, Dortmund, Leipzig, Hamburg, Munich, Stuttgart and Cologne. The concert in Frankfurt was recorded on video and was released on DVD in May 2011 which went to #1 in German DVD chart.
Media image
Meyer-Landrut has been noted for her unconventional way of handling the press, which has been labelled "aloof" as well as "quick-witted" and "intuitive". She usually refuses to answer questions about her private life, including her family, friends and personal beliefs, sometimes calling questions "stupid" or responding with counterquestions instead. This has drawn praise as well as criticism, including allegations of arrogance.Meyer-Landrut's demeanour has been described as "carefree", "laid-back and self-effacing". She has been said to possess an "adequate youthful megalomania", to "cultivate her forwardness" and to stand for "unadorned genuineness" and "sincerity". She has also been said to give "infatuation a rhythm" and blur the "fine line between puppy love and psychotic obsession". Her vocals have been both lauded and criticised. In an attempt to explain Meyer-Landrut's success, her appearance has been called a "mix of loveliness, professionalism and a little craziness". She has also been lauded for her stage presence and charisma.
Appearances on Unser Star für Oslo
| Show | Song | Original artist |
|---|---|---|
| 1st show | "My Same My Same "My Same" is a song by British soul singer Adele released on her debut album 19 and written and produced by Adele. It charted in Germany after German Lena Meyer-Landrut had performed it on the talent show contest Unser Star für Oslo , in which the German entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 2010... " |
Adele Adele (singer) Adele Laurie Blue Adkins , known professionally as Adele, is an English singer-songwriter. She was the first recipient of the Brit Awards Critics' Choice and was named the number-one predicted breakthrough act of 2008 in an annual BBC poll of music critics, Sound of 2008... |
| 3rd show | "Diamond Dave Diamond Dave (song) Diamond Dave is a single by the American indie/pop music duo The Bird and the Bee off of their 2009 album Ray Guns Are Not Just the Future.... " |
The Bird and the Bee The Bird and the Bee The Bird and the Bee is an American indie pop musical duo from Los Angeles, California, consisting of musicians Inara George and Greg Kurstin... |
| 4th show | "Foundations Foundations (song) -Chart performance:... " |
Kate Nash Kate Nash Kate Marie Nash is an English singer, songwriter, and musician. She had a UK no. 2 hit "Foundations" in 2007, followed by the platinum selling UK number 1 album Made of Bricks. She was named Best Female Artist at the 2008 BRIT Awards.... |
| 5th show | "New Shoes New Shoes "New Shoes" is the fourth single from Paolo Nutini's debut album, These Streets. It is being used as the headlining single for the US release of the album. It peaked at #108 on the Billboard Hot 100 and at #99 on the US Billboard's Pop 100 chart, as well as #21 on the UK Singles Chart.The song was... " |
Paolo Nutini Paolo Nutini Paolo Giovanni Nutini is a Scottish singer, songwriter and musician from Paisley. His father is of Italian descent, from Barga, Tuscany, although both his parents are Scottish, his family having been in Scotland for three generations.... |
| Quarterfinal (6th show) |
"Mouthwash Mouthwash (song) -Music video:The music video for "Mouthwash" was shot at the Bristol Hippodrome with the cast of the Starlight Express, who learned two new routines for the video... " "Neopolitan Dreams" |
Kate Nash Kate Nash Kate Marie Nash is an English singer, songwriter, and musician. She had a UK no. 2 hit "Foundations" in 2007, followed by the platinum selling UK number 1 album Made of Bricks. She was named Best Female Artist at the 2008 BRIT Awards.... Lisa Mitchell Lisa Mitchell Lisa Helen Mitchell is an Australian singer-songwriter who grew up in Albury, New South Wales. Her debut EP, Said One To The Other topped iTunes in Australia and this success brought her to the attention of boutique London-based publisher, Little Victories , a subsidiary of Sony/ATV, with whom she... |
| Semifinal (7th show) |
"Mr. Curiosity" "The Lovecats The Lovecats "The Love Cats" is a 1983 single by The Cure. It was the band's first Top 10 hit in the UK, peaking at number seven, and also hit number six in Australia. It later appeared on the compilation album Japanese Whispers.... " |
Jason Mraz Jason Mraz Jason Thomas Mraz , also known as Mr. AZ and Mr. Raz, is an American singer-songwriter. Mraz released his debut album, Waiting for My Rocket to Come, which contained the hit single "The Remedy ", in 2002, but it was not until the release of his second album, "Mr. A-Z", in 2005, that Mraz achieved... The Cure The Cure The Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with frontman, vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member... |
| Final (8th show) |
"Bee Bee (Lena Meyer-Landrut song) -Credits and personnel:*Lead vocals – Lena Meyer-Landrut*Producer – Per Kristian "Boots" Ottestad*Music – Rosi Golan, Per Kristian "Boots" Ottestad, Mayaeni Strauss*Lyrics – Rosi Golan, Per Kristian "Boots" Ottestad, Mayaeni Strauss... " "Satellite Satellite (Lena Meyer-Landrut song) "Satellite" is a song performed by German singer Lena Meyer-Landrut, written by American Julie Frost and Dane John Gordon. It was Germany's entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 2010. The song was chosen via televoting during the national Eurovision pre-selection show Unser Star für Oslo on 12... " "Love Me Love Me (Lena Meyer-Landrut song) "Love Me" is a song by German singer Lena Meyer-Landrut, co-written by her and entertainer Stefan Raab. It was one of three songs performed by Meyer-Landrut in the final of Unser Star für Oslo , the national pre-selection programme for Germany's entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 2010... " |
Jennifer Braun Jennifer Braun Jennifer Braun is a German singer. She was runner-up at the talent show Unser Star für Oslo, Germany’s national pre-selection show for the Eurovision Song Contest 2010. Her first hit single was "I Care for You".-Early life:... / Lena Meyer-Landrut Jennifer Braun / Lena Meyer-Landrut Lena Meyer-Landrut |
- Jennifer Braun and Meyer-Landrut both sang different versions of "Bee" and "Satellite" in the final
Wins
- 2010: Eurovision Song Contest 2010 – 1st Place "Satellite" (Germany)
- 2010: Goldene Henne Honor Award – "Ambassador of Charm"
- 2010: SWR3 New Pop Festival – "Newcomer of the Year"
- 2010: 1LIVE Krone1LIVE1LIVE is a radio network by the Westdeutscher Rundfunk public broadcasting corporation in Germany. It specialises in popular music aimed at the 14-39 age bracket. The average age of listeners is 34.- History :...
– Best Artist - 2010: 1LIVE Krone – Best Single "Satellite"
- 2011: Goldene Kamera – Best Music national
- 2011: Echo – Best National Newcomer
- 2011: Echo – Best Female National Artist
- 2011: Comet – "Best Female Artist"
- 2011: MTV Europe Music Awards2011 MTV Europe Music AwardsThe 2011 MTV EMAs were held in Northern Ireland's capital Belfast, on Sunday, November 6, 2011, at the Odyssey Arena in the Titanic Quarter area of the city and were hosted by Selena Gomez...
- "Best German Act" - 2011: MTV Europe Music Awards2011 MTV Europe Music AwardsThe 2011 MTV EMAs were held in Northern Ireland's capital Belfast, on Sunday, November 6, 2011, at the Odyssey Arena in the Titanic Quarter area of the city and were hosted by Selena Gomez...
– "Best European Act"
Nominations
- 2010: Comet – "Best Newcomer"
- 2010: Goldene Henne – Reader's award of the SuperIllu magazine: Rock/Pop/SchlagerSchlagerSchlager music is a style of popular music prevalent in Central and Northern Europe and the Balkans and also in France and Poland. In Portugal, it was adapted and became pimba music...
- 2010: Bravo Otto – "Best Singer"
- 2011: Echo – Radio Echo for "Satellite"
- 2011: Echo – Single of the Year – "Satellite"
- 2011: Echo – Album of the Year – My Cassette Player
- 2011: Comet – Best Song – "Satellite"
- 2011: MTV2011 MTV Europe Music AwardsThe 2011 MTV EMAs were held in Northern Ireland's capital Belfast, on Sunday, November 6, 2011, at the Odyssey Arena in the Titanic Quarter area of the city and were hosted by Selena Gomez...
– "Best Worldwide Act"
Results
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Eurovision Song Contest 2010 | 1st Place | Satellite | |
| Comet | Best Newcomer | Herself | rowspan=2 | |
| Goldene Henne Award | Reader's award of the SuperIllu magazine: Rock/Pop/Schlager | |||
| Goldene Henne Honor Award | Ambassador of Charm | rowspan=4 | ||
| SWR3 New Pop Festival | Newcomer of the Year | Herself | ||
| 1LIVE Krone 1LIVE 1LIVE is a radio network by the Westdeutscher Rundfunk public broadcasting corporation in Germany. It specialises in popular music aimed at the 14-39 age bracket. The average age of listeners is 34.- History :... |
Best Artist | |||
| Best Single | Satellite | |||
| Bravo Otto | Best Singer | Herself | ||
| 2011 | Goldene Kamera | Best Music National | rowspan=3 | |
| Echo | Best National Newcomer | |||
| Best Female National Artist | ||||
| Radio Echo for "Satellite" | Satellite | rowspan=3 | ||
| Single of the Year | ||||
| Album of the Year | My Cassette Player | |||
| Comet | Best Female Artist | Herself | ||
| Best Song | Satellite | |||
| MTV - Europe Music Awards 2011 MTV Europe Music Awards The 2011 MTV EMAs were held in Northern Ireland's capital Belfast, on Sunday, November 6, 2011, at the Odyssey Arena in the Titanic Quarter area of the city and were hosted by Selena Gomez... |
Best German Act | Herself | rowspan=2 | |
| Best European Act | ||||
| Best World Wide Act | rowspan=1 | |||
| 1LIVE Krone | Best Single | Taken by a Stranger | rowspan=1 | |
Discography
Studio albums- 2010: My Cassette PlayerMy Cassette PlayerMy Cassette Player is the debut album of German singer Lena Meyer-Landrut. It was released under her stage name Lena on 7 May 2010, and debuted at number one in the German albums chart...
- 2011: Good NewsGood News (Lena album)- Charts :- Sales and certifications :-Release history:-External links:* on YouTube...
Further reading
English- Brey, Marco. Lena Meyer-Landrut gets German ticket to Oslo. Eurovision.tv. 12 March 2010. Accessed 14 April 2010.
- Tarr, Sophie. Hanover teenager named Germany's hope for Eurovision. Deutsche WelleDeutsche WelleDeutsche Welle or DW, is Germany's international broadcaster. The service is aimed at the overseas market. It broadcasts news and information on shortwave, Internet and satellite radio on 98.7 DZFE in 30 languages . It has a satellite television service , that is available in four languages, and...
. 12 March 2010. Accessed 14 April 2010. - European Broadcasting Union. Biography – About Lena. Eurovision.tv. Accessed 14 April 2010.
- Friedman, Deborah. Germany sends Eurovision star Lena into orbit (Interview). Deutsche WelleDeutsche WelleDeutsche Welle or DW, is Germany's international broadcaster. The service is aimed at the overseas market. It broadcasts news and information on shortwave, Internet and satellite radio on 98.7 DZFE in 30 languages . It has a satellite television service , that is available in four languages, and...
. 13 April 2010. Accessed 14 April 2010. - Adams, Will. Germany's Eurovision 2010 Song: "Satellite" by Lena Meyer-Landrut. The Huffington PostThe Huffington PostThe Huffington Post is an American news website and content-aggregating blog founded by Arianna Huffington, Kenneth Lerer, and Jonah Peretti, featuring liberal minded columnists and various news sources. The site offers coverage of politics, theology, media, business, entertainment, living, style,...
. 4 May 2010. Accessed 6 May 2010. - Spiegel.net GmbH. The Cult Of Lena-ism – Eurovision's Next Winner?. Spiegel OnlineDer SpiegelDer Spiegel is a German weekly news magazine published in Hamburg. It is one of Europe's largest publications of its kind, with a weekly circulation of more than one million.-Overview:...
. 21 May 2010. Accessed 23 May 2010.
German
- Kistner, Anna. Ein bisschen Frieden. Jetzt.de. 23 February 2010. Accessed 14 April 2010.
- Pilz, Michael. Moderne Wolpertinger sollt ihr sein. Die WeltDie WeltDie Welt is a German national daily newspaper published by the Axel Springer AG company.It was founded in Hamburg in 1946 by the British occupying forces, aiming to provide a "quality newspaper" modelled on The Times...
. 17 March 2010. Accessed 14 April 2010. - Dörfler, Sebastian. Verdammte Scheiße, ist die echt!. Die TageszeitungDie tageszeitungdie tageszeitung , was founded in 1978 in Berlin. It is a cooperative-owned German daily newspaper which is administrated by a workers' self-management...
. 25 March 2010. Accessed 14 April 2010. - Herzinger, Richard. Fräulein Wunder mit Knuddelfaktor. Die WeltDie WeltDie Welt is a German national daily newspaper published by the Axel Springer AG company.It was founded in Hamburg in 1946 by the British occupying forces, aiming to provide a "quality newspaper" modelled on The Times...
. 28 March 2010. Accessed 14 April 2010. - Rapp, Tobias. Lenaismus. Der SpiegelDer SpiegelDer Spiegel is a German weekly news magazine published in Hamburg. It is one of Europe's largest publications of its kind, with a weekly circulation of more than one million.-Overview:...
. 14/2010. Accessed 14 April 2010.
External links
- Profile at Eurovision.ndr.de
- Profile at Unser-Star-fuer-Oslo.de
- Videos of Meyer-Landrut's USFO performances at Unser-Star-fuer-Oslo.de
- Video of Meyer-Landrut's Eurovision performance at NDR.de
- [ Entry at Allmusic.com]