"Guildo hat euch lieb!" (; "Guildo loves you!") was the entry in the

Eurovision Song Contest 1998 The Eurovision Song Contest 1998 was the 43rd edition of the annual Eurovision Song Contest, held on 9 May 1998 at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, United Kingdom. Organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and host broadcaster ...

, performed in German by Guildo Horn & Die Orthopädischen Strümpfe. The song was performed ninth on the night, following 's

Dana International Sharon Cohen ( he, שרון כהן; born 2 February 1969), professionally known as Dana International ( he, דנה אינטרנשיונל), is an Israeli pop singer. She has released eight albums and three additional compilation albums. She w ...

with "

Diva Diva (; ) is the Latin word for a goddess. It has often been used to refer to a celebrated woman of outstanding talent in the world of opera, theatre, cinema, fashion and popular music. If referring to an actress, the meaning of ''diva'' is clo ...

" and preceding 's Chiara with " The One That I Love". At the close of voting, it had received 86 points, placing 7th in a field of 25.Participants at the Eurovision Song Contest 1998
eurovision.tv. Accessed 30 March 2010. Written by television host

Stefan Raab Stefan Konrad Raab (born 20 October 1966) is a German television producer, businessman, musician, and former entertainer and television host. From 1999 to 2015, he hosted the late-night comedy talk show ''TV total'' and has also created a numbe ...

under the

pseudonym A pseudonym (; ) or alias () is a fictitious name that a person or group assumes for a particular purpose, which differs from their original or true name (orthonym). This also differs from a new name that entirely or legally replaces an individua ...

"Alf Igel" (a reference to prolific composer

Ralph Siegel Ralph Siegel (born 30 September 1945) is a German record producer and songwriter. Siegel is one of the most notable figures at the Eurovision Song Contest, in which he has participated with 24 songs so far, among them the 1982 winner song Ein bi ...

), the song is a tongue-in-cheek parody of the schlager style for which Germany had become known at previous contests. Horn (whose backing band's name translates as "the Orthopedic Stockings") sings about his desire to return to "a time of tenderness / when 'Caressing' and 'Cuddling' and 'Loving' / were always written with capitals" and "when edaily wrote in a poetry book: / 'Yoo hoo hoo – I love you'". He promises the object of his affections – singing in the third person – that if she is ever sad, he will come to her house and sing songs. Later still he expresses a desire to fly away to the stars, before explaining, "if the stars weren't so far away / and from there I'd send you the proof of my love: / nut wedges and raspberry ice cream". The performance was equally tongue-in-cheek, with Horn climbing on the lighting gantries of the stage while dressed in a green velvet shirt, as well as playing a series of

cowbell A cowbell (or cow bell) is a bell worn around the neck of free-roaming livestock so herders can keep track of an animal via the sound of the bell when the animal is grazing out of view in hilly landscapes or vast plains. Although they are t ...

s during the song. He also came into the audience, and ruffled the hair of

Katie Boyle Caterina Irene Elena Maria Boyle, Lady Saunders (née Imperiali dei Principi di Francavilla; 29 May 1926 – 20 March 2018), usually known as Katie Boyle, was an Italian-born British actress, writer, radio announcer, television personality, gam ...

, former Eurovision hostess and guest of honour. Perhaps unsurprisingly, footage of this performance appeared in a montage of "unforgettable performances" at the ''

Congratulations Congratulations may refer to: Film and television *'' Congratulations: 50 Years of the Eurovision Song Contest'', 2005 television programme to commemorate its fiftieth anniversary Music Albums * ''Congratulations'' (album), an album by ...

'' special in late 2005. The single release also saw a video produced with a similarly irreverent take on things. While the song did not win, it is credited with rekindling German interest in the contest, as well as paving the way for Raab's own entry two years later with "

Wadde hadde dudde da? "Wadde hadde dudde da?" (; a derivative of the expression "what do you have there?") was the entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2000, performed in an invented dialect of German by comedian Stefan Raab. The song was the fifteenth performed on ...

". Following Austria's "

Boom Boom Boomerang The Eurovision Song Contest 1977 was the 22nd edition of the annual Eurovision Song Contest. It took place in London, United Kingdom, following the country's victory at the with the song "Save Your Kisses for Me" by Brotherhood of Man. Organise ...

" and Belgium's "

Euro-Vision "Euro-Vision" () was the entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1980, performed in French by Telex. The song was performed nineteenth on the night, following 's Trigo Limpio with "Quédate esta noche". At the close of voting, it had received 14 p ...

", it is considered to be the third parody song to make an appearance at the contest. It was succeeded as German representative at the 1999 contest by

Sürpriz Sürpriz were a six-member German- Turkish musical group, consisting of Cihan Özden, Deniz Filizmen, Yasemin Akkar, Filiz Zeyno, Savaş Uçar and Bülent Ural, known for their participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 1999. The word "Sürpriz", ...

with " Reise nach Jerusalem – Kudüs'e seyahat".

Charts

Year-end charts

References

{{authority control Songs about musicians Eurovision songs of Germany Eurovision songs of 1998 Songs written by Stefan Raab 1998 songs EMI Records singles 1998 singles