Yesterday, the ECHO, the most important German music award, was presented. Both Ralph Siegel, who keeps the record in having composed the most Eurovision Song Contest entries and Roger Cicero, who is going to represent Germany in 2007 with Frauen regier'n die Welt got one of the popular prizes which are based on sales figures.
Roger Cicero was awarded best male national artist for his first album Männersachen. Reamrkably, he was also nominated as best newcomer, but didn't receive that award. His producers Matthias Hass & Frank Ramond were presented as best producers – among other they have also written Frauen regier'n die Welt.
Ralph Siegel got one of the most special awards, in the lifework category. In 1974,he competed in the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time: he composedBye bye I love you for Luxembourg, which finished 4th, sung by Ireen Sheer. He went on to compose no less than 18 entriesto the contest, most of them for Germany. In 1982 he achieved his only victory with the German song Ein bißchen Frieden, performed by Nicole. In 2006, his song If we all give a little finished in a disappointing 16th place for Switzerland.
Rosenstolz have competed in the 1998 German national final with Herzensschöner – they finished second after Guildo Horn. Nevertheless, they went on to become one of the most popular German bands. Yesterday, they were even awarded for being the best selling one!
Among the other nominees, further Eurovision Song Contest related acts can be found: Texas Lightning, last year's German representatives could be found in the category best song with their entry No no never. Monrose (Even heaven cries), who competed in the 2007 German final were nominated both in the categories best national newcomer (along with Roger Cicero!) and best national group. MIA. took part in the 2004 national final with Hungriges Herz. In 2006, they released Zirkus, theirthird and most succesful album as well as Tanz der Moleküle, theirmost sold single so far. MIA. were nominated both as best alternative group (national) and nest national live act.
Below, you can watch the multilingual version of Ein bißchen Frieden, sung by Nicole in 2003.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxGb5Dan7Yc
