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About Austria...
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2005 Result
Points in Semi Final: 30
Position in Semi Final: 21st
Points in Final: Failed to qualify
Position in Final: Failed to qualify
2006 Contest: Must compete in Semi Final
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History (1956 to 2004)
Austria's previous appearances: 41 year(s) out of 49
Years participated: 1957-1968; 1971-1972; 1976-1997; 1999-2000; 2002-
Best result: 1st (1966)
Considering that Austria has taken part in Eurovision almost from the beginning, its record in the contest is below par. In 41 appearances, Austria has won just once, in 1966. Few other countries have to go back as far as the '60s to find their most recent victory - Spain isn't far off, last victorious (jointly) in 1969, though it did manage to win in 1968 as well. Only Finland and Portugal, trying since 1961 and 1964 respectively to secure even their first victories, can claim a longer spell without a win; while Denmark, with a 37 year gap between its wins in 1963 and 2000, currently holds the record for the longest period between successive victories. When the UK complains that it hasn't won since 1997, a little bit of perspective is therefore necessary...
Back to Austria, the country's record since televoting has been mixed. After a string of poor results, Austria missed the 1998 contest due to relegation, managing a reasonable 10th place in 1999 with Bobbie Singer's 'Reflection'. However, 14th place in 2000 saw the country relegated again; on its return in 2002, Austria finished 18th, managing to avoid missing the 2003 contest by just 1 point. The country's 2003 performance was one of the contest's big surprises - the 200-1 outsider to win, Alf Poier's joke song 'Weil der mensch zählt' managed an incredible 6th place and 101 points, giving the country its best result since 1989. Thanks to Alf, Austria found itself in the fortunate position of being directly qualified for the 2004 Final. Unfortunately, the song 'Du bist', performed by the boyband Tie Break, was written off almost from the start, its 9 points (from France and Greece) being 9 more than most people had expected. Consequently, Austria must now finish top 10 in the Semi Final if it is to gain a place in the 2005 Final.
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This year's entry
Position in Semi Final draw: 1
Position in Final draw: Failed to qualify
What I said prior to the Semi Final:
"Last year we had Scandinavians singing about tango, so it was only a matter of time before Austria decided to send an entry in Spanish. Global.Kryner has had success in Austria with cover versions of international pop hits, given an Oberkrainer brass band twist; for Eurovision purposes the group has mixed in a hint of Cuba, and applied the formula to an original song, 'Y así'. The result is bizarrely successful, surprisingly enjoyable, and certainly something different - in fact, I would say that this is Austria's best entry for many years. Is it enough to provide Austria with its first victory since the '60s though?"
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What I predicted...
My prediction for Semi Final: 11th to 13th
My prediction for Final: Unlikely to qualify
What I predicted prior to the Semi Final:
"Well, you never know. Austria's entry is a difficult one to call - it may do surprisingly well, or it may - as the bookies' odds of 66-1 suggest - fall flat on its face. Soult.com Eurovision voters seem unimpressed, rating it 34th out of 39 in the Poll 2005, but I feel that this is a song that might do better among the public at large than among the fans. My prediction is that Austria will just miss out on qualifying, but don't be surprised if I'm proved wrong; indeed, I've placed an each-way bet on Austria winning the whole Contest, just in case. However, given that Austria is performing first in the Semi Final, let's hope that there are none of the teething problems with the sound that plagued the early performers last year."
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What you thought...
Final Poll Ranking: out of 39 ()
(Updated 22 May 2005; change refers to movement over final week)
In the run up to the Contest, 27,998 visitors to this site voted for their favourite song in the Soult.com Eurovision Poll (up from 5,000 in 2004!)
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What actually happened...
In 2004, the first seven songs performed in the Semi Final all failed to qualify, so the Austrians could be forgiven for feeling a sense of some trepidation, having the unenviable task of kicking off the Semi Final in 2005. However, Global.Kryner gave an enjoyable and vocally strong performance of 'Y así', so their chances of avoiding the curse of first - Jari for Finland unexpectedly bombed in that slot a year ago - seemed quite high. Unfortunately, while Global.Kryner looked like they were having a whale of a time on stage, the televoters at home where less than impressed, giving it just 30 points - 10 of those from fellow Oberkrainer-lovers, the Slovenes, and 7 from the Andorrans, who seemingly spread their points around at random, giving 2 to Ireland and 10 - heaven forbid - to Monaco. Few had seriously rated Austria's chances of qualifying for the Final, but 21st place was certainly a big disappointment, and less than the performance really deserved. Indeed, such was the disappointment in Austria, the broadcaster ORF promptly announced that it would not be taking part in 2006 - meaning that there will be no Austrian entry in 2006.
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What the bookies thought...
 | Austria to win: | 21/05/05 (prior to Final) | - |
| | 19/05/05 (after Semi Final) | - |
| | 19/05/05 (prior to Semi Final) | 66-1 |
| | 16/05/05 | 66-1 |
| | 15/05/05 | 66-1 |
| | 08/05/05 | 66-1 |
| | 02/05/05 | 66-1 |
| | 24/04/05 | 40-1 |
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Some people (myself included) thought Austria's odds underestimated their chances of success. They were wrong.
(Odds quoted here were those offered by Coral.co.uk. 'F' indicates favourite, 'JF' joint favourite.)
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Links
 http://www.globalkryner.at/
 http://www.orf.at/
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Notes (see 'History' above)
- The 1956 Contest (where each country had two songs) is counted as a single appearance;
- Countries eliminated in the 1993 preliminary heat (EE, HU, RO, SK) ARE NOT counted as making an appearance in that year's Contest;
- Countries eliminated in the 1996 preliminary heat (DE, DK, HU, IL, MK, RO, RU) ARE NOT counted as making an appearance in that year's Contest;
- Countries eliminated in the 2004, 2005 and 2006 Semi Finals ARE counted as making an appearance in that year's Contest.
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Your comments (44)
From stella, Greece
Added 15:26:57 2006-02-13
Thanks for the 4 points!See you in Athens in 2006!
From kiki, Greece
Added 17:41:17 2006-02-12
I liked this song!I love Austria!In 2006 we the Greeks we are all welcome you to Athens!See you!
From Damian, United Kingdom
Added 23:45:09 2006-02-01
It's not like me to get all political where Eurovision is concerned, but I can't blame Austria for withdrawing from Athens 2006. Noone ever votes for them! Admittedly they did oppress much of Eastern Europe under the Hapsburg dynasty and then were heavily involved in the start of WW1, but for heavens sake that was nearly 100 years ago at the best of it!! Get over it Europe!!!! I give Austria my full support as I think they have loads and loads to offer this competition and to think that this year is the 40th anniversary of their first and only Eurovision win(!)
Global.Kryner were inspirational and Tie Break were captivating, and I was seething when I saw how badly both of them did. Alf Poier was brilliant and deserved to do better than a mere 6th. It's unfortunate that everyone thinks his song was about bloody fluffy animals, when in fact it was about the importance of valuing each and every human being. (Weil der Mensch zählt - Because the person counts). Big Big Duuuuuh!!!
It's been going on for years. You only need to look at how pathetically Petra Frey did in 1994 with what was a very good song in order to see how long the rest of Europe has gotten away with this sacrilege.
Come on Europe. Be fair and give Austria a chance.
From Damian, UNITED KINGDOM
Added 02:55:56 2005-09-07
Absolutely criminal that this song didn't make the final! It only finished 21st out of 24 in the semi-final. What? WHAT?! What were the countries who voted thinking?!! This is a brilliant song! It's a lively fusion of Jazz and Austrian folk music, and the lyrics also have a folk tale twist. Absolute disgrace that it did so badly. Not impressed at all. Hmph!
From Lala, GERMANY
Added 13:30:45 2005-08-28
oh my god.my ears fly away...this song HURTS!!!
From Charlotte, UNITED KINGDOM
Added 18:15:24 2005-5-27
OH MY GOSH I LOVE THIS SONG!! This is one of my favourite songs this contest, and I really wish that you got through to the final! It was a new, different fresh and funky song, and you really deserved to do well .. x
From Adrian, MOLDOVA
Added 14:6:27 2005-5-24
The song was very nice ,it's a pittie they didn't reach the final
From Lake, LATVIA
Added 9:25:41 2005-5-24
Thank Tou, Austrians! I was in your country last year - great people, great land! Global Kryner - jou have good performans, special thanks to yodellman!
From ......., LITHUANIA
Added 7:33:19 2005-5-20
It's good sing.I think that she win
From moi, CROATIA
Added 1:52:25 2005-5-19
Austria, this is wunderbar! :)
Happy, interesting, original, fresh and funny.
Viel Gluck! :)
From Vuk, SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO
Added 22:32:37 2005-5-17
Oh,my God ...i turned off when i heard yodelling...
From Panos_The_Greek, GREECE
Added 1:58:34 2005-5-17
Wow, now that's something fresh and different! Surprisingly pleasant, taking into account that I am not a real fan of this kind of music. Of course, some songs have to stay out of the final, as realism demands, but I think that something will be missing in the final without this song... Good decision this time, Austria!
From David HJ, UNITED KINGDOM
Added 0:25:32 2005-5-17
Swing Out Sister meets Puppet On A String with a touch of MOR band leader - strange to say the least
Unusual enough to qualify but may not do too well in the contest - low 20's but one of those that could just do well -
From XS, --
Added 22:10:12 2005-5-15
I have read all positive comments about this song, tried really hard to like it too..I just cant wait until it ends. Boring
From Marion, GERMANY
Added 22:15:12 2005-5-13
Saw them live last week in Berlin and they are gorgeous!!
I never heard a funnier cover version of "like a virgin" in my life. Fantastic musicians, they deserve at least the Final on saturday. ToiToiToi!
From Sébastien, FRANCE
Added 12:36:10 2005-5-13
So fresh and so uncommon! I love that song.
From Freyja, UNITED KINGDOM
Added 18:33:57 2005-5-12
I love this song - it makes me amile. What a shame it has such a rotten draw (exactly the same as my 2004 favourite, Finland). Let's hope they get the sound balance right from the word go this year.
From erik, UNITED KINGDOM
Added 11:48:28 2005-5-12
Yodelling....hmm, a bit too much. The first yodel is ok, but i think that is enough for the entire song.
But this one of my favourite songs this year. Great video. I hope they would do well.
From stavros, GREECE
Added 1:25:55 2005-5-12
i don't think that austria will pass to the final
From elena, GREECE
Added 13:17:43 2005-5-11
An interesting, nice and funny song. that is what ESC should be today about. So forget all the ballad rubbish and let us swing. 10 points from me and 12 for Israel
From amy, UNITED KINGDOM
Added 12:16:23 2005-5-11
its abit bland and boring!
From Sébastien, FRANCE
Added 13:46:42 2005-5-9
AUSTRIA is back! First, I thought it was a strange and almost ridiculous song but, after listening it a few times more, I realized how unique and enjoyable it is. Nevertheless, I hope the band won't make a clowns number on stage as Timothy wrote. I sincerely hope AUSTRIA will be part of the top 10.
From David, SWEDEN
Added 14:13:19 2005-3-22
Much more genuine entry than most of the other entries this year. I hope top 5 for Austria this year.
/David
From edita, LITHUANIA
Added 10:13:26 2005-3-22
good luck, friends;)
From Timothy, BELGIUM
Added 20:14:26 2005-3-21
@oz
i´d be ashamed if i talk so much nonsense about music, just showing that you are jealous of that gorgeous piece of enjoyable music.
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