Lale Andersen was a German chanson singer-songwriter and actress born in Lehe. She is best known for her interpretation of the song Lili Marleen in 1939, which by 1941 transcended the conflict to become World War II's biggest international hit. Popular with both the Axis and the Allies, Andersen's original recording spawned versions, by the end of the War, in most of the major languages of Europe, and by some of the most popular artists in their respective countries.
Sweden chose their entrant for the Eurovision Song Contest 1961 through Melodifestivalen 1961. The song "April, april", performed once with Siw Malmkvist, once with Gunnar Wiklund, won. However, none of them was considered acceptable for singing in ESC, so Lill-Babs was chosen as representative instead. In the contest, once more held in Cannes, she finished in 14th place.
Yugoslavia participated for the first time at the Eurovision Song Contest 1961, held in Cannes, France.
Dimitrios Makulis, known as Jimmy Makulis, was a Greek singer who had a successful career in German-speaking markets in the 1950s and 1960s, and is known for his participation on behalf of Austria in the 1961 Eurovision Song Contest.
Spain took part in the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time in 1961. The country was represented by Conchita Bautista with the song "Estando contigo", written by Antonio Guijarro and Augusto Algueró. The song was chosen through a national final.
Belgium was represented by Bob Benny, with the song '"Hou toch van mij", at the 1959 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 11 March in Cannes, France. The song was chosen at the Belgian national final on 15 February. Benny would represent Belgium again in the 1961 contest.
The Netherlands was represented by Teddy Scholten, with the song "Een beetje", at the 1959 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 11 March in Cannes, France. Song and singer were chosen independently of each other at the Dutch national final, held on 17 February. Scholten went on to win the 1959 contest for the Netherlands, the first time a country had scored two Eurovision victories. The 1957 contest winner Corry Brokken failed in her bid to represent the Netherlands for a fourth consecutive year, while future Dutch representative Greetje Kauffeld was also among those taking part.
Belgium was represented by Bob Benny, with the song "September, gouden roos", at the 1961 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 18 March in Cannes, France. The song was chosen in the national final on 29 January. Benny had previously represented Belgium in the 1959 contest. Future Belgian entrant Jacques Raymond finished runner-up in the final.
Germany was represented by Katja Ebstein, with the song "Wunder gibt es immer wieder", at the 1970 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 21 March 1970 in Amsterdam. "Wunder gibt es immer wieder" was the winner of the German national final, held on 16 February. This was the first of Ebstein's three appearances for Germany at Eurovision; she returned in 1971 and 1980.
Germany was represented by Mary Roos, with the song "Nur die Liebe läßt uns leben", at the 1972 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 25 March in Edinburgh. "Nur die Liebe läßt uns leben" was the winner of the German national final, Ein Lied für Edinburgh, held on 19 February. Roos would later represent Germany again in 1984.
Germany was represented by Heidi Brühl, with the song "Marcel", at the 1963 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 23 March in London. Brühl was selected internally as the German performer, and the song was chosen at the national final on 28 February. Brühl had previously finished runner-up in the German national final in 1960, but her song "Wir wollen niemals auseinandergehn" had gone on to become one of the biggest hits of the year, topping the German singles chart for several weeks.
Denmark was represented by Birthe Wilke, with the song "Uh, jeg ville ønske jeg var dig", at the 1959 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 11 March in Cannes, France. "Uh, jeg ville ønske jeg var dig" was chosen as the Danish entry at the Dansk Melodi Grand Prix on 12 February. Wilke had previously come third for Denmark in the 1957 contest in a duet with Gustav Winckler, who was one of her competitors in the 1959 DMGP.
Germany was represented by Conny Froboess, with the song '"Zwei kleine Italiener", at the 1962 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 18 March in Luxembourg City. Twelve artists and 24 songs took part in the German preselection, which consisted of four semi-finals, followed by the final on 17 February. Each show was held in a different German city.
Germany was represented by Wyn Hoop, with the song "Bonne nuit ma chérie", at the 1960 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 29 March in London. "Bonne nuit ma chérie" was chosen at the German national final held on 6 February. The song was sung in German despite its French title.
Germany was represented by Margot Hielscher, with the song '"Für zwei Groschen Musik", at the 1958 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 12 March in Hilversum, Netherlands. "Für zwei Groschen Musik" was chosen at the German national final held on 20 January. This was Hielscher's second consecutive Eurovision appearance for Germany.
Denmark was represented by Dario Campeotto, with the song "Angelique", at the 1961 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 18 March in Cannes, France. "Angelique" was chosen as the Danish entry at the Dansk Melodi Grand Prix on 19 February.
Norway was represented by Tor Endresen, with the song "San Francisco", at the 1997 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 3 May in Dublin. "San Francisco" was chosen as the Norwegian entry at the Melodi Grand Prix on 8 March, and is mainly remembered for bringing Norway's recent run of Eurovision success – they had finished 5th, 6th, 1st and 2nd in the previous four contests – to a spectacular end.
France was represented by Jean-Paul Mauric, with the song "Printemps, avril carillonne", at the Eurovision Song Contest 1961, which took place on 18 March in Cannes following Jacqueline Boyer's victory for France the previous year. For 1961, broadcaster RTF opted to hold a national final, which took place on 18 February.
Finland was represented by Laila Kinnunen, with the song "Valoa ikkunassa", at the 1961 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 18 March in Cannes, France. Finland was one of three countries making their Eurovision debut in 1961 and "Valoa ikkunassa" was chosen as the first Finnish entry at the national final organised by broadcaster Yle and held on 12 February.
This is a list of German television related events from 1961.
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