Meyer-Landrut's version of the song was chosen via televoting during the national Eurovision pre-selection show Unser Star für Oslo (Our Star for Oslo) on 12 March 2010. It was made available for digital download the following day, becoming Germany's fastest selling digital release ever. It debuted at number one in the German singles chart and has since been certified double platinum.[3] On 29 May 2010, it won the Eurovision Song Contest 2010, scoring 246 points.[4][5] Following its Eurovision victory, "Satellite" went on to be a commercial success across Europe, topping the single charts in six countries and receiving a number of Gold and Platinum certifications.
A version by Jennifer Braun, the runner-up of Unser Star für Oslo, was also released as a single, and charted in Germany.
Production and song selection
"Satellite" is a pop song[1] written by American songwriter Julie Frost and Danish songwriter John Gordon.[6] Frost told HitQuarters that the song is about "unconditional love".[7] The lyrics describe the thoughts of a woman in love ("I got it bad for you"), who is frustrated at being ignored ("I went everywhere for you/ I even did my hair for you/ I bought new underwear they're blue/ And I wore it just the other day.") and compares herself to a lonely traveller ("Like a satellite I'm in orbit all the way around you/ And I would fall out into the night/ Can't go a minute without your love."), but on the other hand seems to draw a kind of masochistic pleasure from her pain.[8][9] Gordon has said it is a "bubbly" song, "pretty easy and sweet with cheerful lyrics" and "three chords". Frost, the song's lyricist, explained, "It deals with all the crazy hidden things a girl does and feels when she is in love. A man can make her feel everything at once, joyful but also tormented and helpless."[10]
A couple of years later Gordon's publisher Iceberg Publishing decided to send the song to Valicon, a large German production company, and the producer André ‘Brix’ Buchmann, who then submitted for consideration to Universal Music Germany.[11] The song was one of approximately 300 titles for the talent show Unser Star für Oslo (Our Star for Oslo), a newly created national television programme to select the German entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2010.[12] "Satellite" was eventually chosen as one of four songs (alongside "Bee", "I Care for You" and "Love Me") to be performed in the final of Unser Star für Oslo on 12 March 2010. A ballad version was sung by contestant Jennifer Braun. Through televoting, the audience chose "Satellite" to be Meyer-Landrut's designated song in case she won the show. In a second round of voting, Meyer-Landrut with "Satellite" was picked as Germany's entry for the 55th Eurovision Song Contest.[13]
The recording of "Satellite" was produced by John Gordon, André "Brix" Buchmann, Ingo Politz and Bernd Wendtland. It was remastered by Sascha "Busy" Bühren.[14]
Release
On 13 March 2010, all six songs performed in the final of Unser Star für Oslo were made available for digital download on iTunes Germany and Musicload.de. The maxi single of Meyer-Landrut's "Satellite", which also includes her other two songs from the final, "Bee" and "Love Me", was released three days later on 16 March 2010.[1] All songs were released on the specially created record label USFO, a cooperation between Universal Music Germany and Raab TV/Brainpool, the production companies of Unser Star für Oslo.[15]
"Satellite" sold over 100,000 downloads in its first week, becoming Germany's fastest selling digital release ever.[15] It debuted at number one in the German singles chart, and was eligible to be certified gold after the first week and platinum after the fourth week of its release.[15][16] The song remained at number one for five consecutive weeks in Germany.[17] After winning the Eurovision Song Contest on 29 May 2010, "Satellite" regained its top position in Germany for one week and also peaked at number one in Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland.[18][19][20][21][22] It also topped Billboard's European Hot 100 singles chart,[23] being the first Eurovision song to achieve this.[24]
With 464,000 downloads sold, "Satellite" is the second-best selling download single in Germany since 2006, when such records began being kept. It is behind Lady Gaga's hit "Poker Face", which was downloaded more than 500,000 times.[25]
"Satellite" is included on Meyer-Landrut's debut album My Cassette Player, which was released on 7 May 2010.[26] It is also available on the Kinect Xbox 360 game, Dance Central 2 and the PAL (European and Australian) version of Just Dance 3.
Music video
The music video for "Satellite" was shot during the night of the final on the television stage of Unser Star für Oslo in Cologne.[27] It features no story line or any change of scenery, but instead focuses entirely on Meyer-Landrut as she sings and dances on a darkened stage with some spotlights behind her.[6]
On 16 March 2010, the video premiered on public broadcaster Das Erste right before Germany's most-watched evening news bulletin Tagesschau. Shortly after, it was simultaneously shown on four private stations (Sat.1, ProSieben, kabel eins, N24) before the start of their evening prime time programmes.[27]
The video reached 67 million views on YouTube as of May 2021.[28]
"Satellite" was Germany's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2010. By representing a "Big four" country, it was automatically qualified for the final. Germany received a wild card during the running order draw, which allowed 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 "Satellite". Prior to the final, the song was considered as one of the favourites. Bookmakers regarded it second favourite behind Azerbaijan's "Drip Drop", while Google projected it would win based on search volume in the participating countries.[29][30] According to Norway's Aftenposten, Meyer-Landrut received the most attention of all participants.[31]
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 reflected a trend that has had success at recent Eurovisions, as it did not feature any form of choreography, dancers or elaborate stage show.[32] "Satellite" received a total of 246 points, giving Germany its first victory since 1982, and the first win as a unified country. It also became the first winning song from a Big-Four country since Katrina and the Waves' victory for the United Kingdom in 1997. The song won over Turkey's entry "We Could Be the Same" with a margin of 76 points, the third-biggest in Eurovision history, after Sweden's participant Loreen managed a margin of 113 points in the 2012 contest and 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.[5]
"Satellite" was also one of three songs performed by Braun in the final of Unser Star für Oslo.[65] However, the audience chose Lena Meyer-Landrut and her version of "Satellite" for the contest in Oslo.[66] Braun's version was also made available for digital download on 13 March 2010[67] and is also featured on Braun's maxi single "I Care for You".[64] It subsequently charted in Germany, reaching a peak position of #32.[68]
During the opening act of the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest in Düsseldorf Stefan Raab performed a Rockabilly version of this song where Meyer-Landrut was briefly involved as duet partner. The studio version of the song was released as a single and charted #24 in Germany.[69]
The original version of the song also re-entered the iTunes singles charts in several countries.[70]
Other versions
Satellite was covered several times, including in German with the title Schland Oh Schland by the student's band Uwu Lena in 2010 and in Turkish titled Laviva for a chocolate bar commercial by the food company Ülker in 2013.
↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 201029 into search.
Stefan Konrad Raab is a German television producer, businessman, 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 number of other television shows, such as Schlag den Raab and Bundesvision Song Contest.
Germany has officially participated in every Eurovision Song Contest since its inaugural edition in 1956, except in 1996 when its entry did not qualify past the audio-only pre-selection round, and consequently was not seen in the broadcast final and does not count as one of Germany's 65 appearances. No other country has been represented as many times. Along with France, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom, Germany is one of the "Big Five" countries that are automatically prequalified for the final, due to being the largest financial contributors to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). The final is broadcast in Germany on ARD's flagship channel, Das Erste.
Germany won the Eurovision Song Contest 2010, which was held in May 2010 in Oslo, Norway. The country's entry was selected in a series of competitive heats and a national final – Unser Star für Oslo – which was organised jointly by the public broadcasters ARD and NDR and the private television channel ProSieben, together with the three-time Eurovision participant for Germany and music producer, Stefan Raab.
Lena Johanna Therese Meyer-Landrut, also known by the mononym Lena, is a German singer. She rose to fame after representing Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 in Oslo, winning the event with her song "Satellite". Both "Satellite" and her debut album My Cassette Player (2010) debuted at number one in Germany and became platinum sellers. With her three entries from the German national final Unser Star für 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. She represented Germany for the second consecutive time in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 in Düsseldorf with the song "Taken by a Stranger", finishing in tenth place.
My Cassette Player is the debut studio 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. The album has been certified five times gold in Germany, indicating sales of 500,000.
"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. However, the audience chose "Satellite" to be her designated song for the contest in Oslo. "Love Me" was made available for digital download on 13 March 2010 and is also featured on Meyer-Landrut's maxi single "Satellite". The song subsequently charted in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, reaching peak positions of #4, #28 and #39 respectively.
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 music single was "I Care for You".
"I Care for You" is a song by German singer Jennifer Braun. It was one of three songs performed by Braun in the final of Unser Star für Oslo, the national pre-selection programme for Germany's entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 2010. However, the audience chose Braun's contender Lena Meyer-Landrut and her version of "Satellite" for the contest in Oslo. "I Care for You" was made available for digital download on 13 March 2010 and is also featured on Braun's maxi single "I Care for You". The song subsequently charted in Germany and Austria, reaching peak positions of #10 and #68 respectively.
'"Bee" is a song recorded by German singers Lena Meyer-Landrut and Jennifer Braun, composed by American-Israeli songwriter Rosi Golan, American singer-songwriter Mayaeni Strauss and Norwegian songwriter Per Kristian Ottestad. Both Braun and Meyer-Landrut released their versions of the song, but Meyer-Landrut's version outperformed Braun's, reaching number three in the German singles chart while Braun's version peaked at No. 21.
The discography of German singer Lena Meyer-Landrut consists of five studio albums, three extended plays, nineteen singles, three promotional singles, one video album and nineteen music videos.
Uwu Lena is a German pop group which consists of eight members from Münster. During the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Uwu Lena covered Lena Meyer-Landrut's version of the winning song of the Eurovision Song Contest 2010, "Satellite", written by American songwriter Julie Frost and Danish songwriter John Gordon. They called the German language cover version "Schland o Schland".
Julie Frost is an American songwriter, singer, guitarist and record producer. She is the recipient of Golden Globe and Eurovision Song Contest awards for songs written, as well as a Parent's Choice Award for album production and performance. She is also the founder of the non-profit "Songs For Elephants", with the mission to help mobilize the music and entertainment industry in support of the world's elephants.
Germany hosted the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 in Düsseldorf and selected their song through a national final, organised by German broadcaster ARD in collaboration with Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR). In June 2010, ARD announced that Lena Meyer-Landrut would represent Germany at the contest again.
Good News is the second studio album released by German singer-songwriter Lena Meyer-Landrut. It was first released on 8 February 2011 through Universal Music, following her win of the Eurovision Song Contest in 2010. The album includes all songs performed by Meyer-Landrut during the televised preselection process for the song that she would perform at the 2011 contest to defend her title. The album debuted at number one on the German Albums Chart, becoming her second album to do so, and has been certified platinum in Germany, indicating sales of over 200,000.
"Taken by a Stranger" is a song recorded by German singer Lena for her second studio album Good News (2011), released as a CD single on 22 February 2011 by We Love Music. Gus Seyffert, Nicole Morier and Monica Birkenes wrote the song, while production was handled by Stefan Raab and Reinhard Schaub. Seyffert had originally penned the track for Birkenes to record, but her label rejected it and it was eventually given to Lena. Musically, "Taken by a Stranger" is a 1980s and grufti-influenced electropop song characterized by synthesizer sounds. Lyrically, it revolves around the connection between two strangers. While compared to the works of English band The Cure by one reviewer, other speculated lyrical themes were sadomasochism, psychosexual development, kidnapping and sexual fantasy.
The discography of the Eurovision Song Contest winners includes all the winning singles of the annual competition held since 1956. As of 2022, 69 songs have won the competition, including four entries which were declared joint winners in 1969.
Sabine Heinrich is a German radio and television presenter.
"Neon " is the sixth single by German recording artist Lena Meyer-Landrut. It was released on 15 March 2013. The single version is a faster remix of the version which was previously published on the album Stardust on 12 October 2012.
"If I Wasn't Your Daughter" is a song by German singer Lena Meyer-Landrut. It was written by Meyer-Landrut along with Vincent Stein, Nico Wellenbrink, Jamie Hartman, and Konstantin Scherer. The ballad was released on 6 June 2017 coinciding with its stage premiere on the fourth season of the Sing meinen Song – Das Tauschkonzert, the German version of The Best Singers series.
"You Let Me Walk Alone" is a song performed by German singer Michael Schulte. The song was released as a digital download on 20 February 2018 through Very Us Records, and was written by Schulte along with Thomas Stengaard, Nisse Ingwersen, and Nina Müller. It represented Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 in Lisbon, Portugal. It ended up coming fourth in the Grand Final, thus becoming Germany's best placing song since Lena's victory at the 2010 contest in Oslo, Norway and their second-best result of the 21st century overall.
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