Wind (band)

Last updated
Wind
Gruppe Wind 2013.JPG
Wind band in 2013
Background information
Origin West Germany
Years activesince 1985
MembersAndreas Lebbing
Iris Criens née Remmertz
Carolin Frölian
Past membersAlexander "Ala" Heiler
Christiane von Kutschenbach
Rainer Höglmeier
Willie Jakob
Sami Kalifa
Petra Scheeser
Angela Kötzsch
Albert Oberloher
Natasja Marinkovic
Rob Pilatus

Wind is a German musical group that mostly plays schlager music. The band is still active, more than 30 years after its foundation.

Contents

History

The group was started in 1985 by the composer Hanne Haller. The members of the band at that time were Alexander "Ala" Heiler, Christiane von Kutschenbach, Rainer Höglmeier, Willie Jakob, Sami Kalifa and Petra Scheeser.

The group has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest for Germany three times. The first time was shortly after the formation of the band, in Eurovision 1985. With the song "Für alle" ("For Everyone") they finished second, just behind the winning duo Bobbysocks from Norway. In 1987 Wind returned to the contest, performing "Laß die Sonne in dein Herz" ("Let the Sun in Your Heart") in Brussels, Belgium. Once again they achieved a second place, this time behind Johnny Logan who represented Ireland. "Laß die Sonne in dein Herz" has since become the band's trademark tune, including welcoming visitors to their official website. Wind entered Eurovision for a third time in 1992 in Malmö, Sweden, with the song "Träume sind für alle da" ("Dreams Are For Everyone"). This time they were not as successful, finishing 16th of 23 participants. According to John Kennedy O'Connor in his book The Eurovision Song Contest: The Official History, [1] Wind are the only act to ever finish second in the contest on two occasions.

The group is a heavy hit-producing band.[ citation needed ] In the period since 1997 they have released more than 15 singles.

Rainer Höglmeier left the group in the mid-1980s and relocated to the United States. He continues to record solo music for the German market. [2]

Since the late 1990s, Wind consisted of Andreas Lebbing (who sang lead on Laß die Sonne in dein Herz in the 1987 Eurovision Song Contest), Nastasja Marinkovic, Albert Oberloher, and Iris Remmertz (later Criens). Marinkovic left the group briefly in 2005 and was replaced by Angela Kötzsch; she returned to the group in 2006.

In late 2008, Albert Oberloher left Wind to pursue his own interests. According to his website, he left the band "due to different ideas about the artistic direction (of the group)." [3]

Wind continued from there as a trio with Andreas Lebbing, Natasja Marinkovic, and Iris Criens. At the end of 2010, Marinkovic once again left the group, replaced by Carolin Frölian. [4]

Discography

Albums

DVD

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Holm</span> German singer, musician, songwriter and record producer

Michael Holm is a German singer, musician, songwriter and record producer. He is primarily known as a singer of Schlager music. Although his first appearance in the hit parade was in 1962, he had his first big hit in 1969. "Mendocino", the German adaptation of a song by the Sir Douglas Quintet, was the biggest selling single that year in (Germany). The record was released in September 1969, reached number three for five weeks, selling over a million copies. Ariola presented him with a gold record in October 1970.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ireen Sheer</span> German-British pop singer

Ireen Sheer is a German-British pop singer. She had a top five hit on the German singles chart with "Goodbye Mama" in 1973. She went on to finish fourth at the Eurovision Song Contest 1974 representing Luxembourg, sixth at the Eurovision Song Contest 1978 representing Germany, and thirteenth at the Eurovision Song Contest 1985 representing Luxembourg again.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lena Valaitis</span> Lithuanian–German schlager singer (born 1943)

Lena Valaitis is a Lithuanian–German schlager singer who had her greatest success during the 1970s and 1980s. She finished second at the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest.

Die Flippers were a German Schlager group formed in 1964. They were one of the most successful Schlager groups of all time, and have been constantly recording and releasing new music since their self-titled debut album was released in 1970. They have released 45 albums, 5 of which have gone platinum, 24 gold. They have won 11 Goldene Stimmgabel awards in 1988, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2004.

<i>Liebe ist ... 2</i> Album by Die Flippers

Liebe ist ... 2 is the twenty-first studio album released by German Schlager group Die Flippers. Compared to their previous three releases, this album was a moderate success. As with Liebe ist ..., it contained only cover versions of well-known oldies.

<i>Unsere Lieder</i> 1994 studio album by Die Flippers

Unsere Lieder is the twenty-fifth studio album released by German Schlager group Die Flippers. This was the first Flippers' album that was produced only by Uwe Busse. It was certified Gold.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heinz Rudolf Kunze</span> German writer and rock singer (born 1956)

Heinz Rudolf Erich Arthur Kunze is a German writer and rock singer. His greatest hit was Dein ist mein ganzes Herz in 1985.

Bernd Meinunger is a German lyricist and record producer who frequently works with Ralph Siegel and David Brandes. Several of his songs have represented Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest.

Germany entered the Eurovision Song Contest 1992 with "Träume sind für alle da" by Wind, after they won the German national final. It was called "Ein Lied für Malmö". The song was composed by Ralph Siegel and Bernd Meinunger.

Brigitte Ahrens is a German schlager-singer, who was well known in East Germany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kastelruther Spatzen</span>

The Kastelruther Spatzen are a musical group from South Tyrol, northern Italy, who have won many honours and awards for their schlager in folk music style.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hanne Haller</span> Musical artist

Hanne Haller was a German pop singer, composer, writer, producer, and sound engineer.

Germany was represented by the band Wind, with the song "Laß die Sonne in dein Herz", at the 1987 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 9 May in Brussels. "Laß die Sonne in dein Herz" was the winner of the German national final, held on 26 March. This was the second of three appearances by Wind at Eurovision; they had previously finished second for Germany in 1985 and would return to the contest in 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Schanze</span> German television presenter, actor and singer

Michael Schanze is a German television presenter, actor and singer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isabel Varell</span> German singer and actress

Isabel Varell is a German singer, actress and television presenter.

Fernando Express are a German schlager group founded in 1969 as Skippies.

This is a list of German television related events from 1987.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wilfried (singer)</span> Austrian singer-songwriter and actor

Wilfried was an Austrian singer-songwriter and actor. He was born in Bad Goisern am Hallstättersee, Austria. He was known for representing Austria in the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest with his song "Lisa Mona Lisa". He was also an actor with his best known role was in Hilde, das Dienstmädchen (1986). From 1978 to 1979 he was a singer for the Austrian band Erste Allgemeine Verunsicherung.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">G. G. Anderson</span> German singer and composer

Gerd Günther Grabowski, better known by his stage name G. G. Anderson, is a German Schlager singer, composer, and music producer.

References

  1. O'Connor, John Kennedy. The Eurovision Song Contest: The Official History. Carlton Books UK. ISBN   978-1-84442-994-3
  2. Carey, Elizabeth (November 26, 2014). International TV crew to spend Thanksgiving in WNY. Business First. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  3. According to http://www.gruppewind.de/ this used to be the group's website.
  4. http://www.gruppewind.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=46&Itemid=34, the "new" Wind website.
Preceded by Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest
1985
Succeeded by
Preceded by Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest
1987
Succeeded by
Preceded by Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest
1992
Succeeded by