Sürpriz

Sürpriz were a six-member German-Turkish musical group, consisting of Cihan Özden, Deniz Filizmen, Yasemin Akkar, Filiz Zeyno, Savaş Uçar and Bülent Ural, known for their participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 1999.

The word "Sürpriz", means "Surprise" in Turkish.

The group was formed by Özden in 1999 specifically in order to enter that year's German Eurovision selection with the song "Reise nach Jerusalem - Kudüs'e seyahat" ("Journey to Jerusalem"), which had been written by regular Eurovision composers Ralph Siegel and Bernd Meinunger. At the original selection held in Bremen on 12 March, "Reise nach Jerusalem - Kudüs'e seyahat" finished in second place behind Corinna May's "Hör den Kindern einfach zu". However, some days later it emerged that May's song had previously been released by another singer in 1997, which contravened Eurovision rules and led to its disqualification.^[1] As runners-up, Sürpriz were therefore offered the Eurovision spot, but this too caused controversy when allegations of self-plagiarism were made, claiming that the song was remarkably similar to another Siegel composition which had appeared on a B-side in 1984, "Wo geht die Reise hin?" ("Where Does the Journey Go?") by Harmony Four. The matter was taken to the European Broadcasting Union, where a panel of experts concluded that the similarity was not sufficient to disqualify the song on the grounds alleged.

Sürpriz therefore were given the go-ahead to perform in the 44th Eurovision Song Contest, which took place in Jerusalem on 29 May. On the night, the song was performed in a combination of English, German, Turkish and Hebrew, and in what turned out to be a closely fought contest with some notably topsy-turvy voting, "Reise nach Jerusalem - Kudüs'e seyahat" claimed an unexpected third place of the 23 entries.^[2][3]

The good showing at Eurovision failed to translate into substantial sales, and "Reise nach Jerusalem - Kudüs'e seyahat" failed to chart in Germany. The group recorded a self-titled CD, which was released in Turkey only in 2000, and continued through several personnel changes before disbanding in 2002.

References

Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest
Participation 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Artists 1950s Walter Andreas Schwarz Freddy Quinn Margot Hielscher Margot Hielscher Alice & Ellen Kessler 1960s Wyn Hoop Lale Andersen Conny Froboess Heidi Brühl Nora Nova Ulla Wiesner Margot Eskens Inge Brück Wenche Myhre Siw Malmkvist 1970s Katja Ebstein Katja Ebstein Mary Roos Gitte Cindy & Bert Joy Fleming Les Humphries Singers Silver Convention Ireen Sheer Dschinghis Khan 1980s Katja Ebstein Lena Valaitis Nicole Hoffmann & Hoffmann Mary Roos Wind Ingrid Peters Wind Maxi & Chris Garden Nino de Angelo 1990s Chris Kempers & Daniel Kovac Atlantis 2000 Wind Münchener Freiheit Mekado Leon Stone & Stone Bianca Shomburg Guildo Horn Sürpriz 2000s Stefan Raab Michelle Corinna May Lou Max Gracia Texas Lightning Roger Cicero No Angels Alex Swings Oscar Sings 2010s Lena Lena Roman Lob Cascada Elaiza Ann Sophie Jamie-Lee Kriewitz
Songs 1950s "Im Wartesaal zum großen Glück" "So geht das jede Nacht" "Telefon, Telefon" "Für zwei Groschen Musik" "Heute Abend wollen wir tanzen geh'n" 1960s "Bonne nuit ma chérie" "Einmal sehen wir uns wieder" "Zwei kleine Italiener" "Marcel" "Man gewöhnt sich so schnell an das Schöne" "Paradies, wo bist du?" "Die Zeiger der Uhr" "Anouschka" "Ein Hoch der Liebe" "Primaballerina" 1970s "Wunder gibt es immer wieder" "Diese Welt" "Nur die Liebe läßt uns leben" "Junger Tag" "Die Sommermelodie" "Ein Lied kann eine Brücke sein" "Sing Sang Song" "Telegram" "Feuer" "Dschinghis Khan" 1980s "Theater" "Johnny Blue" "Ein bißchen Frieden" "Rücksicht" "Aufrecht geh'n" "Für alle " "Über die Brücke geh'n" "Lass die Sonne in dein Herz" "Lied für einen Freund" "Flieger" 1990s "Frei zu leben" "Dieser Traum darf niemals sterben" "Träume sind für alle da" "Viel zu weit" "Wir geben 'ne Party" "Verliebt in Dich" "Planet of Blue" "Zeit" "Guildo hat euch lieb!" "Reise nach Jerusalem – Kudüs'e seyahat" 2000s "Wadde hadde dudde da?" "Wer Liebe lebt" "I Can't Live Without Music" "Let's Get Happy" "Can't Wait Until Tonight" "Run & Hide" "No No Never" "Frauen regier'n die Welt" "Disappear" "Miss Kiss Kiss Bang" 2010s "Satellite" "Taken by a Stranger" "Standing Still" "Glorious" "Is It Right" "Black Smoke" "Ghost"
(Note: Entries scored out are when Germany did not compete)