It's time to look at some Eurovision History from that ole Book on the shelf ( -always repeating it's self ? )
Schlager today and here on schlagertunes is so often associated with the scandinavian countries, however its orgins do come from the Germanic parts of Europe- Germany, Austria & Switzerland. A good place to start..
The Swiss vocal band that formed back as far as 1968 in Bern. In the style of New Seekers with a German folk style the group was made up of Peter Reber (the songwriter of many Eurovision hits during the 70s & 80s), Sue Schell and Marcel Dietrich.
In europe long before Sweden's Abba set the blue-print for 70's European Pop. Peter Sue & Marc had a string of hits and represented Switzerland an amazing 4-times
In 1971, Switzerland was one of the first Countries to submit a pop-group for Eurovision Song Contest, in Dublin they sung Illusions of us vingt ans (The illusion of our twenty years) in this year only Sweden submitted a vocal group with Family Four singing 'Vita Vidder' Sweden finished 6th & Peter Sue & Marc came only 12th. The formal commentary of these Eurovision times - often refered to these groups with a title of..
'The Family Four- group' or 'The Peter Sue & marc -group' and seemed to highlight how out of place they were in a contest of solo vocal performers - with the odd -normally male/female -duo.
However this song scored a hit for Peter, Sue & Marc not just in Switzerland also in the charts of Germany, Austria, and even Japan, where they performed several concerts. The song was sung in French and a German version called Keiner hat gesagt (No one has said). No english version that we know of was recorded.
Meanwhile The New Seekers from UK proved Vocal pop could be winning force in Eurovision in Edinburgh in 1972- 'Beg Steal or borrow' came 2nd to the winner Vicky Leandros.
In 1975 the Peter Sue & Marc released the singles Ein neuer Tag and Zigeuner. As well as submitting a unsuccesful new tune for the Swiss Pre-selection for Eurovision 1975 with a song called Mild-toi, soleil.
The three-some returned in 1976 with Djambo, Djambo a song penned once again by Peter sung in english -all about a lovable clown that was also part of the act in Eurovision Song Contest 1976 In fact the clown accompanied them on stage. As Brotherhood of Man took the trophy home for UK -Peter Sue & Marc came 4th.
In 1977, Peter wrote Swiss Lady for the Pepe Lienhard Band who sung for Switzerland. This fun swiss-folk tune did well & came in 6th place with 71 points.
In 1978, Peter Sue & Marc switched teams and tried out in Germany at Pre-Selection with the song Charlie Chaplin, this pop tune and tribute finished in 3rd place in the Germany. Strangely Greece in 1978 had a song also titled Charlie Chaplin, which presumably would have left some confusion in the final back then.
In 1979 Peter Sue & Marc took their third Eurovision entry sung in german and called 'Trodler & Co' to Jerusalem- for Switzerland. At this stage the group had gained an even larger success in europe, so it could have been 3rd time lucky! however this new tune seemed to be all about a scrape-metal 2nd hand merchant! something like 'Steptoe & Son' they came 10th -this was the very same year UK sent Black Lace 'Mary-ann'- who got a 7th placing somehow! crazzy times indeed!
Thankfully in 1981 Peter Sue & Marc came back for Switzerland with 'Io senza te' (Without You), a beautiful melodic song that seems to be the favorite song in the history of Peter Sue & Marc this came
in 4th place for the Swiss- and become a Euro-classic featuring the bands famous pan-pipes intro-
As a songwriter Peter had another entry for switzerland back in 1980 Paola's 'Cinema' it was co-wrote by Veronique Muller (she sang for Switzerland in 1972) Peter conducted the orchester that year as well
the song finished .... yes again- 4th.
