Reise Nach Jerusalem - Kudüs'e Seyahat
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| Reise Nach Jerusalem - Kudüs'e Seyahat |
|
|---|---|
| Eurovision Song Contest 1999 entry | |
| Country | Germany |
| Artist(s) | Sürpriz |
| Language | German, Turkish and English |
| Composer(s) | Ralph Siegel |
| Lyricist(s) | Bernd Meinunger, Deniz Filizmen, Cihan 'Chicco' Özden |
| Place | 3rd |
| Points | 140 |
| Lyrics | Live version |
Reise Nach Jerusalem - Kudüs'e Seyahat (English translation: "Journey to Jerusalem" in both languages) was the German entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1999, performed in German, Turkish and English (the live version also added lyrics in Hebrew) by Sürpriz.
The song was performed twenty-first on the night (following Malta's Times Three with Believe 'n Peace and preceding Bosnia and Herzegovina's Dino and Béatrice with Putnici). At the close of voting, it had received 140 points, placing 3rd in a field of 23.
The song is remarkable for being the first and — to date — only appearance by members of the Turkish-German minority in a major role for their home country. While the song is partially credited to prolific writer-composer duo Ralph Siegel and Bernd Meinunger, group members Deniz Filizmen and Cihan Özden also contributed lyrics. It is also the first occasion on which the German entry contained lyrics in Hebrew and Turkish (although the live version of Max's Can't Wait Until Tonight contained Turkish lyrics).
The song is a plea for global unity, with the band suggesting that their listeners "go on the journey to Jerusalem" in order to "walk hand in hand to a peaceful land". The title has a double meaning, with "Reise Nach Jerusalem" being the German name for the game known in English as Musical chairs. Thus, while the song suggests a physical trip to Jerusalem in order to foster world peace, the suggestion is also made throughout the lyrics that one should return to one's innocent and childlike roots and avoid the hatred which comes with adulthood.
It was succeeded as German representative at the 2000 Contest by Stefan Raab with Wadde Hadde Dudde Da?.
