Austria in the Eurovision Song Contest 2007

{{main|Austria in the Eurovision Song Contest}}

Prior to the 2007 contest, {{lang|de|Österreichischer Rundfunk|i=no}} (ORF) has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest representing Austria forty-two times since its first entry in {{Escyr|1957}}.{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest 1957 |url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/history/by-year/contest?event=274 |access-date=25 November 2014 |website=eurovision.tv |publisher=European Broadcasting Union}} It has won the contest on one occasion: {{esccnty|Austria|y=1966|t=in 1966}} with the song "{{lang|fr|Merci, Chérie|i=no}}" performed by Udo Jürgens.{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest 1966 |url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/history/by-year/contest?event=283 |access-date=25 November 2014 |website=eurovision.tv |publisher=European Broadcasting Union}}{{cite web |date=11 May 2014 |title=Austria wins Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-27358560 |access-date=25 November 2014 |website=bbc.co.uk/news |publisher=BBC}} Following the introduction of semi-finals for the {{Escyr|2004||2004 contest}}, Austria has featured in only one final. Its least successful result has been last place, achieved on seven occasions, most recently {{esccnty|Austria|y=1991|t=in 1991}}.{{cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest 2012 Semi-Final (1) |url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/history/by-year/contest?event=1573 |access-date=25 November 2014 |website=eurovision.tv |publisher=European Broadcasting Union}} It has also received nul points on three occasions: {{esccnty|Austria|y=1962|t=in 1962}}, {{esccnty|Austria|y=1988|t=in 1988}}, and in 1991.{{cite web |title=History by Country – Austria |url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/history/by-country/country?country=10 |access-date=25 November 2014 |website=eurovision.tv |publisher=European Broadcasting Union}}

As part of its duties as participating broadcaster, ORF organises the selection of its entry in the Eurovision Song Contest and broadcasts the event in the country. Following the 2005 contest, the broadcaster announced in June 2005 that it would not participate in 2006 citing poor results in the 2005 contest as the reason for its decision.{{cite web |last=Philipps |first=Roel |title=Austria withdraws from 2006 Eurovision Song Contest |url=http://esctoday.com/4715/austria_withdraws_from_2006_eurovision_song_contest/ |access-date=June 18, 2005 |publisher=ESCToday}} Following its one-year absence, ORF confirmed its intentions to participate at the 2007 contest on 21 October 2006.{{Cite web |last=Floras |first=Stella |date=21 October 2006 |title=Austria back to Eurovision Song Contest! |url=https://esctoday.com/6570/austria_back_to_eurovision_song_contest/ |access-date=23 March 2022 |website=Esctoday}} From 2002 to 2005, ORF had set up national finals with several artists to choose both the song and performer to compete at Eurovision for Austria. For the 2007 contest, ORF held an internal selection to choose the artist and song. This method had last been used in 2000.

File:Eric Papilaya 2013 (cropped).jpg

On 20 February 2007, ORF announced that they had internally selected Eric Papilaya to represent Austria in the Eurovision Song Contest 2007. Papilaya participated in the third season of the talent show Starmania where he was a finalist.{{Cite web |last=Kasapoglou |first=Yiorgos |date=20 February 2007 |title=Austria: Eric Papilaya to Helsinki |url=https://esctoday.com/7740/austria_eric_papilaya_to_helsinki/ |access-date=22 March 2022 |website=Esctoday}} On 7 March 2007, the song "Get a Life – Get Alive" was presented as the Austrian entry for the contest during the radio show Ö3-Wecker, aired on Ö3.{{Cite web |title=Ausgabe 1/2007 |url=https://www.ogae-austria.at/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/reflections_2007.pdf |access-date=23 March 2022 |website=OGAE Austria |language=de}}{{Cite web |last=Kasapoglou |first=Yiorgos |date=7 March 2007 |title=Austria: Song presentation this morning |url=https://esctoday.com/7893/austria_song_presentation_this_morning/ |access-date=22 March 2022 |website=Esctoday}} Both Papilaya and the song, written by Greg Usek and Austin Howard, was selected by a panel of music and entertainment industry experts led by ORF Head of Entertainment Edgar Böhm.{{Cite web |title=Song Contest 2007: ORF will ganz Europa überraschen |url=https://www.derstandard.at/consent/tcf/story/2660733/song-contest-2007-orf-will-ganz-europa-ueberraschen |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=Der Standard |language=de}} "Get a Life – Get Alive" was also announced as the official 2007 theme song of the AIDS charity event Life Ball, continuing the historical relationship between the Austrian Eurovision entry and the Life Ball event.{{Cite web |title=Austria 2007 |url=https://esckaz.com/2007/aus.htm}}

Prior to the contest, Eric Papilaya specifically promoted "Get a Life – Get Alive" as the Austrian Eurovision entry during his Get a Life bus tour, which departed from Vienna on 20 April and arrived in Helsinki for the contest on 4 May. The tour covered 15 cities across Europe and included several international television and radio appearances.{{Cite web |last=Klier |first=Marcus |date=24 April 2007 |title=Austria: Eric's promo tour reaches Budapest |url=https://esctoday.com/8337/austria_erics_promo_tour_reaches_budapest/ |access-date=23 February 2022 |website=Esctoday}} In addition to his international appearances, Eric Papilaya performed "Get a Life – Get Alive" as a musical guest during the ORF eins programme Dancing With Stars on 20 April, while a farewell concert was held at the Heidenplatz on 20 April before the bus tour.{{Cite web |last=Holyer |first=Steve |date=20 April 2007 |title=Eric Papilaya gets alive on tour to Helsinki |url=https://esctoday.com/8278/eric_papilaya_gets_alive_on_tour_to_helsinki/ |access-date=23 March 2022 |website=Esctoday}}

According to Eurovision rules, all nations with the exceptions of the host country, the "Big Four" (France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom) and the ten highest placed finishers in the {{escyr|2006||2006 contest}} are required to qualify from the semi-final on 10 May 2007 in order to compete for the final on 12 May 2007. On 12 March 2007, a special allocation draw was held which determined the running order for the semi-final. As one of the five wildcard countries, Austria chose to perform in position 27, following the entry from {{esccnty|Turkey|y=2007}} and before the entry from {{esccnty|Latvia|y=2007}}.{{Cite web |last=Klier |first=Marcus |date=12 May 2007 |title=LIVE: draw of the running order |url=https://esctoday.com/7954/live_draw_of_the_running_order-3/ |access-date=23 March 2022 |website=Esctoday}}

The semi-final and the final were broadcast in Austria on ORF 2 with commentary by Andi Knoll. ORF appointed Eva Pölzl as its spokesperson to announce the Austrian votes during the final.

File:ESC 2007 Austria - Eric Papilaya - Get a life Get alive.jpg

Eric Papilaya took part in technical rehearsals on 4 and 6 May, followed by dress rehearsals on 9 and 10 May. The Austrian performance featured Eric Papilaya performing on stage in a silver suit designed by British designer Vivienne Westwood with 2,000 Swarovski crystals attached, with the words "Get Alive" scrolling horizontally and vertically on the LED screens. The performance began with Papilaya coming out from the loop of a 700 meter red feathered AIDS ribbon prop attached with 14,000 Swarovski crystals, of which four dancers/backing vocalists in red skin-tight feathered costumes were on. The performers later came off from the prop to the front of the stage to perform a dance routine accompanied by pyrotechnic effects. In regards to the performance, organiser of the Life Ball event Gery Keszler stated: "With this show we will conquer Europe and put the issue of AIDS in the spotlight but in an optimistic way."{{Cite web |last=Floras |first=Stella |date=7 April 2007 |title=Austria: More details on the staging revealed |url=https://esctoday.com/8171/austria_more_details_on_the_staging_revealed/ |access-date=23 March 2022 |website=Esctoday}}{{Cite web |last=West-Soley |first=Richard |date=4 May 2022 |title=27. Daring to be different: Austria rehearses |url=https://esctoday.com/8490/27-_daring_to_be_different_austria_rehearses/ |access-date=23 March 2022 |website=Esctoday}}{{Cite web |last=West-Soley |first=Richard |date=6 May 2007 |title=27. Eric as alive as ever: Great camera presence |url=https://esctoday.com/8552/27-_eric_as_alive_as_ever_great_camera_presence/ |access-date=23 March 2022 |website=Esctoday}} Eric Papilaya was also joined on stage by guitarist Thommy Pilat, while the four backing performers were: Cedric Lee Bradley, Jerome Knols, Laura Fernandez and Nina Weiß.{{Cite web |title=Austria |url=https://sixonstage.com/country/austria |access-date=23 March 2022 |website=Six on Stage}}

At the end of the show, Austria was not announced among the top 10 entries in the semi-final and therefore failed to qualify to compete in the final. It was later revealed that Austria placed twenty-seventh in the semi-final, receiving a total of 4 points.{{cite web |title=Semi-Final of Helsinki 2007 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/helsinki-2007/semi-final |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422064518/https://eurovision.tv/event/helsinki-2007/semi-final |archive-date=22 April 2021 |access-date=22 April 2021 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union}}

Below is a breakdown of points awarded to Austria and awarded by Austria in the semi-final and grand final of the contest. The nation awarded its 12 points to {{esccnty|Serbia|y=2007}} in the semi-final and the final of the contest.

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{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.eurovision-austria.com/?page_id=2254 Eurovision-Austria.com] {{in lang|de}}

{{Austria in the Eurovision Song Contest}}

{{Eurovision Song Contest 2007}}

2007

Category:Countries in the Eurovision Song Contest 2007

Eurovision