Ein bißchen Frieden

{{Infobox song

| name = Ein bißchen Frieden

| cover = Nicole - Ein bißchen Frieden.jpg

| caption = German release cover

| alt =

| type = single

| language = German

| artist = Nicole

| album = Ein bißchen Frieden

| released = 1982

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre =

| length = {{Duration|3:00}}

| label = Jupiter

| composer = Ralph Siegel

| lyricist = Bernd Meinunger

| producer =

Ralph Siegel
{{ill|Robert Jung (German composer)|lt=Robert Jung|de|Robert Jung (Komponist)}}

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

| next_title =

| next_year =

| misc = {{Extra album cover

| header = Alternative cover

| type = single

| cover = Nicole A Little Peace 1982.jpeg

| border =

| alt =

| caption = English version cover

}}{{Infobox song contest entry | embed=yes

| song = {{flagicon|Germany}} "Ein bißchen Frieden"

| image =

| artist = Nicole Hohloch

| as = Nicole

| with =

| year = 1982

| country = Germany

| language = German

| composer = Ralph Siegel

| lyricist = Bernd Meinunger

| conductor = Norbert Daum

| place = 1st

| points = 161

| place_semi =

| points_semi =

| clip =

| prev = Johnny Blue

| prev_link = Johnny Blue (song)

| next = Rücksicht

| next_link = Rücksicht

}}

{{External music video|header=Official performance video|{{YouTube|hp_b-095yPc|"Ein bißchen Frieden"}}}}

}}

"Ein bißchen Frieden" ({{IPA|de|aɪn ˈbɪsçən ˈfʁiːdn̩|pron}}; {{lit}} "A Bit of Peace") is a song recorded by German singer Nicole, with music composed by Ralph Siegel and German lyrics written by Bernd Meinunger. It {{esccnty|Germany|t=represented Germany}} in the Eurovision Song Contest 1982, held in Harrogate, resulting in the country's first ever win at the contest.

Background

= Conception =

"Ein bißchen Frieden"{{efn|The spelling of the word bißchen with ß was the correct spelling in Germany (East and West) and Austria prior to the German orthography reform of 1996. However, as the letter ß had been abolished in Swiss Standard German orthography before World War II, the correct spelling in Switzerland and Liechtenstein was bisschen even in 1982. German language sources do not have a consistent approach as to how works written prior to 1996 are rendered in terms of spelling, however as with pre-1901 reform spellings before, the tendency in the 21st century has been increasingly towards modernizing spellinghttps://www.eurovision.de/teilnehmer/Nicole-Biografie-der-deutschen-ESC-Siegerin,nicole221.html this article for example uses the post-1996 spelling outside of academic use or direct quotes emphasized via sic.}} was composed by Ralph Siegel with German lyrics written by Bernd Meinunger. It was recorded by 17-year-old German high-school student Nicole.{{cite web

|url=https://hitparade.ch/song/Nicole/Ein-bisschen-Frieden-833|title=Credits|website=hitparade.ch|language=de}}

In addition to the German original language version, she recorded the song in English –as "A little peace" with lyrics by Paul Greedus–, French –"La paix sur terre" with lyrics by Pierre Delanoë and Jean-Paul Cara–, Spanish –"Un poco de paz" with lyrics by Alexander Mitchell–, Italian –"Un po' di pace"–, Dutch –"Een beetje vrede" with lyrics by Cor Aaftink and Ed Daromella–, Danish –"En smule fred"–, Russian –"Nyemnogo mira"–, and in German-English-Dutch and German-English-Italian versions.{{Cite web |title=Ein bißchen Frieden - lyrics|url=http://www.diggiloo.net/?1982de|website=The Diggiloo Thrush}}

= Eurovision =

On 20 March 1982, "Ein bißchen Frieden" performed by Nicole competed in {{esccnty|Germany|y=1982|t=Ein Lied für Harrogate}}, the national final organized by ARD to select its song and performer for the {{escyr|1982||27th edition}} of the Eurovision Song Contest. The song won the competition, so it became the {{esccnty|Germany|t=West German entry}} –and Nicole the performer– for Eurovision.{{cite web |title=Germany: Ein Lied für Harrogate 1982|url=https://eurovisionworld.com/national/germany/ein-lied-fur-harrogate-1982|website=Eurovisionworld}}

On 24 April 1982, the Eurovision Song Contest was held at the Harrogate International Centre in Harrogate hosted by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), and broadcast live throughout the continent. Nicole performed "Ein bißchen Frieden" eighteenth and last on the evening, following {{esccnty|Ireland|1982}}'s "Here Today, Gone Tomorrow" by The Duskeys. Norbert Daum conducted the event's orchestra in the German performance.{{Cite episode|title=Eurovision Song Contest 1982|episode-link=Eurovision Song Contest 1982|series=Eurovision Song Contest|series-link=Eurovision Song Contest|network=BBC / EBU|date=24 April 1982}}

At the close of voting, the song had received 161 points winning the competition and resulting in Germany's first win at the contest by a record margin of 61 points, setting a new record for the largest winning margin that lasted until the {{escyr|1997||1997 contest}}.{{cite web|url=https://eurovision.tv/event/harrogate-1982/final|title=Official Eurovision Song Contest 1982 scoreboard|website=Eurovision Song Contest}} Nicole performed her winning reprise in four different languages: German, English, French, and Dutch. She decided to do this on the spur of the moment, to the bewilderment of her backing group.{{cite AV media | people=Nicole Seibert | date=25 May 2015 | title=Eurovision at 60 | medium=Television production | location=UK | publisher=BBC Four}}

= Aftermath =

"Ein bißchen Frieden" was one of fourteen songs chosen by Eurovision fans and a European Broadcasting Union (EBU) reference group, from among the 992 songs that had ever participated in the contest, to participate in the fiftieth anniversary competition Congratulations: 50 Years of the Eurovision Song Contest held on 22 October 2005 in Copenhagen.{{cite news|author=Bakker, Sietse|date=16 June 2005|url=http://esctoday.com/news/read/4705/the_14_songs_for_copenhagen|title=The 14 songs for Copenhagen|website=ESCtoday}} Although Nicole was not at the concert, it was re-enacted by dancers equipped with white guitars and a live orchestra as the original footage was shown in the background. It finished as the seventh most popular song in the history of the contest.{{Cite episode|title=Congratulations: 50 Years of the Eurovision Song Contest|episode-link=Congratulations: 50 Years of the Eurovision Song Contest|series=Eurovision Song Contest|series-link=Eurovision Song Contest|network=DR / EBU|date=22 October 2005}} Nicole performed her song in English, Italian, German, and French in the Eurovision sixtieth anniversary show Eurovision Song Contest's Greatest Hits held on 31 March 2015 in London.{{YouTube|GGaXOdJ9kE4|"Ein bißchen Frieden"}} at Eurovision Song Contest's Greatest Hits{{Cite episode|title=Eurovision Song Contest's Greatest Hits|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02llhdd|access-date=3 April 2015|series=Eurovision Song Contest|series-link=Eurovision Song Contest|network=BBC / EBU|date=3 April 2015}}

The television special Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light, aired on 16 May 2020 throughout Europe, features "Ein bißchen Frieden" performed by Michael Schulte and Ilse DeLange at the Peace Palace in The Hague.{{YouTube|-W-ZJXnCUBY|"Ein bißchen Frieden"}} at Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light{{Cite episode|title=Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light|episode-link=Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light|series=Eurovision Song Contest|series-link=Eurovision Song Contest|network=NPO / NOS / AVROTROS / EBU|date=16 May 2020}}

Chart performance

The song topped the charts in many countries. According to composer and producer Ralph Siegel, the single sold 2.5–3 million copies.{{Cite news |last=Goslich |first=Lorenz |date=23 April 1983 |title=Nicole wurde ein teures Mädchen für das Fernsehen |language=de |page=13 |work=Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung |issn=0174-4909 |oclc=644830569}}

"A Little Peace", the English version –with lyrics by Paul Greedus–, was released in predominantly English speaking territories and reached number 1 on the charts in the United Kingdom and Ireland, among others.{{cite web |title=charts.org.nz - Paul Greedus |url=https://charts.nz/showperson.asp?name=Paul+Greedus}}{{Cite web |title=Irish Charts 1982 to 1984 |date=9 March 2006 |url=https://www.ukmix.org/showthread.php?31325-Irish-Charts-1982-to-1984}}{{cite book |last=Roberts |first=David |title=British Hit Singles & Albums |publisher=Guinness World Records Limited |year=2006 |isbn=1-904994-10-5 |edition=19th |location=London |pages=408–9}} It was the last Eurovision winner to top the charts in the United Kingdom. The English version also holds the honor of becoming the 500th British Number One.{{cite book

| first= Jo

| last= Rice

| year= 1982

| title= The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits

| edition= 1st

| publisher= Guinness Superlatives Ltd

| location= Enfield, Middlesex

| pages= 224–5

| isbn= 0-85112-250-7}}

=Weekly charts=

"Ein bißchen Frieden"

scope="col"\| Chart (1982) !scope="col"\| Peak position
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
{{single chart\|Austria\|1\|artist=Nicole\|song=Ein bißchen Frieden\|access-date=31 December 2017\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Flanders\|1\|artist=Nicole\|song=Ein bißchen Frieden\|access-date=31 December 2017\|rowheader=true}}
scope="row"\| Finland (Suomen virallinen lista){{cite book\|url=https://musiikkiarkisto.fi/oa/_tiedostot/julkaisut/sisaltaa-hitin.pdf#page=183\|first=Timo\|last=Pennanen\|year=2021\|title=Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021\|section=Nicole\|page=183\|publisher=Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava\|location=Helsinki\|access-date=4 July 2022\|language=fi}} \|align="center"\|1
{{single chart\|Norway\|1\|artist=Nicole\|song=Ein bißchen Frieden\|access-date=31 December 2017\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Sweden\|1\|artist=Nicole\|song=Ein bißchen Frieden\|access-date=31 December 2017\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|Switzerland\|1\|artist=Nicole\|song=Ein bißchen Frieden\|access-date=31 December 2017\|rowheader=true}}
{{single chart\|West Germany\|1\|artist=Nicole\|song=Ein bißchen Frieden\|songid=833\|access-date=22 May 2019\|rowheader=true}}

"Een beetje vrede"

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

scope="col"| Chart (1982)

!scope="col"| Peak
position

{{single chart|Dutch40|1|year=1982|week=20|access-date=31 December 2017|rowheader=true}}

{{single chart|Dutch100|1|artist=Nicole|song=Een beetje vrede|access-date=31 December 2017|rowheader=true}}

"A Little Peace"

scope="col"\| Chart (1982) !scope="col"\| Peak position
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
scope="row"\| Australia (Kent Music Report){{Cite book\|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 \|last=Kent \|first=David \|author-link=David Kent (historian) \|publisher=Australian Chart Book \|location=St Ives, NSW \|year=1993\|page=218 \|isbn=0-646-11917-6}} \|align="center"\|93
scope="row"\| Ireland (IRMA) \|align="center"\|1
{{single chart\|New Zealand\|34\|artist=Nicole\|song=Ein bißchen Frieden\|access-date=5 May 2023\|rowheader=true}}
scope="row"\| UK Singles (OCC) \|align="center"\|1

=Year-end charts=

"Ein bißchen Frieden"

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

scope="col"| Chart (1982)

!scope="col"| Peak
position

scope="row"| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40){{cite web|url=https://austriancharts.at/year.asp?cat=s&id=1982|title=Jahreshitparade Singles 1982|language=de|access-date=5 May 2023}}

|align="center"|2

scope="row"| Belgium (Ultratop){{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=1982|title=Jaaroverzichten 1982|publisher=Ultratop|language=nl|access-date=5 May 2023}}

|align="center"|17

scope="row"| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade){{cite web|url=http://swisscharts.com/charts/jahreshitparade/1982|title=Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1982|language=de|access-date=5 May 2023}}

|align="center"|8

scope="row"| West Germany (Official German Charts){{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-1982|title=Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1982|publisher=GfK Entertainment|language=de|access-date=5 May 2023}}

|align="center"|8

"Een beetje vrede"

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

scope="col"| Chart (1982)

!scope="col"| Peak
position

scope="row"| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40){{cite web|url=https://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/1982|title=Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1982|publisher=Dutch Top 40|language=nl|access-date=5 May 2023}}

|align="center"|8

scope="row"| Netherlands (Single Top 100){{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1982&cat=s|title=Jaaroverzichten – Single 1982|publisher=MegaCharts|language=nl|access-date=5 May 2023}}

|align="center"|1

"A Little Peace"

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

scope="col"| Chart (1982)

!scope="col"| Peak
position

scope="row"| UK Singles (OCC){{cite book|first1=Dafydd|last1=Rees|first2=Barry|last2=Lazell|first3=Alan|last3=Jones|chapter=The Top 100 UK Singles|title=Chart File Volume 2|publisher=Virgin Books|location=London, England|pages=80–81|date=1983|isbn=0-907080-73-1}}

|align="center"|38

Legacy

"A Little Peace" was covered by Daniel O'Donnell for his 1997 album I Believe.{{MusicBrainz recording|mbid=0794f96b-6d08-410b-b503-a5715d5dde16|name=A Little Peace (cover)}}

"Ein bißchen Frieden" was covered in Slovene as "Malo miru" by Irena Tratnik and also by Oto Pestner, in Czech as "Jsme dĕti slunce" by Jaromír Mayer, in Croatian as "Malo mira" by {{ill|Ana Štefok|hr}}, in Danish as "En smule fred" by {{ill|Susanne Lana|da}}, in Hungarian as "Egy kis nyugalmat kívánok én" by Neoton Família, in Polish as "Troszeczkę ziemi, troszeczkę słońca" by Eleni Tzoka, in Spanish as "Un poco de paz" by mexican singer Laura Flores and in Finnish as "Vain Hieman Rauhaa" by Katri Helena. In 1996, the Swedish techno/folk/bluegrass band Rednex, known for their hit Cotton-Eye Joe around that time, did a cover of "Ein bißchen Frieden", also played in the Eurovision Song Contest. The song has since been rendered in Dutch as "Een Beetje Vrede" recorded by Kathleen Aerts for her 2009 album In Symfonie.{{Citation needed|date=December 2020}}

Monica Forsberg wrote lyrics in Swedish as "En liten fågel", and the song became popular among dansband groups. It was recorded in Swedish by Stefan Borsch on his 1982 album En liten fågel{{cite web|url=http://smdb.kb.se/catalog/id/001888480|title=En liten fågel|publisher=Svensk mediedatabas|language=sv|date=1982|access-date=28 April 2011}} as well as releasing it as a single the same year and Mats Bergmans on his 2004 album Vänd dig inte om.{{cite web|url=http://smdb.kb.se/catalog/id/001433246|title=Vänd dig inte om|publisher=Svensk mediedatabas|language=sv|date=2004|access-date=28 April 2011}} It was also recorded by Ingmar Nordströms on 1982 album Saxparty 9.{{cite web|url=http://smdb.kb.se/catalog/id/001888563|title=Saxparty 9|publisher=Svensk mediedatabas|language=sv|date=1982|access-date=28 April 2011}}

German techno-punk band DAF released "Ein bißchen Krieg" ("A Bit of War") as a response to the supposed sentimentality of the song.{{Citation needed|date=December 2020}} German comedy metal band J.B.O. released a parody cover of this song in Rammstein style in 1997 on their album "Laut!".