Im Wartesaal zum grossen Glück - Walter Andreas Schwarz

Back in 1956, the first ever Eurovision Song Contest was organized. The Germans had two singers representing the country, the first of them was Walter Andreas Schwarz, who performed the fourth song of the evening: 'Im Wartesaal zum grossen Glück'. 

Something I never knew what that Schwarz, who wrote the song himself, survived a concentration camp during World War II during his twenties. Both of his parents perished, but he managed to stay alive. The lyrics of his song contain autobiographical allusions, for example the reference to the enforced suppression of the Nazi era in Germany: 'Und man baute am Kai der Vergangenheit / Einen Saal mit Blick auf das Meer / Und mit Wänden aus Träumen gegen die Wirklichkeit / Denn die liebte man nicht sehr' ('And they built on the quay of the past / A room with a view of the sea / And with walls made of dreams to combat reality / Because they didn't like it much.'). The key message of his song was the advice not to cling to the past or hope for a better future, but to live better in the here and now and accept things as they are. And they say that Eurovision songs are always superficial!

This single is a re-release from 1979. Quite why this song was re-released 23 years after its original release is a mystery to me. But this is a lovely copy.

My collection: 7" single no. 7636
Found: Record fair, Den Bosch, 12 April 2025
Tracks: 'Im Wartesaal zum grossen Glück' / 'Für 300 Francs'

Im Wartesaal zum grossen Gluck - Walter Andreas Schwarz

German singer Walter Andreas Schwarz was born on June 2, 1913. In 1956, he was one of two performers representing Germany during the first ever Eurovision Song Contest. His placing is not known, but it is rumoured that he finished second. The song was released as a single but commercially, it was not very successful. Other notable records were not released.

Schwarz went on to become a successful author of novels and especially radio dramas. One of his last contributions was an adaption of 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' in 1990 and 1991. In 1985, he appeared – along with many other former German representatives – in the interval act of the German national final, which was a medley of all German entries until that year. For many years, he lived in London before he moved back to Germany. He died on April 1, 1992 in Heidelberg.

When you listen to this song, you can hear how different music for Eurovision Song Contests was at the time. It is one of the many attractions of getting a collection of Eurovision singles together.

My collection: 7" single no. 6287
Found: Discogs.com, received May 26, 2020
Cost: 2 euro
Tracks: 'Im Wartesaal zum grossen Gluck' / 'Fur 300 Francs'