2010 Grand Prix der Volksmusik Vorentscheid

Well, it is that time of year where the nominees for the annual Grand Prix der Volksmusik competition finalists has been determined. As many of you know, each country (Austria, Germany, Sudtirol & Switzerland) will have 4 representatives from each country that were determined in each country's competition. Then they send those top 4 to the final competion being held in Vienna next week on August 28, 2010.

If you go to the Grand Prix website here are a few things to make note of. You will see that Rudy Giovannini (interview with Stimmung Stunde 2006) competed in Sudtirol (link to uTube)

and was accompanied by the Vinschger

(interview with Stimmung Stunde 2007). Those of you who get the DISH German shows may have seen that competition in Sud Tirol. I did not get a chance to see the Grand Prix vorentscheid for Germany because we were in Germany at the time, but I am very disappointed that Feller & Feller (interview with Stimmung Stunde 2005) did not make the finals. Hansi Feller is a very talented singer/song writer and one of my favorites.

Those of you who watch German TV will notice that Florian Fesl is in the competition with Belsy as a duo. He was on the Immer Wieder Sonntags show all summer last year and lost the competion the very last week. Birgit Langer was the lead singer with Fernando Express for many years. The band has disbanded and she is starting a solo career. I saw her in Germany when we were at the Anni & Moni 20th Anniversary show and talked to her

about her new plans to be a solo act.

Here is a list of artists and their songs that will be in the finals on August 28 in Vienna. They are in the order they came in at their own country's competition and in some cases I have links to their webpages.

Please click on the Comments at the bottom of this posting and let us know who you predict to be the winner this year.

Austria

Marco Ventre & Band -- Sehnsucht wargestern

Junge Paldauer -- A Bass, a Gitarr und a Ziehharmonika

Die Woertherseer -- Komm tanzen mi amor

Die Grubertaler -- Wenn, dann jetzt

Germany

Die Berg Kameraden -- Cantata di Montagua

Angela Wiedl -- Der Liebe Gott macht das schon

Florian Fesl & Belsy Duo -- I hab Di gern

Birgit Langer - Komm und fang mit mir den Sonnenschein

Sudtirol

Volxrock -- Was macht das Edelweiss in meiner Supp'n

Geschwester Niederbacher -- Ein Leid fur Mama

Alex Pezzei & die Groedner Alphornblaeser --

Die Bergdiamanten -- Teures Heimatland

Switzerland

Nicolas Senn -- Feuer und Flamme

Yasmine-Melanie -- Traenen gehoeren zum Leben

Stixi & Sonja mit dem Jodelclug Alpenblueme -- Bete zu unserm Herrgott

Orig. Voralpen-Express -- Pfeif einfach drauf

2009 Grand Prix der Volksmusik

Well, it is that time of year where the nominees for the annual Grand Prix der Volksmusik competition has started. As many of you know, each country (Austria, Germany, Sudtirol & Switzerland) will have a preliminary (vorentsteid) competition in their own countries and then send the top 4 to the final competion being held in Munich on August 29, 2009.

Happily, Vincent & Fernando are competing this year for Sudtirol again. Last year their song, Glaube an Gott was in a tie with the Klostertaler, and after 2 tie breakers they lost out. Hopefully, they will be successful this year. These talented brothers were the first entertainers I interviewed when Tim was still hosting the Stimmung Stunde. That interview aired in April 2004 and you can still hear it by CLICKING HERE. We certainly hope they make number one this year.

Also, Reiner Kirsten, from Germany, is competing. He was the featured entertainer on Ted Hierl's Hawaii Cruise in 2008. Many of the passengers enjoyed the Schwarzwald boy's beautiful songs and his charming personnality on that cruise and I know they will be rooting for him.

If you go to the Grand Prix website here are a few things to make note of. You might note the name Fabio Omero under Komponist and/or Text, that is name Rudy Giovannini uses to write under. Even Vincent & Fernando's song is from him this year. Also, note that Sauguat is competing this year ... again (they were disqualified last year).

The Germany listing shows Gunther Behrle as the author of the song that Claudia Dechant sings, Nimm diesen Ring. Judith & Mel's song, Liebe gibt - Liebe nimmt, was written by Mel Jersey. The music for the song that Benjamin Grund sings, In nomine patris, was written by Benjamin Grund. Claudia & Alexx are again among the contests and have gotten very close in the past. Those of you who watch German TV will notice that Florian Fesl is in the competition. He was on the Immer Wieder Sonntags show all summer and lost the competion the very last week.

Switzerland's Maria Da Vinci sings Jeder Herzschlag fuer dich. The music and text were written by Mario Wolf & Christoph Purtscheller, who are in the Alpentrio Tirol. I wonder why they did not have an artist from Austria perform their song.

Each country has announced their nominees and you will find them listed below or go to the Grand Prix website for more details. Note there are links to the singers' webpages below. Some of them even have samples of their songs at their websites that you can listen to.

Austria

Austria's vorentscheid will be May 30.

Natalie Holzner -- Alles fuer's Herz

Helga Frank -- Das Karussell dreht sich weiter

Pfarrer Franz Brei & Signum -- Das Leben...

Die Jungen Zillertaler -- Drobn auf'm Berg

Die Grubertaler -- Du darfst beim Autofahrn'n nit auf die Maedels schau'n

Bernd Roberts -- Hoer auf den Herz

Melanie -- I g'hoer nur dir

Zillertaler Gipfelstuermer -- Ich moechte mir Dir die Sunn aufgehn sehn

Leona & Swen -- Mach das nochmal mit mir

Yves -- Mama

Dunja -- Meine Liebe zu dir

Zellberg Buam -- Sing ma no oan

Andreas Gabalier -- So liab hob i di

Die Aufgeiger -- Sommerfieber

Steirerbluat -- Wir sind alle keine engel

Germany

Germany's vorentscheid will be on May 21

Vladimir Boldt -- Alle Sterne schaun Dir zu

Isartaler Hexen -- Brave Maedchen kommen in den Himmel

Zipfelbuben -- Das gibt sich bis 70

Bergkameraden & Oswald Sattler -- Ich traume von der Heimat

Benjamin Grund -- In nomine patris

Florian Fesl -- Lass uns wieder Freunde sein

Judith & Mel -- Liebe gibt - Liebe nimmt

Claudia & Alexx -- Mama, danke

Licht -- Mut zur Liebe

Claudia Dechant -- Nimm diesen Ring

Reiner Kirsten -- Signora Come stai

Rico Seith -- Tausen Augen Hoffnung

Schlagerfeuer -- Unsere Erde

Dorfrocker -- Unter'm Tanzboden sitzt der Teufel

Bel Amis -- Vaterunser

Sudtirol

Sudtirol's vorenscheid will be May 8.

Das Schlernsextett -- Andreas Hofer

Vincent & Fernando -- Der Engel von Marienberg

Die Vaiolets -- Die Blume die im Herzen blueht

Die 4 Suedtiroler -- Ein ganzes herz voll Jahresringe

Patrick & seine Freunde -- Ein gutes Wort

Konrad Goller & Corinne -- Farben der Liebe

Bergfeuer -- Himalaya

Samira Dalnodar -- Kinder und Blumen

Sauguat -- Mein Reschen am See

Die Pustertaler -- Ohne die Musig

Graziano -- Romantica

Die Hopfenmusig -- Sudtiroler Marsch

Volxrock -- Wenn du kannst

Alex & die Groedner Alphorn Blaeser -- Wenn i auf Bergeshoehen steh

Etschland Express & Marion -- Wenn ich die Berge seh

Switzerland

Switzerland's vorenscheid will be April 25.

Sarah Jane -- Bliib doch bi mir

Geni Good & seine Glarner Oberkrainer -- Chlefeler Schtimmig

Stefan Roos & Saengerfreunde -- Das Herz einer Mutter

Salvo -- Grad wie im 7. Himmel

Gruppe Plauschler - Ich kann nicht aufhoern dich zu lieben

Christian Duss -- Das Liebeslied der Berge

Maria DaVinci -- Jeder Herzschlag fuer dich

Roman Peters -- La vita e bella

Orig. Voralpen-Express -- sag mir das, sag mir was

Yasmine-Melanie -- Schenk' mir heut' ein bisschen Zeit

Pascal G -- Tu Mi Corazon

Michelle & Philipp mit Wirbelwind -- Wenn du mein Herz beruehrst