Making the world a better place?

	Six4One - representing Switzerland

Ralph Siegel has a long history of involvement with the Eurovision Song Contest. Besides producing Germany's only winning song to date, he has entered the Contest as a songwriter a record 17 times - most of those times in collaboration with lyricist Bernd Meinunger, representing both Germany and Luxembourg: that's not even counting the times he has entered various national selections.

Why does he keep entering? What draws him towards the Eurovision Song Contest? As a Eurovision fan myself, I can quite easily understand it. There is something special about Eurovision; something almost magical; a unique quality that the Contest has; the power to draw you in and never let go. One of the traits of the Eurovision Song Contest is that, due to its nature, many songs throughout its history have been about international cooperation; peace in the world; uniting through song... you get the picture. Many of these songs have been written by Ralph, who is a true believer in such sentiment. Indeed, Germany's winning song in 1982 was called Ein Bißchen Frieden (A Little Peace).

Ralph Siegel

2006 will see Ralph's 18^th Song Contest entry, entering for Switzerland this time - also a record three countries represented. The song is entitled "If We All Give A Little", to be performed by group Six4One, which includes members from six different countries. The song - and the whole concept - encompasses both the spirit of international cooperation, and that of wanting to make the world a better place; both of which are very close to Ralph's heart.

It's no wonder, then, that the song has been adopted by a movement called "We Are What We Do". You can see their website at:

http://www.wearewhatwedo.org

This is a movement which encourages people to make a difference... even just a little bit, to give something. It's not a charity, but more like a positive-thinking movement, whose objective is to improve the world for everyone. A nice thought, surely!

If ever there were a song which summed up what Eurovision is about, this must certainly be one to consider.

Read my interview with Ralph from 2003 here.

eurosong.net © Chris Melville