Love Shine a Light branch of the Samaritans. In a 1997 interview Katrina and the Waves lead vocalist Katrina Leskanich indicated that it was members of the Samaritans who opined that "Love Shine a Light" "was the type of song which would win the Eurovision Song Contest and [so] at the last minute, [Katrina and the Waves] submitted the song with our £250 [entrance fee]" for consideration to vie in the "", the national preselection round for the UK in Eurovision 1997. It was also reported that Carmina Cooper, the manager of Katrina and the Waves and the wife of Alex Cooper, met up
Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest 1997 Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest 1997 Germany was represented by Bianca Shomburg, with the song "Zeit", at the 1997 Eurovision Song Contest, which took place on 3 May in Dublin. "Zeit", composed by prolific Eurovision duo Ralph Siegel and Bernd Meinunger, was the winner of the German national final, held on 27 February. The final was held in Lübeck, hosted by Jens Riewa. Nine songs took part and the winner was chosen by televoting, converted into percentages. "Zeit" received over three times more votes than the second-placed song. Other participants included the previous year's German winner Leon – who