Eurovision Song Contest 2006 Hallelujah" was the first ever hard rock song to win the contest, since Eurovision is normally associated with softer pop music and schlager. This was Finland's first victory in Eurovision after waiting forty-five years. It is also noted that they scored the same amount of points in the semi-final and the grand final. The hosts of the Eurovision Song Contest in Athens were Greek singer Sakis Rouvas, the Greek representative at Eurovision in 2004 and 2009, and the Greek American television presenter and actress, Maria Menounos. In the semi-final, both the hosts sang Katrina and the Waves' contest-winning "Love Shine
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