Vaya con Dios   »  Eurovision 2003  »  Lou - Germany	Русский

    Lou

Country:   Germany   Song:        Let’s Get Happy   Number of performance:   10   Rating:   6   Place:     12   web-site:   http://www.lou-und-band.de/

    Lou Hoffner  was born in 6 a.m. at the Sunday morning, October, 27-th, 1963, in Baden area of  Germany. Lou was the sixth child at the her parents, Eugene and Lois (who the daddy and who mum - I don’t understand). As soon as Lou was born, she has been surrounded with her first admirers - her own brothers and sisters (in amount of 5 persons ;-).

    Lou grew in family where everyone liked to sing - basically it happened on Saturdays when all family gathered an at home. As it was accepted in 60-s’, radio was turn on at all weekend, and on all house was possible to hear singing voices. When the charts came to end, someone from domestic always started to sing a popular melody, and any member of family could join to him. There is enough frequently their neighbours stopped in the street, simple to listen this singing. Thus, music and songs were gifts which Lou received since the birth. While she was the little girl, Lou was in the habit to dress up in pink nightgowns of her mum, wearing in black shoes on a high heel (which was too big for Lou - about 10 size!) . With huge solar glasses on her small nose, holding the wooden spoon in a hand as a microphone, she acted for her first audience. When her asked, whom she wants to become, Lou always answered - “ I shall become the singer and you will not need radio any more...! ”

    Lou attended primary school in town Kirrlach, when she had ended her basic studies, she studied in high school in the town of Phillipsburg. During study at school Lou not especially was interested in school subjects. Nevertheless, she became the Jack of all trades when theatrical or musical show was planned at school . Once in an old suitcase she had found a white dress which once belonged to her mother - with black musical clefs and the notes printed on it. From it moment she has taken this dress to herself and did not allow to dress it to any of her sisters. By her own opinion, Lou had not suitable color of  hair, so she frequently changed it, over and over again. Somehow time her hair even have got frightening green shade, but, after many efforts and experiments, color of her hair became such, as now - vivid orange.

    In 1979, in the age of 16 years, having finished high school, Lou had got enough knowledge to begin work as assistant in a drugstore in town Bruchsal which is located in Southwest Germany. In this drugstore she had worked 4 years, from 1979 to 1982.

    The proffesion in which Lou had trained, was only the basis, necessary to satisfy desire of her parents. Lou herself was more interested in a night life and that it is possible to name “dolce vita”, even though this was only taking place in her village neighbourhood. She frequently went on night walk, singing, sometimes she was accompanied with sisters who harmoniously supplemented Lou. Once at night (already after midnight) - her loud voice had been heard in the house, and somebody told - “ Helmuth, open windows, girls have again left to sing...! ”. It clearly shows, that Lou’s singing disturbed nobody. On the contrary - people, appear, enjoyed it!

    It became fast rather obvious to all of Lou’s family: at youngest of them has the best voice . After her sister Petra had opened a small pub and a pizzeria nearby, it became quite natural, that Lou sometimes helped to her as the waitress. Both her presence and a powerful voice provided enthusiastic responses from all visitors. Even when there came time to close the bar, and in it stopped to sell drinks, people refused to leave - “ We remain until Lou continues to sing! Period! Who knows, whether she will return again at next week? ” - they spoke. But soon Lou began to feel, that this small world holds down her. She had made the decision to leave the paternal house and had moved to other part of county.

    Lou has opened a small shop in which sold fashionable exclusive things in very original style: bright, mad and very colourful! Soon the corresponding clientele had appeared at her, and at the evenings - when she sang on private parties - Lou received what always aspired - an applause of admired admirers. Admirers who were delighted with her free and easy, nonconventional way of life. But shortly the fashionable boutique had ceased to like to Lou, and she again began to search for ways of achievement of new horizons. Lou has decided, that these new horizons should become a small bar with a stage inside. Desire to appear in club as the alive actor and also to become the professional singer - these dreams still pursued Lou, in depth of her consciousness...

    When she had met members of group “Party-Gang” in a small rural pub - and “Party-Gang” had understood, that Lou was what so for a long time did not suffice them - the opportunity to transform the talents and a hobby in the true proffesion, at last, has appeared at Lou. And, since that day, (and since then has passed more than 15 years) she had entered on road which resulted he in clubs and on dance-halls, day after day.

    In the spring of  2001, during hosting of the finals in Germany for Eurovision Song Contest, Lou could show all her talents to all interested persons at last. For the first time she acted before a mullions-strong audience of spectators of  TV, singing a mid-tempo rock - composition “Happy Birthday Party”, and she has taken the third place! But, however, in her own opinion, it was not the most successful performance because since the childhood Lou’s dream was that she as Number 1 represent the native country on the international festival...

    Nevertheless, everyone deserves the second chance, and soon destiny has given such chance to Lou. Before the Christmas of  2002 Ralph Siegel has asked Lou, whether she were willing to participate again in selection competition for another Eurovision Song Contest. He has already written song  Let’s Get Happy together with his friend, the poet, Dr. Bernd Meinunger - both was been named the great fathers of a German Eurovision. After the first listening the song - it seemed, that it had written specially for her - Lou was in absolute delight: - “ It is simple my song, and, besides it is the motto of all my life...! ”. By the way, Ralph Siegel had written already sixteen songs which took part in Eurovision Song Contest since 1974. Once the whole his two songs (one had been written for Luxembourg, and another had been written for Germany) simultaneously competed in this Contest with each other.

    When on 7-th of March, in Kiel, Germany, on “German Countdown Grand Prix programme”, hosting of the selection finals for the purpose of selection songs on Eurovision Song Contest 2003 had ended, Lou, at last had heard words of which always dreamed - “ ... And the winner is Lou! ”. So, as the representative of Germany, she has gone to Riga.

    “ The song always helps you to go through the hard times ” - this motto - Lou’s contribution in Eurovision Song Contest 2003. “ It’s a song to put you in good spirits which will force everyone to forget the cares. After the past, 2002 year with all his problems (economic difficulties, flooding in Europe, and other disasters) a wish for 2003 can be only one - Let’s Get Happy! ” - it’s that, in what trust Lou herself, the main theme of her song.

    “ I am not interested in that Ralph and Bernd had made in the last year. Has no value, whether they had won or had lost. Contest in Kiel and Riga is the most important for me. Ralph had communicated with me just before Christmas and had told to me, that he and Bernd have written a very specific thing. Simultaneously he had asked me, would I like to try again to participate in competition for Eurovision Song Contest. And, because it was my dream of the childhood - to sing for Germany, once at least, I, even for a second not reflecting, had told yes - especially when at first time I has listen the song. This song corresponds to my character and expresses the motto of my life - irrespective of the fact which in a life there are difficulties ” - that speaks Lou about song  Let’s Get Happy.

    Lou - the skilled actress, she can tell many histories from the her long life on a stage. Her ability - only due to small efforts to open soul of song - is widely known. Frankly and with the big enthusiasm she executes things of the great and legendary musicians of the pop- and rock- music. The unique and strong voice, and also the inexhaustible charm - with it Lou is capable to impress many peoples deeply. At the same time she is capable to encourage many peoples with her rectilinear humour and fast tongue. After performances in bars, in discos and beer festivals within fifteen years, she hopes, song Let’s Get Happy - which was write on English - will allow to her and her group, “Party-Gang”, to achieve the international recognition.

    Though Lou did not become the winner of  Eurovision Song Contest 2003, she had step on stage in the Sconto-Hall in Riga and had simply told to all world - “ Let’s Get Happy ”. And many thanks to her for it!