Satellite (Lena Meyer-Landrut song)

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"Satellite"
Single by Lena Meyer-Landrut
from the album My Cassette Player
B-side
Released13 March 2010
Recorded2010
GenrePop[1][2]
Length2:54
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Brix
  • Ingo Politz
  • Bernd Wendlandt
  • John Gordon
Lena Meyer-Landrut singles chronology
"Satellite"
(2010) 		"Touch a New Day"
(2010)
Music video
"Satellite" on YouTube
Audio sample
Eurovision Song Contest 2010 entry
Country
Artist(s)
As
Lena
Language
English
Finals performance
Final result
1st
Final points
246
Entry chronology
◄ "Miss Kiss Kiss Bang" (2009)
"Taken by a Stranger" (2011) ►
Official performance video
"Satellite" (Final) on YouTube

"Satellite" is a song by German singer Lena Meyer-Landrut. It was written by American songwriter Julie Frost and Danish songwriter John Gordon and recorded by Meyer-Landrut for Unser Star für Oslo, the German pre-selection show for the Eurovision Song Contest 2010. An untempo bubbly three-chord song, the lyrics of "Satellite" deal with unconditional love. One out of three songs which Meyer-Landrut presented during the pre-selection final, her version of the song was chosen via televoting on 12 March 2010.

It was made available for digital download the following day, becoming Germany's fastest selling digital release ever. The following week, "Satellite" debuted at number one on the German Singles Chart and has since been certified double platinum.[3] On 29 May 2010, it won the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 in Oslo, scoring 246 points.[4][5] Following its Eurovision victory, "Satellite" went on to be a commercial success across Europe, topping the single charts in six countries and receiving a number of Gold and Platinum certifications. It was later included on Meyer-Landrut's debut album My Cassette Player (2010).

Background[edit]

"Satellite" is a pop song written by American songwriter Julie Frost and Danish songwriter John Gordon.[1] Not specifically written for the Eurovision Song Contest, much of it was penned in 2007 when Frost was staying in Georgia.[6] To finish the song, she sent her guitar track to Denmark where her frequent collaborator Gordon produced a demo based on her ideas.[6] A couple of years later Gordon's publisher Iceberg Publishing decided to send the song to Valicon, a large German production company, and producer André "Brix" Buchmann, who then submitted it for consideration to Universal Music Germany.[7] The song was one of approximately 300 titles for the talent show Unser Star für Oslo, a newly created national television programme to select the German entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2010.[8]

"Satellite" – alongside "Bee", "Love Me" and fellow contestant Jennifer Braun's "I Care for You" – was eventually chosen as one of four songs to be performed in the final of Unser Star für Oslo on 12 March 2010. While Meyer-Landrut performed an uptempo version of the song, it was re-arranged for Braun who sung a ballad version of "Satellite". Through televoting, the audience chose "Satellite" to be Meyer-Landrut's designated song in case she won the show. In a second round of voting, Meyer-Landrut with "Satellite" was picked as Germany's entry for the 55th Eurovision Song Contest.[9] Her subsequent recording of "Satellite" was produced by John Gordon, André "Brix" Buchmann, Ingo Politz and Bernd Wendtland and remastered by Sascha "Busy" Bühren.[10]

Composition[edit]

Frost told HitQuarters that the song is about "unconditional love."[11] The lyrics describe the thoughts of a woman in love ("I got it bad for you"), who is frustrated at being ignored ("I went everywhere for you/ I even did my hair for you/ I bought new underwear they're blue/ And I wore it just the other day.") and compares herself to a lonely traveller ("Like a satellite I'm in orbit all the way around you/ And I would fall out into the night/ Can't go a minute without your love."), but on the other hand seems to draw a kind of masochistic pleasure from her pain.[12][13] Gordon called "Satellite" a "bubbly" song, "pretty easy and sweet with cheerful lyrics" and "three chords." Frost further explained: "It deals with all the crazy hidden things a girl does and feels when she is in love. A man can make her feel everything at once, joyful but also tormented and helpless."[14]

Release[edit]

On 13 March 2010, the day after Unser Star für Oslo, all six songs performed in the final were made available for digital download. The maxi single of Meyer-Landrut's "Satellite," which also includes her other two songs from the final, "Bee" and "Love Me", was released three days later on 16 March 2010.[1] All songs were released on the specially created record label USFO, a cooperation between Universal Music Germany and Raab TV/Brainpool, the production companies of Unser Star für Oslo.[15]

"Satellite" sold over 100,000 downloads in its first week, becoming Germany's fastest selling digital release ever.[15] It debuted at number one on the German Singles Chart, and was eligible to be certified gold by the Bundesverband Musikindustrie (BVMI) after the first week and platinum after the fourth week of its release.[15][16] The song remained at number one for five consecutive weeks in Germany.[17] After winning the Eurovision Song Contest on 29 May 2010, "Satellite" regained its top position in Germany for one week and also peaked at number one in Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland.[18][19][20][21][22] It also topped Billboard's European Hot 100 singles chart,[23] being the first Eurovision song to achieve this.[24] In November 2010, Gfk Entertainment reported that with 464,000 downloads sold, "Satellite" was the second-best selling download single in Germany since 2006, when such records began being kept – only behind Lady Gaga's "Poker Face", which was downloaded more than 500,000 times.[25]

Music video[edit]

A music video for "Satellite" was shot during the night of the final on the television stage of Unser Star für Oslo in Cologne and directed by Frank Paul Husmann ad Manfred Winkens.[26] It features no story line or any change of scenery, but instead focuses entirely on Meyer-Landrut as she sings and dances on a darkened stage with some spotlights behind her.[6] On 16 March 2010, the video premiered on public broadcaster Das Erste right before Germany's most-watched evening news bulletin Tagesschau. Shortly after, it was simultaneously shown on four private stations –( Sat.1, ProSieben, kabel eins, N24)´ before the start of their evening prime time programmes.[26] By May 2021, the video reached 67 million views on YouTube.[27]

Eurovision Song Contest[edit]

Lena at Telenor Arena during Eurovision rehearsals.

"Satellite" was Germany's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2010. By representing a "Big Four" country, it was automatically qualified for the final. Germany received a wild card during the running order draw, which allowed the German representatives to pick the country's position for the final. They chose position 22 out of the 25 spots. Meyer-Landrut arrived one week before the show in Oslo, Norway, where she completed five rehearsals of "Satellite". Prior to the final, the song was considered as one of the favourites. Bookmakers regarded it second favourite behind Azerbaijan's "Drip Drop", while Google projected it would win based on search volume in the participating countries.[28][29] According to Norway's Aftenposten, Meyer-Landrut received the most attention of all participants.[30]

The final was held on 29 May 2010 at Oslo's Telenor Arena. Appearing fourth from last, Meyer-Landrut wore a simple black dress and performed on a bare stage with four backing singers. Her pared-back presentation reflected a trend that has had success at recent Eurovisions, as it did not feature any form of choreography, dancers or elaborate stage show.[31] "Satellite" received a total of 246 points, giving Germany its first victory since 1982, and the first win as a unified country. It also became the first winning song from a Big-Four country since Katrina and the Waves' victory for the United Kingdom in 1997. The song won over Turkey's entry "We Could Be the Same" with a margin of 76 points, the third-biggest in Eurovision history, after Sweden's participant Loreen managed a margin of 113 points in the 2012 contest and Alexander Rybak's margin of 169 points in the 2009 contest. "Satellite" received the maximum 12 points nine times and received points from all but five countries.[5]

Track listings[edit]

Digital release
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Satellite"
  • André "Brix" Buchmann
  • Ingo Politz
  • Bernd Wendlandt
  • Gordon
2:54
Maxi single
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Love Me"
Raab2:59
2."Satellite"
  • Frost
  • Gordon
  • Brix
  • Politz
  • Wendlandt
  • Gordon
2:54
3."Bee"
Ottestad2:59

Credits and personnel[edit]

  • Lead vocals – Lena Meyer-Landrut
  • Additional vocals – Kayna
  • Audio remastering – Sascha "Busy" Bühren
  • Producers – John Gordon, André "Brix" Buchmann, Ingo Politz, Bernd Wendtland for Valicon
  • Music – Julie Frost, John Gordon
  • Lyrics – Julie Frost
  • Label: USFO for Universal Music Deutschland

Charts[edit]

Certifications[edit]

Certifications for "Satellite"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[59] Gold 15,000^
Germany (BVMI)[3] 2× Platinum 600,000^
Sweden (GLF)[60] Gold 20,000‡
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[61] Platinum 30,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Awards and nominations[edit]

Year Award Category Result
2010 Eurovision Song Contest 2010 1st place[4][5] Won
1 LIVE KRONE Best Single Won
2011 2011 Echo Music Awards Radio Echo for "Satellite"[62] Nominated
Single of the Year[62] Nominated
Comet Best Song Nominated

Legacy[edit]

Jennifer Braun version[edit]

"Satellite"
Single by Jennifer Braun
Released13 March 2010
Recorded2010
GenrePop[63]
Length3:11
LabelUSFO, Universal[63]
Songwriter(s)Julie Frost, John Gordon [da]
Jennifer Braun singles chronology
"Bee"
(2010) 		"Satellite"
(2010) 		"I Care for You"
(2010)

"Satellite" was also one of three songs performed by Braun in the final of Unser Star für Oslo.[64] However, the audience chose Lena Meyer-Landrut and her version of "Satellite" for the contest in Oslo.[65] Braun's version was also made available for digital download on 13 March 2010[66] and is also featured on Braun's maxi single "I Care for You".[63] It subsequently charted in Germany, reaching a peak position of No. 32.[67]

Credits and personnel[edit]

  • Lead vocals – Jennifer Braun
  • Music – Julie Frost, John Gordon
  • Lyrics – Julie Frost
  • Label: USFO for Universal Deutschland

Chart performance[edit]

Chart (2010) Peak
position
German Singles Chart 32[67]

Stefan Raab version[edit]

"Satellite (Rockabilly Version)"
Single by Stefan Raab feat. Lena
Released11 May 2011
Genre
Length4:20
LabelUniversal Music Germany
Songwriter(s)

During the opening act of the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest in Düsseldorf Stefan Raab performed a Rockabilly version of this song where Meyer-Landrut was briefly involved as duet partner. The studio version of the song was released as a single and charted No. 24 in Germany.[68]

The original version of the song also re-entered the iTunes singles charts in several countries.[69]

Other versions[edit]

Satellite was covered several times, including in German with the title Schland Oh Schland by the student's band Uwu Lena in 2010 and in Turkish titled Laviva for a chocolate bar commercial by the food company Ülker in 2013.

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Lena Meyer-Landrut/USFO/Satellite". PhonoNet GmbH (in German). Retrieved 14 April 2010.
  2. ^ "Alle deutschen Beiträge im Ranking". laut.de (in German). Retrieved 17 May 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Lena; 'Satellite')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
  4. ^ a b "Eurovision Song Contest: Lena siegt in Oslo". Die Zeit (in German). zeit.de. 30 May 2010. Retrieved 22 July 2012.
  5. ^ a b c Schacht, Andreas (30 May 2010). "Germany wins: See full results". eurovision.tv. Retrieved 22 July 2012.
  6. ^ a b c Schmitt, Peter-Philipp (17 March 2010). "Frollein Lena im Video und zum Wundern". Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 27 March 2010.
  7. ^ "Interview with John Gordon". HitQuarters. 1 November 2010. Retrieved 10 December 2010.
  8. ^ Kreienbrink, Ingmar (23 March 2010). "Bezaubernde Lena ist "Unser Star für Oslo"". DerWesten.de (in German). Retrieved 27 March 2010.
  9. ^ Klier, Marcus (12 March 2010). "Germany sends Lena Meyer-Landrut to the Eurovision Song Contest". ESCToday.com. Archived from the original on 14 March 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2010.
  10. ^ Buchholz, Nico (17 March 2010). "Der letzte Schliff für Lenas "Satellite"". Westfalen-Blatt (in German). Retrieved 27 March 2010.[permanent dead link]
  11. ^ "Interview with Julie Frost". HitQuarters. 14 February 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  12. ^ "Eurovision profile and lyrics". Eurovision.tv. Retrieved 5 April 2010.
  13. ^ Adams, Will (4 May 2010). "Germany's Eurovision 2010 Song: 'Satellite' by Lena Meyer-Landrut". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  14. ^ Bygbjerg, Søren (14 March 2010). "Dansker bag tysk Grand Prix-vinder". DR.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 14 April 2010.
  15. ^ a b c Klier, Marcus (22 March 2010). "Germany: Satellite to be certified gold". ESCToday.com. Retrieved 24 March 2010.
  16. ^ Maier, Jens (14 April 2010). "Lena Meyer-Landrut: Satellite wird mit Platin ausgezeichnet". Stern (in German). Retrieved 14 April 2010.
  17. ^ "Charts KW 16: Unheilig zurück auf dem Thron". MusikWoche (in German). 13 April 2010. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
  18. ^ a b "Hitlisten.NU – Lena Meyer-Landrut – Satellite" (in Danish). Tracklisten.
  19. ^ a b "Lena Meyer-Landrut: Satellite" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat.
  20. ^ a b "Lena Meyer-Landrut – Satellite". VG-lista.
  21. ^ a b "Lena Meyer-Landrut – Satellite". Singles Top 100.
  22. ^ a b "Lena Meyer-Landrut – Satellite". Swiss Singles Chart.
  23. ^ a b "European Hot 100 Singles: Week of June 19, 2010". Billboard.com. Retrieved 11 June 2010.
  24. ^ "Lena's Satellite becomes most selling single in Europe". Eurovision.tv. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
  25. ^ "'Poker Face' knackt 500.000er-Download-Marke ['Poker Face' cracks 500,000-Download Mark]" (in German). 8 November 2010. media control.
  26. ^ a b Mantel, Uwe (24 March 2010). "Lenas "Satellite" feiert Premiere auf fünf Sendern". DWDL.de (in German). Retrieved 24 March 2010.
  27. ^ Lena – Satellite (Germany). YouTube. 24 March 2010. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  28. ^ MacDougall, Ian (29 May 2010). "Europeans vie for pop dominance at song contest". Associated Press. Retrieved 10 June 2010. [dead link]
  29. ^ MacDougall, Ian (30 May 2010). "Germany wins 2010 Eurovision Song Contest". Associated Press. Retrieved 10 June 2010. [dead link]
  30. ^ Henriksen, Arve (26 May 2010). "Fabian bød opp til sangfest". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). Retrieved 31 May 2010.
  31. ^ Fricker, Karen (31 May 2010). "Voters swayed by German singer's fresh and unusual approach". The Irish Times. Retrieved 31 May 2010.
  32. ^ "Lena Meyer-Landrut – Satellite". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 2010-06-03.
  33. ^ "Lena Meyer-Landrut – Satellite" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 2010-06-03.
  34. ^ "Lena Meyer-Landrut – Satellite" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  35. ^ "Lena Meyer-Landrut – Satellite" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  36. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – RADIO – TOP 100 and insert 201029 into search.
  37. ^ "Lena Meyer-Landrut – Satellite" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  38. ^ "Greece Digital Songs: June 26, 2010". Billboard. 26 June 2010. Archived from the original on 17 October 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  39. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
  40. ^ "RÚV – Vinsældalisti Rásar 2". RÚV. Retrieved 26 June 2010.
  41. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Satellite". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  42. ^ "Media Forest Week 22, 2010". Israeli Airplay Chart. Media Forest.
  43. ^ "Luxembourg Digital Songs – June 5, 2010". Billboard.
  44. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Lena Meyer-Landrut" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  45. ^ "Lena Meyer-Landrut – Satellite" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  46. ^ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100.
  47. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201026 into search.
  48. ^ "Lena Meyer-Landrut – Satellite" Canciones Top 50.
  49. ^ "Digital Singles Charts – Turkey". Number One Top 20. Archived from the original on 1 July 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
  50. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  51. ^ "Jahreshitparade Singles 2010". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  52. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2010". Ultratop. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  53. ^ "European Hot 100 Singles: 2010 Year-End Charts – Billboard". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  54. ^ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  55. ^ "Rádiós Top 100 – hallgatottsági adatok alapján – 2010". Mahasz. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  56. ^ "HITLISTWEB – Official charts". Archived from the original on 6 March 2012. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
  57. ^ "Årslista Singlar – År 2010" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  58. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2010 – hitparade.ch". Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  59. ^ "Danish single certifications – Lena Meyer-Landrut – Satellite". IFPI Danmark.
  60. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 2010" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2011.
  61. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Satellite')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
  62. ^ a b "Lena Meyer-Landrut triunfa en los Premios de la Música "ECHO" de 2011" (in Spanish). 24 March 2011.
  63. ^ a b c Amazon. I Care for You maxi single. Amazon.de. Accessed 13 May 2010. (in German)
  64. ^ Unser Star für Oslo. Jennifer Braun – "Satellite" Unser-Star-fuer-Oslo.de. 12 March 2010. Accessed 6 May 2010. (in German)
  65. ^ Niggemeier, Stefan. Der merkwürdig unbefriedigende Sieg der Lena Meyer-Landrut. FAZ.net. 13 March 2010. Accessed 2 May 2010. (in German)
  66. ^ Amazon. Satellite. Amazon.de. Accessed 6 May 2010. (in German)
  67. ^ a b PhonoNet GmbH. Jennifer Braun Chartverfolgung Archived 2 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine Musicline.de. Accessed 11 May 2, 2010. (in German)
  68. ^ "Charts.de: Lena Meyer-Landrut". GfK Entertainment (in German). Charts.de. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  69. ^ Eurovision takes over the charts worldwide. 16 May 2011. ESCDaily Archived 19 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine

External links[edit]

Preceded by Eurovision Song Contest winners
2010 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Satellite_(Lena_Meyer-Landrut_song)&oldid=1224301563#Jennifer_Braun_version"