Weil der Mensch zählt

"Weil der Mensch zählt" (German pronunciation: [ˈvaɪl dɛɐ̯ ˈmɛnʃ ˈtsɛːlt]; "Because People Matter") was the Austrian representative in the Eurovision Song Contest 2003, performed by Alf Poier in his native Styrian dialect of Bavarian.

""Weil der Mensch zählt""
Single by Alf Poier
Released	2003 (Austria)
Genre	Pop Austropop
Label	Edel Music
Songwriter(s)	Alf Poier
Alf Poier singles chronology
""Weil der Mensch zählt"" (2003) "Good Old Europe Is Dying" (2005)
Eurovision Song Contest 2003 entry
Country	Austria
Artist(s)	Alf Poier
Languages	German, Styrian
Composer(s)	Alf Poier
Lyricist(s)	Alf Poier
Finals performance
Final result	6th
Final points	101
Entry chronology
◄ "Say a Word" (2002)
"Du Bist" (2004) ►

The song was performed second on the night, following Iceland's Birgitta with "Open Your Heart" and preceding Ireland's Mickey Harte with "We've Got the World". At the close of voting, it had received 101 points, placing 6th in a field of 26.

The song is intended as a sendup of the contest (much in the vein of a previous Austrian entry – Schmetterlinge's "Boom Boom Boomerang") and its excesses. Lyrically, it is about farmyard animals and their habits, but also features a number of non sequiturs about Adam and Eve and "the African dromedary". The thick accent in which the song is delivered also adds to the humour, as even a native German speaker may find it hard to follow the lyrics at times.

Musically, the song switches tempo from a simple folk melody during the verse to a singalong chorus before featuring loud guitar chords (to which Poier famously danced in his performance), after which the lyrics record Poier grunting in the manner of a rock star.

The performance itself is also memorable, as the animals mentioned in the song were present – in cardboard cut-out form – on stage playing various instruments. Alf would finish 6th with 101 points.

After the contest, Alf was displeased with the results and the Eurovision Song Contest, as he found the televoters in Europe to have no musical taste. During an interview for BBC Three, Poier was shown to be frustrated. A transcript of the interview is found below:[1]

BBC Three reporter: "You came 6th, are you happy with that?"
Poier: "No, I'm very, very disappointed. For me, it became evident that Europe has no musical taste, you can hear it, no musical taste! I wanted to save Europe, but Europe is not ready for me yet, that's [all I] wanted to say. I'm really, really [laughs] disappointed!"
BBC Three reporter: "OK, keep calm, keep calm. When you went up there on stage, were you nervous? Were you excited?"
Poier: "No, [I] was not nervous or not excited, I just did and said what I had to say, but [laughs again] the people don't understand what you want to say, I'm so disappointed, I really can tell you! I hate this song contest, everything..."
BBC Three reporter: "[laughs] You're not the only one, mate!... But listen, your brand of comedy has spread far and wide, you've become the talking point of this competition. That's got to be a good thing?"
Poier: "Yea, that's OK, y'know, but who, who cares with me now? I have to cope with it myself, number 6, number 6, ME!? No, I am disappointed."
BBC Three reporter: "When you go back to Austria, how will they react to you?"
Poier: "[I] don't know if I'll go back, I think I'll... throw everything away... I hate this contest! FUCK THE-"
BBC Three reporter: "Apologies, on behalf of the BBC for that language, this is a live program!"
Poier: "Yes!"
BBC Three reporter: "Alf, keep under control, thanks very much indeed!"
Poier: "Thank you!"

It was succeeded as Austrian representative at the 2004 contest by Tie Break performing "Du bist".