Background
Austria returned to the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) in 2012 after a brief hiatus, having missed the 2010 contest. The Austrian broadcaster Österreichische Rundfunk (ORF) organized a national selection to choose its entry for the competition held in Baku, Azerbaijan.
National selection – „Österreich rockt den Song Contest“
- Date of final: 24 February 2012
- Venue: ORF Center, Vienna
- Format: The selection, titled Österreich rockt den Song Contest, featured eight competing acts. The winner was determined by a combination of televoting (50 %) and an international jury (50 %).
Winner
- Artist: Trackshittaz (the rap duo consisting of Manuel „Mani“ Hoffmann and Christopher „CeeJay“ Hörschläger)
- Song: “Woki mit deim Popo” (written by Hoffmann, Hörschläger, and Markus Rabe)
- Language: German (with the phrase “Woki mit deim Popo” meaning “Shake your butt”)
At the Eurovision Song Contest 2012
- Semi‑final: Austria performed in the first semi‑final on 22 May 2012, occupying the 10th position in the running order.
- Result: The entry received 27 points, placing 16th out of 18 participants in the semi‑final. Consequently, Austria did not qualify for the Grand Final.
Voting details (first semi‑final)
- Points received: Austria’s 27 points came from the following countries: 12 points from Ireland, 6 points from the United Kingdom, 4 points from Malta, 3 points from the Netherlands, and 2 points from Switzerland.
- Points awarded by Austria: In the semi‑final, Austria awarded its 12 points to Sweden. In the Grand Final, Austria’s 12 points went to Sweden again.
Aftermath
The non‑qualification sparked discussion within Austrian media regarding the song’s style and staging. Trackshittaz’s participation marked the first time Austria had sent a rap/comedy act to the contest. The broadcaster continued to use national finals for subsequent selections, adjusting the format in later years.
References
- European Broadcasting Union (EBU) – Official Eurovision Song Contest archives.
- ORF press releases and the Österreich rockt den Song Contest official website (archived).
- Eurovision‑focused publications and statistical databases (e.g., ESC‑stats.com).
