2000: "All to you" in Stockholm

Austria experienced a political upheaval in the year 2000: On February 4, the first coalition government between the Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP) and the Austrian Freedom Party (FPÖ) under Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel (ÖVP) was sworn in. The coalition with the far-right FPÖ was cause for major uproar both domestically and internationally. 
On February 19, 2000, the largest protest against the newly formed government took place in the city center of Vienna.  The soul group The Rounder Girls performed at the demonstration. Christine “Tini” Kainrath of Vienna, Kim Cooper of New York, and Lynne Kieran of London established the vocal group in Vienna in 1993. Shortly after, an ORF-Jury announced that the trio would represent Austria at the 45th Eurovision Song Contest with their song All to You in Stockholm on May 13, 2000.

There were concerns of a cultural boycott toward Austria at the Song Contest, especially since fourteen EU member states had already reduced diplomatic relations with Austria due to the  government. Contemporary media outlets celebrated the diverse female group as the most important Austrian entry as they stood in strong contrast to the xenophobic politics of the current administration. The trio’s statement to the political tension: “We are living proof of the European idea!” The Rounder Girls placed fourteenth out of twenty-four participants in the ESC finale.