«Dschinghis Khan» was a West German disco group formed in 1979 by producer Ralph Siegel specifically to compete in the Eurovision Song Contest, where the act placed fourth. The original lineup included Wolfgang and Henriette Heichel, Edina Pop, Steve Bender, Leslie Mandoki, and Louis Hendrik Potgieter.
The song «Dschinghis Khan,» which gave the group its name, became an international hit and topped the German charts for four weeks after the Eurovision performance. The group’s other popular songs include «Moskau» and «Rocking Son of Dschinghis Khan.»
The group’s repertoire leaned heavily on exotic themes — songs about different countries and cultures, including Russia, Mongolia, Latin America, and the Middle East. Their flashy costumes and memorable choreography earned the group a «Bambi» award in 1980.
The group was hugely popular in the Soviet Union, despite an ambivalent attitude from the authorities. A planned performance by Dschinghis Khan at the 1980 Moscow Olympics never happened because West Germany boycotted the Games. Into the late 1980s, recordings of the group’s songs remained semi-underground in the USSR — available at record shops only unofficially, for an extra fee.
After disbanding in 1985, the group reunited several times with different lineups. In the 2000s, the group performed frequently in Russia, appearing at retro festivals and concerts.