The Wiwi Jury — our in-house panel of music unprofessionals — continues to rank and review the 43 songs competing in Eurovision 2018. Next we turn to Germany and Unser Lied für Lissabon winner Michael Schulte with his song “You Let Me Walk Alone”. Did the song leave us feeling lost? Read on to find out!
Michael Schulte – “You Let Me Walk Alone”
“You Let Me Walk Alone” reviews
Chris: Whilst there’s a story to “You Let Me Walk Alone”, the message feels a bit muddled. With the backstory being about the death of his father, you’d expect Michael’s tone to be a little more… sedate. Instead, every listen makes it seem more like an attack on his father, rather than a tribute. Something just doesn’t come across right in the delivery, whether it be the lyrics or Michael himself. If people do buy into it though, this could do well — but Germany might have another disappointment on their hands.
Score: 5/10
Deban: Distinctly magnolia but sprinkled with sentimentality — “You Let Me Walk Alone” is a story told a million times, in similar style and identical delivery. Yes, the backstory is heartwarming, but this isn’t hard-hitting enough to punch the left side of the scoreboard. Despite some of its radio merits, it is painfully ordinary.
Score: 5/10
Kristin: This is cute and heartwarming, it really is. Michael Schulte is pouring out his soul and though some may say its generic, it pulls your heartstrings in an instant. Germany has not been receiving a lot of love in the past few years, but this should haul in a fair amount of points, given how popular this genre of music is in the world today and how well Michael performs the song. He´s giving his all, he´s telling a story and the result is a lovely yet sad song, but with great potentials of being Germany´s best entry in years.
Score: 7.5/10
Renske: It was definitely the best of the bunch of this year’s Unser Song, but the song is not quite a stand-out in the Eurovision 2018 field. I love how Michael Schulte tells a personal and deep story, but because the song sounds like an Ed Sheeran album track, the message sadly does not come across.
Score: 7/10
Robyn: Michael Schulte is tapping into the trend for beige music, earnest young men singing serious acoustic songs. And it’s a popular style of music, so “You Let Me Walk Alone” will have its share of fans. The lyrics — which sound like they’re attacking a deadbeat dad — rely on the staging to set the scene as a tribute to a deceased father. But the staging indeed ramps up the emotion and helps Michael tell his sad story. It’s not a stand-out track in my 2018 line-up, but it should at least give Germany its best result in six years.
Score: 5/10
Sebastian: “You Let Me Walk Alone” is an entry full of heart. Michael’s voice is both effortless and meaningful, and lyrically, it’s simple enough for non-English speakers to feel the emotion. While Eurovision may be ballad-heavy, “You Let Me Walk Alone” is the only entry this year which, without fault, leaves me a blubbering mess. The song and performance is there – all Germany now needs is the hype.
Score: 9/10
In the Wiwi Jury we have 20 jurors but only have room for six reviews. The remaining scores are below:
Angus: 3/10
Anthony: 7/10
Antranig: 9/10
Bernardo: 7.5/10
Bogdan: 8.5/10
Cinan: 5.5/10
Jonathan: 7/10
Jordi: 7/10
Jovana: 7/10
Luis: 7.5/10
Padraig: 2/10
Ron: 8/10
Steinunn: 6.5/10
William: 9/10
We have removed the highest and lowest scores prior to calculating the average. This is to remove outliers and potential bias. We have removed a low of 2 and a high of 9.
Wiwi Jury verdict: 6.75/10
What do you think of this song? Share your own score and review below!
Unlike most people I kind of hated his live performance of the song. I was very dismissive. But having heard the studio version it’s actually crept into my top 5. Yes, it’s very Ed Sheeran but I happen to like a lot of his music. And it’s not like it sound like a copy of a specific song. Just like a song Ed might have done, in his style. I particularly love that build up to to chorus “I was born from one love, two hearts…”. What I find odd is that it’s about his dad’s death. Sounds like he… Read more »
This is absolutely stunning. I’m actually still in awe that this won. I also wanna say, can we stop comparing this to Ed Sheeran?? He. Did. Not. Invent. Heartfelt mid-tempo ballads. And as a gigantic fan of his, I’ve listened to dozens of his songs and NONE of them is similar in any way to You Let Me Walk Alone (Afire Love and Supermarket Flowers both talk about dead relatives, but that’s literally IT. They don’t even talk about the same relatives, Ed sings about his grandparents, this Michael is singing about his dad. Also that “oh oh oh” part… Read more »
One of the most underrated songs this year… Well, Germany is always underrated imo.. Every year again.. Well last year it was deserved, but the rest of the last years absolutely not! I feel everything. Without knowing the story the first time when I heard the song, I already knew the story behind because of the lyrics. It’s so easy to understand. Everything is great, voice, lyrics, many emotions. Well, this is my favourite together with Malta this year!
6.5/10.
This is not my cup of tea, but we can finally say Germany is back with dignity after years of being a sort of laughingstock.
There is honesty behind this song, and it has elements that I enjoy, but Deban hit the nail on the head. “Painfully Ordinary”. The climax is not strong enough and a bit cloying, the lyrics a bit too in-your-face. I don’t know if this will trouble the scoreboard, but for what it is, you’re heading in the right direction, Germany
4/10
He seems to be very arrogant, distant, still unsympathetic.
His song is very weak and yes, it should be about his father, but he didn’t wrote the song. although he IS a singer/songwriter…
He always brags that he recorded 7 albums. Yes, he did, but no one wanted to listen to them.
Yes, his voice is unique, but not good. At the german preselection he sang so badly. Many people laugh about it.
This year I give germany (0/10) and it wpould be very okay if we would end up last!!! But I think UK will get the 26th position.
Pretty nice song.
7/10
Bring me some Pancakes………theres so much Syrop here i dont want to waste it
Favorite singer/voice of this year. You let me walk alone is one of my favorite songs. I rate this 9.5/10.
There is nothing wrong with this song but as more time passes since it was chosen and other songs have been selected, it really comes across as a safe, unadventurous and unexciting choice. Germany find themselves in a situation where they might not have the worst song in the final but still end up with the worst result due to the fact that not enough people feel strongly about it. It is all rather lukewarm.
Wow! Germany is very underrated this year! “You Let Me Walk Alone” is my favourite entry this year, alongside Albania’s “Mall” and my own country (Spain). It is full of emotion and truth. You can tell Michael is feeling it by the way he is singing. His voice is also very special and beautiful. You don’t need to lose a father to feel what he’s singing and I almost cry the first listen I listened to it. Germany has the potential to appeal both the jury with his voice and performance and the televote with the emotions. Hope it gets… Read more »
You feel that Michael is deeply feeling the song he is singing, which is a halfway to success. His voice is enchanting and his performamnce flawless. The problem is indeed that the song is quite unoriginal, doesn’t have a striking element that let’s it stand out. But for my taste it is pleasent enough to be between 10 and 15thd position. 7/10
For the first time since many years I am passionate about my home country’s entry again and man, I missed this feeling. Even though it’s not my favorite of this season, I really like it a lot and I feel how much it means to Michael himself. I just wish for him that people in Europe recognize this meaning as well, he would deserve it. I also love his voice and like the fact that he is a real musician, writing his songs mostly himself and so on.
7.0/10
This will surprise in May. I predict Top 10 in the final, maybe 5.
What a great song! One of my favourites this year! Simple but effective, beautiful, emotional, true. They’ve done a great job this year in Germany.
8.5/10
Okay it’s very Ed Sheehan but so what I don’t mind at all this is by far the best German entry in years and I do like the song and besides this is way better than boring Spain
So basically, if it’s not a plastic banger that would sound too tacky even to the queerest queen in the gayest gay club of Mykonos, it’s “too ordinary” for our jury of non-music experts. Meanwhile, that shallow horror from Cyprus is currently #1 in your ranking.
Seriously, I know that everyone has their own music taste, but you guys seriously lack taste. Your iPods must be suicidal.
For me, this is the most overlooked entry of the year. I likle it but it’s nothing special, they won’t finish bottom 3 again, but I can’t seen them higher than 15th. I do really like his voice, and he is good live.
6,5/10
8.5/10 This song is Amazing! It has a pleasant melody; that feels warm and familiar. The lyrical content has an easy to understand message that will connect with plenty of people. I love the rhythm of the chorus with the 1 2 3, then the 1 and true: it makes the chorus really catchy. Germany could be troubling the top 10 this year; I think juries will like this.
I agree with Chris and Robyn’s comments about the lyrics. It seems as though he is angry at his father for dying, and furthermore, if he had a loving mom and two other siblings, what sort of road did he walk alone? It appears to me he had very good company.
As someone who has gone through something similar, he just comes across as ungrateful and entitled. He’s a good singer, so he has that going for him, but I am completely unable to enjoy the song.
The German entry is simply a well-written ballad. It’s got a nice melody, nice lyrics and overall it’s very enjoyable, even if it might easily be called a bit predictable. My personal ranking: 7.5/10 (19th overall) My prediction: 16-20 in the grand final ______________ 4th NL (9.5) | 8th LV (9.0) | 10th IE (8.5) | 12th ME (8.5) | 13th HR (8.5) | 15th MK (8.0) | 16th LT (8.0) | 17th UA (8.0) | 19th DE (7.5) | 22nd CH (7.5) | 20th DK (7.5) | 26th NO (7.0) | 27th CY (6.5) | 28th IT (6.5) |… Read more »
Really touching lyrics and a good presentation and gives me Roman lob type vibes.
The chorus though is not as strong as I’d like but it was my favorite in the national final and I really hope it connects with the audience as it did with me.
A 8/10
It seems that today my comment was the one held hostage by the hungry mysterious filter. I tried editing it but it hasn’t worked anyway.
Robyn (or of course any of the other moderators), please save it whenever you can! Thank you in advance for that. 🙂
It seems to me the filter holds up excessively long posts. Maybe you can try to make them more concise?
I swear I try that, Kris! Whenever I have time to, I try to edit the comments before posting them. But I’m so used with writing longer texts, that it’s hard for me to cut things without messing with its flow. But I don’t think the lenght is exactly what’s bothering the filter. For example, yesterday I wrote a very short one about Caetano Veloso as an interval act and it was held by the filter anyway. A few hours later I tried again (this was actually longer) and it was posted. So I guess the longer the post, bigger… Read more »
This is for sure a very personal song and I give it extra points for that. It’s probably the most current song on this year’s Eurovision, since it reminds about what’s Ed Sheeran has been doing for a while and many other young male singers have been following. So at the same time I feel Michael is pouring out his feelings, it sounds generic to my ears. Different parts of my brain are still discussing about it. I guess I can’t connect with it based on this fact, but I truly understand those who fall for it. I honestly don’t… Read more »
Thank you Robyn! I’ll hire you as my lawyer! 😛
Wiwi jury
GER 6.75 (7th/25)
Modified Score 8.25(6th/25)
Total 15(7th/25)
Two great reviews in one day, Tibor 🙂
I re-read it and I can surely see why you had fun writing it. It grew on me too (Cyprus). When it came out, I was sure it’s gonna score around 5/10 to me and it got a 6.5. If the live is good, it might get up to even 8. It’s fun.
Why so many people are crying after Ryk? It was not even slow ballad, it was quiet ballad. QUIET. Like Portugal 2018. This is insane, especially in Eurovision. ”You let me walk alone” is not quiet, it is very melodic. If the QUIET ballad from Portugal 2018 will win, Eurovision 2019 will be MUTED. What the hell…song without song?
Ryk who, that snoozefest doesn’t stand a chance 😛
I agree with you Eve, why so many are talking about Ryk?
Because People have different opinions ^^ Ryk was the big favourite in our Little German bubble… I feel like everybody here just talked about him. But yeah, it was kinda clear, that the televote would tear him apart and Michael wasn’t a bad choice, so I can live with it.
Yes people have different opinions, but in the end everybody wants votes. I hope Michael Schulte will receive votes because he deserves. His song is very good with many layers.
It’s great choice imo, I really hope for deserving good result.
Ryk was the favourite – where did you get that from?
I experienced it myself, we were all talking about him!
Sorry but am still upset about Germany not picking Ryk. I found it to be the most impressive song in the entire national final season. Don’t know where you got the idea that it was quiet from. Some of the big notes he was hitting were scary good.
Amazing sincere song, one of the very best this year, wonderful strong voice and stage presence, it’s in my top 10 and this quality entry actually deserve top 10!
It’s a nice song, he has a great voice, but it’s not my favorite to win. However, I have to admit – it literally makes me cry everytime i hear it. I can’t help it, I’m in tears. And it’s a very good thing, because I guess that’s what music is all about – to make you feel something. But I also noticed that the lyrics are sometimes odd and seem to be an attack…
I think the winner of Wiwi jury will be either Finland or Israel with probably Czech Republic, Cyprus and France rounding up the top 5.
The points for Germany was what I expected. Although, I think is a little bit low.
Oh that would be a horrible top five!
If it came down to those, I would actually be wishing votes to Cyprus!
One of my favourites this year; I hope it’s a dark horse and it does well. 9/10
Honestly, I was SO rooting for Ryk… That was such a masterpiece. I think with ”You and I” we really would’ve had something totally Special to offer… Sadly, all the voters were kinda dumb and gave the lowest score to Ryk, man I’m still sad… 🙁 I also liked Xavier Darcy’s song more, but Michael was a decent choice. There are tons of People saying that it’s nothing new and nothing Special and that it doesn’t make an Impact… Which I kinda get, because I really don’t know if this is gonna stick out.. But on the other Hand, there… Read more »
You know, almost every year I’m angry about your result! I really liked Is It Right (it was constantly played in Polish radio and TV, as the singer is of Polish origin ^^), Black Smoke and my lovely Ghost! I was so sad about the last position… The last time you were treated right was in 2012, with Roman Lob (although I would put him even higher :D). Good luck this time!
I’m not “Weißbrot” but I’m also German and I just wanted to thank you for your sweet words! All the best of luck for you too!
My favorites were also Ryk and Xavier. The first one was a risky choice, but I guess “Jonah” would do great. Especially powered by Xavier’s dancing legs!
I’ve consistently agreed with everything you’ve said about the German selection this year. No difference here. You’ve saved me writing an extended comment. I just feel that certain countries (especially Germany) just don’t know what to do when they find themselves with a really great entry in their national final selections.
Very delicate ballad, this would stand out in any other year but Germany is pretty unlucky, this year we have other “quiet” songs, which might cancel each other out, like Spain and Portugal. And let’s not forget a similar song won last year, viewers usually want something new. It’s still pretty good though.
7/10
absolutely fantastic! what a great voice! if Germany isn’t in the top 5 this year then something is wrong with this contest..
Is sad that Germans are not behind this. And after the grand final they will complain why Europe doesn’t vote for them. YES YES YES is an attack against the father because this is part of the mixed emotions a child has when a parent dies. Is the full spectrum of emotions. Is irrational, but this naturally happens. I hope my country Romania will vote for this, I will but I’m a drop in the ocean.
This is in my top 5 for sure. To all people who compare this to Ed Sheeran, let me stick it to you; I doubt that Ed Sheeran would’ve had the sentimentality of writing a song as close to home as this. Ed’s music feels comparatively shallow. Speaking of this song, it’s obviously the tear jerker of the year for me. Why? It’s close to home. I watched his performance in Unser Lied and I was impressed that he displayed such emotion without breaking down mentally. Hungary’s song also delves into the very same topic, though with a completely different… Read more »
For some reason the song from Portugal strikes my emotions – having somone very close that I miss insanely because of his death – much more.
But this might be only a thing of taste. I am from Germany so I should love our entry. For some reason I don’t care very much. He has very strong vocals, is an experienced likeable musician and the song is good and I am glad that there seem to be enough people who care very much for this song. My heart flows with other entries.
I’m still crying over Xavier Darcy and “Jonah”, probably my favourite song of this season, but I like Michael Schulte’s composition too. The message is more than clear and I don’t understand accusations of “attack on the father”. It’s touching and delicate. Maybe not original, maybe a LITTLE like Ed Sheeran, but you know what? I like Ed’s style.
I just hope he won’t be too sentimental on the stage, I wasn’t convinced to what I’ve seen in Germany (pictures, keywords etc.)
7/10
Yeah, the backdrop should be avoided. The song itself is more than capable of bringing the sentimentality. If any backdrop should exist, it should be more like Ieva’s, containing pictures in sepia tone rather than overtly explicit words and sketches, which kind of diminish it in a way.
The staging in Germany was weak and not convincing to me.
“Less is more” fits here. The minimalistic stage in Lisbon should be perfect for such a song and performance. With too much of spectacle people may think he plays on their emotions.
That’s what we (the German ESC-Bubble) are telling them for months already!! We’ve said it so many times: Use a minimalistic staging, maybe just a dark stage, a couple lights and Michael. Nothing more… I don’t know if they’re gonna listen to us, but they better! 😀
I hope so too, because these black and white pictures and the written lyrics didn’t do the performance any good.
Michael is a great singer but the song does nothing for me, it’s too generic and the message doesn’t really come across. It’s like Ed Sheeran, but in a bad way if that makes sense, because he’s bringing nothing new to the table. 5/10, sorry.
Also, different strokes for different folks, but please, Padraig, be a bit more generous!
This is a beautiful song and one that I can personally relate to as my sister passed away in 2010. It is very mellow but also very powerful and always gets me tearing up. I don’t usually like Ed Sheeran-y songs like this but the message lifts it up in my rankings.
I LISTEN EVERYVDAY TO THIS SONG I LOVE IT.
SEHR GUT DEUTCHLAND.
GERMANY – When you get teared up the first time you listen to the song, that means it truly made a deep impact. Michael’s song is one of the only few ones in this NF season to make a big emotional impact on me from the first listening and my love of it hasn’t faded still. It really feels personal and heartfelt. Germany truly deserves to at least finally avoid bottom 5, even if this is a straightforward top 10 material. The melody is amazing, the voice is wonderful and the sad story behind it really leaves a strong impression.… Read more »
Colin, thank you so much for These genuine and nice words <3 Since 2013 the only song I liked from my Country was Elaiza ''Is it right''… And now we finally have a good song again. I still doubt that we'll get any higher than 15, but I'm glad that there are some People out there who are really touched.
I truly love this song. 🙂 I will vote for you and I sincerely wish you all the best! As for the result, I suspect Michael could be a ‘Lucie Jones of 2018’ – A Big 5 lovely ballad mostly loved by fans, even though not as hyped as the other two (France/Spain in 2018, France/Italy in 2017). So, a 15th – 17th result would be the most realistic here. But, if it were up to me, this wouldn’t be outside of top 3. And yeah, Ryk was amazing too, even if Michael was my favorite all along.
One of the two songs this year (along with Lithuania’s) that made me shed a tear. 8/10
My #36 overall. It’s one of the dullest and by-the-numbers songs this year, would feel right at home as a filler on an Ed Sheeran album. The German Pre-Selections Show sadly had nothing better to offer. This is definitely the worst of the Top 5.
*I mean the Big 5
I think the majority would agree UK has the weakest song of the big 5. I’m pretty sure the result will reflect that.
It is nice, it is a story I can relate to, and he is a great singer, but I am still crying for ryk.
7/10