The sudden “you’re hired/you’re fired” experience with Xavier Naidoo was a reminder that while Germany has has given us some brilliant Eurovision songs over the last 60 years, they’ve also delivered some of the most dramatic moments. Here are seven of the best.

1. Xavier Naidoo is dropped

It happened so fast. Xavier was announced as Germany’s act, then two days later he was dropped. But given Germany’s history at Eurovision, maybe it’s best that they got the drama out of the way for 2016.

2. Andreas Kümmert quits

Despite winning 78.8% of the public vote at the 2015 national final, Andreas wasn’t so keen on actually going to Eurovision. He dropped the bombshell on live television, leaving host Barbara Schöneberger scrambling to figure out who was getting the ticket to Vienna.

3. “Miss Kiss Kiss Bang” throws everything in

Germany in 2009 was pure drama. The silver trousers, Oscar’s startling eyebrows, the tap-dance break, the scat singing, the lyrics flipping between “Miss Kiss” and “Mrs Kiss”, and how the audience was supposed to ignore Dita Von Teese being on stage for a whole two minutes until Alex introduced her, with her name even flashing up on the giant LED screen.

4. Ann Sophie gets nil points

While Ann Sophie was the second choice for Germany in 2015, “Black Smoke” still seemed like a decent enough song. But when the scores came through in Vienna, “Black Smoke” had failed to make an impact, earning Germany its first nil points in the modern scoring era.

5. “Planet of Blue” is relegated

Eurovision 1996 used a non-televised, audio-only prequalifying round where it was decided that Germany’s entry, “Planet of Blue” by Leon – which had swept to victory in the national final – would miss out. Germany was not happy. It ruined their previously perfect ESC attendance record, but eventually led to the introduction of direct qualification for the Big 4.

6. Cascada flops

When Cascada won the national final in 2013, it seemed like the formula for a Eurovision hit – an internationally successful Europop group with an upbeat dance track. But “Glorious” was dogged by accusations of being derivative of “Euphoria”. Even though it was cleared of plagiarism, the song flopped in Malmö, placing 21 out of 26 with only 18 points.

7. Guildo Horn climbs the stage

Eurovision 1998 had a lot of iconic moments, but Guildo Horn startled the Birmingham audience when he suddenly climbed the balcony at the side of the stage, perilously hanging off it while he finished his song “Guildo hat euch lieb!”. Eurovision would never be the same again.

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Jack
Jack
8 years ago

I’m still in shock that Ann Sophie did so badly – should have been top10! Austria doing so badly too was awful. 2 good songs getting zero when even the UK got 5pts is shocking. Germanic countries need a voting block ha

Fatima
Fatima
8 years ago

How could you omit Nicole’s reprise from 1982 where she suddenly switched from German to English the French then Dutch to successively louder cheers. Made me proud to be German, and I’m not even German.

Jonas
Jonas
8 years ago

I’d never heard Planet Of Blue before (thanks!) – but not surprised it didn’t qualify considering it was so very different to most of the other songs that year, except perhaps Gina G. From distance, I have absolutely no clue whether it’s a good song or not.

Ian
Ian
8 years ago

Guildo gave one of the best stage shows Eurovision has ever seen. Not likely to ever be topped again.

Vladimir
Vladimir
8 years ago

Too bad we never saw “Blauer Planet” in Oslo.

Sarah Boucher
8 years ago

8. 1977: Francoise Hardy DQ’d, melody published in 1868, Silver Connection Replaces, but Flops

Roelof Meesters
Roelof Meesters
8 years ago

Germany 2015 was my 4th….

davve
davve
8 years ago

Cascada under performed during the final.. her live act was not great..

in 1996 i think germanys song was too modern

PP
PP
8 years ago

Where is 1976 and 1999 in this list .

#StandingStill
#StandingStill
8 years ago

Cascada should’ve done better. They were Glorious!