We continue our series looking at the participating countries of Eurovision and the reasons why we love them so very much. Next up is Germany. It may have won the contest twice, but the country definitely knows the ups and downs of competitive song. Despite its various struggles in recent years, there is plenty to celebrate.

Germany is the only country not to have missed out on any contest since its debut back in 1956. As part of the big five, Germany has been pre-qualified for the final since the introduction of the semi-finals. But what makes us really love the nation in the contest? Here are 10 reasons why we love Germany at the Eurovision Song Contest!

1. They’re experts of unexpected turnarounds

In recent years, German Eurovision fans have had a lot to get through — and hope for change seemed to diminish over time. But right at breaking point Germany then deliver singers that leave a mark. In 2010, six years after their previous top ten finish, Lena burst onto the scene with “Satellite” and took the crown with a total of 246 points. And in 2018 Michael Schulte ended another set of unsatisfying results and ended up in fourth place! After the rain, the good times…

2. They send popular acts to the wasteland

Germany has often reached out to known acts to represent the nation. But there’s a bunch of artists whose careers didn’t recover from a bad finish at the song contest. The casting group No Angels had four chart-toppers in Germany — but they failed to keep the momentum going after Eurovision and split in 2011. Another example is Cascada, with their lead singer Natalie Horler. The group had huge success with hits such as “Every Time We Touch”, “Evacuate the Dancefloor” and “Pyromania”. But after their anticipated entry “Glorious” only finished 21st back in 2013, the group hasn’t had much chart action since. Thankfully — and unlike No Angels — they’re still putting out music! You can read our review of their latest single “Back for Good” here.

3. They know how to put on a show

In 2011, the Eurovision Song Contest took place in Düsseldorf following Lena’s triumph in Oslo. The show was hosted by Anke Engelke, Judith Rakers and Stefan Raab. Guiding us through the show, the trio immediately connected with the audience and created three amazing shows. Even in 2018, many fans still consider the 2011 edition one of the best contests ever. We would love to have another show in German hands soon.

4. They are known for changing the national selection method

Germany and its national selection deserve their own chapter. Not only do lots of unexpected things happen on the night, NDR also comes up with new formats every few years. Sure, looking back at what worked and what didn’t is a good thing, but establishing a national final format can take a few years. It is encouraging that NDR is sticking with the successful format that led to Michael Schulte being selected for Lisbon.

5. They offer some good drama

In recent years, the German selection process has delivered some iconic and unforeseen events. In 2014, wildcard winners and newcomers Elaïza beat established group Unheilig in the superfinal. The following year Andreas Kümmert won the hearts of the audience, but he refused to accept the win and thus Ann-Sophie was selected to travel to Vienna. Prior to the 2016 selection, German singer Xavier Naidoo was internally chosen to represent Germany. But due to questionable statements in the past and huge public protest among NDR employees, the broadcaster rescinded its offer for him to sing.

6. They’re actually fun!

One of the many stereotypes that Germans can’t shake is that they’re not that entertaining. They seem forever focused on work and their individual success. But some of the German Eurovision entrants have definitely proven otherwise. In 2010, Lena Meyer-Landrut won European hearts with her youthful insouciance. Prior to the grand final, she grabbed attention from journalists all over Europe following her amusing performance during a press conference. And in 2015 Ann Sophie made the best out of the some pretty difficult circumstances. Following her unfortunate zero-points finish, she rewrote the winning entry “Heroes”, singing “we are the zeros of our time”.

7. They gave us Ralph Siegel

Eurovision wouldn’t be the same without Ralph Siegel. The singer and composer has contributed 25 entries for the contest, including Nicole‘s “Ein bißchen Frieden”, which won the contest back in 1982. And of course he brought Valentina Monetta into the Eurovision family. But we also have to thank him for his continuous love for the contest. Back in May he organized a big event for the reunion of Dschinghis Khan in Munich. And his next Eurovision-pinned entry might just be around the corner!

8. And they brought us Dschinghis Khan

In 1979, Ralph Siegel composed his second entry for Germany in the contest. Performed by the same-titled group, the impossibly catchy “Dschinghis Khan” launched his massive career. Finishing in fourth place, the group went on to have further success. Their song “Moskau” topped the charts in countries from Germany all the way to Australia. In 2018, the group reunited, featuring two of their original members. Their song “Moskau” has been reworked by none other than Ralph Siegel. Just in time for the World Cup, they delivered a fresh remix in four different languages.

9. A night with Barbara Schöneberger

Once Barbara Schöneberger stepped onto the Eurovision scene, she couldn’t let go. Hosting the national final for years, she has become part of the German Eurovision family. Unfortunately, she couldn’t host the 2018 national final due to personal scheduling difficulties. However, she hosted the biggest German Eurovision party in Hamburg and was also selected as the German spokesperson. And she keeps on rocking those outfits!

10. Eurovision without Germany isn’t the same

As the country with the most appearances in the competition, you just can’t imagine having Germany miss out on the party. And while it might not always be obvious at first glance, their continuous support for the contest is unlike any other. They’ve given us lots of memorable entries, from Guildo Horn to Stefan Raab to the (perhaps somewhat unfortunate) Oscar Loya feat. Dita von Teese. Most importantly, the contest back in Düsseldorf is still one of the best-liked editions. Germany, you’re always welcome!

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Emily
Emily
5 years ago

The hosts for the 2011 contest were brilliant and such a memorable show despite the relatively weak entries. I’ve not particularly liked their more recent entries and they’re not my favourite Big 5 country (that award goes to Italy), but I love their entries in 2000 (shhhh!), 2004, 2007, 2010, 2011, and 2014. There’s only one I didn’t really like as of recent and that was 2017.

ESCFan2009 (male, 22, German)
ESCFan2009 (male, 22, German)
5 years ago
Reply to  Emily

Thanks for Elaiza! 😉 Awww, maybe you should check out “Unexpected”, that’s Levina’s first album. If you don’t like Perfect Life, there are 11 more songs to go! 🙂

Regina Phalange
Regina Phalange
5 years ago

2011 did not have many great entries imo but they organized it very well, I loved the hosting

pp77
pp77
5 years ago

Gregorian would be winner of national final , if song instaad of man sang sister of Sarah Brightman.

pp77
pp77
5 years ago

Germany made huge mistake in their national final in 2013. With song Craving by Saint Lu , they would be in TOP 3 that year maybe took winning from Denmark. With Laing with song Zeig deine Muskeln they would be in TOP 10 in 2015. With Avastasia or Laura they would be in TOP 15 in 2016.

ESCFan2009 (male, 22, German)
ESCFan2009 (male, 22, German)
5 years ago
Reply to  pp77

I love Glorious by Cascada in 2013, but Craving was a masterpiece! Great song! Would have been better for Malmö indeed…

CyxCy
CyxCy
5 years ago

Germany is for me one of the most powerful countries in the competition. I am French but I receive on my tv a German music channel, and I noticed their great musical openness. They listen to everything, old songs like recent, rock, rap, pop, German artists, French, American, Australian … They do not close to anything that gives them a real strength. They know how to write and compose songs to climb to the top.

They are also great for organizing shows, I still remember the edition that had followed Lena’s victory, it was really great.

pp77
pp77
5 years ago

For me Germany deserved to won in 1971, 1979,1981 ,1994, 2011. They are underrated in 1975, 1984, 1988, 1997,2007,2015 , overrated in points and placement in 1970,1972,1982,1987

Joe
Joe
5 years ago
Reply to  pp77

See, I’ll stand up for Lass die Sonne in dein herz. Very light and frothy, maybe too much so to get as high as second place (only entry I could see seriously challenging Hold Me Now was Gente di Mare), but just hearing the name is enough to get it stuck in my head. Plus, it had 1/2 of Milli Vanilli, and he was actually singing!

pp77
pp77
5 years ago
Reply to  Joe

For me in 1987 Germany , Italy , Denmark was so overrated in points. Better song had Finland, The Netherlands, Belgium from these 3 countries that year.

Graph
Graph
5 years ago

In my opinion, most German ESC songs are underrated (both in commentaries and the actual results). Although their songs are not usually my favorites, most of their Bottom 5 entries could have been in the middle of the scoreboard IMO. In particular, 2013, 2016, and 2017 did not deserve all the criticism they got. I don’t think their winning song in 2010 was necessarily the best song of the year (it could be a little annoying), but it was one of the better ones due to its catchy refrain and very modern vibe. Their 2018 song was a very good… Read more »

Flynn
Flynn
5 years ago

Would love Germany to win again soon so we could have a hosting duo of Barbara Schoneberger and Anke Engelke

OrangeVorty
OrangeVorty
5 years ago

Aren’t German band ‘Wind’ still the only act to finish second twice? Would prefer to listen to their three entries than Siegel’s twenty-odd.

Skiwalko
Skiwalko
5 years ago
Reply to  OrangeVorty

I think they are. But I have another question – is German singer Katja Ebstein the only person to finish third twice?

pp77
pp77
5 years ago
Reply to  Skiwalko

She was 3 rd in 1970,1971 and 2 nd in 1980 . 3 times in Eurovision and all 3 times in TOP 3 but not won.

Jo.
Jo.
5 years ago

WE ARE HERE AT THE WORLDWIDE FAMOUS REEPERBAHN!!!
Amazing, I love Germany. Best hosts in this decade.

Stan
Stan
5 years ago

That they only won it twice is the biggest injustice in Eurovision history!

Weißbrot
Weißbrot
5 years ago

Thank you for all your love guys, I (and I think all the other Germans here) really appreciate it! <3 Actually the first Eurovision I remember watching was in 2010 (I watched the 2009 edition too, but everything is kinda blurred out in my memory), which was the year we won and I cried from happiness! Such a great memory for me.

Joe
Joe
5 years ago

Germany love it, and we love them. Only a few countries match their enthusiasm, and that’s awesome. Best run of entries was ’79-’82, with Siegel and Meinunger absolutely in their element. I’ll also single out Satellite (my second-favorite winner of the last ten years), Wir geben ‘ne Party (another great Siegel/Meinunger creation), Standing Still, Wadde hadde dudde da (one of the very best troll entries), and the hardcore underrated Black Smoke (nul points my fanny).

ESCFan2009 (male, 22, German)
ESCFan2009 (male, 22, German)
5 years ago
Reply to  Joe

@Joe: Ah, great, that you love “Wir geben ne Party” and Black Smoke <3 <3

noone
noone
5 years ago

Lena was phenomenal both times, it think in 2011 she was even better, Taken by a Stranger would bea far better winner than Running Scared (well any song would). Ann Sophie and Jamie Lee were criminally underrated, such amazing artists (listen to their albums!). You forgot to mention that they sent lots of Schlager like Michele in 2001.

Denis
Denis
5 years ago
Reply to  noone

And exacty how is that Germany’s fault?

pp77
pp77
5 years ago
Reply to  Denis

Tehnical problem was in some countries, because they could not hear their commentators from Germany, and some had uses comentarotr from home country thil fix problem with signals with Germay. Sound of song was good for tv viewers, they only can hear they commnetarost not first 5 song.

Nick
Nick
5 years ago

why is “The zeros of our time” always creditet as Ann Sophie’s idea? It were the Makemakes who postet the video first.

Henry
Henry
5 years ago

I actually really liked their 2009 entry, it was fun !

james
james
5 years ago

Reason 11: They sent Roger Cicero in 2007, who would have won by a huge margin if the voting was 100% jury.

#pioneer
#pioneer
5 years ago
Reply to  james

Wasn’t he 6th in the backup jury voting? So no win…and that’s a pity, as I really like that song…

james
james
5 years ago
Reply to  #pioneer

No, the head of the delegation at the time confirmed he won the backup jury vote. Serbia came second, Hungary 3rd. If the 50/50 system had been in place Germany would have finished 6th. Maybe you’re getting mixed up with that.

Ana
Ana
5 years ago

Reason no 8 is enough for me! Dschin – Dschin – DSCHINGHIS KHAAAAN! 😀

Lion
Lion
5 years ago

Lena should’ve had her own number. Her both entries were phenomenal<3

Nikko
Nikko
5 years ago

I hope Germany wins soon so that Barbara Schöneberger can host the contest!
She is hilarious and she can do the job alone – Petra-Mede-like

pp77
pp77
5 years ago
Reply to  Nikko

Barbara and Anke (host from 2011) is natural funny. Petra Mede try so hard to be funny.She can t take lesson from host od Eurovision 1985,2011 how to be funny in natural way.

ESCFan2009 (male, 22, German)
ESCFan2009 (male, 22, German)
5 years ago

Here is my personal ranking of our German songs in “my ESC fanship period”, so from 2009 up to now: 10) You Let Me Walk Alone – Michael Schulte – 2018 9) Miss Kiss Kiss Bang – Alex Swings Oscar Sings – 2009 8) Standing Still – Roman Lob – 2012 7) Taken By A Stranger – Lena – 2011 6) Ghost – Jamie Lee – 2016 5) Is It Right – Elaiza – 2014 4) Perfect Life – Levina – 2017 3) Lena – Satellite – 2010 2) Glorious – Cascada – 2013 1) Black Smoke – Ann Sophie… Read more »

ESCFan2009 (male, 22, German)
ESCFan2009 (male, 22, German)
5 years ago

Awww, thank you very much for that lovely article! 😀
I have to admit, that my favorite entry from 2009 up to now is Ann Sophie’s Black Smoke! I love that song so much, the melody and the text. My favorite song of all songs (not only Eurovision) from 2015 and 2016, I listened to it almost every day. Sweet memories… <3 <3

ESCFan2009 (male, 22, German)
ESCFan2009 (male, 22, German)
5 years ago
Reply to  Florian Rahn

Haha, yes, of course, that was funny and self-ironic by our great Ann Sophie! Glad, that you have enjoyed it! I mean, we are both German, men, in our 20s, Eurovision fans and studying almost the same 😀 I have really thought about appying for becoming an author here, but with you, wiwibloggs has the perfect German representer. I doubt that you need me, too 😀

ESCFan2009 (male, 22, German)
ESCFan2009 (male, 22, German)
5 years ago

Ups, I have used a different mail address here, so my profile pic is not the same as usual. But don’t worry, that comment was by me!

Marc
Marc
5 years ago

Reason 11: Germans are the most tasteful when it comes to voting
2010: 12 points to Tom Dice
2013: 12 Points to ByeAlex
2014: Conchita and The Common Linnets
2015: 12 points to Il Volo + Guy and Loïc beating Måns in their televote
2016: If I Were Sorry success
2017: 12 points to Salvador. 10 to Blanche
2018: 12 points to Ermal and Fabrizio
Germany never disappoints

pp77
pp77
5 years ago
Reply to  Marc

Their point was sometimes very unusual. 12 points from Germany to Hungary in 2013 (thanks to juries) , 12 points to Denmark in 2014 (thanks to juries) , 12 points to Russia in 2015 , 12 points from juries to Israel in 2016 , 12 points to Norway from juries in 2017. 12 points from juries to Sweden in 2018.

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
5 years ago

Barbara Schöneberger is all I would expect from a German lady, a true icon

Nefelibata.
Nefelibata.
5 years ago

1 reason why I love Germany: Lena.

Conor K
Conor K
5 years ago

Sadly Germany missed ESC 1996 Due to the pre qualification round, shame as really their song ‘Planet OF Blue’ could have won

Africavision
Africavision
5 years ago

Eurovision definitely won’t be the same without Germany. One thing I really love about them is their love for the contest, as evidenced each year when Barbra announces their points, among a sea of cheering fans. No other country brings the energy that Germany does during the voting segment. What I also love about them is that they are the originators of the schlager genre of music, which may be cringe to some, but I absolutely love it and I think it is the epitome of the Eurovision Song Contest. I agree that Germany was an amazing host country in… Read more »