Germany kept us waiting and waiting for the Unser Lied für Israel songs. And on Friday all seven acts finally took to the stage with their three-minute ditties for their shot at representing Germany at Eurovision 2019.
In the end, it was late addittion duo S!sters who won both the jury and televote with their song, “Sister”!
S!sters — “Sister”
S!sters are made up of non-sisters, Carlotta Truman and Laurita. Their song was co-written by Laurell Barker, who is also part of the writing team behind the UK’s “Bigger Than Us”.
Unser Lied für Israel — Results
The result of Unser Lied came in three parts. First of all, a group of former Eurovision jury members gave their votes. Familiar faces on this jury included Ruth Lorenzo, Tinkara Kovac and Margaret Berger.
After the first round of votes, S!sters led the way, just pipping Makeda to the 12 points.
Those points were then rounded down to 12, 10, 8, 7, 6, 5 and finally 4 points each.
Following this round came the votes of the 100-person panel, whose evaluation had been ongoing since October. Our very own William Lee Adams was on hand to help give out the panel’s points. The leader changed following this section of the vote, with Sisters only getting 6 points from the jury.
Aly Ryan took 12 points, with Makeda again scoring the 10.
Finally, EBU chief Jon Ola Sand came out to announce the winner of the German televote. S!sters won the televote, making them the winner of Unser Lied für Israel and Germany’s act in Tel Aviv!
Also during tonight’s show, we saw a number of interval act performances. Eurovision winner Lena and Germany’s 2018 act, Michael Schulte, returned to the German NF. Revolverheld and Udo Lindenberg also performed.
What do you think of Germany’s choice? Do you think S!sters can deliver another strong result for Germany, or could last year have just been a fluke? Let us know your thoughts down below!
This could be bottom come May. Was woken the other week by two cats screeching at each-other out on the roof. This is the same. At least the UK won’t be last this year.
Really nice staging! The song is ok.
Don’t hate me on this but that national final performance was two swords short of a swordfight. It looked more like they were going to attack each other rather than embracing each others as sisters.
I’ve got the feeling, Europe will love this. I can’t say exactly why I think so. I feel a dark horse vibe here – like a common denominator Europe could go with. It’s a sweet pop-song, with Eurovision rhythms and a duett including a memorable bell melody. I don’t know. It can get its points. Maybe not the televotes winner, but perhabs, including the juries, a surprising winner of the evening. But still, there a a lot of songs to reveal, so we’ll see. But keep in mind, what I said :–)
Everyone points out how many dislikes the videos have, but that doesn’t even matter in televoting. What really matters are the people who like you and there their numbers aren’t to bad. As far as I can see they have more likes than any entry posted on the official Eurovision channel except for Spain and Australia. Not saying they will place top 10 or anything, but stop pretending that they are confirmed bottom 5 because of some 5k haters who are bitter about Aly’s defeat. Most people who vote in the ESC don’t even know about the German national final… Read more »
Oh my, Makeda you were so robbed. Such a beautiful, beautiful song.
this is so bad omg
Song has more dislikes than like in Youtube.. Another Russian conspiracy for Sergey LOL.
It has 4K likes and 2k dislikes tho?
4,4 K likes vs 5,4 K dislikes from now.
You are talking about two different videos. The official ESC account video has more likes than dislikes.
Only the German ESC account video has more dislikes and to be honest, a lot of my fellow Germans tend to bash our entries for no reason or just because they’re bitter that their fav didn’t win. Saw the same thing with Michael last year. So yeah, if I were you I wouldn’t pay too much attention to the dislikes on the NDR-account video.
This song of Sisters has a quality that is inconceivable to gays and superfans of Eurovision. It’s about female empowerment through female acceptance of one another.
Superfans act like spoilt little children, because the song doesn’t cater to them like Fuego, Toy or Wear your love.
Is there any chance of expressing your opinion without making sure you offend most visitors of this website? People have their taste and there’s no need to claim that your taste is more superior or sophisticated than someone else’s. It’s nice that you like the song. It’s not nice that you’re disrespectful to other people’s choices and tastes.
Do you not realise the irony and hypocrisy of telling us about acceptance and empowerment while also making generalising and degrading assertions about others?
Goosebumps every time
If hatred really had prevailed, then Wiwibloggs would have been taken down by Laura Bretan supporters by now. The blog is still standing at the moment. I guess that Iceland-inspired plan didn’t work then.
Weirdest choise so far…. That’s all i have to say.
Just awful! Still shocked. This is the biggest fiasco I could have imagined.
Not because my favorite song did not win, it is because the only boring song out of 7 won. It even came as a wildcard that nobody ever wanted or understood in the first place.
For once we have one song that could (you never know) make it to the Top5 easily, and several that sound like Top10 material and we go back to the most forgettable songs of them all period…
Go Soldi
And please Portugal (next week), Hungary and Ukraine choose wisely!
Might be your opinion, but it’s clear that the majority of the audience didn’t share it and neither did the international jury. Deal with it.
I personally think that we had 4 songs with Top10 potential and this was one of them. The song is far from boring to begin with and they just sold it with their performance, unlike Aly who may have had the stronger song but just didn’t deliver it live.
Indeed. In 2017, I was certain that Levina’s song would be a bottom 5. In 2019, not sure about S!sters’song.
Yeah not enough songs to compare yet, however, it needs a lot of work to get into top15.
I will deal with it, Leo, don’t worry about me. And yes, just my opinion, which I was sharing. As are you, right? Also, I am not claiming to have spoken the absolute truth here. Just my subjective opinion. I also agree that Aly unfortunately did not deliver. However, I won’t be able to support our song this year. Thank god there are enough other songs to support for me. And thank god my other country did not let me down and I hope my third nationality will not let me down either. Let a guy hope for his favorites… Read more »
Anyway I am so relieved with Maruv and Joci! 🙂
boring …
THE RUNNING ORDER IS HORRIBLE. ALY RYAN should have performed last
They who complain in our Christer Björkman: He would NEVER would have a running order like that. The End.
Lol. every time when it’s hosted by Babara Schonger. the act always flops. when it doesn’t get hosted by Barbara it does not flop
I guess Eurovison fans have to realize that they are a minority that value camp and cheesieness over quality. S!sters were obviously the best act vetted both by jury and televote. So deal with it or get out of your camp closet.
Almost funny! Hahah
How is Sister less camp and cheesy than any other of the 7?
Did we listen to the same song?
Its the re-invention of melting cheese!
This is the Eurovision pre-selection. How can Eurovision fans be a minority?
Totally agree with you. Since I liked the song (i heard it when it had already won and didn’t know the other entries) I wondered how good the other songs must have been. They were NOT! I could not hear the the song of Aly Ryan at all because of the distraction of the lighte. The dancing persormance was bad, I have seen amateurs dancing better. All in all in my opnion the best song won.
This cheesy musical theatre number isn’t camp and cheesy? What planet you on, gurl? Sure isn’t earth.
Ok well I was really happy that this won none of the songs in this selection were bad in my opinion and I thought this won was DEFINITELY one of the better ones… and I prefer this over Makeda and Linus’ songs so I am happy!
It’s enjoyable to listen to but can never be as good as Germany’s song from last year.
so forgettable, high school musical sing-a-long
Well, I whish my high school was like that…
Not my cup of tea but they did okay in the final. I would have settled for Makeda or Linus instead.
Can’t help but see a similarity with “There must be another way” – Israel 2009 – Mira Awad and Noa
The international juries, but most importantly the public put it in first place. Instead of complaining endlessly (and how it’s the worst entry ever), that have already plagued so many national final results because a fan-favorite didn’t win, let’s respect their choice and stop all this negativity.
It’s hardly negativity to dislike a song a song. If everyone was to like and accept everything that happened, then the world would be absolute chaos.
It sure is negative as hell to write dozens of comments about how “boring” this song is and even some that personally attack the singers. Most people on here act like it’s a great injustice that they were in the minority. It’s just embarassing, especially thinking of last year’s national selection when most people here in Germany reacted the same way to Michael Schulte’s victory and then, when he did good in the competition, they all acted as if they supported him from the very beginning. I’m also pretty sure that many more people would like this song if it… Read more »
For me I am delighted, Aly was an incredible overall performance and Lily had a raw sensuality to hers which was fantastic but I really think S!sters had a great song. I am a sucker for a harmony and they really busted them out in style and slayed. Love the simplicity of the staging as well. Not going to win of course but this is a German song I can get on board with and will really enjoy come 18th May.
always disappointing when you have a clear favorite and then someone completely unexpected win. However they seemed genuinely happy so I wish them well. I also went back to watch again and while I still don’t love it, it’s not bad
Aly Ryan released a music video
https://youtu.be/SO239hovxUU
The best Live Performance won. Lily was my fav before the show started. But in the S!sters had the best Live Performance and they deserved to win.
What ? it hurts the ears vocally in some parts.
I’d recommend to leave all that disappointment aside… It’s true that odds were completely agains Makeda first and then against S!sters, but that should remind us that we shouldn’t rely that much on what odds may predict, but on what really comes after the performances. Like it or not (my favourite was Makeda from the very first time I listened to her song), “Sister” is completely legitimised by both an international jury of people from 20 different countries (btw, I still don’t understand why there was a German representative…) and especially the German citizens via their televote. Moreover, I would… Read more »
OMG! I just realized the remind of those witches from Netflix’s Sabrina the teenage witch! Hahahahhaahhhhahahaha and the song is fitting AF lol
high school soap sing-a-long
Staging was nice but I really CANNOT get behind this song. It’s so annoying. Sister? ughhhhh can’t even
Can’t say I’m a fan of this one.
Disappointing. Croatia is much better. Who’s next?
Okay. I’ll be listening to Lily and Aly’s songs on my spotify. Disappointed.
How this song was last in all polls and suddently most people like it? is it because of the stageing and live performance? IMO, it will depend on the rest of the countries, but quite now I find it quite forgetteable.
What polls? The ones from the esc bubble? We all know the bubble likes only songs that can make them jump, no connection with reality.
Oh I so agree. The esc-bubble has no connection with reality.
Does that mean Bilal will win ESC with a landslide of points?
No it means it will loose terribly. Bilal is by far no Conchita!
This song sounds like something from a musical, like For Good from Wicked. I can hear vibes of Falling Skowlt from Once, albeit as a song about a sister relationship.
I mean it’s Ok, like the other 13 songs. They are not terrible, but one slightly above average song after another wins. I cannot feel really passionate about any of these songs. I feel more passionate about personal background stories of Bilal and Mahmoud, but that’s another thing. If it continues like this, it will be the weakest ESc since 1999, which was also in Israel.
I hear this every year (happy 2000 and whatever.. sorry had to drop that in) We have 13/42 songs. I’d also argue that a lot of these 13 songs are actually quite strong. How about we all just chill until May, please?
I never Said this in this century, I can assure you.
Not you directly, just a reoccurring comment from ‘like-minded’ individuals.
@ NickC I’m totally with you since I feel exactly the same… I always rolled my eyes on those who, after five songs out, screamed “worst year ever”… but now after let’s say, halfway through it – 14 songs selected and about five/six NF which doesn’t give me a single wow-moment -, I’m getting somehow nervous. With Italy, I have one (!) song which I would rank in a “normal” year in a lower Top 10-region. Also not many contenders for last place, but everything’s so ordinary, okay-ish and midtable… So there is space to be filled in the “that’s… Read more »
I hear you, alter.
The best song won. That Aly had no chance in hell. Why were they holding Israel flag on stage, instead the one of their own country? And why do they need extra preparation because Israel is the host? They need some Hatari attitude.
Germans seem to prefer performances that are stripped back, have less production and good live vocals like Michael, Ann Sophie and Levina. Just like here in UK, we’ve sent Lucie Jones, SuRie and now Michael Rice. The S!sters sounded really good live and had a touching story that swayed the juries, public and audience to get behind them.
By the way…
Congrats Laurell Barker for another song!
Horrible song. They picked the worst.
And it bothers me that they didn’t have at least a song in German. Ugh.
Don’t they receive hundreds of songs? They couldn’t find a nice song in German. I hate when national finals snub their own national languages.
There was a rather well-known German Indie singer who was applying for Eurovision but he wasn’t admitted to the NF. He is singing in German most of the time…
What a shame really. NDR should be ashamed of themselves for not giving German artists who sing in German a chance.
Which one?
I agree the live performance really emphasised the studio version. I thought their harmonies were better on the live performance. I agree about the female solidarity theme. I think it’s carefully subtle for the Eurovision stage (it’s empowering, but not Annie Lennox and Aretha Franklin in shoulder pads*). I like how the lyrics point to the truth that such competitiveness is an exaggerated gendered stereotype but also socially constructed: women shouldn’t fight each other to get that one non-male spot in the boardroom or on the jury but support each other and fight for equality together. *not that I wouldn’t… Read more »
I do not know. It is not my favourite at all but I think if Germany likes it, then great. This year it seems all the fan favourites just keep losing. I am hoping to get good quality from Armenia ,Russia, Azerbaijan. Internal selection seemed to be the only hope . Other than that I will say that in my personal opinion I deem 2019 to be a bit on the weaker side but I wish all contestants good luck.
Since four years, Belgium’s songs are pretty good. Russia’s Lazarev comeback, even with a cheesy song, can be memorable too, regarding the staging. Maybe Azerbaidjan and Armenia, usual permanent Eurovision assets (excepts for 2018), surely try hard to make a greatfull comeback on Grand Final. Cyrprus’ Last year second place seems to create a buzz around Tamta’s song. And don’t forget that Ukraine and Sweden remain safe bets .
Thank you for reassuring me. I know there a lot of songs left but I’m just disappointed that none of the favourite outside of that country are winning. I can bet Maruv and Kazka lose tomorrow because that is just how it is happening throughout all these selections. But you are right there are still many songs left.
Also, If it can reassure you more: in 2017, the first song I really liked was Blanche’s City Lights. The song was released only on 8th March.
You had 3-4 great songs and you voted for this lol
Enjoy your bottom
Last year, nothing seemed favorable for a good place. But Germany finished 4th. I’m not sure S!sisters’s song will finish on top 10, but a left sided scoreboard position seems possible.
I wasn’t expecting S!sters to win, but please let me know when they film a music video for “Sister”.
I wonder if they will do a tribute to Shakespeare’s Sister “Stay” video?
I think that’s second on their list, Purple, after a tribute to “I’m So Excited” by The Pointer Sisters.
HORROR
The horror! The horror!
Oh and regarding the pre-show favourites:
Lilly Among Clouds:
I felt like the performance was more for Lilly herself than the audience. Among the clouds indeed.
Aly:
I felt like she phoned it in, with an ‘I woke up like this’ attitude. Too cool to really give it everything. I know this will probably be an unpopular thing to say but it reminded me of a Margaret performance.
Just watched the press conference, Laurita and Carlotta are so cute and endearing! I also thought Laurita came across as very professional and had a good sense of poise. Carlotta is very eager, bubbly and giggly, which is good too, but I just hope she doesn’t lose focus or get too overwhelmed by all the press engagements. I liked how thoughtful their managing team appear to be. It hadn’t crossed my mind that the German delegation would see their participation in Israel as “etwas besonders”, but of course there will be a particular sensitivity, and their plan to go early… Read more »
It was a good final and the winner was one of the songs that I liked.
Can’t complain really…
This was the deserving winner. Best package won. Fair. Jury and Televote.
Great performance and atmosphere. Fans can not like it but general audience will.
wait and see they end up in the bottom this year
S!sters weren’t my favourite when I listened to the studio versions, I had them in the bottom 2, but they were in my top 2 based on the live performance. I really liked their energy, the choreography, and, the use of a revolving stage. The song really came to life through performance.
There’s a subtle politics to the song but it feels personal and truthful.
It was endearing quite how shocked they were to win tonight.
Disappointed but not suprised
“I’m not angry, I’m just disappointed.”