Germany: 9 acts we’d like NDR to internally select for Eurovision 2020 in Rotterdam

Is Germany going the way of Switzerland and internally selecting its act for Eurovision 2020? Amid the ongoing silence from broadcaster NDR, Eurofans feel increasingly safe saying that Unser lied für Rotterdam won’t be happening. As we wait for news, why not name our top picks for an internal selection? Here are nine artists on the tip of our tongues.

Benedikt Köstler

Benedikt Köstler may have a baby face, but his voice is all man. He proved that on the seventh season of The Voice of Germany, where he dropped his sonorous tones on some very soulful songs like Ben E King’s “Stand By Me” and Elton John’s “Your Song”. Coached by Mark Foster throughout the show’s run in 2017, he ultimately finished as runner-up to Natia Todua. You’ll no doubt see the Eurovision connection: Georgian-born Natia went on to compete in Germany’s 2018 national selection. Of the many talents to emerge from The Voice in recent years, he’s the one who’s set my radar alight. Here’s hoping he gets a shot in Rotterdam. (William)

Nico Santos

Nico Santos is one of Germany’s most promising male acts. He’s scaled the charts with songs like “Rooftop” and his latest collaboration with Eurovision winner Lena on “Better”. They’re proof that he’s not only a great songwriter, but also a very talented singer. But he’s also got that added ooomph that turns a singer into a star. The Voice of Germany coach also works within the German rap business, and understands what goes on in front of and behind the camera. (Florian)

Felix Brummer

Germany hasn’t sent a song in German in 13 years. Now, off the back of some pretty chequered results, it’s time that NDR go German, current and experienced. And, in a nod to all of Germany, why not call on an East German artist…something we didn’t do in the last decade. Enter Felix Brummer (aka Kummer). The lead singer of the highly successful band Kraftklub released his debut solo album in 2019 — and to widespread acclaim. Just like the three Kraftklub LP’s before, his album KIOX topped the album charts and has spawned multiple singles since then. One of them is “Bei Dir” in which he raps about how love can change one for the better. Rap and Hip-Hop are the fastest-growing genres in Germany. Felix Brummer would be a family-friendly representative of this trend. (Calvin)

Lotte

The young singer-songwriter had her breakthrough with the clap-happy “Auf beiden Beinen” in 2017. Ever since then she’s been moving from insider tip to regular guest on the charts. Her recent collaboration with German alumni Max Giesinger (“Auf das, was da noch kommt”) took German airwaves by storm. Her remarkable voice and refreshing sounds bring texture to the German music scene — ingredients she could build on at Eurovision. (Florian)

Namika

One of Germany’s hardest hitters on the pop scene, Namika brings a likeable sass that could slay the Eurovision stage, as well as give the German language a welcome return at the song contest. She’s released a variety of uptempo songs, which give her a wide spectrum of possibilities for Eurovision — each one better than the next. (Pablo)

dArtagnan

Germany has always been very close to sending great rock acts, but always stops just short of committing. With their folksy twists and big stadium-ready sounds, the guys at dArtagnan could certainly succeed if they ever want to try. Combining some great rock with some medieval theatrical flair, this would be one rousing act at Eurovision. (Pablo)

The Seeed

If you wanna hear the sound of Berlin, just listen to Seeed. This band has been absolutely killing it since they released their first track “Dickes B” back in 2001. The ten members of Seeed embody diversity, uniting people and connecting different cultures. And they are doing it in a very authentic way. Lead singer Dellé has a German mother, while his father is from Ghana. There are also members from Jamaica, France and Guinea as well. Seeed combine dancehall, reggae and hip-hop and fans love them, especially for their live shows which usually sell out within minutes. Seeed have sold around 2 million records. They don’t think that they’re above entering a song contest: they already took part in the German version of Eurovision — Stefan Raab’s Bundesvision Song Contest, where they won with one of their biggest hits “Ding”. (Rick)

Balbina

Born in the Polish capital Warsaw, singer Balbina moved to Germany with her family when she was just three years old. She’s worked with stars like Herbert Grönemeyer and Die Atzen and recently covered a Rammstein song. Balbina is not the biggest name in the German music scene, but she has what it takes to stand out. Her style is very artistic and creative. She could also deliver a mind-blowing performance as the visual aspect is always important to her. Balbina‘s songs are in German — they’re poetic and melodic at the same time, so even people who don’t know the language might well fall in love with her. (Rick)

Alligatoah

The German artist Alligatoah probably doesn’t spring to mind when drafting a list of potential Eurovision artists. But he’s definitely underrated and could do very well in the competition. Alligatoah is a 31-year-old German singer, rapper, DJ and producer. Even though he raps in all of his songs, his beautiful voice means he’s more than able to tackle the choruses. Alligatoah writes his songs almost exclusively in the German language. His 2013 album “Triebwerke” topped the German charts for 45 weeks. In 2015, his album “Musik ist keine Lösung” reached third place for 53 weeks.

There’s never been a comparable artist in Eurovision. He isn’t just a normal rapper – he fills his text with social critique and irony — you can see that in many of his music videos, which he produces himself. The many layers of his text make it nice to listen to his music more than once: you will always find a deep quote that you missed the first time listening. Alligatoah also collaborated with the German group Santiano, who competed in the German national final back in 2014. (Julian)

Do any of these artists ring your bell? Who is your dream act to be internally selected for Germany?