On Tuesday Eurovision 2016 star Iveta Mukuchyan revealed that she had been included in Germany’s selection process for Eurovision 2021, but that ultimately she wasn’t picked.
In an Instagram post she speculated that it was “most likely” down to her “political move from 2016” in which she waved the flag of Nagorno-Karabakh.
NDR has now given a statement to the German web site ESC Kompakt. The broadcaster says that digame — the firm that helps it with its selection process and the analysis of ratings and scores — made a mistake in including Iveta in the process.
“For the selection process, digame and NDR have agreed that Germany should not be represented at the ESC by artists who have already participated in the international competition for another country. Iveta Mukuchyan was mistakenly included in the first selection for 2021 and contacted by digame. With the sole reason that she had already participated in the ESC for Armenia, she was then removed by digame for the further course of the selection. There was no other reason or a separate agreement with NDR. Political statements played no role.”
Dear Eurovision Fans,
I appreciate your wish for my participation for Germany but, as I mentioned in my statement, it was my own assumption that my political act was the reason for the cancellation.— Iveta Mukuchyan (@IvetaMukuchyan) October 8, 2020
The German delegation is doing an awesome job and yes it was happiness bound to sadness when I got the call and the cancellation afterwards but they explained to me in detail that the reason was my past participation not my past political act.
— Iveta Mukuchyan (@IvetaMukuchyan) October 8, 2020
Luckily they also explained that it wouldn’t even be a problem for them.
Of course it causes space for doubt when I am already finalist in the experts votings, which made me think and analyse my previous participation and made me come to that conclusion.— Iveta Mukuchyan (@IvetaMukuchyan) October 8, 2020
Mistakes happen and I appreciate the clear and transparent rules, motivation and way of working from Germany’s site.
I wish them good luck and 12 points from each country. I will always be a part of Germany and always there to support and not cause any inconvenience.— Iveta Mukuchyan (@IvetaMukuchyan) October 8, 2020
Dear Fans, I urge you to respect their rules and give full support for the next participant of Germany! 12 points go to….?????
— Iveta Mukuchyan (@IvetaMukuchyan) October 8, 2020
Germany at Eurovision 2021
Looking ahead to Rotterdam, Germany’s top brass are once again using their internal selection format, which relies on two juries. The two jury panels are the Eurovision Panel — a group of specially selected Eurovision fans whose tastes are thought to be predictive of results — and a jury of 20 international experts who have previously represented their country on a Eurovision jury.
This means they are not automatically selection their 2020 artist Ben Dolic. Automatically picking Ben for Eurovision 2021 was considered. But the country’s HoD has said that ultimately this wouldn’t have been true to the German selection method, which is all about pairing the singer and song. Their juries ultimately decide on a package, not just an individual artist.
She deals with this situation in the most humble manner – if we we look at Aly Ryan in contrast…
just go for Sasha aka dick brave
bit of big band uptempo pop pls
Let’s hope they have heard of ABBA or it could be very embarrassing
This makes me wonder what her entry would’ve been
What I find frustrating is that there were companies and people involved in the selection process that must have no or limited interest in Eurovision otherwise they would have known that Iveta has previously appeared for Armenia. It’s not as though she was an artist from a decade ago that was lost in the semi final, Iveta had a top 10 entry from the last 5 years.
I think they knew, they just somehow added her by accident.
The sort of continued with the same process (artists and songwriters working together to come up with songs) they had in 2018 for the contest after. The only change that did eventually made a difference was allowing a “wildcard entry” outside the process to take part, which was of course “Sister”.
Funny enough, that song came out from the songwriting camp for Switzerland’s own selection process. Go figure. hehehe
Imagine Luca Hänni singing Sister…
BBB Bring Ben Back!
Ben isn’t german, so he does not deserve a second chance
That rule is such a shame
well digame didn’t do their job right, i guess!
In any case, i think they should find an artist that hasn’t done ESC before, i agree with this criterion!
Good luck finding a good song/artist.
I think Ben Dolic lacked stage charisma but the song was amazing!
It was one of my faves as a song but I fear the stage show would have made it the new I Feel Alive. But we all know what happened to its nation the next year…
LOL The only way this broadcaster could have known about Iveta is through her participation in Eurovision (Iveta is not famous in Germany). So, they learned about her from Eurovision, included her in their preselection and then removed her because she had already participated in Eurovision…yeah that makes a lot of sense.
Another way they could have known about her is if one of her songs was entered into the selection contest. Which is what happened…
She had not submitted a song. In fact, she didn’t even know they were considering her until she got a call that she was shortlisted for preselection process. The German broadcaster is lying and it’s obvious.
Lying about what? What is the truth?
Could’ve also been through the Voice of Germany/X Factor pipeline when you consider how many contestants from both have competed in the German selection every year
Ben Dolic, Michael Schulte, Natia Todua, Jamie-Lee…
See that, BTRC? THAT’S how you address an artist controversy without casting blame on the artist or bringing in politics.
Well NDR is a broadcaster for a democracy, unlike BTRC….
Yeah but it seemed like someone in charge of BTRC’s PR opted to be personal rather than stick to the “formidable image of a strong institution” role usually associated with stat-controlled media.
Well I am at least happy it wasn’t about the flag incident but sad that she can’t represent Germany. Oh well….
i bet she will try to go for armenia again in 2022 because she clearly is interested in a return
True, I hope that happens. Do you know if Athena M. Is
confirmed for 2021 eurovision…
Athena is confirmed for Armenia.
Iveta would love to return and she mentioned in the past that she’d like to do it with Panik Records (Foureira’s label)
I read in June or July that that first refusal would likely be confirmed once the Kid’s contest is done (or at least out of the way), and stuff implied by the HOD when the show was cancelled, and by her in a fan Q&A on insta in June, underscore this, but it’s obviously a matter of when not if. And please can her fans be involved in some way when it is confirmed, be it Depi for her (like in 2011 or 2013), a live-streamed behind closed doors concert in Armenia, Greece or Hannover, or a poll on her… Read more »
Because why should be there that many comparisons? 😛
Because it is why the song stood out so much for me and struck me. I like that type of music with multi dimensional and dynamic singing and rapping. I saw several (fair) comparisons to Beyoncé, Cardi, Ariana and Normani (and Also note that fans of these acts I have shown Chains to like it loads), but I didn’t see too many people compare it to songs from LM5 like Joan of Arc and Wasabi. Chains is perhaps even better than those 2 songs imo, and I say that as a long running mixer.