In August he attended a Eurovision 2021 songwriting camp alongside “Violent Thing” songwriter Borislav Milanov, having earlier expressed an interest in singing at Eurovision next May. But on November 16 Ben Dolic announced that he’s decided not to participate at Eurovision. Stressing that he made the decision, it seems he has withdrawn from the process voluntarily, rather than losing the selection process to another artist. Writing on Instagram, the Slovenian-born star said:
Hey everyone!
I have enjoyed every moment of the Eurovision journey and appreciate everyone who believed in me and has been there every step of the way! This will truly be a chapter in my life that I will always cherish and look back at!
My career has taken a different direction! I have grown so much as an artist and there is still so much more that I want to achieve.
I have decided not to participate at the Eurovision next year! It has been a hard and a difficult decision to make, but the right one at this moment in time.
Thank you all for being with me on this beautiful ride and giving me your love and support!
And to the one who will be chosen to represent Germany in Rotterdam 2021! I wish you all well from the bottom of my heart! Enjoy the journey!
Ben Dolic will not sing at Eurovision 2021 for Germany
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In July, Germany’s Head of Delegation Alexandra Wolfslast made it clear that Ben, who was chosen for Eurovision 2020, would not be automatically invited back for Eurovision 2021.
“We discussed it really intensively,” she said. “But Ben was not only chosen by the jury because he is an outstanding singer. The jury was won over by the combination of song and singer. We agreed that Ben could also be included in the selection process for 2021 with a new song.”
One factor in all this was the fact the EBU won’t allow artists to re-use their songs from 2020 in 2021. Christian Blenker — ARD’s Eurovision boss at the time — told the German web site ESC-Kompakt that this encouraged them to “start another selection process with two independent juries for the coming year.”
“Ben and Boris want to submit a new song together. We are very happy about that. Because it should be clear to everyone that the two compete to win. But we also want to give new artists a chance to compete for Germany at ESC 2021.”
Are you sad that Ben has pulled out? What do you think underlies the decision? Let us know in the comments box below!
I hope they send Giant rooks or Nico Santos for 2021
Maybe it’s Helene Fischer’s turn now 😉
i believe since the german internal selection went so well in picking a good artist and a good song this year, we gotta be optimistic about who the german broadcaster will pick and what they’ll do with them.
So, I can go and start again advocating for Tom Beck.
I honestly liked the song and thought the song was a contender, but I think he realised his vocals weren’t strong enough in comparison to the majority of the other competing artists, so he eliminated himself from the competition.
I know that sounds awful, but I didnt think any of his live performances did anything for the song.
Hopefully Germany can come back with another storming song but a stronger vocalist
A good one can be Nico Santos
It’s unfortunate to see, but even without competing at Eurovision he has, like all other artists who aren’t going to Rotterdam, still gained so much and has opened so many doors for his career so all the best to him!
Best wishes to Ben, who reminds me of a younger me. Sad that a second song didn’t work out. I wonder what Germany will go for next…
I also wonder if some acts might rather wait for another year, knowing how popular Dadi is, and how hyped Iceland will be leading into 2021.
I agree with what seems like a common sentiment here — it makes sense for him to hold off until covid has cleared and he can return without the hype of Violent Thing. If he has time to wait for another Eurovision entry to feel right for him, then that’s worth waiting for!
Terrible live singer
I think Ben will sing for Slovenia one day. He already competed in EMA twice, I think he’ll be back in 2022.
At least he could withdraw on his own terms, rather than being unceremoniously dumped like Sandro and Tom- although given that Germany actually had a competitive song, Ben probably deserved a more dignified exit!
I wasn’t a fan of his song and he didn’t really represent german music industry in any way so maybe this is better this way, perhaps Sandro could participate for Germany?
Sandro wasn’t good as well, and his song was meh (I wish the German broadcaster would’ve been less concerned about artists past and would’ve picked Iveta, I still think that she should’ve won back in 2016 and since then I’m parying to see her coming back).
Iveta’s song in 2016 was very overrated, I still don’t like it at all
I am sad, but let’s be honest- there was a huge gap between the studio version and the live version. It would have been another “glorious” disappointment. I have a feeling the HoD sensed that and pushed him into a voluntary withdrawal. Just a guess.
We never saw what would have been the actual final performance, so that’s a bit unfair – I think it would have been much improved, and not like the one we saw at all. I also highly doubt the HoD would ever do that, especially based on so little.
Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, all cold countries with cold hearted tv execs.
Seems Iceland the only northern country to invite their previous entrant back and that likely because he will be fave to win.
Cold hearted? The winners of UMK, MGP, DMGP & Melodifestivalen gave their 2020 acts the possibility to participate if they want to do it
They all won in 2020 with a song they can’t use in 2021, if they can bring another good song for the year to come they’re all able to win the ticket to represent their own country once again.
All good, some want to try again and some don’t. Don’t spread negativity in these times when we all could use some positivity!
With a rehash of the same song which is what worries me about these returnees.
Coldhearted? First of we dont own then anything. Secondly some of them chose not to compete. We cant force them. As much as you want it to ESC 2021 wont be a re- hash of ESC 2020. Stop being a negative Nelly and be happy that you will have selections despite everyhing
This news… such a violent thing…
We cant expect every 2020 act to hang on to ESC like its for dear life. They do have bigger plans..
I liked the song. It would have reached top 15 very easily and do better than most German entries. At the same time I know Germany has many talented artists who could do just as well if not better. Who knows, maybe they find an even better song?
I hope he makes it one day, with an equally good B-OK song. I’ll wait.
So Germany, France, Cyprus and North Macedonia (not 100% sure though about that) are not reselecting their 2020 internally chosen act. It remains to find out what happens with Armenia, Poland, Serbia, Ireland and Russia. And whether Belarus will host a national final or not (but VAL won’t be back, that’s for sure). And UK of course! We will have a shortage of national finals this year, since many countries have reselected their 2020 act. Some countries though will host a national selection for their song, having already chosen internally their act, like Israel, Romania or Latvia. If I am… Read more »
*8, not 7
Whilst his song wasn’t fancied, I would expect Vasil to represent NM at some point (not necessarily 2021, but that would be perfectly reasonable) because they bought back Kalliopi twice (though the first was 16 years down the line), and also Karolina and Tamara, and Kalliopi failing to qualify without anyone outside her country and its neighbours hearing her song can count as a precedent to ESC being cancelled.
Latvia won’t hold a national final for Samanta Tina and also Roxen (or TVR not sure) said she’d rather have the song to be picked internally.
and also Vasil has posted a pic with Borislav Milanov on his ig story..
That’s interesting!
I didn’t know that, I thought that they would follow their 2020 pattern (talking about Romania). And I thought that Latvia was about to do the same. So, that means that only Israel will have a kind of national selection for their song (similar to their 2020 but with some differences). I don’t care if they choose the song internally or not, I only hope that we will get really good songs in 2021, however if neither Latvia, nor Romania are about to host a national selection for their 2021 songs, then this means that there will be few televised… Read more »
But the Roop haven’t confirmed that they will definately participate in 2021.
I think N. Macedonia will send same artist, same with Russia, Serbia, Poland, Armenia or Ireland or UK
If Sergey, Dima, Yulia and Tolmachevy sisters twice represented Russia, why Little Big not ?
Poland hosted JESC 2x so Idont think they will send new artist
Armenia may withdraw actually …
Ireland – she said she is 70%in 2021
The war in Armenia was over last week so they won’t withdraw. Poland will most likely send Alicja because she said she wants to comeback and also TVP wants her to comeback. I have a feeling the UK won’t send James again but maybe I’m wrong…
I have the same feeling about Newman and I don’t know why, but BBC’s silence so far is not encouraging regarding his chances I believe.
As for Alicja, I really hope that TVP will reselect her, I was one of the few that lied her song.
*liked her song
To be clear, I never said that I don’t want these singers back, I just said what I’ve read about them, and of course it’s not an undeniable truth. If Little Big are to represent Russia again, I really hope that we will get a song like Hypnodancer, not something like Uno. As for Armenia, as things stand now, I don’t think that they will withdraw, but I really don’t know if they’ll keep Athena Manoukian as their representative, however I can’t see a reason as to why they wouldn’t keep her as well. About Ireland, if Roy is to… Read more »
In Belarus case:They sent a russian to JESC because there is NO WAY any Belarussian artist will ever compete for Belarus right now. Its a Hitler regime right now.
Arina is from Mogilev, BELARUS
So, I guess that they won’t go for a national selection, so that means fewer televised national finals as I’ve said before. 8 so far, 9 if we add the selection of Israel
There will also be Slovenia’s EMA selection. Ana Soklic will compete alone with different songs, like Roxen did.
not true, that may happen, but it’s not for sure, rtvslo said that they may hold it or not – depends on the quality of songs and the pandemic.
Don’t think Latvia will hold Supernova.
From what I heard on Samanta’s instagram story, they have already selected the best song from the 11 they wrote (demo, the song is not fully finished yet)
I thought that they were about to do what Israel 2020 and Romania 2020 did, but it seems that this won’t be the case. As I’ve said before the important thing is that we get really good songs in 2021, but this will be one of the years to remember in terms of getting really few televised national finals.
ben should participate in EMA with a maraaya song!!
I would like that. Here For You is my fave song sent by Slovenia.
he may tbh
Let”s hope that Johannes Oerding or Claudia Emmanuela Santoso represent Germany in Eurovision 2021!
I liked that song, it is the sort I wish my native UK would send, and it would have made a good show opener. I also have it in my top 10 and think it would have been top 15. I’m sure he’ll get his chance some day for Germany or Slovenia (who have only really impressed me in 2008 and 2015, and moderately in some other years) and I wish him all the best. However, I do feel that it risked ending up like Space and I Feel Alive in 2017, even though having these vibes as a song… Read more »
I wouldn’t really compare Violent Thing with Space. It might just be me, but I find Space very tacky and less memorable than a ”guilty pleasure” should be. Easily my last place in 2017 (even if Lithuania really gave it a run for it’s money).
Germany would’ve likely placed somewhere between 6th and 15th place in the contest, which is by a ”Big Five (minus Italy) standard” fairly solid.
I personally liked Space’s vibes, and that it was more funky and soulful than I expected, but Epic Sax Guy did it way, way better just 6 songs later, hence, sad as it was to say this, Montenegro deserved not to qualify.
I think he had a decent chance of topping the jury vote, which would have maybe given him at least a top 3 finish. We’ll never know…sad.
Yes, I think that is very likely. It was my favourite 2020 track by a long way. Ben was one of the returnees I had looked forward to seeing back, but, respect. One or two others could take a leaf from his book.
In 1972, when Mary Roos came third in the contest.
Fun fact: When it comes to opening the show, it’s the Netherlands that hold the record, with 6 times (including the very first contest), while Italy were the last country to perform on 7 occasions. Coincidentally, the only time Germany closed the show was in 1982, when they won.
Thanks. I asked because, in the running order I created for this year’s would be final, I gave Germany the first slot (and gave the last slot to real-life would-have-been heat 2 opener Greece, whilst I had 8 male soloists in the first half and 9 upbeat songs, of which only Lithuania did not have a female vocalist or co-vocalist, in the second half).
As much as I wished the artists of 2020 to return, this is probably one that I feel the least strongly about. I definitely would prefer Germany to pick something that involves a bit more actual “German” input in terms of songwriting or performer.
Good luck to Ben in what he chooses to do next though.
After that dreadful live performance he gave , I actually think it is a good idea….
The entry was my top 3. It is a good move to keep his dignity.
🙁
Well, that is bad for Germany ….he is a really awesome artist.
Too bad. His song actually grew on me. It’s charming for the disparity of kinda raunchy lyrics and his innocent demeanor. I hope this was indeed his decision (it seems so). Good luck in your other endeavors, Ben! 🙂
Now I just hope that Germany manages to find an equally charismatic performer with the song at least as interesting.
Pity. Germany and Switzerland was best for me. The winner would be Lithuania, Russia or Iceland, but these two guys would be very high too. It was great song from Germany after many years.
Agree with you 100 %. I think Germany had a really good chance to get in the Top 10 in ESC 2020.