They used to be Rockstars at Eurovision. But Germany’s glory days have passed and they have struggled to even make it out of the bottom three of late. After placing last with Malik Harris this year in Turin, a new method of selecting the country’s entry is coming.
Well it seems that German broadcasters NDR/ARD will use a new kind of national selection for 2023. German Eurovision blog ESC Kompakt reports there will be a live televised selection show in February 2023 with at least eight songs to choose from. The maximum number of songs will be 12. This year’s national selection Germany 12 points included only six songs, and most of them received heavy criticism for being unfit for Eurovision.
Even if nothing has been confirmed officially, we assume that the manner of picking the artists for the German final will be done differently this time. The broadcaster needs this change because it both needs and wants to boost enthusiasm among fans, according to German Eurovision expert Irving Wolter. Dr Wolter, who works for NDR, said something interesting in his most recent livestream:
“The team which will be responsible for the selection process will contain some expert-knowledge with selected fans. So this time there will be people involved who can actually give their heart and their passion to the selection. That’s all I can say at the moment. […] It will definitely be a show closer to fans’ hearts. Especially compared to last year’s edition.”
Unser Lied für Liverpool? ???????
— byJannik ? (@byJannik) October 8, 2022
Dr. Eurovision Irving Wolter (@Dr_Eurovision) ließ in seinem "ESC-Katerfrühstück" Livestream heute morgen bereits ein wenig zum deutschen Vorentscheid 2023 ?? durchsickern: pic.twitter.com/PyuiGVakYC
Wolter later added that the radio stations, which were involved in 2022, will probably remain part of the selection. This may come as a big surprise, because that’s the aspect that got the most criticism from fans last time. Even popular German media outlets have said that the broadcaster’s treatment of Eurovision is ridiculous, since the contest doesn’t work the same way as choosing songs for the radio. Previously ARD/NDR didn’t agree with that — it said a Eurovision song has to be “radio friendly.” But there’s still hope that things will change in 2023.
“Hope never dies – I’m convinced the team at NDR really wants to change something and wants to be more successful. That’s really my impression from the people I talked to. Involving radio stations is still a topic, but I think it’s right to involve radio stations. Just maybe in a whole different way. […] We should not forget that the German entry this year was really successful commercially. And my impression is that Malik Harris is still very busy – even now after Eurovision – because it worked.“
Of course this is an opinion which polarizes many: being successful in your home country and being played by radio stations – even after the contest – is NOT what Eurovision is about. Some fans, however, have started thinking this method could also motivate some acts to apply, because the fear of losing isn’t as big anymore. Malik proves that even after coming last in the competition, your career doesn’t have to end. However, it seems like the radio stations will actually play a different role in 2023 for the German selection.
In 2022 there was a huge media backlash for the broadcaster, not only for using a radio voting, but also after they didn’t include fan favorites Electric Callboy in the final. It was later announced that the band made it to the Top 25, but the jury eliminated them in favor of more radio-friendly songs. That’s the point fans were the most stunned about: it felt like the most powerful people at NDR and ARD, who were part of the internal jury, didn’t really know what the contest was all about.
In the meantime, Electric Callboy made it very clear that they don’t want to try it again next year. According to ESC Kompakt the boys have no plans of returning to the German national final. In various interviews they’ve spoken very openly about their experience in 2022 and said that they think it’s sad how the broadcaster does everything behind closed doors. They didn’t even tell the band why they eliminated them.
The band also found it strange that a petition asking for a wildcard spot didn’t sway NDR. Instead the team at NDR deleted negative comments on YouTube, according to Electric Callboy. The broadcaster even contacted them, asking if they could tell their fans to stop commenting.
We hope the broadcaster has learned their lesson. We expect official news about the application for interested acts very soon. It has already been revealed that commentator and radio host Peter Urban will once again be back to comment on the show live from Liverpool next May.
Who do you want to see representing Germany at Eurovision 2023? Do you think a Eurovision song needs to be radio-friendly? Let us know in the comments below.
I am actually trying to apply to represent Germany- I contacted NDR a few months ago – no response :’D but I’m still trying
I wish we could send a more known artist to eurovision. Someone who is experienced and had a lot of success in Germany. But well known artists in Germany and ESC doesnt fit together. Its more something for newcomers like Malik Harris, Michael Schulte, JamieLeeK. etc. Hope that changes soon and somebody comes out from the dark to shine in the spotlight from the ESC.
Send Rammstein and u will be in top 3. Thats all.
A big name doesn’t always guarantee a great result. The Rasmus are a big name but they only finished 21st, and do I even need to mention the poor results of englebert Humperdinck and Bonnie Tyler?
I agree that a big name doesn’t guarantee a great result. Perhaps a long-time NQs like Latvia, Croatia or Georgia should consider such method as The Rasmus did qualify after all, but for an automatic qualifier like Germany, aims should be higher. Funnily enough, Bonnie’s 19th result would still be Germany’s second best result since 2014. All that said, Rammstein would (if they would ever accept such offer) likely eclipse the results of aforementioned artists. They have an international success spanning decades, and aren’t in and out of focus. I’ve been to their concert in Vienna and they’ve performed at… Read more »
Send literally anyone who can sing… but with a -good- song. thats all
I don’t really like German music scene with all those hip hop songs, so they should stick up to radiofriendly pop songs. Satellite for radiofriendly pop song and it won. There is no receipt for doing well, you just need good song. We can just hope we get some gem there.
Who would have thought this time last year we would be contemplating Unser Lied fuer Liverpool!
Eskimo Callboy, Germany 2023 ? I Hope !
Rockstars was amazing!!!! It was just overshadowed by Holland and Ukraine 🙁
Wow so many dislikes haha, i still prefer Rockstars over – Elaiza, 2009 song, Sisters, 2021 song, Levina, 2016 song or Ann Sophie…
By “Holland”?
It wasn’t that long ago (only 4.5 years) when Germany finished 4th, and very much deservingly so. So, it’s not like they can’t make an impact. But, considering that from 2015 to 2022, YLMWA is the ONLY German entry that even approached a good result (others were all in bottom 3, if I’m not mistaken), it still might be that NDR and Germany are generally unable to detect an impactful entry. Whatever you personally think about Black Smoke, Ghost, Perfect Life, S!ster, I Don’t Feel Hate or Rockstars, they all heavily tanked result-wise. And unlike France this year, it’s not… Read more »
Yet they did get it right with Ben Dolic in 2020 which would more likely have been top 3 than bottom, so someone is not entirely clueless. And there were worse songs than those you mention above which for some reason fared better.
Would it? Seeing his live performance on German tv, I sadly think Ben would have completely tanked as well. Not because of the song which is great… but because of the sub standard performance.
They wanna finish last again so badly. Masochistic tendencies?
Songs can be radio-friendly and still do well at Eurovision. Take SPACE MAN as an example.
Perhaps so, but songs like that leave a lasting impression. Songs like Is It Right, Ghost, Perfect Life, Sister and Rockstars really… really don’t. People forget those songs the second they’re over.
Look at the German charts at the moment, the majority of songs charting are R&B, rap, hip-hop and house and they’re mostly ALL by German artists.
Why doesn’t Germany stick to what it’s good at and go down that route instead of their usual garbage? I’m sure the German broadcaster has enough funds to encourage young German talent to join their NF. At the end of the day, the quality of a NF depends on the broadcaster.
Because the radio stations care about streams from the “youth” and nothing more. Thats what someone from the radio stations said in the beginning of September. They have no idea what the youth wants. Lol
I’m sorry, but German hip hop is sh*t
German hip-hop is amazing and just as good as French and British hip-hop.
Listen to ‘Bist du down?’ by ACE TEE and ‘Alles Halal’ by Elif, they’re some of my favourites.
I disagree. I mean, yeah, there’s a lot of garbage in the scene but there’s a lot of great acts with great proposals too!
Reports also suggest another last or near last finish.
Obviously we still have to hear what will feature in the national final, but the fact that they’re not changing much about a highly controversial selection method that led to a last place doesn’t bode well for Germany’s chances in Liverpool.
Germany is literally the ONLY country left of the big 5 who needs a wake-up call. All the other 4 got great results in 2021 and ’22 but I feel like Germany (NDR rather) intentionally doesn’t want to do well. I know Germany can send some really nice songs, so it’s a huge shame to see the German delegation completely unwilling to change a flawed methodology.
We had a good format in 2018 and 2019. In 2018 it worked out really well with the fourth place and it only failed once. But the issue wasn’t the format. I think we all agree that Makeda or Lilly would have done (way) better than S!sters. But to stop a format after just ONE fail isn’t the right decision. We also saw in 2020 that the two juries were good (the selection in 2021 was also better, they just went with a bad one). So in my opinion Germany should stick to what we’ve done in 2018 and 19.… Read more »
Completely agree with you and I wonder that if they’re unwilling to fare well being able to, why do they still bother to take part of the contest at all? Makes no sense
As a German Eurofan I really have to admit, NDR is just a mess. I even speculated that they’ll organize a national final again.. you know why? This year they were able to shift all the criticism to the fans. „Bad result? Your fault because you voted for this in the national selection“ Okay right, but every song was not fitting? We had no other chance? But NDR was able to reject all the criticism,.. in contrast to 2021.. so sure they’ll using this method again.. ARRGHHH I‘m just so sick of being a Eurovision fan in Germany, our broadcaster… Read more »
Have you heard of a broadcaster called RTE?
Of course, I’d like to know how all those “radio-friendly” acts are doing now because Electric Callboy’s album was the #1 album in Germany upon release and charted top ten in Austria, Switzerland and Belgium. 😉
NDR are just the worst. Not only do they not know what they’re doing but when fans, who actually care about the contest, take the time to tell them, they still ignore it.
malik was very underrated though
Unlike a dull effort from a neighbouring country which only the juries seemed to like. At least I remember Rockstars.
They’re acting like they’re in a loop, unable to do things different from last time.
So you could say they’re going in circles. ??
The two “??”s were supposed to be the north Macedonia flag by the way. Emojis really don’t go through on the comments sections do they?
you don’t wanna test the comment section’s limits
You’ll give it all but it won’t listen
Sadly N Macedonia’ limits has finished and they are out 🙁
Idk, this doesn’t look encouraging. Germany has a great scene and they could come up with something great in German, but it feels like Germany is sabotaging its chances itself
C’mon Germany you can do it!
Maybe they should change the method. Idk , they could consider some promising artists and offer them to prepare songs then choose one. Ovbiously their national final doesn’t work , also the internal selection (when song submitters perform their song to a jury group) doesn’t work either. They should call and invite some promising artists just like Belgium does for 2023 selection. It’s just an option and worth to try me thinks
NDR/ARD has literally been in contact with labels for promising new artists that fit into radio charts rather than a cruise ship show. You’re asking for what they’re already doing, while complaining about it?
Y
Watch Germany not learn. It’s rinse and repeat. They’re all going to be pretentious, hipstery-type American wannabe acts in English.
Yeah, it’s frustrating. I’m not gonna have my expectations high from Germany if they do go for a national final. I’ll be surprised if they actually have a good selection of choices for 2023.
If France, Spain, and The United Kingdom were able to turn it around recently, then There is no excuse for Germany To continually fail year after year. They need a major shot to the arm to get them out of the 25th Place slump. They can do it if they really put their minds to it (2018’s 4th place Is proof of that effort).