Germany 2019
Introduction
- Participant(s): S!sters
- Song: "Sister"
- Writer(s): Laurell Barker, Tom Oehler, Marine Kaltenbacher, Thomas Stengaard
- Composer(s): Laurell Barker, Tom Oehler, Marine Kaltenbacher, Thomas Stengaard
- Broadcaster: NDR
- Social media:
- Team review:
Inspired by the overwhelming result of the 4th place of Michael Schulte in Lisbon, Germany has put a lot of effort in the national final. Another top placing is the big wish of the broadcaster NDR. A lavish selection process, which started last summer has been created to find the best candidates for this show. A song writing camp has been initiated and various composers and singers have been creative. At the end there were six candidates in the national final plus an additional entry which has not been going through this selection process. This was also the winning entry “Sister” by the assembled duo of Laura Kästel (26) and Carlotta Truman (19). And that caused a lot of bad critics, as they joined last minute and kicked out all the others. This entry received the most votes from the televotes. The international juries were more sceptic and Sisters were barely gaining the hightest votes. Unlike the expert jury who has chosen the candidates in advance had another favourite Aly Ryan with “Wear Your Love”.
It came out that the German song “Sister” has been already submitted for the Swiss song writing camp a year ago, but has not been chosen for the live show. Hence this song has become the German song now.
Laura Kästel, also known as Laurita Spinelli, was born in 1992 in Königsau, close to Bad Kreuznach. She is of half Philippine heritage. In 2002 she took part in the Kiddy contest with “Ich will in die Disco gehn” a cover of Alcazar’s “Crying in the discotheque”. Laura has become a background singer for Lena Meyer-Landruth and Sarah Connor.
Carlotta Truman was born in Hanover, 1999. She started singing in the age of eight and joined a children’s choir. In 2009 she reached the final of “Das Supertalent”, 2014 in The Voice Kids. In 2010 she recorder her first video “All In The Game” and appeared as a Lena double in 2011.
The German song “Sister” is a really dramatic song, full of energy. Both singers Laurita and Carlotta sing very well and there is a certain harmony in that song. During the national final’s performance they could convince with their good voices, they probably had the best sound and lightning at that night. The chorus is quite catch but the tremendously put-on climax could also appear a bit too exaggerated.
History
- Debut: 1956
- Participations: 64
- Victories: 2
- Finals: 63
- Top 10: 36
- Chances for Top 10: 59%
Germany is participating for the 64th time in the Eurovision Song Contest hence Germany took part every year since 1956, beside of one forced break in 1996 as there has been an international pre-selection and Leon’s “Planet Of Blue” has failed. Germany is one of the founding members of the ESC. In 1956 there were two entries per country allowed, Germany had “Im Wartesaal Zum Grossen Glück” by Walter Andreas Schwarz (2nd) and “So Geht Das Jede Nacht” by Freddy Quinn (also 2nd). In that year there was only one winner and all other participants came 2nd.
Germany was often very close to victory, with six second places it was very successful even though. But in 1982 a young girl named Nicole could capture the European hearts with a little song of peace in rough political times called “Ein bisschen Frieden”. For a long time this was the only German winning entry, until another young cheeky girl named Lena could win with her unpretentious “Satellite” almost all high votes all over Europe. This song went number one in many European countries right after ESC. A great success after many attempts of German composers and songwriters – and particular Ralph Siegel - to bring the trophy back to Germany. Both singers are still successful in the music industry.
Germany belongs to the Big 5 countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and United Kingdom) – the biggest financiers of the EBU – so therefore these countries get a granted place in the Grand Finals and they don’t have to qualify anymore like the other countries.
One of the most successful German composers is Ralph Siegel. This guy has written a great amount of the German entries. He also wrote songs for Luxembourg, Montenegro and San Marino.
The general interest in the contest changes from year to year, especially after Guildo Horn’s “Guildo hat Euch lieb” (7th ) in 1998 the Eurovision-fever has overwhelmed the entire country. Thanks to the popular German TV celebrity Stefan Raab, who even took part himself with “Wadde Hadde Dudde Da” in Stockholm 2000, and came 5th.
In 2011, Germany could show the rest of the world the latest stage technology and especially how the Germans can celebrate at the 56th ESC in Düsseldorf. The contest was a big success for the city of Düsseldorf for the ESC and last but not least - the positive image of Germany as a Eurovision-enthusiastic-country. In the past years the German songs did not shape up very well with one exception. Especially since 2013, Germany could only be found at the bottom of the scoreboard, even two times last place in 2015 and 2016. But last year Michael Schulte could achieve another top position with “You Let Me Walk Alone” #4 in Lisbon.
Biggest successes
2x 1st place
- Nicole | "Ein Bißchen Frieden" (1982)
- Lena | "Satellite" (2010)
6x 2nd place
- Walter Andreas Schwarz | "Im Wartesaal Zum Großen Glück" (1956)
- Freddy Quinn | "So Geht Das Jede Nacht" (1956)
- Katja Ebstein | "Theater" (1980)
- Lena Valaitis | "Johnny Blue" (1981)
- Wind | "Für Alle" (1985)
- Wind | "Laß Die Sonne In Dein Herz" (1987)
5x 3rd place
- Katja Ebstein | "Wunder Gibt Es Immer Wieder" (1970)
- Katja Ebstein | "Diese Welt" (1971)
- Mary Roos | "Nur Die Liebe Läßt Uns Leben" (1972)
- MeKaDo | "Wir Geben 'ne Party" (1994)
- Sürpriz | "Reise Nach Jerusalem - Kudüs'e Seyahat" (1999)
- “Reise Nach Jerusalem - Kudüs'e Seyahat” | Sürpriz, Rank 3, Jerusalem 1999
- “I Can't Live Without Music” | Corinna May, Rank 21, Tallinn 2002
- “Taken By A Stranger” | Lena, Rank 10, Düsseldorf 2011
