Introduction

• Participant(s): Ben Dolic
• Song: Violent Thing
  
• Writer(s): Borislav Milanov, Peter St. James & Dag Lundberg
  
• Composer(s): Borislav Milanov, Peter St. James, Dag Lundberg, Jimmy Thorén & Connor Martin
• Broadcaster: NDR
  
• Social media:       
  
• Team review: 

The German broadcaster NDR has waited a very long time to come out with the news that there will be no national final this year. The announcement of the singer also took a while. The choice felt to Ben Dolic - the runner up of “The Voice Germany 2018”. This has caused a lot of big question marks how Germany proceeds in the Eurovision preparation. Due to the bad results in recent years, NDR wanted to go a different way. An internal choice is used successfully in other countries. The only disadvantage – the national public is not taking part in the decision. Such public decisions can also polarize and established singers can lose against newcomers.

After all the discussions if this was the right choice or not the Corona crisis has changed everything that means no Eurovision 2020. It’s still unclear if Ben Dolic will be chosen again to sing for Germany. The song “Violent Thing” has already become a hot favourite and created a lot of hopes.

Benjamin Dolić was born in Ljubljana, Slovenia in 1997. In the age of 12 he participated in a talent show, in 2016 Ben was part of the group D Base in the Slovenian national final with “Spet živ” , where the band did not reach the final. In 2018 Ben took part in “The Voice Germany 2018” and came second. With the finalists he went on tour afterwards.

The song “Violent Thing” has been co-composed by no less than Borislav Milanov, who has been successfully with various ESC songs like “If Love Was A Crime” by Poli Genova (Bulgaria 2016, 4th place), “Beautiful Mess” by Kristian Kostow (Bulgaria 2017, 2nd place), “Nobody But You” by Cesar Sampson (Austria 2018, 3rd place) and “Truth” by Chingiz (Azerbaijan 2019, 8th place) and many more. This year Borislav was also involved in the song from Bulgaria and Malta.

With this modern pop tune, Germany would have hit the spirit of time. It’s a love song in a modern way. In the video clip you can see how much Ben is in love with a girl, where he would have had no chance. Judging by the elegant and high voice of Ben this would have done very well in Rotterdam. But we will never know how he would have performed this entry live on the ESC stage, a choreography has been evolved for him. Maybe Ben has another chance in 2021 to represent Germany at the ESC.

History

• Debut: 1956
• Participations: 65
• Victories: 2
• Finals: 65
• Top 10: 37
• Chances for Top 10: 57%

Germany would have celebrated its 65th anniversary this year, unfortunately, there is nothing to celebrate this year due to the Corona crisis and the ESC in Rotterdam has been cancelled wisely. 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, especially in the 1970’s and 1980’s. But in 1982 a young girl named Nicole could capture the European hearts by a storm 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”. Lena receive almost all high votes from all over Europe. This song went number one in many European countries right after the 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 Nicole and Lena 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. He kept up the Eurovision spirit over decades with all his engagement.

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 the year 2011 Germany had the honour to host the Eurovision Song Contest for a second time after 28 years. The Germans showed how much they can love and celebrate the ESC.
Furthermore the Germans were keen to show their latest stage technology. 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. Unfortunately, the stroke of luck passed by. In the past years the German songs did not shape up very well with one exception in 2018, when Michael Schulte could achieve a great 4th place with “You Let Me Walk Alone” in Lisbon. All the other German entries since 2013 were found at the bottom of the scoreboard.

Biggest successes

• 2x 1st place
  “Ein Bißchen Frieden” |Nicole (Harrogate 1982)
  “Satellite” |Lena” (Oslo 2010)

• 6x 2nd place
  “Im Wartesaal Zum Großen Glück” | Walter Andreas Schwarz (Lugano 1956)
  “So Geht Das Jede Nacht” |Freddy Quinn (Lugano 1956)
  ”Theater” |Katja Ebstein (The Hague 1980)
  “Johnny Blue” |Lena Valaitis (Dublin 1981)
  “Für Alle” |Wind (Gothenburg 1985)
  “Laß Die Sonne In Dein Herz” |Wind (Brussels 1987)

• 5x 3rd place
  “Wunder Gibt Es Immer Wieder” |Katja Ebstein (Amsterdam 1970)
  “Diese Welt” | Katja Ebstein (Dublin 1971)
  “Nur Die Liebe Läßt Uns Leben” |Mary Roos (Edinburgh 1972)
  “Wir Geben 'ne Party” | MeKaDo (Dublin 1994)
  “Reise Nach Jerusalem - Kudüs'e Seyahat” |Sürpriz (Jerusalem 1999)

Video Nostalgia

• “Paradies, Wo Bist Du?” | Ulla Wiesner
  Rank 15, Naples 1965
  
  
• “Telegram” | Silver Convention
  Rank 8, London 1977
  
  
• “Über Die Brücke Geh'n” | Ingrid Peters
  Rank 8, Bergen 1986