Introduction

• Participant(s): Jendrik
• Song: I Don't Feel Hate
  
• Writer(s): Jendrik Sigwart, Christoph Oswald
  
• Composer(s): Jendrik Sigwart, Christoph Oswald
• Broadcaster: NDR
  
• Social media:     
  
• Team review: 

This year the German broadcaster NDR has made another internal choice. Unfortunately, Ben Dolic could not go to Rotterdam last year and he was not able to participate this year neither. Therefore the NDR had to find another act. With the help of song writing camps and various juries, the choice felt to Jendrik Sigwart, a 26-years-old musical singer.

The video-clip of Jendrik has been presented just before the main TV news magazine “Tagesschau”. It was even mentioned in these news, that Germany has found its Eurovision song and singer. But a presentation show or something like that was missing.

Jendrik was born in Hamburg and studied vocal pedagogy. He became a musical singer, who was singing in “My Fair Lady”, “Hairspray” and “Peter Pan” already. Jendrik had the idea for this song a year ago. He always dreamed to perform at the Eurovision Song Contest. With a big surprise he was told that he is going to be the German singer for Rotterdam 2021. His self-made video-clip has generated a lot of interest. Everything, aroused from Jendrik’s ideas, the washing machines, the story and the jokes. When the entire video was ready, he has submitted his video accordingly.

The song has a strong message, hate is never the solution. “Wash Your Worries Away” can be also seen in the video-clip. It’s a song against prejudices, discrimination, homophobia and racism. If people come to you with hate, just smile and ease the situation.

The art of music takes getting used to it. The Ukulele plays a main role in his song and there is a rock interlude, step-dance, rhythm changes and whistling, a bit of everything in 3 minutes. It’s a happy song, unusual and catchy. Judging by the first reactions, when the song came out, it polarizes a lot. The song will either be loved or hated. With this positive message and attitude he will definitely gain a lot of fans, it all depends, how many people will vote for him.

History

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

For Germany it’s the 65th anniversary in participating at the Eurovision Song Contest. This could also have been last year, but the ESC was cancelled. 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 in the Esprit Arena 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. Unfortunately, the stroke of luck passed by. In the past years the German ESC 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

• “Ein Lied Kann Eine Brücke Sein” | Joy Fleming
  17th place, Stockholm 1975
  
• “Flieger” | Nino de Angelo
  14th place, Lausanne 1989
  
• “Wer Liebe Lebt” | Michelle
  8th place, Copenhagen 2001