Earlier this year, Germany finally managed to avoid the bottom of the scoreboard, reminding the nation, that it is indeed possible to still impress European voters and juries. However, for 2025, the Germans will seek the help from the one and only Stefan Raab, who has quite the impressive reputation when it comes to the contest.
Chefsache ESC 2025 – Wer singt für Deutschland?
In order to understand this approach, we need to look at the guy who has been given this responsibility, Stefan Raab, and what he has achieved for Germany in the contest.
Who is Stefan Raab?
The now 58-year old man, is a German entertainer, comedian, television host and now businessman. Starting out on the German TV music channel “VIVA“, where he hosted his own comedy show in the 90’s, before eventually working at private German TV channel “ProSieben“, where he hosted his own late night show.
It didn’t take long, before he eventually got involved with the Eurovision Song Contest, when he composed the song for their 1998 entry “Guildo hat euch lieb!” performed by Guildo Horn, which finished 7th at the 1998 contest.
Only two years later, in 2000, he would not only compose the song once again, but perform it as well. Stefan Raab went on to perform the song “Wadde Hadde Dudde Da?” in Stockholm, which finished on 5th place.
They say third time is the charm, so in 2004, he discovered and mentored Max Mutzke, whom he composed the song “Can’t Wait Until Tonight” for. This resulted in an 8th place finish in Istanbul.
It would take a few years before he got involved with the contest once again, so instead, he created the Bundesvision Song Contest which lasted from 2005 and until 2015. Following a similar format to the Eurovision Song Contest, but just for the German states only.
Eventually, his involvement with the actual contest returned in 2010, where he initiated a new national final format, which led to the “Unser Star/Song für…” series, which lasted about a decade.
This new format proved to be the winning formula, since it led to the discovery of Lena Meyer-Landrut, who won the entire contest in Oslo, in 2010, with the song “Satellite“. Lena would then go on to do what no winner had ever done, and that was to try a defend her winning title, by performing “Taken By a Stranger“. In the end, the song ended up finishing 10th in the final.
Important to point out, would be the fact, that Stefan Raab was even one of the three hosts of the 2011 contest, when it was held in Düsseldorf.
With 5 involvements under his belt, and with all of them being top 10 results, as well as a victory, it is no wonder to think that Stefan Raab can’t come up with a new unique way, of achieving success.
In 2015, he announced his retirement from hosting, and since 2018, he’s more focused on producing behind the camera’s instead. This changed earlier this year, when he returned.
Germany 2025 – What do we know?
For now, the application window is open, and it will last until November 28th 2024 (23:59 – local time).
The new format will consist of a total of four shows, with the final already set to take place on the 1st of March 2025 in the town of Hürth, which is located right outside of the city of Köln/Cologne.
When the other three shows will be aired is still unknown, but the first three shows will be aired and produced by RTL Deutschland, which is currently Stefan Raab‘s workplace, hence to cooperation. Which also explain why the final is already set, since that will be aired by NDR. All four shows will however, be hosted by Barbara Schöneberger.
A total of 24 acts will have to impress the juries in order to advance to the final, since the first three shows, will all be decided by the jury alone, and of course, Stefan Raab will be one of the jurors. On the other hand, the final will be solely decided by televote, with no jury involvement.
The 2024 contest, saw Isaak represent Germany with the song “Always On the Run“. Here Germany finally managed to impress by not only gaining more points than usual, but even landing right outside the top 10, overall finishing 12th with 117 points combined, from both the jury and the public.
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Source(s): Eurovision.de (In German)
