Germany GERMANY 2023 - Lord of the Lost - Blood and Glitter

[ESC United Mod Team]

 

[Bmbriga]

Croatia withdraw and it brought absolutely nothing good.
This idea that you would just withdraw and then rise like phoenix after few years is just ridiculous.

 

[SpiritofKeiino]

Deutschland remains one of my favourite countries in Europe to visit, I'm rooting for you to win again.

 

[Franzilein]

True. It's the same kind of problem we have in so many branches and its so frustrating to see. In arts, culture, economics, politics...there's always big room for improvement but someone the people that constantly f*ck it up are staying in power because they're protected by the system and will do nothing to make room for younger, more visionary people that are able to take responsbilities. Instead, the average-Karens that are just opportunists can grow and spread their averageness everywhere. Thats what Schreiber is to me and all the radio people that decide upon the selection that is filled with Will Churchs, Rene Millers, Anica Russos etc. who are NOT the promising talents that Germany has to offer. But they're fitting the most with this very narrow minded idea of the german mindset of promoting the averageness.
I will not say that private institutions are the only solutions but when you could see how Netflix could make a phenomenal Dark with exclusively german talent involved you wonder why no public supported station came up with that before them. We had success when a visionary (Raab) was in charge. So we know how it works.

Now ain't that the truth. I work in the literature industry, it's so hard for fresh and young faces to actually publish anything... so often I had to put down promising manuscripts due to my superiors. From what I've heard, it's the same for our film industry. No funding for the young guns, they rather give it to cases like Manta Manta 2 (which is insane, someone like Schweiger doesn't need funding).

 

[mauve]

Now ain't that the truth. I work in the literature industry, it's so hard for fresh and young faces to actually publish anything... so often I had to put down promising manuscripts due to my superiors. From what I've heard, it's the same for our film industry. No funding for the young guns, they rather give it to cases like Manta Manta 2 (which is insane, someone like Schweiger doesn't need funding).

I actually studied literature and wanted to work in the literature industry too, but decided to become a teacher instead. But I can understand your frustration having to turn down books that you like.

 

[shameless]

Now ain't that the truth. I work in the literature industry, it's so hard for fresh and young faces to actually publish anything... so often I had to put down promising manuscripts due to my superiors. From what I've heard, it's the same for our film industry. No funding for the young guns, they rather give it to cases like Manta Manta 2 (which is insane, someone like Schweiger doesn't need funding).

Same in my department (I work in theatre). During my studies we were basically trained to "play the game" and please all those old farts in power at state theatre to recycle old thought and ideas that have nothing to do with current styles or what would interest people outside of that "culture elite" bubble. The ESC resume is the current state of cultural Germany in a nutshell.

 

[midnightsun]

Wow, so many of us working in the media field, that’s awesome in a way. No wonder we all love Eurovision! :-)

 

[midnightsun]

we were basically trained to "play the game" and please all those old farts in power at state theatre to recycle old thought and ideas

That‘s why I left journalism and work as a copywriter now. Basically the same but only at newspaper!

 

[GermanBango]

That‘s why I left journalism and work as a copywriter now. Basically the same but only at newspaper!

Well I think it depends on the newspaper. The one I'm working at is relatively open for input even from freelancers etc. That's not to say that they aren't a little too conservative in their decisions sometimes.

 

[heke1988]

I would liked to see blood and glitter on their ESC performance, like in their music video.

 

[midnightsun]

That’s a problem with a lot of performances and maybe one of the reasons Germany didn’t do well. They want to please both juries and public so the performance is rather static to be able to sing well and not get out of breath.

Finland for example didn’t care about his voice. He had an awesome performance and we all know he was a little bit off vocally or sounded out of breath but kn the end it didn’t matter because people on TV don’t care about voices much.

 

[SpiritofKeiino]

I would liked to see blood and glitter on their ESC performance, like in their music video.

I've wondered this too, had they made the staging more extreme (fake blood, glitter, coffins etc) would more votes have been received? I dunno, I feel like a lot of acts this year got only crumbs from televotes after the Loreen and Kaarija battle.

 

[heke1988]

That’s a problem with a lot of performances and maybe one of the reasons Germany didn’t do well. They want to please both juries and public so the performance is rather static to be able to sing well and not get out of breath.

Finland for example didn’t care about his voice. He had an awesome performance and we all know he was a little bit off vocally or sounded out of breath but kn the end it didn’t matter because people on TV don’t care about voices much.

I was thinking about voting Germany, but I liked more Australia's performance and staging, so I decided to give my 5 votes to Australia. Still I am happy, that we gave you 5 points.

 

[Franzilein]

Croatia withdraw and it brought absolutely nothing good.
This idea that you would just withdraw and then rise like phoenix after few years is just ridiculous.

On the other hand there is Italy. You act as if it is just the act of withdrawing, whereas people advocate for changes in the same sentence.

Edit: spelling

 

[Bmbriga]

On the other hand there is Italy. You act as if it is just the act of withdrawing, whereas people advocate for changes in the same sentence.

Edit: spelling

And you need to withdraw to make changes why exactly?
Also Italians have San Remo, that is institution on it's own, to pick their songs.
Others don't. So if you think songs in NF are not good now I have a feeling they are going to be even worse when people lose little interest they have during the pause.

 

[Judas]

- lyrics with "blood" and "we so happy we could die" in times of a cruel war in Europe were maybe seen as inappropriate

"Die Together" at the time of coronavirus just got 8th place in the final

 

[ESC94]

"Die Together" at the time of coronavirus just got 8th place in the final

At that point the pandemic was already declining and this song was a pure jury bait, they don´t really care of lyrics as long as it´s sung pretty.

 

[Franzilein]

And you need to withdraw to make changes why exactly?
Also Italians have San Remo, that is institution on it's own, to pick their songs.
Others don't. So if you think songs in NF are not good now I have a feeling they are going to be even worse when people lose little interest they have during the pause.

You never take a break after things you've been working on for a long time still don't work out?
As an anecdote, in the hotel lobby where I saw the ESC this year, people were immensely negative towards the show, everything was rubbish, the artists were only screaming instead of singing, we will come last again anyway (well, we did) – I didn't stay there the whole evening, but it was a bit of an eye-opener to see a "broader" perspective, I usually watch it with the same circle of friends. Outside the fan community, there seems to be a whole lot of negativity towards the ESC currently. Front singer of our big hope last year, Electric Callboy, also said after the final: Well, kinda glad we didn't participate, pretty cringe contest (paraphrased).

You don't need a break to make changes. But maybe to get rid of this fatigue, just to get a fresh mindset – not only for the broadcaster. As Guildo Horn phrased it: We keep stirring in the same sticky bowl.

And then there is that can of worms where people think there is some sort of antipathy towards Germany. These thoughts have only risen after LOTL's last place – and no, I don't belong to those

 

[Bmbriga]

You never take a break after things you've been working on for a long time still don't work out?
As an anecdote, in the hotel lobby where I saw the ESC this year, people were immensely negative towards the show, everything was rubbish, the artists were only screaming instead of singing, we will come last again anyway (well, we did) – I didn't stay there the whole evening, but it was a bit of an eye-opener to see a "broader" perspective, I usually watch it with the same circle of friends. Outside the fan community, there seems to be a whole lot of negativity towards the ESC currently. Front singer of our big hope last year, Electric Callboy, also said after the final: Well, kinda glad we didn't participate, pretty cringe contest (paraphrased).

You don't need a break to make changes. But maybe to get rid of this fatigue, just to get a fresh mindset – not only for the broadcaster. As Guildo Horn phrased it: We keep stirring in the same sticky bowl.

And then there is that can of worms where people think there is some sort of antipathy towards Germany. These thoughts have only risen after LOTL's last place – and no, I don't belong to those

While I don't agree that a pause would help very much, I see where you're coming from and respect your opinion.

I get that Germans are sick of being last, but you were 4th not that long ago.
And last place should also be put into perspective.
You're part of big 5 so go into final directly.
There's not a big difference between bad placings and other countries simply not qualifying and others managed to go through the preselection in semis, so there are bigger chances from the start that certain amount of people like their entry.

This is why Big 5 often have bad placings in the final. And there's not a lot of difference between being last or having a strike like Spain had with being 21, 22, 26, 23, 22, 24.
Same thing.

Croatia couldn't be last in the final, because it simply didn't qualify for the last few years.

 

[Franzilein]

While I don't agree that a pause would help very much, I see where you're coming from and respect your opinion.

I get that Germans are sick of being last, but you were 4th not that long ago.
And last place should also be put into perspective.
You're part of big 5 so go into final directly.
There's not a big difference between bad placings and other countries simply not qualifying and others managed to go through the preselection in semis, so there are bigger chances from the start that certain amount of people like their entry.

This is why Big 5 often have bad placings in the final. And there's not a lot of difference between being last or having a strike like Spain had with being 21, 22, 26, 23, 22, 24.
Same thing.

Croatia couldn't be last in the final, because it simply didn't qualify for the last few years.

No worries, taking a break is not necessarily my opinion either, I like watching the ESC after all and having your country be represented there is part of the fun But I understand people advocating for a break.

Yeah, someone on Reddit actually took the time to calculate the average place for Germany this year if all places from 1-26 were included. We would've ended up 15th in the public vote in comparison to the real 23th. It's the highest disparity out of all countries. He summed it up with: "We are extraordinarily average."
Think this sums up our journey the last couple of years pretty well. Not liked enough for top places, not bad enough for the last spots, but due to the point system it doesn't translate well at all, so we end up at the bottom

 

[midnightsun]

Well, I just hope this is a wake-up call for NDR. The delegation was apparently very surprised we failed and said that openly, which surprised me because they never said it that way in the past years. Conclusion: they always knew we would suck, apart from this year when they obviously thought let’s just send a band people want and everything will be fine. Only to realize this isn’t enough either. Laughing at their reaction. What were they thinking? It’s a no-brainer? Well, sorry to disappoint you NDR, but that’s not how it works.

Imho, the only thing that is necessary is to build hype for Eurovision. We need a big show in our first programme (ARD), like Silbereisen‘s Schlagershow only with contemporary music acts. Have a charismatic showmaster. Have a nice studio with a nice stage, nice LEDs and nice props. Don’t act as if you don’t care! We get it, you make enough money with Eurovision no matter how bad we are… but wait until the older generations are gone… you will lose people watching.