Germany has not shone at the Eurovision Song Contest in recent years. What are the chances of winning this year? Barbara Schöneberger has a clear opinion about the German ESC participant.
Hamburg – Not last place this time? The musician Isaak (28) from East Westphalia is supposed to finally put an end to the German series of bankruptcies at the Eurovision Song Contest this year. In the last four editions of the international music competition, Germany finished last twice and second to last twice. The last bright spot: Michael Schultes (33) fourth place at the ESC in Lisbon six years ago.
Barbara Schöneberger confident before ESC 2024: “It definitely won’t be last place”
If TV presenter Barbara Schöneberger (50) has her way, there could be another German sense of success at this year's ESC, which is taking place in Malmö, Sweden. “I think it’s great, I think the song is great,” says the entertainer in her podcast “With the Waffles of a Woman” about the German participant Isaak. “However, I am also one of those who says the same sentence over and over again: I have a very good feeling this year, it definitely won’t be last place.”
The Munich native, who will present the countdown and aftershow broadcasts for the Eurovision Song Contest on Erste live from Malmö, emphasizes: “I really like this song (Always On The Run by Isaak, editor's note). If we don’t have a chance now, then I don’t know what will.”
Oliver Kalkofe about German ESC hope Isaak: “Finally something honest, something cool”
Comedian Oliver Kalkofe (58), who was a guest in the 283rd episode of the Schöneberger podcast, is also confident about the ESC final on May 11th. “This time I had the feeling there was someone who loved his music. (...) He's a great singer, he's cool and doesn't have any pumped up, trimmed body and isn't doing a dance performance here,” said the cabaret artist. “Maybe it’s that people say: Finally something honest, something cool.”
Kalkofe explains why Germany has so often fallen short of expectations at the Eurovision Song Contest in recent years by saying that it has “always just followed a trend”. “We always had something that sounded or looked like something that had been around for some time.”
It will be seen on May 11th whether the German ESC candidate Isaak can finally make positive headlines again after two last places in a row. His appearance in front of an audience of millions will also be accompanied by ARD's new ESC commentator.
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Sources used:
“With a woman’s waffles” (podcast by Barbara Schöneberger, episode from April 15, 2024)