Music: No ESC miracle for Germany: is Raab in danger now?

Stefan Raab is back at the Eurovision Song Contest – but there is hardly anything to be felt from his former ESC magic. Under the direction of the entertainer, Germany ended up in 15th place on Sunday night. That was recognizable from the appealed top position and also from the top ten, for which Raab was once considered a guarantee. Instead, Austria got the victory, while the competition of protests against the participation of Israel was overshadowed.

The winner’s song of the countertenor JJ is a three-minute pop opera entitled “Wasted Love”. The juries across Europe in particular were enthusiastic about the play in which there are many stylistic breaks. Although Israel was clearly ahead in the audience votes – which the other half of the rating – was clearly ahead for JJ. Eleven years after the triumph of Conchita Wurst, the Alpine Republic has an ESC winner again.

Schorn: “” Baller “is the hit”

The appearance of the sibling duo Abor & Tynna sent by Germany had initially kept the crowned hopes alive. Sister Tynna danced on a gigantic radio recorder, brother Abor meanwhile played on a cello with LED lighting. The two had made a difference. The instrument was painted white – possibly as a reference to the white guitar, with which singer Nicole won the music competition for Germany for the first time in 1982.

The act was very well received in the hall in Basel. ARD commentator Thorsten Schorn also tried to spread optimism. “Baller” is the hit, “he sent the home audience after the appearance. “This is celebrated here.”

In fact, 15th place is not a bad result if you look at the many completely bankruptcy that Germany has achieved in the past decade. In addition, two juries awarded the maximum number of 12 points to the Federal Republic – Ukraine and the Czech Republic.

However, singer Isaak had only won a 12th place last year – so that was a little better. Only then had Raab been reinstalled into the German ESC selection and should reach for even higher destinations.

The expectations were high from the start. At the latest since Lena Meyer-Landrut won under his aegis in 2010, Raab surrounds the Aura of the ESC gurus. He also achieved top ten results as a composer for Guildo Horn (1998, “Guildo loved you”) and at his own appearance (2000, “Wadde Hadde Hadde Dudde”). The Portal Eurovision.de describes it as “Enfant Terrible and Germany’s ESC king”.

Ferred “Raabinator” comeback?

Abor & Tynna were then chosen in several selection shows for the German contribution. The decision in the end made the audience, but Raab was responsible for the pre -selection. And he explained Kühn: “If you could still bet in Germany on ESC songs, I would put all my money on winning this song.”

In the past few days, the song himself had already drummed intensively. Among other things, he tried to move Germans in Mallorca to a voice for Abor & Tynna. The big impact was missing.

For Raab, too, a lot was at stake with the performance at the ESC. It was only last September that he had ended his years of screen break with a lot of tamtam and clearly formulated ambitions. Part of the “Raabinator” comeback was also to be involved in the selection of the German ESC act.

In the meantime, however, his resumed camera career has stalled. Just a few days ago, his home broadcaster RTL announced that the quotas of Raab’s weekly show (“You don’t win the million with Stefan Raab”) was no longer satisfied and that it would end in its current form. There should be a new format in autumn. What this can look like is in the stars.

It is now questionable whether Raab can intervene again in the ESC machine. The ARD, which is responsible for the competition, had coupled the cooperation with the hoped -for success. When ARD program director Christine Strobl was asked by the “Hörzu” in January whether the concept with Raab would be put back on hold, she should not jump out, she replied: “Absolutely.” The claim is “very clear” to win. That has not occurred.