Germany searches for Eurovision star material
After three disastrous years at the Eurovision Song Contest, Germany is seeking an act that will lead the country out of its ESC doldrums. Six strong contenders vie for the honor at the national level on February 22.
Xavier Darcy
Of course he feels up to the challenge, says the 22-year-old with British and French roots when asked about representing Germany at the ESC. But he also knows there's no recipe for success. Authenticity is his forte: "What people see onstage, that's me." His debut album "Darcy" does in fact boast an artist with an uncontrived image and a characteristic, high-pitched voice.
voXXclub
Wearing lederhosen, the five make "modern folk music" with yodelling. The song "Rock mi" picked up over 20 million clicks on YouTube, and their album debut "Alpin" went platinum. Straight-ahead, upbeat and in Bavarian dialect, it fits the ESC's declared goal of fostering regional music styles. But are voXXclub maybe a tad too provincial?Interestingly, they have a fan base in Japan too.
Ivy Quainoo
The Berliner with a soul voice and roots in Ghana won the TV talent show "The Voice of Germany" in 2012. Her Song "Do You Like What You See" hit No. 2 in the charts, the album "Ivy" No. 5, and in 2013 she won an Echo Award. Then things calmed down somewhat. But Ivy Quainoo assesses her chances with confidence, saying, "I think my voice is unique in Germany." She might just be right.
Ryk
29-year-old Rick Jurthe composes, sings and produces music, and he's made successful minimalist electro-pop with the Band Foxos. The song "You And I," with which he hopes to represent Germany at Eurovision, is a work of his own: an offbeat ballad with striking harmonies, sung with a voice that is clear as glass, yet with a touch of fragility. Will it enchant the viewers and the juries?
Natia Todua
Now 21, the girl with dreadlocks went from Georgia to Germany as an au pair intent on studying music. Grateful, she says she wants to give her host country something back by representing it at the Eurovision Song Contest in Lisbon. Her voice is strong and sassy, so it comes as no surprise that Janis Joplin is one of her role models. Natia Todua won "The Voice of Germany" 2017 – by a huge margin.
Michael Schulte
Coming from the north German town of Buxtehude, the singer with curly red hair has 50 million clicks on his YouTube channel and counting — and his pop songs with clear English texts are also wildly popular on Spotify. Now Michael Schulte takes the big leap to the ESC stage with what he calls "maybe the song of my life." It's about his father, who died 13 years ago.