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About Germany...
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2004 Result
Points in Semi Final: N/A
Position in Semi Final: N/A
Points in Final: 93
Position in Final: 8th
2005 Contest: Directly qualified to Final
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History (1956 to 2003)
Germany's previous appearances: 47 year(s) out of 48
Years participated: 1956-1995; 1997-
Best result: 1st (1982)
Together with France, Germany has made more Eurovision appearances than any other country, participating in 47 of the 48 contests to date. The only gap is 1996, when the country failed to get through the pre-selection stage - the sole occasion that such a process has been used. Ironically, the intended German song was one of the best it has come up with in recent years, with Leon's hi-energy 'Planet of Blue' sounding modern and fresh compared to many of the German entries before or since. On the other hand, German displeasure at their unjust ejection helped precipitate the introduction of 'Big 4 ' status for Germany, France, Spain and the UK, thus preventing any of the 'big beast' Eurovision nations from missing out again.
Considering the number of occasions that Germany has appeared, its record of Eurovision success is unspectacular. The country has won just once, in 1982, but did so very easily with Nicole and her beautiful song 'Ein Bisschen Frieden'. As 'A Little Peace', the song went on to international success, including spending two weeks at No.1 in the UK. Scarily, that was the last time a Eurovision winner scored a UK No.1 - even Johnny Logan in 1987 and Katrina in 1997 had to make do with a No.2 and No.3 respectively.
Back to Germany, the country's recent record has been mixed. Returning in 1997 after its enforced absence the previous year, Bianca Shomburg's 'Zeit' was tipped to do well, but could only finish 18th. Trying something completely different, Germany sent Guildo Horn in 1998, memorable for him clambering all over the set if not for his singing talent. Still, it was great fun, and the televoters rewarded him with 7th place. Normal service resumed in 1999, with a song written by the prolific Ralph Siegel, the composer of Germany's winner in 1982, among many others. 'Reise nach Jerusalem' was sung in a mix of German, Turkish and English, and was probably the strongest German entry since Nicole; it came close to winning, but eventually had to be happy with 3rd place - not bad for a song that only got to represent its country when the original winner of the National Final (Corinna May's lovely 'Hör den kindern einfach zu') was disqualified as a result of being released by a different singer in 1997.
In 2000, Germany went for humour again, with Stefan Raab - who had written Guildo's song two years earlier - performing a song himself. Once again, it was well-rewarded, finishing 5th. Interestingly, Raab qualified for Eurovision ahead of Corinna May, back for another go with the powerful 'I believe in God', after her abortive effort the year before - however, finishing 2nd, she once again missed out on representing her country.
In 2001, Corinna May had a year off, and Germany sent Michelle, a helium-voiced singer who made 'Wer liebe lebt' sound like the theme from 'Alvin and the Chipmunks'. Still, someone must have liked it, as it finished 8th; perhaps it was a vote for originality, given the novelty of a song not written by Ralph Siegel or Stefan Raab?
After a good run of top ten places, hopes were high for victory in 2002, with Corinna May finally getting to go to Eurovision with an extremely strong song - 'I can't live without music' - once again written by Ralph Siegel. Though it was the pre-Contest favourite, the performance on the night just didn't work - it seemed awkward and stilted, and the song finished a very disappointing 21st. Never one to give up, Ralph Siegel came back in 2003, this time with the orange-haired, wide-mouthed Lou. It was debatable whether the song or Lou herself was most frightening, but the televoters were unimpressed and 'Let's get happy' ended up a relatively disappointing 11th. As a 'Big 4' country, Germany has an automatic place in the Final, but will that elusive second victory be forthcoming in 2004?
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This year's entry
Position in Semi Final draw: N/A
Position in Final draw: 8
What I said prior to the Semi Final:
"Evidently fed up of Ralph Siegel monopolising the competition, Germany tried to bring its national selection for 2004 into the 21st century. Established acts, including the internationally successful Scooter, were invited to take part, with entries featured on the music video channel Viva. As a condition of participation, all entries had to prove their success in Germany by reaching the country's top 40 singles chart. This was interpreted as a roundabout way of excluding Ralph Siegel, given that songs such as 'Let's get happy' had not been chart hits. Crucially, a number of wildcard places were allocated for acts achieving chart success in early 2004 - this prompted Stefan Raab to hold a talent search on his chat show programme, seeking an artist to perform and record a song that he had written, with the intention of securing a chart hit and a wildcard place in the national final. Some were rightly sceptical that Raab could write a serious, credible song in the light of 'Guildo hat euch lieb' and 'Wadde hadde dudde da?'. How wrong they were... with televoters choosing Maximilian Mutzke as singer, 'Can't wait until tonight' stormed to the top of the German singles chart, and won the country's national final with more than 90% of the vote. As for the song, it's great. A slow burning ballad, it relies on little more than a guitar and Max's soulful vocal, and sounds something like a cross between Van Morrison and Will Young. There are certainly parellels with World Idol - like Kurt Nilsen, the winner of that competition, Max is not a conventional good-looker, but he makes up for it with a stunning vocal talent. Could Eurovision be off to Berlin for 2005?"
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What I predicted...
My prediction for Semi Final: N/A
My prediction for Final: 1st to 3rd; this or Iceland most likely to win
What I predicted prior to the Semi Final:
"This song has to be my tip for victory in 2004. It's a distinctive and memorable, and unlike any other song in the contest. Perhaps the closest comparison is with the UK entry, but Max's vocals somehow manage to make the German entry more believable, which gives it a clear edge over the competition. To be fair, it probably isn't my favourite entry this year - I guess I prefer Iceland - but I can appreciate it as a beautiful song that will quite likely appeal to voters across the continent. Germany are 8th in the Final's running order, but it's difficult to place the performace in context given that slots 5-7 and 9-12 will be occupied by qualifiying Semi Finalists. However, I think it is a strong enough song to stand out regardless of what comes before and after it. Don't be at all surprised if this song cruises to victory on 15 May; if Max gives a great live performance, it could be unbeatable."
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What you thought...
Final Poll Ranking: out of 36 ()
(Updated 15 May 2004; change refers to movement over final week)
In the run up to the Contest, over 5,000 visitors to this site voted for their favourite song in the Soult.com Eurovision Poll.
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What actually happened
Well, I still really like this song. I thought Max gave a generally strong vocal performance - there were certainly a few duff notes, but the overall stripped back performance was really effective, with Max sounding as if he really meant what he was singing. The stage setup also worked extremely well, with Max sat on a stool surrounded by his band. In the end, 8th place is certainly no disgrace, and Germany deserves credit for trying something different (i.e. not Ralph Siegel), even if it was not the overwhelming success that I thought it might be.
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What the bookies thought...
 | Germany to win: | 15/05/04 (prior to Final) | 12-1 |
| | 13/05/04 (after Semi Final) | 10-1 |
| | 11/05/04 | 11-1 |
| | 08/05/04 | 8-1 |
| | 06/05/04 | 10-1 |
| | 04/05/04 | 12-1 |
| | 31/04/04 | 12-1 |
| | 24/04/04 | 12-1 |
| | 17/04/04 | 12-1 |
| | 07/04/04 | 10-1 |
| | 24/03/04 | 20-1 |
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Germany's odds were consistently high, and were justified by Max's respectable 8th place.
(Odds quoted here were those offered by Coral.co.uk. 'F' indicates favourite, 'JF' joint favourite.)
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Links
 http://maximilian-mutzke.de/
 http://www.ndrtv.de/grandprix/
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Notes (see 'History' above)
- The 1956 Contest (where each country had two songs) is counted as a single appearance;
- Countries eliminated in the 1993 preliminary heat (EE, HU, RO, SK) ARE NOT counted as making an appearance in that year's Contest;
- Countries eliminated in the 1996 preliminary heat (DE, DK, HU, IL, MK, RO, RU) ARE NOT counted as making an appearance in that year's Contest;
- Countries eliminated in the 2004, 2005 and 2006 Semi Finals ARE counted as making an appearance in that year's Contest.
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Your comments (66)
From Zafina, Germany
Added 20:37:17 2007-04-13
the song was performed very well and was a long time in the german charts, very good job max.
and Chris, i don't understand why you get such complexes, you get 12 points from cyprus every year, so be quiet!
From Timothy, BELGIUM
Added 18:30:11 2004-5-16
...and i´m not german, but belgian.
and i´m still not liking greece (no, thats wrong, the greek song 2004) but germany ; )
From Elisabeth, AUSTRIA
Added 17:29:44 2004-5-16
i wish Germany had won!!!youve got talent max, and i am embarassed that the rest of europe didnt notice that...i phoned for you...
From Timothy, GERMANY
Added 15:47:27 2004-5-16
Wow Chris, it seems that english isn´t that language, spoken all over europe?
You are obviously so mean and silly, cos you haven´t get your tacky Boy seen on the winner side last night?
Blimey, don´t react too childish after all, it´s over and you are 3rd. Be happy instead of spreading poison!
Max, well done!
From Martin, GERMANY
Added 13:20:38 2004-5-16
@Christ:
You show here just your disapointment about the not winnig of Sakis song. But what have we germans to do with that not winning? - NOTHING! O.K., the song had a more catching melody than Max´song, but it was sipmle stuff and something a 1000 times already have been, just good performed what brought him surely a lot more points if he would have performed sitting like Max who had therefor a quality high song. But defenetly it is not a real good song and therefore it´s right that he did´nt win! And we did´nt show arrogance arround like you do here and lot of greek did in the greek forum - and didn´t sing Sakis also in english???? And the spanish people are that arogant and having complexes because they gave us 12 points??? (even they´re not our neigbors) And why Max´song had nothing to do with Germany?? I think it had a lot to do with us!!! Or what had the swedish song to do with Sweden, the cypriotic wit Cyprus, the albanian with Albania??? As much as Max´ song had to do with Germany!! He did a well performence, just the sound of his voice was yesterday not loud enaugh mixed. Russlana had defenitly one of the best songs - but I think without that totaly political voting yesterday, Germany and some other would have got more points.... And especially that you life in Germany it disapoints me that you that arogant and full of prejusitce Chris!!!
@Marie:
So we endet 8. - that means you will stop watching ESC. I hope so, and we will not see you and your stupid coments here next year!
@Everybody:
Max did a good job, he had one of the best songs but unfortunally not the best lobby, lets look forward to Kiew next year and that the quality of songs will be better than the lot of crap we had to hear this year!
From Chris, GREECE
Added 12:43:50 2004-5-16
First congratulations to Max
himself and I think that you Germans Max is having nothing to do with you so say a thank you to him for carrying your complexes and arogant to this Eurovision Final.
The thing that dissapoint me is the second place "crap" thing.
I live in Germany and I do not understand why Germany and Austria
Norway and Denmark seemed to be so arogant with our country.
I do not want to say more "Hello AUstria you got 9 points all together and the 5 of them more than 50% was comming from Greece."
You can vote for your neighboors
that is what every country does ok.
But we gave you 5 for your terrible song and you gave us
2 for our.
So Germans and Austrians when you come to Greece do not be so
surprised if we do not like you ...
Germany has gave some points to Greece but hey there are many Greeks in Germany so you have not even think to vote for Greece.
And do not bother is ok. We know your culture very well. Say it one more time that we are not your favorite. We can live with that do not worry.
Do you actually have a good taste
for something in this life that is not German? I do not think so.
So next year send RAAB I am sure
he do best.
Try to be more Europe starting to put something English in your train and bus stations so European people can find their way back when they visit your country.
You know as you do not like it but English is a language that Europe speaks and likes better.
Hard to live with that hm?
From Marie, SWEDEN
Added 19:18:50 2004-5-15
MARK!
NO, its not but he just looks so funny! Cant help that I laugh so much when I see him (hahaha) And not in a mean way, Its entertaining to see him.
I also said that the song was boring. I will cry if it comes top 15. And i will stop watching ESC if it comes top 10. If it wasnt so that Germany is one of "the big four" you would end up in the semi next year. You get minus 12 points from me!
Sweden will finish 5 this year just like last year.
From Tarkan(BelgaTurc), BELGIUM
Added 16:29:8 2004-5-15
Probably, it will not win but I liked the song.
Max is indeed a good singer, by the way, any of you guys where I find some CDs from him. Just email me on uskudar2003@hotmail.com please...
Best of luck but again I do not think he will win Sorry for that...
From Michel, FRANCE
Added 8:17:12 2004-5-13
After the semi-final with all these rubbish songs (even the favorites, Ukraine: it's just noise - and Greece: low budget production and badly performed) I believe more than ever that Max has a big chance to win the contest. Good luck!
From Ahmet, TURKEY
Added 2:31:7 2004-5-13
Max is cool, get off his back!
From Zachary, CYPRUS
Added 0:48:58 2004-5-13
Well, think there are a few people had problems with my former posting - I apologize for that.
@Clint:
Think you didn´t understand what I wanted to say. I said in no sentence something against Germany, should just mean the opposite! And also I didn´t´wanted to say with "...vote for the song and don´t think about the country it represents.." that this was espacally about Germany, it was more generally for all songs in the esc!
But by the way, after todays semi-final were about 90% of all songs have been just bad or totaly bad performed, also the high-rated "jackajacka-song" from Greece, I think that Max and this realy beautyfuy, amzing song will have good chances! good luck for him at saturday!!
From Mark, GERMANY
Added 16:19:3 2004-5-12
Marie, are you talking about a Beautyconest or the Eurovision Song Contest? Even your Lena won´t win that, as she looks more like a Tabledancer with that Microphonesexthing. God damn, this argument is so stupid.
From Michel, FRANCE
Added 15:16:29 2004-5-12
Hi guys... let's face it: Germany has a great song this year, a talented singer with a great voice, a song that is unusual for ESC. The biggest handicap is: it's a GERMAN song! Even if we all here are talking about the music itself, most people voting have politics in mind. And Germany is far away from being the most popular European country.
I hope that this song will perform well because Max deserves it! And I also hope that the song will be in the French charts after the ESC. I like it (it has suche a nice romantic and authentic atmosphere).
Allemagne, douze points!
From marie, SWEDEN
Added 13:42:13 2004-5-12
Shame on u!!!
Was that the best song u had??!! Boring song, boring artist. He looks like a ballon thats gonna blow up any minute! Wake me up when hes done........ Zzzzzzzzzzzz
From Mark, GERMANY
Added 0:49:13 2004-5-12
thank you very much, Lady Ice.
Can we please get Jonsis body for our entry, to win the thing was in any way easier then : )
From Lady Ice, ICELAND
Added 22:53:13 2004-5-11
One of my favourites this year.
It's really groovy, living room kind of cosy, nice song.
I love it.
Max has such a good voice!
Good luck Germany!
From Jakie, AUSTRALIA
Added 13:18:41 2004-5-11
Max is like rod Stewart or Eric Claptout unplugged or something. “Do do do do do do doooo-oo just you wait until tonight baby, do do do do do do dooo-ooo” yeah ok you get the point…
From Marion, GERMANY
Added 17:30:24 2004-5-10
A german newspaper said, Max was confused with a blue collar guy during rehearsals Oh well, thas what i´m frightend of. Thanks to the german attitude the finally try to kill the best chance they have in years! stupidos!!!!!
From Jorge, PORTUGAL
Added 9:36:16 2004-5-10
hi jorge, i don´t think for a minute, that tatianaa and max voice are similar. In fact, i heard two versions of blue café and she sounds complet different. while she really sqeeks on the record, she is bit better on stage, where she uses the deeper tones.
I think, tatianas voice is kind of pressed and artificial, while max realy has soemthing from mother nature, which he only has to use carefully. as one can here, he has some trouble with higher notes. i´m really curious if he worked on that until saturday.
From Tidus, POLAND
Added 1:3:20 2004-5-10
@ Jorge, actually I don't like Tatiana's voice, but it's great, that you mentioned it. Everyone is like "Oh, Max has such a great voice". On the other hand, the same people that love his voice, say that Tatiana's voice is terrible and annoying etc. But they're very similar, aren't they?
So... Can you explain it to me...?
From Jorge, PORTUGAL
Added 11:38:2 2004-5-8
Hey, lots of comments since i was here last time. Nice to see, people have taste, hehehe.
Tidus, i think pehomens like Alexander etc are spread all over in Europe, USA well al over the world at the moment. It´s castingtme, i guess you have the same in poland as we could see on world-idol. All of them are very popular in their countrys as far as i know.
Max´voice is something very unusual, especially for ESC. If you don´t like it, that ok. I wonder, if you like the polish female singer this year!?
From Tidus, POLAND
Added 23:49:16 2004-5-7
The choice of the German viewers confirms, that Germany is a very much influenced by the TV nation. And I'm not talking about Max only, but also the popularity of such disasters as Alexander or Elli. Their so calles "hits" are also very popular in Germany.
But about the song. I was the most pissed person in the World when I found out that Max won (I wanted Bonita to win). I hate him... Can't stand this "tchiuru tchiuru tchiuru"... It's T for God's sake, T!!! And his voice... The horror... It sounds like a frog or a goose that's being killed and screaming for help. And the part where he "sings" the chorus higher... Kill me, please. Or better don't 'cause I might sing (scream in agony) similarly to Max.
I won't talk about the looks 'cause "it's all about the song", isn't it...?
[Hello Gollum.
Sorry, I just had to....]
From Claus, GERMANY
Added 20:50:3 2004-5-7
Well I am very surprised that a song like this participates in the ESC. The contest has attracted dull Europop for years with some mingled - more or less the same - ballads. The universal recipe that is used to clone successful ESC-songs just isn´t my kind of music.
It is refreshing to have a song like this at the start. Just the kind of music I like. But can Max win? I doubt it. People who like Music like this tend to stay far away from the ESC. Of course i wish Max the best of luck. But I will fancy his performance no matter what ranking the song will be positioned at in the end..
If Max is doing his first CD I will buy and dig it - No matter what the contest may bring up for him. He is a gifted singer but there are other songs in the contest that might find broader acceptance with the majority of the ESC viewers.
From Timothy, BELGIUM
Added 16:40:59 2004-5-7
Did he say what everyone´s always thinking? Well, i think so. At least, it wasn´t very diplomatic at all. Let it be May 15th before the guy opens his mouth again please!!!
From Mark, GERMANY
Added 13:51:30 2004-5-7
Fans, unfortunately Max is starting to talk Bulls..... and it seems he´s not going to Istanbul to fight for Victory? oh god.......
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Germany
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