Stefan Raab’s Return to Eurovision Met with Skepticism by Former German Participant
Isaak Guderian, last year’s German representative at the Eurovision Song Contest, has expressed skepticism about Stefan Raab’s return to the music competition. "I don’t know why, whether he has changed, the world has changed, or I have changed, but Raab no longer resonates with me," the singer from Espelkamp in eastern Westphalia told the "Rheinische Post." The entertainer’s "new old ways" no longer appeal to him. "That’s why I’m also afraid he might fail at the ESC."
After a long break, Raab is once again responsible for organizing a German ESC preliminary round. With the format "Chefsache ESC 2025" (February 14, 20:15, RTL/RTL+), the 58-year-old aims to bring Germany back to victory in the competition after years of drought.
Raab and his team were not looking for songs in the application phase, but for people, said Guderian, who is known by his stage name Isaak. "I have the feeling he wants a blank canvas to project his vision onto." The entertainer’s comeback could either be a "huge success" or a "flop."
The 30-year-old reported that his twelfth-place finish at Eurovision 2024 had advanced his career. Nevertheless, he associates mixed feelings with the ESC final. "I would do it again exactly the same, but it wasn’t a piece of cake. It was also physically and emotionally overwhelming." So far, he has no plans to perform around this year’s ESC preliminary round.
Raab’s Eurovision History
Stefan Raab played a significant role in the Eurovision Song Contest in Germany. He was the brains behind Germany’s victory in 2010 with Lena Meyer-Landrut and her song "Satellite." Raab also produced the German national final, "Unser Star für Oslo," from 2010 to 2012.
After a hiatus, Raab returned to produce the German national final in 2022 with the show "Germany 12 Points." However, that year’s German entry, Malik Harris, failed to qualify for the Eurovision final.
Germany’s Eurovision Struggles
Germany’s recent Eurovision results have been disappointing. Since their victory in 2010, the country has only finished in the top ten once, with Michael Schulte’s fourth-place finish in 2018. In the past four years, Germany has failed to qualify for the final three times.
Many experts believe that Raab’s return to Eurovision could improve Germany’s chances of success. He is known for his innovative ideas and his ability to create catchy songs. However, Guderian’s skepticism suggests that not everyone is convinced that Raab’s old formula will work again.
Conclusion
Whether Stefan Raab’s return to Eurovision will be a success or a failure remains to be seen. The competition has changed significantly since his last involvement in 2012, and it is unclear whether his approach will still resonate with viewers. However, Raab is a proven hitmaker, and his experience could be invaluable to Germany’s bid to end its Eurovision drought.
