The Local Germany

Geopolitics threatens 70th anniversary of Eurovision

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 13:03:11 +0200

The Eurovision Song Contest is famous for celebrating everything from cross-dressing ballad singers to heavy metal bands in monster masks, but geopolitics is threatening its 70th anniversary edition.

Germany slams Eurovision boycott threats over Gaza

Sat, 20 Sep 2025 16:49:38 +0200

Germany's culture minister on Saturday slammed threats by several European countries to boycott next year's Eurovision song contest if Israel took part as politicising a cultural event.

Austria's JJ wins Eurovision 2025 with opera-techno fusion

Sun, 18 May 2025 09:56:32 +0200

Austria's JJ won the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest on Sunday, with his operatic song "Wasted Love" triumphing at the world's biggest live music television event.

What Eurovision's voting patterns can teach you about European politics

Thu, 15 May 2025 13:40:51 +0200

Groans and giggles typically greet votes at the annual Eurovision Song Contest, loved and mocked for its kitsch music and seemingly partisan outcomes. But what are the voting patterns, and what external factors help explain them?

Just how big a deal is Eurovision in Germany?

Fri, 21 Apr 2023 13:36:07 +0200

The annual Europe-wide festival of music and kitsch that is Eurovision has a huge German fanbase – even if the country has had a decade-long streak of mostly underwhelming, disappointing finishes.

Who is the ukulele-playing Hamburger representing Germany in Eurovision 2021?

Wed, 19 May 2021 19:26:16 +0200

Jendrik Sigwart represents Germany with his harmonious song “I don’t feel hate” in the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest. Here's what you need to know about him.

'One heck of a ride:' Berlin-based duo on writing Russia's Eurovision songs

Mon, 26 Mar 2018 14:32:24 +0200

They set out to write for Eurovision and soon found themselves at the centre of a spat between two warring nations. German-based songwriting duo Netta Nimrodi and Arie Burshtein, aka Amber Revival, on their whirlwind year writing songs for Russia.

WATCH: Germany picks heartfelt ode to dead father as Eurovision song

Fri, 23 Feb 2018 16:38:39 +0100

Singer and songwriter Michael Schulte will represent Germany on May 12th in Lisbon.

This is how Twitter reacted to Germany’s 'bleh' Eurovision pick

Fri, 10 Feb 2017 11:45:43 +0100

Germany selected 25-year-old Isabella Levina Lueen as its contestant for this year's Eurovision Song Contest. But not everyone was so thrilled by the choice.

Here are Germany's 2016 Eurovision hopefuls

Wed, 24 Feb 2016 13:22:42 +0100

Thursday is the big night for the ten contenders hoping to represent Germany at the Eurovision Song Contest in Stockholm. But who will win the public's heart with their song?

Eurovision pick is famed for anti-gay song

Thu, 19 Nov 2015 12:15:34 +0100

Public broadcaster ARD has named soul and R&B singer Xavier Naidoo as Germany's contestant for the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest in Stockholm - despite his facing allegations of homophobia in the past.

What's topping the German charts in June

Wed, 03 Jun 2015 13:29:08 +0200

In the mood for some high-quality German pop music? Then look no further. Here is the lowdown on five chart –topping tunes making waves in Germany this June.

Ann Sophie's high hopes for Vienna

Tue, 19 May 2015 14:00:26 +0200

On Saturday Germany's Eurovision Song Contest entrant Ann Sophie will carry the expectation of the nation on her shoulders. Has she got what it takes to win one of the most (un)prestigious prizes in music?

Germany gets surprise entry for Eurovision 2015

Fri, 06 Mar 2015 12:01:37 +0100

Germany has decided on its entry for this year's Eurovision Song Contest, but only after the selection vote took a surprising turn on Thursday night.

A victory for bearded men in dresses

Sun, 11 May 2014 13:33:00 +0200

Everyone with half a heart knows that Eurovision is one of the best nights of the year. The music may be fairly mediocre, but it's not about that. It's about the gloriously camp costumes, the ridiculously sumptuous set design, the silly dancing – and the props, of course.

Germans unaware of own Eurovision entry

Thu, 08 May 2014 10:05:00 +0200

The majority of Germans are unaware of who is representing the country at the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday night.

Did Merkel's politics hurt Germany at Eurovision?

Sun, 19 May 2013 10:18:00 +0200

Eurovision Song Contest favourite Denmark won the competition on Saturday night, while Germany plunged to 21st place – the worst showing in five years – amidst speculation that it was payback for Angela Merkel’s hated policies.

Amazon, gay adoption, Eurovision, and GEMA

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 15:05:00 +0100

In this week's Weekly News Podcast, Ben Knight delves into bullying at Amazon, gay adoption rights, Eurovision's techno-pop plagiarism scandal, and how killjoys at GEMA are keeping the elderly from dancing.

Probe into possible Eurovision plagiarism

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 15:39:00 +0100

Germany's entry for this year's Eurovision Song Contest is being investigated after allegations that it copied elements of last year's winner, a television station reported on Monday.

Germany picks Glorious song as Eurovision entry

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 08:48:00 +0100

Germany chose its entry to this year's Eurovision Song Contest on Thursday night - and the winner was a poppy dance number called Glorious.