Germany 2024: Your preview of 'Das Deutsche Finale'

How To Watch: 'Eurovision Song Contest - Das Deutsche Finale' is happening on Friday 16 February, with a start time of 22:20 CET. Wherever you are in the world, you'll be able to watch the show live over at broadcaster ARD's official Eurovision website.

We'll be kicking off the weekend in style on Friday, as Germany once again beckons us with the enticing call of "Wir geben 'ne Party"! And by midnight CET, we'll know which song will be representing the Germans at the 68th Eurovision Song Contest in May. 

It will be the country's 67th appearance at the Contest, with Germany thus maintaining its noteworthy record of having the most participations in the history of the Eurovision Song Contest.

Germany's latest entry will be chosen via Eurovision Song Contest - Das Deutsche Finale. The national final will be coming to us live from Berlin and see 9 acts present their songs to voters. 

Friday night's pre-selection, as well as choosing Germany's song for Malmö, will also have a celebratory feel in the air, with some Eurovision-related guests being invited along to the evening too.

Germany's artist at the Eurovision Song Contest in both 1972 and 1984 - Mary Roos - will be making a special guest appearance. And also among the guests will be Conchita Wurst, who won the Eurovision Song Contest for neighbouring Austria in 2014 with Rise Like A Phoenix.

Our host for the evening will be a lady who has guided us through many German Eurovision events in the past - Barbara Schöneberger. Our beloved Barbara will be on hand to introduce the 9 artists taking part, getting the audience at home and in the studio that extra bit hyped about Germany's chances in Malmö. 

The popular TV presenter, actress and singer will also serve as the capable hands into which the excited voting sequence is placed, as she fields the scores and finally presents to us our winner for the evening. 

Voting on the songs will come from two sources. German viewers watching at home will be able to vote for the tune that they most wish to see represent them in Malmö. These votes will represent 50% of the final score.

The other 50% comes from an international jury. 8 juries from 8 different countries will score the songs, which will make up half of the total vote. The juries, which will come from Spain, Lithuania, Switzerland, Austria, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Croatia and Iceland, will have 5 members each.

In the event of a tie, it will be the public vote's winner that decides the song that will represent Germany at the 68th Eurovision Song Contest in May. 

Ahead of Das Deutsche Final on Friday, you can already listen to all 9 competing entries.

Below, you can find them in the order that they'll be performed in on the night. And you can also learn a little bit more about each of the 9 artists behind the songs. 

NinetyNine – Love On A Budget

NinetyNine is a singer-songwriter right from the heart of Hamburg. The unconventional stage name of this newcomer, born Daniel Leon Schmidt, can be explained by his birth year 1999 and his height of 1.99 metres. The musician is a multi-instrumentalist and works as a successful songwriter. At the age of 19, he signed a contract with a major music publisher, lending his songwriting talent to many established artists. NinetyNine describes his music as timeless pop with influences and inspiration from the indie scene and vintage rock. Since early 2023, NinetyNine has released 6 singles, gaining success on all of the major streaming platforms. With his pre-selection entry Love On A Budget, NinetyNine questions the society of excess: why does it always have to be luxury and glitter? One should have butterflies in the stomach rather than dollar signs in the eyes. 

"I grew up in a musician family, stand on stage, and write songs since I can remember. It would be a great dream to sing to millions of people straight to the heart with a song about great love on the world's biggest stage."

Leona – Undream You

The 20-year-old resident of Hamburg decided shortly after graduating that there is only music and no Plan B! The artist soon discovered the many opportunities offered by the vast world of social media and quickly built a substantial fan base with her music across various platforms. Leona will showcase the great potential of her voice at the German national final with her emotional ballad Undream You, on which she narrates a tale of lost love.

"I have dreamed of standing on the Eurovision Song Contest stage since I was a little child. I want to touch more hearts with my music and bring the victory back to Germany!"

Isaak – Always On The Run

After initially embarking on a music career in a band, Isaak Guderian, who comes from a small town called Espelkamp, soon evolved into a promising singer-songwriter on his own. With prior experience in The X Factor Germany, Isaak later won the talent show Show Your Talent in 2021. His singing repertoire ranges from melancholic ballads to powerful arrangements challenging the entire vocal range. Isaak's song for Germany, Always On The Run, is a perfect example of how the emotional depths and exhilarating highs of a song can take listeners on a unique musical journey. 

"Music is the only refuge where I can be who I am. Here, everything is allowed. No labels, no system, no order. Pure emotions, a playground not only for children. And everyone can understand it - whether it's in their language or not."

GALANT- Katze

This duo hails from southern Germany and is made up of 26-year-old Mona from Munich and 29-year-old Paul from Mannheim. An electropop act amused by the banality of things, GALANT, with their mix of rap and melodies, mock the commercialism of the arts and attempt to disrupt conventions themselves. With their song Katze ('Cat'), GALANT touch upon how people distance themselves from their original essence after traumatic experiences, becoming increasingly unapproachable and distant; all for self-protection and usually without realising it. The cat represents a person who has completely lost themselves over the years.

"We believe in the universal language of music and its ability to overcome boundaries. Our song and performance aim not only to entertain but also to convey a message of freedom, self-acceptance and cultural exchange."

Floryan – Scars

The artist Floryan got his slot at Das Deutsche Final via another TV show by the German broadcaster. The 6-part television series Ich will zum ESC! ('I want to go to the ESC!') saw a selection of up-and-coming singers compete for the opportunity to participate in Germany's pre-selection for Malmö. 

Earlier in February, the final of the series took place, with three artists performing a newly-penned song. At the close of voting, Floryan was declared the winner with his song Scars - and the 28-year-old singer from Künzelsaunow now gets to take the composition to Das Deutsche Final!

"My first feeling was: This can't be true, I still can't believe it. It was like a film that passed me by. Pure adrenaline and happiness, I can hardly describe it!"

Bodine Monet – Tears Like Rain

Bodine Monet is an artist from Zandvoort, Netherlands, who has found her life's purpose in music. At the age of 14, she reached the finals of Germany's The Voice Kids and she has subsequently participated in many other TV talent shows. Today, the 23-year-old focuses exclusively on her work as a singer-songwriter, collaborating with renowned musicians worldwide. With her song Tears Like Rain she wants to convey an important message: it is crucial to find the strength and ability to detach oneself from toxic influences. People should dare to seize new happiness, grow beyond a negative past together, and inspire one other.

"As a singer of power ballads, I wished for nothing more than to stand on the stage of the Eurovision Song Contest myself. I am determined to fulfill my dream this year, tell my story, and make the little girl in me proud."

Ryk – Oh Boy

At the age of 5, Rick Jurthe (alias Ryk, from Bad Nenndorf in Lower Saxony) sits at a piano from his grandfather for the first time. A year later, his mother sends him to lessons with a strict piano teacher. But it doesn't stop at pure instrumental music: at the age of 13, Ryk writes his first song. He has since forged a successful career as a songwriter, composer and music producer for various projects, including many live entertainment events such as theatre and circus productions. In 2018, he performed at the German Eurovision pre-selection Unser Lied für Lissabon, finishing in third place. This year, the 34-year-old is making another attempt and wants to captivate the hearts of Eurovision fans with his contribution Oh Boy.

"My fascination for the competition is unbroken. My passion for grand, epic moments is actually made for the Eurovision Song Contest. I strive to write that one song and create that one staging that captivates millions of people."

Marie Reim – Naiv

Marie Reim, the daughter of schlager superstar Michelle and singing legend Matthias Reim, has embarked on a rising career as a schlager artist and now wants to conquer the German national final for the Eurovision Song Contest. Inspired by her mother's successful participation at the 2001 Contest in Copenhagen, where she reached 8th place, the 23-year-old dreams of bringing Germany back to the forefront of the competition with a schlager song. Her autobiographical song Naiv describes the emotional rollercoaster of trying to rearrange your life after a broken love, only to discard all resolutions when entering a new love.

"I think schlager music fits the Eurovision Song Contest like a glove. I am ready to show people that schlager can be charming, fresh and a bit sexy in this competition. I believe my mother will be incredibly proud to see that I am doing my best to carry on her Eurovision legacy."

Max Mutzke – Forever Strong

20 years ago in 2004, Max Mutzke won the German pre-selection for the Eurovision Song Contest and secured 8th place for his country at the Grand Final in Istanbul. With that song, Can't Wait Until Tonight, he entered the top spot on the German charts and established himself in the German music scene as a popular singer and songwriter. Coming from an artistically inclined family, Max Mutzke discovered his love for music early on and developed a broad repertoire ranging from pop and rock to soul, funk and jazz. On the occasion of his 20th Eurovision anniversary, the 42-year-old from Black Forest wants to represent Germany again in Malmö. His song Forever Strong is written as a plea for hope. Max Mutzke's message: one should always try to remain strong at heart and be a lighthouse for people, radiating good to others.

"Experiencing last year's Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool as a guest on the ARD Countdown Show was a revelation for me. I was fascinated by the atmosphere, how much people love this event. With this perspective on the competition and my development in recent years, I find it beautiful to be back. I want to take advantage of this momentum, coming back after exactly 20 years."

Germany's act for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 will follow on from the group Lord of the Lost, who won the German pre-selection in 2023 and represented their country in Liverpool with the song Blood & Glitter.