Stefan Raab: Mega comeback with its own ESC

The disappointment among fans of the Eurovision Song Contest was great when this year’s event in Rotterdam fell victim to the corona virus. 41 nations cannot compete, 41 musicians will not be able to appear in front of around 200 million TV viewers.

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Rescue is now approaching from Germany: Stefan Raab (53) will be showing a replacement ESC on May 16, 2020, the day the original should have taken place. The whole is called the “Free European Song Contest” and will be broadcast on ProSieben. “Music connects many people to one another, especially in difficult times,” says Raab in the press release.

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Swiss ESC candidate will only get a second chance next year.

ProSieben boss Daniel Rosemann is also happy: «Stefan Raab loves music. Stefan Raab loves the European idea. We are excited about the great opportunity to live and celebrate Europe in these times with a new music competition. » The production of the #FreeESC will take place in Cologne, naturally taking into account the legal requirements and the requirements of the health authorities regarding the coronavirus pandemic.

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It is excluded that the 41 candidates who would have competed in the original ESC will have a second chance. SRF spokeswoman Eva Wismer emphasized at the request of BLICK: «This new ProSieben project is a new music competition. There is no connection between the ‹Eurovision Song Contest›, its artists and their songs. » Gjon’s Tears (21) has to wait until ESC 2021 before he can step into the spotlight. Nevertheless, SRF is pleased about the initiative from the German television station: “It is always to be welcomed when musicians are offered a platform on which they can present their skills to a wide audience.”

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Competition from ESC organizers

The competition for the Free European Song Contest is fierce: The European Broadcasting Corporation, which organizes the ESC, produces the special program “Eurovision: Europe Shine A Light” for the same evening with the actual artists. Her contributions will be recognized in the two-hour live broadcast. The Dutch moderators intended for the actual competition lead through the program. However, there is no vote on a winner. It is not known whether SRF also broadcasts this special. The German ARD is sure to be there.

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It remains questionable whether Stefan Raab, as the producer of the ESC copy, will moderate the show at the same time. Five years ago he announced “TV Total” saying goodbye to the screen. One thing is certain: Raab is an ESC expert. In 1998 he was a composer of “Guildo loves you!” by Guildo Horn (57) at the ESC in Birmingham, two years later he himself took part in Stockholm with “Wadde hadde dudde da”. In 2006 he brought Max Mutzke (38, “Can’t Wait Until Tonight”) to the ESC in Istanbul.

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Raab brought Germany ESC victory

The greatest success followed in 2010: At that time he was the man behind Lena Meyer-Landrut’s ESC victory (28, «Satellite»), a year later he hosted the Eurovision Song Contest from Düsseldorf alongside Tagesschau presenter Judith Rakers (44) and comedian Anke Engelke (54). From 2005 to 2015, Raab also organized the Bundesvision Song Contest, an ESC copy for the 16 German federal states.

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