Germany at Eurovision 2025: The German Head of Delegation to Eurovision is concerned about the decline in song quality in the final and argues for the loss of artistic diversity in the current semifinal voting system of 100% audience.

Germany, represented at Eurovision 2025 by the duo Abor & Tynna with the song “Baller” (translated as “Shooter”), joins Iceland in the fight to restore the judges’ vote in the Eurovision semifinals. Alexandra Wolfslast, the German Head of Delegation, who has earned the nickname “the dissenting voice in the voting dispute,” raised sharp criticism during an extensive interview on the EuroTrip podcast.

The Concerns of Public Voting

Wolfslast explicitly detailed her concerns about the exclusive public voting system set for the semifinals of the competition. According to her, these concerns are not unfounded, as the previous system, which included professional judges, provided an important filter for maintaining the level of creativity and quality. “There is a concern that the quality of the songs will decline,” she claimed, “and the competition will lose the artistic diversity that has made it so special and beloved around the world.”

The Impact of Audience Preferences

Wolfslast’s worry focuses on the possibility that audience votes will favor songs that match the general taste but not necessarily represent high artistic values or innovation. She critiques the assumption that the general public can choose the highest quality works without professional guidance, which could lead to a neglect of quality. In this context, she called for a return to the mixed voting system in the semifinals, where judges’ votes come into play and balance the impact of public voting.

Renewing the Debate on the Competition’s Essence

The criticism raised by Wolfslast reignites the intense debate about the nature of the competition and how the finalists should be selected. Her stance clarifies the need for a broader discussion among all stakeholders in the competition, from participants to viewers, about the future of voting in Eurovision and its impact on the character and quality of the competition in the coming years.

As reported, Felix Bergsson, head of the Icelandic Eurovision delegation, confirmed that he is working on this issue. He argued that the audience-only voting system in the semi-finals is unfair and does not provide equal opportunities for all countries.

According to Bergsson, the main problem with audience voting in the semi-finals is the lack of equal opportunities for each country to reach the final. He claims that countries with large diasporas (expatriate communities) advance to the final more easily (examples include Albania, Poland, and Israel), while smaller countries (like Iceland) without significant expatriate communities miss out on opportunities even when they deserve to advance to the final.

Bergsson shared that he worked on a new code of conduct for Eurovision as a member of the European Broadcasting Union’s focus group. This code of conduct is intended to prevent unnecessary politicization at Eurovision and aims to maintain an apolitical environment. Additionally, Bergsson mentioned ongoing discussions about changing the way finalists are announced, with a focus on the contestants rather than the hosts, and preventing awkward moments for non-qualifying contestants.

Germany at Eurovision 2025:

“Baller” (translated as “Shooter”) is the song that will be performed by Abor & Tynna, representing Germany at Eurovision 2025 in Basel, Switzerland. The duo will perform their song for the first time in the second semi-final on May 15. However, since they represent a sponsoring country, they automatically advance to the Grand Final, which will take place on May 17. The song was written by the singers themselves along with Alexander Hauer and is performed in German. This marks the creators’ first Eurovision entry.

The song “Baller” presents a deep and complex emotional journey of the narrator, who is grappling with pain and emotional breakage following a breakup.

Currently, Germany is ranked 24th in the betting odds for Eurovision 2025.

Abor & Tynna – Who are you?

Abor & Tynna is an Austrian musical duo consisting of brothers Attila and Tunda Bornemisza. They grew up in a musical family; their father, Csaba Bornemisza, has been a cellist in the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra since 1993. The duo began collaborating musically in 2016, combining styles such as pop, hip-hop, and electronic music to create a unique sound. Their debut album, “Bittersüß”, was released on February 14th, 2025.

Source: Eurovisionfun

Eurovision 2025: This will be Germany’s 68th participation in Eurovision. Germany joined the competition in 1956, was one of the seven founding countries, and has won twice over the years. Germany’s last victory was in Eurovision 2010 with the song “Satellite” performed by singer Lena Meyer-Landrut.