Recommendations of the editorial team
It was an appearance with a lot of media echo and nostalgic splendor: Stefan Raab returned to the Eurovision Song Contest with Abor & Tynna-as a consultant, string puller, symbolic figure for the big ESC comeback. But the reality after the final evening was sobering: Germany landed in 15th place with a meager 151 points. Not catastrophic, but far from a real success. And above all: in the right half of the results list, which should be a bitter disappointment.
A look at the ranking shows how clearly the competition pulls away. Austria dominates with 436 points, closely followed by Israel (357) and Estonia (356). All countries that have been musically braver, fresher and more international in recent years.
With Sweden (4th place) and Italy (5th place) there are also two permanent favorites again in the upper half of the table-proof of constant quality and ESC routine. Greece and France get respectable placements, while countries like Albania and Ukraine surprise in 8th and 9th place. At the bottom of the list, on the other hand, there is a hangover mood: Spain (24th place), Iceland (25) and San Marino (26) remained almost no chance.
ESC 2025: Today other qualities are required
The fact that Stefan Raab’s influence no longer has the weight of earlier days is also due to the changed dynamics of the ESC. Where, in the past, shrill show elements and memorable hooklines were enough, a mixture of tictok suitability and maximum emotionality counts today. The German performance was solid and even received twelve points from Ukraine and the Czech Republic, but in the end it was not enough to get at the forefront.
Stefan Raab has to see: ESC successes are rarely reproducible
Raab’s earlier successes, such as Lena Meyer-Landrut 2010, are without question spectacular. But they cannot be reproduced as desired. Times have changed. A successful ESC contribution must be more than a composed piece today: it has to dock culturally, function virally, surprise visually. Unfortunately, all of this missed Germany in 2025.
Perhaps it is time not to see Raab as a big savior, but as a legend, whose time was glorious at the ESC, but is also over once and for all.