Sarah Engels represented Germany at the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna – and didn’t get a single point from the audience. And yet: “Fire” climbed the charts. Plus a feminism scandal sparked by a single statement. We were able to ask Sarah Engels in writing to what extent the ESC was a success – and what she understands by the term feminism.
Germany came in 23rd place – the twelve points came exclusively from four juries, and the public vote remained at zero. What was your first thought when the results came in and the camera was on you?
Of course it was emotional at that moment. You stand on this huge stage, have given everything for months and then experience these results live in front of millions of people – so many thoughts go through your head at the same time. But my first thought was actually pride. Proud to have stood there, to have been able to represent Germany and to have had this experience with my great team. And I also knew at that moment: Points do not define how much heart, work and passion went into this performance. I can say “My team and I gave EVERYTHING we could for these 3 minutes” – and that is the most important thing for me.
You say that you didn’t care about the ranking from the start – you cared about the experience. Nevertheless, you put your heart and soul into it for months. What did the performance make you realize that you didn’t know before?
Above all, I realized how much this experience really does to you – emotionally, personally and also artistically. The ESC is so much bigger and more intense than you see from the outside. This energy, this community and being on this stage can hardly be described. And I learned again that success for me doesn’t just depend on placement. But rather whether you reach people, touch people and remain true to yourself.
You recently suggested that it might be a good idea for Germany to take a year off. What would be different in two years?
Maybe a short break would help to rethink the ESC in Germany again – with fresh ideas, new concepts and, above all, more enthusiasm and support for our own artists. Because I think the potential is definitely there. You can see how much passion and talent there is in Germany. Maybe sometimes you just need a new perspective.
“To be honest, I already had the feeling during the jury’s awarding of points that it could be difficult”
As a Big 5 country, Germany is automatically seeded for the final and – unlike most nations – does not have to go through a semi-final with audience voting. Would you have liked this additional test before the finale?
I think a semi-final would have certainly been a different experience. You would have had the chance to enter the competition directly with the audience and experience the energy of this voting situation. At the same time, automatic qualification is of course also a special responsibility. In the end, you have to deliver in the final anyway – no matter how you got there.
“I assumed the worst” – at what point did you realize that things were going to be tight?
To be honest, I already had the feeling during the jury’s awarding of points that things might be difficult. But you still try to enjoy the moment and not let it get you down. I knew how much work and passion we all put into it. And we had a really great evening and a lot of fun in the greenroom.
The data-based forecast model had already put Germany in one of the last places in advance, and the bookmakers also saw you far behind. How does it feel to start the race as a complete outsider from the start?
To be honest, I never paid much attention to such predictions or betting odds. You see every year that a lot can often change in the end. Finland, for example, was at the top of the forecasts for a long time and still didn’t win in the end. That’s why I never let it deter me and never saw us as outsiders. For me it was about getting on stage, giving it my all and reaching people with the song.
“It was so nice to see that there was so much support and that your own country, the fans and also the press were behind you and had your back.”
“Fire” was dance-pop with a clear stunt moment – falling off the pedestal. How long did it take you to rehearse this stunt?
We actually rehearsed for quite a long time because of course everything had to be perfect – especially when singing, choreography and such a moment come together. The first few times in particular were really nerve-wracking – it’s quite high when you’re standing up there (over 2 m) and you have to just let yourself fall. It was important to me to underline the message of my song “Female Empowerment”. I had complete trust in my four girls on stage – and it was exactly this feeling of cohesion and strength that we wanted to convey.
To what extent was the ESC a success despite everything?
For me, the ESC was a success in many respects. It was an incredible journey with so many special encounters, emotions and experiences that I will never forget. I don’t regret anything about it and I’m incredibly proud to have been a part of it. And what particularly touched me was the positive feedback after the show. It was so nice to see that there was so much support and that your own country, the fans and also the press were behind you and had your back.
Sunday night ESC final, Monday prepare the children, Tuesday rehearsal, Wednesday show. You say yourself: “Those were really bad weeks” – and it continues straight away. How do you manage to balance family and work?
It’s definitely a constant balancing act and sometimes a real juggling act. The last few weeks in particular have been incredibly intense. But I am very lucky to have a great environment and a family that supports me immensely. Without this support none of this would be possible. At the same time, I consciously try to use every free minute with my children and to be present. At home I’m just a mom – and that’s exactly what gives me the strength for everything else.
There was a huge uproar over the fact that you said in the “Merci, Chérie” podcast that you were not a feminist. To what extent were you surprised that you were misunderstood – would you word your statement differently now?
For me it was never about positioning myself against strong women or equal rights – on the contrary. Anyone who knows me knows that exactly these topics have accompanied me for years, whether through my music, my “Strong Girls” foundation or generally what I try to set an example for. That’s why I explained again afterwards that for me it’s less important what you call something, but rather how you live it and what you actually do.
“If I’m honest, I have to admit to myself that I probably coined the word feminism incorrectly at the time and that I obviously wasn’t sufficiently informed about it.”
You then explained on Instagram that you live equality without needing the label. Isn’t feminism, by definition, exactly this demanded equality – or do you mean something different by that?
If I’m honest, I have to admit that I probably coined the word feminism incorrectly at the time and that I obviously wasn’t sufficiently educated about it. Because I have lived and represented the values that feminism actually stands for: equality, equal opportunities and female empowerment for many years. That’s exactly why I’m committed to girls and women and, for example, founded my foundation. I learned something myself and I think that should be a positive thing. Because if we immediately condemn people as soon as they express something incorrectly or have not fully understood something, all we end up doing is that many people no longer dare to openly express their opinion or ask questions. For me, feminism should also mean talking to each other, learning from each other and giving people the opportunity to develop further. That’s exactly what I did.
Your planned appearance at ColognePride suddenly has different circumstances. How do you ensure that your appearance there is a success?
I’m really looking forward to appearing at ColognePride. This is an event with an incredible amount of openness, love and positive energy – and I’ve always wanted to be part of it. For me, the focus there is simply on the shared joy of music, diversity and cohesion, and that’s exactly what I’m really looking forward to.