Why Is Germany So Bad at Eurovision?
Using data science to explore Germany’s (lack of) points in the Eurovision Song Contest from 1975–2022
There’s an old German saying, “Niemand hasst die Deutschenmusiker mehr als Deutschen selber”: Nobody hates German music more than Germans.
Okay, it’s not actually an old German saying, it’s a YouTube comment on the music video for “I Don’t Feel Hate” by German singer Jendrik. “I Don’t Feel Hate” was Germany’s entry for the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest. The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual European pop music competition with millions of live viewers every year. Each country performs one song, and the song with the most points wins.
Live from Rotterdam, the blonde-haired Jendrik danced on stage in a hot pink jacket, with a rhinestone ukulele and a backup dancer dressed as a giant middle finger. It was very Eurovision.
But Germany did not do well at the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest. Out of a possible 1008 points, Jendrik got 3. And honestly, many Germans were surprised he got any points at all.
