It has been clear since February 27: Singer Ben Dolic (22) is going to Germany with his song "Violent Thing" on May 16 for the finale of the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) in Rotterdam. A hit is also found by someone who should know: Michael Schulte (29, "You Let Me Walk Alone"), who took a very good fourth place at the ESC in 2018. In an interview with the news agency spot on news, Schulte also revealed why the song will stand out from the previously known contributions from other countries and what it thinks of the new selection process.
What do you think of "Our song for Rotterdam"?
Michael Schulte: I was very pleasantly surprised. Ben has a special voice, the verse is cool and immediately draws you in, the rhythm is cool and the phrasing is also successful. Ben is a very good singer who has a very good charisma.
What makes "Violent Thing" special, why will it stand out?
Schulte: The song is very modern and very catchy. Many other countries will compete with mid-speed ballads, which is why "Violent Thing" will stand out. We also have the advantage that the song has a positive atmosphere and is fun.
What did this song have that the S! Sters might have been missing in the previous year?
Schulte: It was easy to conceive and maybe it wasn't really bought from them. The S! Sters, who were not sisters, but sing about the Sisters – I think that the wow effect was missing. The song was not bad and sung great, but the staging may not have been special enough. They also hadn't written their song themselves. A good song and a good singer are not enough. It has to be a unit. In retrospect, those responsible were not so happy with the end product.
What do you think of the new selection process without a "real" preliminary decision? Was this step correct and important or is it maybe even a bit "overengineered"?
Schulte: Of course it is clearly geared towards success, but that is exactly what it is about. In Germany in particular, people are always very critical and yearn for success – especially after last year. I think it's the right way to do everything to be really successful. It all makes sense to me.