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Germany: Jamie-Lee Kriewitz wins Unser Lied für Stockholm with “Ghost” ⁶⁶

by George Vasileiadis • Eurovision News, Eurovision Song Contest 2016, Germany, National Selection • Tags: Germany, results, Unser Lied für Stockholm

After much controversy and a hastily assembled national final, Germany has put the drama of the past behind it and selected its act for Stockholm. Germany’s representative for 2016 is Jamie-Lee with “Ghost”.

The 10 finalists performed at the final of Unser Lied für Stockholm. The 100% televote put Avantasia, Alex Diehl and Jamie-Lee Kriewitz through to the superfinal. And from there, Jamie-Lee won the second vote, and with it the ticket to Stockholm.
Also performing at the national final were German hand The BossHoss, who performed Dolly Parton’s song “Jolene”, and 2014 Eurovision runners-up The Common Linnets.
In November last year, German broadcaster NDR announced that instead of a traditional national final, R&B singer Xavier Naidoo had been internally selected, with his song to be chosen by the German public. However, after much protest, the broadcaster cancelled this process and instead launched a standard national final with 10 competing acts.

Our first reaction to her win

Unser Lied für Stockholm finalists

Alex Diehl “Nur ein Lied”
Avantasia “Mystery of a Blood Red Rose”
Ella Endlich “Adrenalin”
Gregorian “Masters of Chant”
Jamie-Lee Kriewitz “Ghost”
Joco “Full Moon”
Keøma “Protected”
Laura Pinski “Under the Sun We Are One”
Luxuslärm “Solange Liebe in mir wohnt”
Woods of Birnam “Lift Me Up (From the Underground)”

So, what do you think? Did the right song win in Germany, or will we see the Ann Sophie effect once again?

FOLLOW ALL OUR GERMANY EUROVISION NEWS

George Vasileiadis

George Vasileiads is a wiwiblogger based in Kastoria, Greece. He became a Eurovision enthusiast back in 2009, when he saw Alexander Rybak playing the violin on stage in Moscow en route to receiving a legendary 387 points. He is a first-year high school student and dreams of watching the Eurovision Grand Final live. You can follow him on twitter @george_ESC_GR

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66 Comments

Linde Lund February 27, 2016 @ 11:39 am

Germany is one of the ESC 2016 favourites.
Many Betty MacDonald fan club ESC fans from all over the world adore the German ESC entry.
Jamie-Lee go for Gold!
Frank February 26, 2016 @ 5:54 pm

The best song has won..My new top 5
1. Austria
2. Spain
3. Cyprus
4. Iceland
5. Germany
MF February 26, 2016 @ 1:54 pm

I’m not over the moon about this song…it might have been the best to send to Eurovision though…I personally liked (at least listening to) Gregorian and Keoma
beccaboo1212 February 26, 2016 @ 11:45 am

That’s a great idea!!!
MTD February 26, 2016 @ 11:39 am

And “Black Smoke” last year DID NOT deserve its 0 points. This, on the contrary, maybe.
MTD February 26, 2016 @ 11:36 am

Did Germany used the on-screen graphics that she used back in 2011 when hosting (and in 2012 when producing) again? And in like every other year in between?
Brainpool, you little production un-inovative house. LOL
Don’t like the song neither the staging. I doubt someone would vote en masse for this.
Katy February 26, 2016 @ 11:34 am

I like the song right up until the end of the first chorus- but when you realise theres no progression and the whole of the song sounds the same, it gets a little dull.
@EugeneESCUK February 26, 2016 @ 10:07 am

With the Bookies already factoring Jamie-Lee in at No.5 in the betting Germany took a huge risk dressing Jamie-Lee like that. They obviously wanted her to look young and it was tighter than it needed to be. She is quirky and has a unique dress style, but at the ESC final the viewers won’t know it or get it. Now she has won, they will of course change it, but they must not change her quirkiness. They should focus on the dramatic song, vocals and staging and her styling needs to fit in with all of that otherwise it might be considered a novelty act.
I would also remove the backing singers from the stage, but they are probably there to provide support to the teenager. She has sung it much better of course and that needs to be perfected if she wants to do really well. Other than that it’s a REALLY good entry.
Ralph Siegel? He should call it a day now, Laura’s “Under the Sun We Are One” was just very dated and very very poor, he just does not understand the current ESC and so out of touch.
Brk February 26, 2016 @ 9:43 am

1. Austria
2. Cyprus
3. Germany
4. Iceland
5. Spain
Italy is my second but they will change the song so that’s why I don’t include it
If Switzerland improves the live performance they will make my top
I hope Bulgaria finds a decent song for Poli.
Travis February 26, 2016 @ 8:49 am

I think her 3 minute version on “The Voice” Final was better than yesterday…also her singing was not as good as usual (partwise it was actually bad) =/ hope she will do better and change the outfit… (Her outfit in the voice finals was so nice…I know I’m living in the past^^)
LucyPercy February 26, 2016 @ 8:13 am

She sounds like she’s desperately trying to be Chvrches and failing badly…to be honest I end up focusing on how hideous her outfit is, and ignore what could be a great song. Shame really.
oooops February 26, 2016 @ 7:40 am

Avantasia
Ben Rafter February 26, 2016 @ 7:32 am

She was definitely the best last night, however the song is SO boring.
Joyce February 26, 2016 @ 7:16 am

The problem with this performance is that the focus is mainly on the dress and how she looks. And the way she looks made the song itself kind of invisible.
I as tv watcher, could not connect with the song at all, and at the end the only thing I remembered was how Jamie lee looked. I could not remember the song…
Most people see her just once, the focus has to be right for people to connect to it!
Krerma February 26, 2016 @ 7:08 am

Welcome to the bottom Germany, and who knows… Maybe a back-to-back 0 points? Its very possible…
Leaf February 26, 2016 @ 5:12 am

It’s a good song, I love the stage tho HATE what she’s wearing ……. I would prefer her to even be in a sheet and pretend to be a ghost instead of Trolly from the Dolly Style.
But all in all, I find it very nicely written, very well produced and well sung ……. Tho she needs to relax a bit on stage, in some shots she looked terrified.
All in All,
7.5 out of 10, but what do I know …… Last year Ann Sophie was in my top 10.
fikri February 26, 2016 @ 4:45 am

wth. gregorian should’ve won!
CookyMonzta February 26, 2016 @ 4:31 am

@moco: You’re not the only one. I thought Keøma would steal it. And is it just me, or does part of Jamie-Lee’s chorus remind anyone of Rihanna’s “Umbrella”?
Mary February 26, 2016 @ 3:24 am

She’s a mix of Dolly Style and Kerli, but in a very bad way.
Brian February 26, 2016 @ 2:06 am

This is a good song, I wanted her to win despite the outfit, but I personally think she should change it for Stockholm. You may be extravagant but this is just a matter of simple bad taste
Adam February 26, 2016 @ 1:18 am

i just really can’t see the hype with this song tbh. It’s not bad and she’s a good singer but I just find this sooo boring and typical and nothing really special, the fact that its 3rd-4th favorite to win confuses me.
never forget February 26, 2016 @ 1:16 am

It sound like mix of Malta and Switzerland song from 2015, and costume is mix of Dolly Style and Yohio from MF .
eurana February 26, 2016 @ 1:08 am

I can see something YOHIO in her. I do not think that this will be ok in Stockholm, but I am not impressed. Currently my number 9 in personal top.
jowncarlo February 26, 2016 @ 1:07 am

YES! After having my heart broken by Belgium (Team Frantzis) and Italy (Team Strawberry), Germany just made me so happy.
My only problem with ‘Ghost’ is how they cut it. I’ve been jamming to it for weeks now and was waiting patiently for the three-minute version. I was really disappointed when they remove the bridge. It was the perfect build-up for the final chorus.
I uploaded my suggested version on YouTube, and hopefully it will make it to the Germany team. Sadly, it’s already blocked there. I don’t know. I just wish they will change how they cut the song for Stockholm.
https://youtu.be/en1TKdVO1jk
dramalama February 26, 2016 @ 12:39 am

all im goinh yo say is this. the dongs where rubbish apart from 2. if the uk sent these in their nf you would all be moaning and groaning fact.
Denis February 26, 2016 @ 12:29 am

For me this song is meh. Not bad but really not that interesting either, the typical harmless entries you find every year. Perhaps it needs a memorable chorus?
This is one of those that either will get in top 10 or bottom 10, so hard to predict. At least it’s better than the German entries we had these last years.
John Christian February 25, 2016 @ 11:58 pm

Very happy, indeed, for my CRUSH. She’s very CUTE.
Alex February 25, 2016 @ 11:38 pm

This was the best choice of the 3 songs in the superfinal, and this should lead to a better outcome for Germany this time. I like the song personally.
Andrew February 25, 2016 @ 11:37 pm

I`m ukrainian who happens to live in Germany. I want to say that from first look I don`t like this performance. Yes, song is ok, yes, vocal is good. But it is not something exciting… Maybe I should watch once more.
Freyah February 25, 2016 @ 11:30 pm

My new top 5:
1. Iceland
2. Italy
3. GERMANY
4. Switzerland
5. Malta
brunowskii February 25, 2016 @ 11:04 pm

As trash as Ann Sophie. .. sadly Germany null point
TheFlow February 25, 2016 @ 11:03 pm

I didnt have to ask myself “Is it right” (or is it wrong?!) to send this to Stockholm. I’m sure Germany wont deliver a “Glorious” performence with this, “No no NEVER”! Since Roman Lob there hasnt been an improvement, development is “Standing Still” and I just want to “Run and hide” from this mess or hope for Jamie Lee to “Disappear” and vanish like “Black Smoke” after a fire. Jamie Lee is no “Miss Kiss Kiss Bang” and when I see her I only think “Wadde hadde du denn da”?! So “Lets get happy” and hope the victory in Sweden will be “Taken by a (yet) stranger”, as I dont think any of the songs that has been selected so far will have any chance of winning.
No… Seriously. Televoting only? I cant decide who has the worst taste in Germany, the (SO CALLED) expert-Jury or the audiences.
davve February 25, 2016 @ 11:00 pm

I think Laura Pinski would have been the best choice. I like this song.. but it is kind of a “whatever” song in my opinion.. you neither love it or hate it… it will likelt score between 15th to 20th place I predict.
mocosuburbian February 25, 2016 @ 10:54 pm

while in the past week I grew to like Keoma over Kriewitz, this song is still right up my alley. great choice by Germany.
1) Ukraine , 2) Italy, 3) Germany, 4) Iceland, 5) Belgium, 6) Cyprus, 7) Austria, 8) Denmark, 9) Switzerland, 10) Albania
ct_greece February 25, 2016 @ 10:47 pm

It’s the third year in a row Germany sends some lesser version of Lena to the contest. Elaiza had the quirkiness, Ann Sophie had the sassiness and Jamie Lee has the …awkardness of Lena. And this will be yet another year that they will struggle to reach the top-20.
Perhaps they should try some good-looking male singer for a change next year. Remember Roman Lob? He did well.
Briekimchi February 25, 2016 @ 10:40 pm

Excellent choice, looking forward to seeing her in Stockholm!
Kjetil February 25, 2016 @ 10:37 pm

I’m from Germany, and yeah, I’m happy
Graph February 25, 2016 @ 10:29 pm

I have mixed thoughts about this song but by the standards of this year so far it’s pretty good.
My Top 5:
1. Albania
2. Malta
3. Bosnia & Herzegovina
4. Austria
5. Germany
Racal February 25, 2016 @ 10:24 pm

Not bad but boring… I couldn’t listen until the end, it felt like it lasted for 25 minutes. And what’s with the Sailor Moon outfit?
As I said, not bad but certainly doesn’t scream winner.
dutchie February 25, 2016 @ 10:17 pm

@charles
I don’t understand it either. I don’t feel anything when I listen to this song. Oh well, to each his own, I guess.
Nitzan February 25, 2016 @ 10:17 pm

????
Nitzan February 25, 2016 @ 10:16 pm

????
prc February 25, 2016 @ 10:15 pm

From megastar Xavier Naidoo to boring Kriewitz? Germans are reaaaaaallyyyyyyy crazyyyyyyy :DDDDD NULL POINTS
ct_greece February 25, 2016 @ 10:15 pm

A just ok song (not terrible but you do feel it drags on and on for no reason at all) made worse by her bad singing, uncomfortable stage presence and terrible outfit. She may improve by May, but I am afraid this is one of these filler songs that will pass completely unnoticed, like Elaiza. I didn’t like Gregorian that much, but at least they would get the audience’s attention and some votes. At least this year the germans have the excuse that none of the songs on offer were any good, unlike the previous two years when they had the songs but made the wrong choices.
#1 Ukraine
#2 Austria
#3 Switzerland
#4 Spain
#5 Cyprus
#6 Malta
#7 Denmark
#8 Iceland
#9 Germany
#10 Ireland
#11 Bosnia Herzegovina
#12 Belgium
#13 Georgia
#14 Belarus
@EugeneESCUK February 25, 2016 @ 10:08 pm

She’s about to go 3rd favourite, Sweden drops to 5th!!
TheFlow February 25, 2016 @ 10:06 pm

I predicted the superfinal, very obvious for German audiences AND Again…. My country disappointed me…BIG TIME. I mean, the pre selection was awful enough. Best act of the night were the Common Linnets, as an Interval act Avantasia would have deserved the win, at least they would stand out in Stockholm. With that Manga-Jailbate it will be – again – a disaster. Maybe not 0 points, but definitely lower right hand side of the ranking.
This song makes me fall asleep… They should have done it like Finland…1:20 is enough for that song. Heard a verse, the chorus…and theres not more to it, just a sleeping pill.
Österrike February 25, 2016 @ 10:05 pm

This song contest is shaping up to become extremely boring. ALL songs are so snoozy and unoriginal, I cannot take it anymore. Maybe I should skip this year and fast forward to 2017. This years motto should be “43 shades of grey”….. Germany is the center of boredom so far.
AndersP February 25, 2016 @ 9:58 pm

Wow, love this song. If this ends up at the bottom like Black Smoke it will be an utter travesty. I really hope featuring the big 5 in the semi finals will neutralise the under marking of songs like this.
Pedro February 25, 2016 @ 9:56 pm

Is she competing for the Barbara Dex Award?
ohhh February 25, 2016 @ 9:53 pm

We can say only one – next deserved 0 pts for Germany. Call Xavier Naidoo, tell him sorry and choose a song for him. Because this is… Who can vote for this average pop? Nobody. What is wrong with Germany last two years?
Österrike February 25, 2016 @ 9:52 pm

Certainly the best German entry since 2012, but she cannot keep up with lovely Lena. Satellite and Taken by a stranger were much stronger, Ghost sounds kinda like a forgettable lullaby
ben005 February 25, 2016 @ 9:51 pm

With more confidence she could finish in top 10.
DenizNL February 25, 2016 @ 9:50 pm

Vwry happy with this. Jamie Lee is a very beautiful girl and she has good vocals (that’s why she won The Voice). Ghost is an awesome song. This will actually be an awesome year!
(Oh and I didn’t expect the Common Linnets to be there xD)
Robyn Gallagher February 25, 2016 @ 9:49 pm

I know Jamie-Lee is already hugely popular in Germany and that’s not something that can be replicated in Stockholm, but “Ghost” is a really decent song that – all going well – will be one of the stand-out performances at the grand final.
I’m not sure about her anime styling, though. It looks like she’s assembled her outfit from Dolly Style’s discarded costumes from Melfest 2015.
Mar February 25, 2016 @ 9:47 pm

Great choice, Germany! Straight to my #1. I do hope that they work on the staging and her overall presence so that the chorus can pack more of a punch.
David Who February 25, 2016 @ 9:46 pm

Well done Germany. I always liked that song ever since it came out at the end of last year. She’s very young but she feels real enough on stage to do well; I think perhaps winning ‘The Voice of Germany’ has given her more skills and added confidence. I look forward to her performance in the final of ESC.
Charles February 25, 2016 @ 9:43 pm

Elle Henderson’s Ghost sounds way better than this … it just goes nowhere with no emotion or conviction in the vocal performance. Whatever reason why people here love here is beyond me.
PP February 25, 2016 @ 9:40 pm

1.Ukraine
2.Spain
3.Belgium
4.Germany
5.Denmark
6.Cyprus
7.Belarus
8.Georiga
9.Bosnia-Herzegovina
10.Iceland
11.Switzerland
12.Austria
13.Albania ( we wait new version in english)
14.Italy ( maybe they change the song)
15.Malta (they wili change the song)
16.Ireland
No Name February 25, 2016 @ 9:37 pm

This song is growing on me and she was amazing live. Only thing that bothers me is her presence at stage, she seems a little uncomfortable. I hope she’ll be working on that until May!
cheesecake February 25, 2016 @ 9:36 pm

So happy about the results. Fantastic performance, outstanding song, lovely artist. Straight to my #1 and hopefully in the top 10 in Stockholm!
Alex February 25, 2016 @ 9:36 pm

I heard the songs for the first time tonight and the only ones that caught my attention were Gregorian and Alex Diehl. Alex Diehl ended up being my favourite as you could see that the song meant something to him. So in my opinion Germany has made a big mistake in sending Jamie Lee who just stood there and sung a song that went nowhere.
PP February 25, 2016 @ 9:35 pm

She is best of that 3 songs in supefinal. I don t know why with Gregorian didn t sing Amelia Brightman younger sister of Sarah.
Edre February 25, 2016 @ 9:34 pm

God, she’s so cute I’d like to hug her! And the song’s not bad at all, it could place high just like Germany 2012, the style is quite similar. Actually, it’s my second place.
1. Ukraine
2. Germany
3. Iceland
4. Cyprus
5. Switzerland
@EugeneESCUK February 25, 2016 @ 9:32 pm

Firstly well done Germany THAT is how you do a National Final, no gaps or ridiculous chat between songs. No messing.
Secondly well done Germany again for doing the right thing THAT is some song and staging, not sure about the outfit though.
This is a strong contender; she has the charm and the charisma and really connects with the audience and has the star quality needed to do well. This has a chance of doing very very well indeed.
MGR February 25, 2016 @ 9:30 pm

sexy
Colin February 25, 2016 @ 9:30 pm

Congratulations, Germany! Great song won! Lovely lyrics, great voice, also catchy and commercial enough. I think Germany has a legit shot at winning this year.

Number of migrants swells on closed Greece-Macedonia border

IDOMENI, Greece | By Lefteris Papadimas

The number of migrants awaiting passage to central and northern Europe swelled on Greece's border with Macedonia on Wednesday as the frontier remained shut, adding to a humanitarian crisis and deep fissures within the European Union.Aid workers said the situation at Idomeni, a small border town in northern Greece, could easily spin out of control with no let-up in the number of refugees gathering for passage into Macedonia.
Living in filth, families with small children jostled for space in waterlogged fields, waiting for a crack in the border fence, which Macedonian authorities opened intermittently.
By midday on Wednesday the border had opened once, Greek police said, allowing 170 people through.
"There are 11,000 people here and conditions are very bad," said Antonis Rigas of charity Medicins Sans Frontieres.
"We worry that if it exceeds 12,000 the situation might get out of hand," he said.

Macedonian authorities have defended their stance. "Our daily admittance of migrants will depend on how many will be accepted in EU countries," Interior Minister Oliver Spasovski, told reporters in Skopje.
"It is very important to secure humane treatment and admit these people, but it’s no less important that we protect the Macedonian citizens and police."
Macedonian police fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of migrants who stormed the border from Greece on Monday, tearing down a metal gate.
The European Union has called an emergency summit with Turkey on March 7, hoping for a consensus to implement an accord on the distribution of refugees and migrants fleeing conflict and poverty in the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. Many arrive in Greece on small, unsafe, boats from Turkey.
More than one million people fled Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan last year. Around 131,000 have reached Europe so far in 2016.
At Idomeni, a grassy plain, a tent community was growing rapidly in the mud, stretching resources to the limit. The average wait for a small package of food consisting of a sandwich and a boiled egg was two to three hours.
Some people had no shelter.
"We will sleep on the ground," said Hassan Fatahalla, 25, from Idlib in northwest Syria, who arrived at the camp with his wife Shakeri, nine months' pregnant. "We want to go to Germany ... it will be a better future for the baby."
People continued to arrive as dusk approached, many of them on foot. An elderly couple, both in wheelchairs, made their way to the makeshift camp. A younger family emptied a wheelie bin and placed their two children in it, rolling it down the road.
(Additional reporting by Kole Casule in Skopje, Writing By Michele Kambas; Editing by Janet Lawrence)

Betty MacDonald Fan Club

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

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Germany: Jamie-Lee Kriewitz wins Unser Lied für Stockholm with “Ghost” ⁶⁶

Our first reaction to her win

Unser Lied für Stockholm finalists

FOLLOW ALL OUR GERMANY EUROVISION NEWS

George Vasileiadis

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