Review: “Das deutsche Finale 2024” (Germany)

Germany will choose an artist and a song for Eurovision 2024 via “Das deutsche Finale 2024″.
9 artists will compete in the show, which will be held on Friday (the 16th of February 2024).
The results will be determined by a combination of public and international jury votes.
In this post, I will review the competing songs.

#1.Bodine Monet – Tears Like Rain

It is a country-pop-folk mid-tempo ballad.
The song opens with acoustic guitar stringing. We are getting a short instrumental into, and the first verse follows. The first verse has a monotonous and specific flow. She sings it softly and gently, with a mid-high tone of voice.
The pre-chorus is short and based on a more sparse melody. She sings it with some manners.
The chorus is catchier. The melody is based on keyboards and guitar playing. A slow tempo is added towards its end. Bodine performs the chorus with a warm voice and lengthens some of the notes.
A short transition part follows, which is composed of humming and guitar stringing.
The second verse is quite calming. She sings it in a mid-tone voice. We can also hear a kind of secondary vocals performed in a higher tone. A mini pre-chorus follows.
The second chorus comes immediately afterwards, and relies on the same structure as the first one.
The transition part is longer and proceeds the bridge, In the bridge, the melody is based on keyboards playing. She sings this part more emotionally and with a scent of fragility. We can also hear percussion and orchestral string elements.
She sings a very long note, and we get the final chorus with the same guitar playing as before.
Bodine is an excellent vocalist, and the general vibe is of warm and soft atmosphere. I am not sure how effective it will be on the big stage.

#2. GALANT- Katze

It is an Indie-pop song, performed in the German language.
The song starts with almost effortless singing. The first part is a kind of introduction. The melody is based on electronic keyboards and synth elements. The structure is cyclic.
Thereafter, we get the first verse. This part is a bit faster. The melody is based on synth elements and bass-made beat. We can also hear a clapping effect. The second half of this part is performed in a speaking way.
The chorus is more mysterious. The singing involved whispers and mewing. The melody is based on richer layers, featuring guitar stringing and electronic keyboards. Lyrics wisely, the chorus includes one sentence only.
The second verse follows. It is quite short and the production goes in a modern direction, consisting of several studio effects. The beat has a “bubble” sound, and we can also hear male backing vocals.
The second chorus comes after. The melody is based on drums, bass and electronic guitar, while the main part is based on keyboards playing The hook is longer this time, and this also includes a short instrumental part.
The bridge starts with heavy breaths. The melody goes into an avantgarde direction. The melody is based on deep and wild bass stringing mixed with electronic keyboards playing.
The song ends with a final chorus, this time with a more rocky vibe, as the bass and electronic guitar play the main role.
Overall, it is a kind of experimental attempt. However, I feel like the singing and lyrics got lower priority when creating this song. I would like to get more singing, and a richer chorus. Production wise, I think it is flawless.

#3. Isaak – Always On The Run

It is a pop-rock song.
The song opens with guitar stringing. Quickly after we can hear Isaak with his raspy voice. The melody is based on simple keyboards playing, guitar playing and soft dream beat. The second half of this verse relies more on guitar playing.
Pre-chorus has a faster rate. The melody is based on soft-mid-tempo drums and bass. The lyrics are based on repeating specific words like “run” and “done”. We can hear some backing vocals as well.
The chorus is similar to the per-chorus lyrics wisely. However, the backing vocals are more towards vocal decorations. The melody is based on echoing bass playing and uniform electric guitar playing.
The second verse goes in a more rock direction, as the presence of the bass and electronic guitar is greater. He sings more powerfully. This verse is shorter than the first one.
The second pre-chorus comes afterwards. Its melody is based on simple keyboards playing, mid-tempo drum beat and guitar playing.
The second chorus follows, this time with denser bass stringing.
The bridge starts with minimal production. He sings it softly and with a higher tone of voice. The melody is based on keyboards playing. Later on, we can hear an alert sound as well.
The outro is a soft rock piece. The production still stays in a more minimal texture, but vocal wisely, we can hear more anger and volume.
Overall, it is a great radio-friendly song, and the emotions are well delivered. I am not sure if it is competitive enough, but for sure it can be elevated live.

#4. Leona – Undream You

It is a ballad.
The song starts with acoustic guitar playing. Leona opens the first verse in a soft-angelic stable voice. The flow is slow, and she guides us through the guitar chords with her voice.
The pre-chorus includes one line only. The melody changes a bit.
The chorus is based on acoustic guitar and keyboard playing. Once again, the emphasis is on her voice, while the melody itself if kept quite simple.
The second verse is quite similar to the first one. However, this time the keyboards play a greater role in the melody.
A short pre-chorus transits us to the chorus, which gets a more classical direction, as orchestral string elements are added.
The bridge is more dreamy: we can hear rich backing vocals in the background. The production gives it an atmosphere of a Disney ballad. Vocal wise, she uses some manners to help her rich higher notes.
The song continues with one last chorus, which opens with soft percussion elements. This part is performed with modulation. The chorus is based on keyboard and guitar playing. However, it ends with a very simple guitar stringing.
The song is of the kind of song which I name “tiny intimate songs”. It is a singer-songwriter ballad that aims to tell a story. She is a great vocalist and has the ability to tell a story. Will it be enough for Eurovision? I am not sure, maybe the visuals can push it forward.

#5. Marie Reim – Naiv

It is a schlager song, performed in the German language.
The song starts immediately with the chorus. The melody is based on keyboard playing and festive production obtained by drum dance beat.
The first verse is based on keyboards playing. Her singing is powerful and full of manners, even though the melody is quite flat and calm. That’s why I felt that sometimes she just pushed too much. Towards the end, the beat starts to build up again.
Thereafter, we get the second chorus, which as expected is pompous. This time, we can hear guitar playing as well. The melody is quite monotonous and goes predictably.
Thereafter, we get an additional verse which is based mainly on keyboards playing. This time the melody gets a twist, as more string elements are added.
The 3rd chorus follows. Thereafter, we get the bridge, which is based on unified beat and guitar playing. This is where she uses some vocal decorations, as the production is calmer.
The song ends with the last chorus, this time with a different beat (less danceable).
I feel like this one is dated. In general, the Schlager pop genre is more related to several decades ago, but it is possible to create a song with a bit more modern production. It will probably approach the older audience more easily. I don’t see it creating the required impact for Germany to get out of the danger zone of bottom 5 in the final.

#6. Max Mutzke – Forever Strong

It is a mid-low tempo soul ballad, with influences of American music.
The first verse opens with piano playing. Thereafter, Max starts singing, while processed-string elements are added. We can also hear the effect of “forest-whistles”. His voice is bold, and he is accompanied by pre-recoded backing vocals.
The first pre-chorus features softer intrepatiation, as Max sings with a higher tone of voice. The rate is slower, and the emphasis is on the piano playing. This part ends with the sound of a pounding heart (as suggested in the lyrics).
The chorus relies mainly on guitar playing, but later on the piano is back. He sings this soulfully and powerfully.
The second chorus sounds similar to the first one. However, the used effects are different (for example echo).
The chorus comes after, this time with a a mid-tempo beat accompanying the melody. He adds some manners to his voice.
The bridge suggests a change in the melody, it turns into a more dramatic direction. The singing is more intense. The melody is based on faster keyboards playing.
His warm voice leads us to the last chorus, which starts completely un-plugged. It builds up slowly to the frame we’ve heard in the previous choruses. The song ends with a decaying piano playing
It sounds like a song to get warm to in the winter, or even a song you can listen to while drinking at a bar. Would it be the right choice for Eurovision? As pleasant as it is, I am afraid it won’t make people pick up their phones to vote for this. I might appeal to the jury though.

#7. NinetyNine – Love On A Budget

It is a pop-rock song.
The song starts with electric guitar stringing. The lead singer sings almost effortlessly, in a mid-low tone of voice. Later on, we can hear a uniform beat added to the melody.
The first pre-chorus is more melodical, as the flow is continuous. The melody is also based on keyboards playing.
The chorus takes a swing into rock music. The melody is based on percussion elements and electric guitar playing. Therefore, he sings this part in a more raspy voice. The chorus ends in soft reciting
The second verse is based on keyboards and guitar playing. The melody is more uniform.
The second pre-chorus is faster, and features a mid-tempo beat.
The chorus is based on electric and bass guitar, he sings slightly more powerfully. This time the chorus is longer and more interesting. It resonates with some vocal effects and singing in a higher tone of voice.
The song ends in a cyclic way with the same string loop as in the beginning.
Overall, the song isn’t one of the most original ones I’ve heard this season. It’s a radio-friendly song, but there it stays with no special addition.

#8. Ryk – Oh Boy

It is a dynamic indie ballad,
The song starts with a semi-dramatic piano playing. The rate is quite intense for a ballad. Ryk enters with his unique voice. The piano chords carefully accompany the storytelling. The first verse ends with doubled vocals.
The first pre-chorus features humming, the melody is based on piano playing, however as we progress, an alarm sound starts taking over the melod and wraps it with tension and expectations.
The chorus is breathtaking, as the production suggests, a union of piano playing with the alarm, this time sampled as a beat. The vocals are sharp and the performance is emotional. Vocal wise, we get a wide range.
The second verse follows, Ryk sings it in a higher tone of voice, and with some vocal manners. He rephrases some of the words. The melody is similar to the one presented in the first part of the song. The melody includes a ticking clock as well.
The second chorus follows, this time the melody is based on orchestral string elements (violin?) and piano playing.
The bridge is built like a dialogue, with the first part pre-recorded while Ryk sings emotionally the second part (the answers). He even whispers in part of the time.
We get the dramatic alarm again, this time with a very virtuous vocal performance. Ryk gives a long and highly impressive note that breaks into the chorus. The last chorus leaves a strong impression as well, this time with a greater orchestral presence.
I consider “Oh Boy” to be one of the most exciting songs I’ve heard recently. There is something addictive about listening to it. This is how to create an emotional ballad without falling into chichs. In addition, the production level is high and the whole composition is great and sophisticated.
This is Germany’s chance to finally get out of the “bottom 5” danger zone, and even much beyond. I can see the jury easlity supporting it.

#9. Floryan – Scars

It is a singer-songwriter ballad.
The song starts with piano playing. The first verse is based on a quite standard melody. He starts with singing with some vibrato.
The first pre-chorus comes with a melody’s change. The first part of each line is performed faster, while the second half is performed in longer musical boxes.
The chorus is more memorable, it features backing vocals as well. Something in this reminds me of “Incomplete” by Backstreet Boys. He finalized this part with softer high falsetto vocals.
The second verse follows. It is based on piano playing as well. It is quite slow, and thus enables him to showcasse his vocal abilities.
The second per-chorus features a slow drum beat which is combined naturally into the melody.
The chorus starts as a bridge with rich backing vocals. The production is mininal, and the focus is on the vocals.
Unfortunately, I find this song quite forgetable. Even though the vocals are great, it stays flat.

Personal Ranking

Ryk – Oh Boy
Leona – Undream You
Bodine Monet – Tears like Rain
Galant – Katze
Max Mutzke – Forever Strong
Isaak – Always on the Run
Marie Reim – Naiv
NinetyNine – Love on a Budget
Floryan – Scars

Prediction

Germany can be quite unpredictable in selecting its Eurovision act.
I see 4 acts as potential winners: Ryk, Max Mutzke, Leona and Bodine Monet, with most likely the first 2 ones.

Which song is your favorite one?
Who will represent Germany at Eurovision 2024?

Eurovision 2024 will be held in Malmö, Sweden.
The semi-finals will be held on the 7th and 9th of May 2024, and the grand final will be held on the 11th of May 2024.
Finland will compete in the second half of semi-final 1.