The German music scene is buzzing with excitement following the recent victory of the sibling duo Abor & Tynna, who have been chosen to represent Germany at the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, set to take place on May 17 in Basel, Switzerland. Their win at the pre-selection event, titled "Chefsache ESC 2025 - Wer singt für Deutschland?", was marked by their infectious performance of the song "Baller," which captivated both the audience and the jury.
Hosted by Barbara Schöneberger, the final saw Abor & Tynna narrowly beating out competition from the Berlin-based singer LYZA. The duo's eclectic musical style, combining pop, hip-hop, and electronic elements, won them the popular vote, securing 34.9% of the total audience votes. LYZA followed closely with 31.1%, showcasing the fierce competition present during this year's selection.
Abor & Tynna hail from Vienna, coming from a musically inclined family. Their father is a cellist with the renowned Vienna Philharmonics, which significantly influenced their artistic development. "We will represent Germany at the ESC with pride," the duo stated during the celebratory moments following their win, reflecting their enthusiasm and aspirations to succeed internationally.
Stefan Raab, who has taken on the role of organizing the event, noted early on the potential of Abor & Tynna's entry. He referred to "Baller" as the "youngest song" in the competition. A lively anthem, it captures themes of heartbreak wrapped up with catchy hooks, appealing to modern audiences. Max Giesinger, one of the jury members, remarked, “The generation TikTok can directly celebrate it,” pointing to the song's contemporary relevance and broad appeal.
This year's German pre-selection marked the significant return of Germany with a song sung entirely in German, the first since Roger Cicero's heartfelt number "Frauen regier'n die Welt" back in 2007. The choice to present "Baller" has raised hopes throughout Germany, indicating a renewed strategy to reclaim the country's status within the esc arena after several lackluster years.
The lead-up to the selection was marked by great anticipation, with over 3,300 applicants vying for the coveted role to perform for Germany at the esc. The selection process involved preliminary rounds judged by Raab and a jury comprising fellow musicians, who highlighted various talents throughout the auditions.
While Abor & Tynna's innovative approach stood out, several other notable acts competed fiercely. Among them was the Munich band Cosby, known for their emotional ballads, which received high praise for their heartfelt performance. They, along with traditionalist rockers Feuerschwanz, who brought Medieval rock to the stage, and up-and-coming artists like Julika and Moss Kena, showcased the diversity of talents exploring various musical genres.
The jury had difficult decisions to make throughout the process. “We can only apologize to those who didn’t make it through,” remarked Raab, acknowledging the wealth of talent present this year. The recent decisions not only underline the challenge of curatorial choices but also reflect Germany’s growing musical vibrancy.
Throughout the live shows, the atmosphere was charged with excitement, with the competitors showcasing concepts and performances aligned with their artistry. The decision-making culminated during audience voting, which gave ample weight to public taste over solely jury impressions. This year’s mix of styles and genres really brought something fresh to the front, encouraging democracy through audience participation.
Looking forward to the grand finale, plans are being made for how to bring "Baller" to the international stage, with Raab confirming he would convene with the duo and their team soon to discuss staging opportunities. The momentum behind Abor & Tynna is palpable, and fans of the duo are now eagerly awaiting innovative ideas to be revealed as they prepare for Switzerland.
The cousins’ career path reflects growth, drawing on their classical roots but venturing outward to retrain their sound and audience engagement. Having been nurtured through their familial connections to classical music, they are now stepping forward with confidence, as this competitive insight earns them the respect needed to begin their international career.
The Eurovision Song Contest historically features many unexpected turns. With Germany’s struggles over the past few years juxtaposed with current initiatives revitalizing the approach, expectations are high for Abor & Tynna as they seek to carve their name within European music folklore.
Will they be able to transform the hopeful promise of their victory at the pre-selection stage to success on the grand Eurovision stage? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure: Abor & Tynna have their hearts set on paving the way for Germany to rediscover its glory at the ESC.