Bundesvision 2010: Lower Saxony

Dirk Darmstaedter & Bernd Begemann: So geht das jede Nacht

Sometimes, in order to move forward, you must first look back. Sometimes, you have to look really far back - as in 54 years back. That is certainly what Dirk Darmstaedter and Bernd Begemann are thinking with their song So geht das jede Nacht.

Well, I say "their" song, but actually So geht das jede Nacht is a cover of one of Germany's two entries into the 1956 Eurovision Song Contest, as sung by Freddy Quinn. It was, and still is, a groovy rockabilly tune that sounded, and still sounds, like part of the American Graffiti or the Happy Days soundtrack. It is hard to tell at this point, as the Dirk Darmstaedter and Bernd Begemann version will not be released until September 10, 2010, but from live performances it appears that their version is a pretty faithful reproduction of the original.

I guess that's fine, but it strikes me that there are a couple of factors working against Dirk and Bernd. First, the Bundesvision Song Contest is supposed to be a reaction against the Eurovision Song Contest. As the song did not even win Eurovision in 1956, it is hard to imagine it doing particularly well in Bundesvision 2010. Second, when stacked up against music that speaks directly to the current generation of Germans both musically and lyrically, it is hard to imagine a 54 year old song making that same connection. While it may be unfair to judge a song from one live video before it is even released, I'm going to go out on a limb to say that surely Lower Saxony could have done better.

Prediction: While it is a fun enough song for those still into the concept of wearing bowling shirts and going to sock hops, So geht das jede Nacht strikes me as little more than a novelty act competing against real songs. Dirk Darmstaedter and Bernd Begemann will be lucky to claw their way out of the bottom 5 with So geht das jede Nacht.