On February 16th, Germany selected its representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 in Das Deutsche Finale, the German preselection for the European competition.
Isaak represents youth and emerging talents seeking their place in the world of music. After participating in several televised competitions, the young artist will finally travel to the Malmö Arena where he will perform “Always On The Run.” With the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 on the horizon, it’s time to get to know each of the contenders vying for the crystal microphone.
How did he make it to Eurovision? What experience does he have in the music industry? What does his proposal, with which he will compete in Malmö 2024, mean? Today, the focus is on the German, Isaak. We delve into his journey to learn more about Germany’s flag bearer in the 68th edition of the European competition.
Who is ISAAK?
Isaak Guderian, born on January 31, 1995, in Minden, North Rhine-Westphalia, is a German-Icelandic singer and musical theater actor. Raised in Porta Westfalica, he currently resides in Espelkamp with his wife and two children. From a young age, he showed innate talent for music, starting as a street musician and standing out for his voice. He continued his self-taught training and later joined a band, participating in numerous auditions both as part of a group and solo.
His first major television opportunity came in 2011 when he participated in the German version of X Factor, impressing the judges with his rendition of Oasis’s “Wonderwall”. This experience marked the beginning of his career. Over the years, Isaak has dedicated himself to music, performing in venues and alternative festivals. At the age of 18, he founded his own business to cover musical events. The year 2020 was a turning point in his career as he took advantage of the lockdown to write his own songs, such as “Too Late” and “Sober”, which were successful on the German charts.
In 2021, Isaak solidified his musical style with the release of several singles, including “One Life”, “Shelter”, “Free”, “Impact”, “Water To The Seed”, and “Finally”.
In late 2023, he decided to compete in Das Deutsche Finale, the German preselection for Eurovision, with his song “Always On The Run”, with which he managed to prevail and become the German representative at Eurovision 2024.
“Always On The Run” the German entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024.
Isaak will perform “Always On The Run” in Malmö 2024, a well-crafted English pop song that blends powerful sounds with quieter moments. This contrast aims to underline Isaak’s ambivalent and conflicted inner world.
The artist sings about life’s contrasts, light and shadow, joy and sadness, doubts and self-confidence. These opposites form the thematic core of the German proposal. In “Always On The Run,” Isaak reflects on these contradictions. Therefore, he wanted to put them on paper and transform them into music.
The song aims to be a testimony to the ability to navigate emotional depths, as Isaak himself asserts. Musically, the German representative states that his song is “a distinctive and captivating musical odyssey, with stimulating highs.”
“Always On The Run” was officially released on all digital platforms on January 19th, along with the other entries from Das Deutsche Finale.
Isaak Guderian joined forces with Kevin Lehr, Leo Jupiter, and Greg Taro to compose the song. Interestingly, Greg Taro is the brother of the Spanish-German artist Álvaro Soler. The singer was part of the international panel that voted in Das Deutsche Finale.
On the other hand, the musical production was handled by Leo Jupiter and Kevin Lehr from the record labels Good Kid Records and Polydor Records. Additionally, the official music video for the proposal was directed by Kevin Hensler.
Lyrics of «Always On The Run»
I am nothing but the average
Even though I‘m special to some
I can’t refuse I‘m going under
No one gives a …
about what’s soon to come
What’s soon to come
I know my blessing with the privilege
Of doing anything I want
But I don’t feel like getting stronger
In my mind it’s just a game that can’t be won
That can’t be won
I‘m always on the run, run, run, run
Close but never done, done, done, done
I can’t break out when I‘m free
Lost in my own identity
I‘m on the run, run, run, run
I‘m always on the
Run na na eh, run na na eh
Run na na eh, run na na eh
Run na na eh, run na na eh
Run na na eh, run na na eh
All I do is keep my head up
But it’s time to keep the pace
Like I‘m haunted by the voices
Deep within oh they‘re just never gonna fade (run na na eh)
Not gonna fade
I‘m always on the run, run, run, run
Close but never done, done, done, done
I can’t break out when I‘m free
Lost in my own identity
I‘m on the run, run, run, run
I‘m always on the
Run na na eh, run na na eh
Run na na eh, run na na eh
Run na na eh, run na na eh
Run na na eh, run na na eh
Run from the silence
Screaming for guidance
Who am I fighting for
Get out of my head
I‘m so sick and tired
Can’t do this anymore
Run from the silence
Screaming for guidance
Who am I fighting for
Get out of my head
I‘m so sick and tired
Can’t do this anymore
Run from the silence
Screaming for guidance
Who am I fighting for
Get out of my head
I‘m so sick and tired
Can’t do this anymore
Run from the silence
Screaming for guidance
Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest
Germany was one of the founding countries of the Eurovision Song Contest in 1956. Since then, including its participation in Malmö 2024, the country has made 69 appearances.
Let’s remember that in all its participations, Germany has reached the grand final except for Oslo 1996. In that edition, the German entry by Leon with “Blauer Planet” reached twenty-fourth place with 24 points in the non-televised preceding semifinal, which prevented them from competing in the contest. This was the only time Germany couldn’t participate in the grand final of the competition.
The country has 2 victories in the contest: Nicole with “Ein Bißchen Frieden” in 1982 and Lena with “Satellite” in 2010. Additionally, Germany has hosted the contest in Frankfurt (1957), Munich (1983), and Düsseldorf (2011). It holds the record for the worst placement in a Eurovision grand final, with the twenty-seventh place achieved by Ann Sophie and her “Black Smoke” in Vienna 2015, the only edition with 27 entries in the final. Specifically, Germany has finished last 9 times (1964, 1965, 1974, 1995, 2005, 2015, 2016, 2022, and 2023). On the other hand, it has reached the Top 10 a total of 35 times, being among the top 3 on 11 occasions.
In 2023, Germany was represented by the group Lord Of The Lost. With their song “Blood And Glitter”, they failed to get past the last place with only 18 points. Thus, Germany found itself in last place for the second consecutive year.