In a recent poll held by German news agency ddp, every third person asked named singer Herbert Grönemeyer ('Mensch') as their favorite representative for the European Song Contest 2004 in Istanbul. Grönemeyer can look back on over 20 years of ever successful career in Germany.

Following up in the poll with 18% each were Sarah Connor ('Bounce') and Neue Deutsche Welle-star Nena ('Nur geträumt'), co-host of the German national final of 1998. There seems to be not much trust into the recent casting show participants: only 9% of the respondents wanted the winner of the next Deutschland sucht den Superstar season to represent Germany. Dieter Bohlen, mastermind of recently split trash-pop band Modern Talking and producer of many a Superstar-record, was named by 8% only.

Despite his overwhelming success in the poll, it has to be considered as very unlikely that Herbert Grönemeyer will take the public offer. Meanwhile, former German Eurovision participant Stefan Raab (2000, 'Wadde hadde dudde da') is rumoured to be interested in another go, as TV magazine Hörzu claims in its recent edition. Raab, who has to face sinking ratings with his daily comedy show TV total, neither confirmed nor disclaimed the rumour yet.