To date, three different German newspapers are presenting their own entries in the national final Countdown Grand Prix. Now, a fourth gazette has made a cooperation with a participant of the German preselection. The teen magazine Yam! is presenting the band Freistil (picture) and their entry 'Hörst Du meine Lieder' ('Do you hear my songs'). Another all-male group in the final, the christian band Beatbetrieb, is nominated for the German music award Echo.

Simon Peter, chief editor of the youth magazine Yam! explained the engagement like this: “Freistil are proving that pop music neither is or has to be be hollow. The band is producing an outstanding guitar pop with sometimes funny, sometimes profound German lyrics, which are always one thing: intelligent.” The magazine plans several campaigns to increase the band’s popularity, including school gigs and a videoclip. Simon Peter rated Freistil’s entry to the German final as a song with a “guaranteed goosebump feeling”. He explained further: “They don’t have to win the Grand Prix, but they have to be heard.” Should they win the German final, the magazine will accompany them on their way to Riga.

The Christian band Beatbetrieb, which will perform their song 'Woran glaubst du' ('What do you believe in') in the German final, is nominated – among four other candidates – as best newcomer for the prestigious German music award Echo, which will take place February 15th in Berlin.

Audioclips of all Countdown Grand Prix entries will be available on the official NDR website from February 7th, the same day when the compilation CD of all 14 songs will be released.