There are withdrawals from the newly revamped German national final. Hamburg-based hip hop band Beginner, who were part of the original line-up of Germany 12 points!, announced on their website that they “have to withdraw our participation in the preselection to the Grand Prix 2004”. Rockband Donots also disappeared from the participants list.
Meanwhile, NDR has confirmed Beginner's withdrawal. Still no reasons were given, the broadcaster told esctoday they were “taken aback by Beginner's rejection” and do not “know more than what is written on the band's homepage”. A small statement on the website of the rap-combo reads: “Dear Humans, as a result of a disillusioning experience, regretfully we have to withdraw our participation in the preselection. We are simply lacking of enough life experience to competently master this last still existing barrier in showbusiness… Germany 0 points.”
Meanwhile, a second originally named participant disappeared from the list: rockband Donots are not mentioned any longer on the official broadcaster's website, bringing down the number of yet known finalists to 7. Up to 12 participants are awaited to battle for a ticket to Istanbul on March 19, when the German preselection will take place in Berlin, including a number of wildcards given away shortly before the final.
The recent participants list, including yet known songtitles, reads as following German releasedate for the single in brickets :
Laith al-Deen: Höher (Higher) 01.03.04
Mia: Hungriges Herz (Hungry Heart)
Overground: to be announced
Sabrina Setlur: Liebe (Love) 08.12.03
Scooter: Jigga Jigga! 08.12.03
WestBam: Dancing With The Rebels 16.02.04
Wonderwall: Silent Tears 15.03.04
