Gerry Friedle, better known as DJ Ötzi, will not participate in the Austrian national final song.null.fünf, as news.at reported today.
Friedle's manager, Wolfgang Kaminski said in an interview with TV Media magazine: “The Eurovision Song Contest is charming, but ORF has the wrong modus. It is irresponsible to ask artists to participate without giving them concrete songs. Without songs, the precondition for success is missing.”
Kaminski earlier said that DJ Ötzi was invited by ORF to participate in the Austrian final, which will consist of five different artist singing two songs each (making it ten entries in total, from which the televoters are to chose their favorite to represent Austria in Kiev). Now it seems that Ötzi has some problems to come up with two original songs. His latest hit catalogue predominantley is made of cover versions of lesser known songs.
Markus Spiegel from broadcaster ORF responded: “I'm hoping that Friedle will think it over again. Seeing the status quo of his career, I see more chances than risks.”
