Deutschland sucht den Superstar (season 8)
Deutschland sucht den Superstar Season 8 is the eighth season of the Idol series in Germany which is airing on RTL and started on January 8, 2011. The winner got a recording contract with Universal Music Group. Nina Eichinger and Volker Neumüller were removed from the panel and were replaced by Fernanda Brandao and Patrick Nuo. Marco Schreyl returned as the host. DSDS has extended participation privileges to Austria and Switzerland. Pietro Lombardi won the competition.
Sixty people were injured on March 27 in a stampede when a large crowd showed up for an autograph session with this season's participants at CentrO in Oberhausen. More than two dozen people were hospitalized. The victims of the injuries were between 12 and 17 years old and injuries include broken bones, shock, and loss of consciousness. Emergency treatment tents to handle the crowd. The organizers were only expecting 5,000 fans to show up, but an estimated 19,000 people attended. There were no charges laid after the investigation was completed in July.
Controversies
The Hamburger Morgenpost questioned whether RTL misquoted DSDS Top 10 candidate Anna-Carina Woitschack. In an interview, Anna-Carina was quoted as saying "It was cut together all wrong. I never said that I hate Sarah - but on the contrary, I do not hate Sarah Engels. That is what I said. But it was cut this way by RTL, because it looks good for the show."RTL received a statement from the Office of Public Safety stating that Sebastian Wurth was not allowed to participate after 10 PM. RTL was also fined 15,000 Euro for the incident.
The Hamburger Morgenpost questioned whether the liveshows were actually live broadcast. In the 3rd Mottoshow, Marco Angelini slipped up in his performance and forgot to sing at the correct time.
Pietro Lombardi's brother posted nude picture of Sarah Engels after she used Pietro's cell phone to talk to girls. The hardcore fans of Pietro Lombardi told his brother Marco about this and he wasn't happy about this. So, he decided to take "revenge." Pietro's brother also wrote "Everyone knows how cheap Sarah Engels is. She is sneaky. A liar."
DSDS host Marco Schreyl mixed up the phone numbers for candidates Zazou Mall and Marco Angelini. A camera shot of Marco Angelini showed him enraged towards the lens. A reporter for the Hamburger Morgenpost, who was present, reported there were chaotic scenes shortly before the end of the recording. Dieter Bohlen mentioned the mistake and Marco Schreyl replied that "It could be made easier for the host". RTL decided that no candidate would be eliminated and the final show has been pushed back a week and is now scheduled to air on 7 May.
On the 6th mottoshow, Sarah Engels had two wardrobe incidents, when dancing to "Walking on Sunshine", where she began dancing too close to one of the cameras, causing two upskirts. This was eventually shown to the studio audience during the recap of her performance and was noted by the judges.
Auditions
As with season 7, an audition truck, in which the candidates can qualify for the televised auditions, stopped in various cities in Germany, Austria and Switzerland between August 2010 and October 2010. Open auditions took place in September 2010 in Cologne, Munich, Hamburg and Berlin. 34,956 people auditioned throughout the 35 cities that hosted auditions. 135 candidates advanced to the Recall. Menderes Bagci, who failed in the auditions in the previous 7 seasons, advanced to the recall.Recall
The first recall show aired on February 2. The 135 candidates who advanced to the Recall were split up into groups where the judges picked 60 candidates for the next round. The 60 candidates who advanced participated in groups and duets. Nico Raecke, who originally was one of the participants advancing to the Top 35, was thrown out of Deutschland sucht den Superstar because of his arrest for robbery and assault. Menderes Bagci was one of the candidates eliminated on the February 5 Recall show. The Top 35 went to the Maldives."Die Top 15 – Jetzt oder nie" (The Top 15 – Now or Never)
| Contestants | Song | Percentage of calls |
| Zazou Mall | One Love | 6,1% |
| Sebastian Wurth | Home | 12,3% |
| Nina Richel | There You'll Be | 3,2 |
| Norman Langen | Ich Bau Dir Ein Schloss | 8,5% ) |
| Awa Corrah | Only Girl | 1,8% |
| Ardian Bujupi | Sway | 9,7% |
| Nicole Kandziora | Firework | 2,1% |
| Mike Müller | Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely | 2,8% |
| Anna-Carina Woitschack | If I Ain't Got You | 8,4% |
| Christopher Schwab | Hey There Delilah | 2,6% |
| Marco Angelini | Stark | 7,1% |
| Felix Hahnsch | The Man Who Can't Be Moved | 2,6% |
| Pietro Lombardi | Billionaire | 12,7% |
| Marvin Cybulski | Midnight Lady | 14,0% |
| Sarah Engels | One Moment in Time | 6,1% |
Advancing to Top 10 : Norman, Marvin, Marco, Sebastian, Pietro, Ardian, Anna-Carina
Advancing to Top 10 : Sarah, Zazou, Nina
Mottoshows
"Top 10 - Megahits"
| Contestants | Song | Percentage of calls |
| Marco Angelini | Dance with Somebody | 8,0% |
| Zazou Mall | Don't Stop the Music | 11,0% |
| Nina Richel | Breakaway | 7,4% |
| Ardian Bujupi | In My Head | 9,3% |
| Norman Langen | Wahnsinn | 7,1% |
| Sarah Engels | When You Believe | 6,8% |
| Sebastian Wurth | You Raise Me Up | 15,9% |
| Pietro Lombardi | With You | 14,3% |
| Anna-Carina Woitschack | I Will Always Love You | 9,0 |
| Marvin Cybulski | We've Got Tonight | 11,1% |
- Jury Elimination Forecast: Nina Richel or Zazou Mall, Nina Richel
- Bottom 3: Nina Richel, Norman Langen & Sarah Engels
- Eliminated: Sarah Engels
"Top 9 - Apres-Ski Hits"
| Contestants | Song | Percentage of calls |
| Norman Langen | Ein Stern | 10,3% |
| Zazou Mall | Born This Way | 10,8% |
| Nina Richel | Everytime We Touch | 13,1% |
| Marco Angelini | Fliegerlied | 10,3% |
| Sebastian Wurth | Ich War Noch Niemals In New York | 11,8% |
| Anna-Carina Woitschack | I Will Survive | 10,05 |
| Marvin Cybulski | 1000 und 1 Nacht | 7,4% |
| Ardian Bujupi | Tonight | 8,6% |
| Pietro Lombardi | Freaky Like Me | 17,2% |
- Jury Elimination Forecast: Nina Richel, Norman Langen or Nina Richel
- Bottom 3: Anna-Carina Woitschack, Ardian Bujupi & Marvin Cybulski
- Eliminated: Marvin Cybulski
"Top 8 - Frühlings Gefühle" (Spring Feelings)
| Contestants | Song | Percentage of calls |
| Zazou Mall | Umbrella | 8,9% |
| Ardian Bujupi | Grenade | 10,7% |
| Marco Angelini | Shame | 10,4% |
| Norman Langen | Verlieben, Verloren, Vergessen, Verzeihen | 8,0% |
| Sebastian Wurth | You Don't Know | 12,6% |
| Anna-Carina Woitschack | Für Dich | 6,8% |
| Pietro Lombardi | Down | 16,6% |
| Sarah Engels | I Wanna Dance With Somebody | 26,0% |
- Jury Elimination Forecast: Ardian Bujupi or Zazou Mall, Ardian Bujupi, Can't Decide
- Bottom 3: Zazou Mall, Norman Langen & Anna-Carina Woitschack
- Eliminated: Anna-Carina Woitschack
"Top 7 - Party Kracher"(Party Hits)
| Contestants | Song | Percentage of calls |
| Marco Angelini | Let Me Entertain You | 10,4% |
| Norman Langen | Hey! Baby | 9,2% |
| Ardian Bujupi | Beautiful Monster | 12,7% |
| Zazou Mall | Hot n Cold | 16,3% |
| Sebastian Wurth | Monsta | 12,1% |
| Pietro Lombardi | Que Sera, Sera | 22,0% |
| Sarah Engels | Release Me | 17,3% |
- Jury Elimination Forecast: Zazou Mall or Norman Langen
- Bottom 3: Sebastian Wurth, Marco Angelini & Norman Langen
- Eliminated: Norman Langen
"Top 6 - English & German Hits"
| Contestants | Song | Percentage of calls |
| Sebastian Wurth | Du trägst keine Liebe in Dir | 13,8% |
| Sebastian Wurth | Wonderful Life | 13,8% |
| Marco Angelini | Vom selben Stern | 9,2% |
| Marco Angelini | Wonderwall | 9,2% |
| Zazou Mall | Stadt | 12,9% |
| Zazou Mall | Fight for This Love | 12,9% |
| Ardian Bujupi | Dieser Weg | 15,1% |
| Ardian Bujupi | Feel | 15,1% |
| Sarah Engels | Symphonie | 20,6% |
| Sarah Engels | Run | 20,6% |
| Pietro Lombardi | Mein Stern | 28,4% |
| Pietro Lombardi | Every Breath You Take | 28,4% |
- Jury Elimination Forecast: Zazou Mall, Marco Angelini
- No elimination after wrong televoting numbers were announced for Zazou and Marco.
"Top 6 - America vs Europe"
| Contestants | Song | Percentage of calls |
| Sebastian Wurth | You and Me | 14,0% |
| Sebastian Wurth | Hallelujah | 14,0% |
| Ardian Bujupi | Glow | 16,0% |
| Ardian Bujupi | I Need A Dollar | 16,0% |
| Zazou Mall | A Night like This | 13,6% |
| Zazou Mall | Waka Waka | 13,6% |
| Marco Angelini | Der Kommissar | 13,7% |
| Marco Angelini | Use Somebody | 13,7% |
| Sarah Engels | Walking on Sunshine | 17,8% |
| Sarah Engels | Hurt | 17,8% |
| Pietro Lombardi | Don't Worry, Be Happy | 24,9% |
| Pietro Lombardi | Mad World | 24,9% |
- Jury Elimination Forecast: Marco Angelini or Zazou Mall
- Bottom 2: Marco Angelini & Zazou Mall
- Eliminated: Zazou Mall
"Top 5 - Hits of the 80's, 90's, and Today"
| Contestants | Song | Percentage of calls |
| Sebastian Wurth | Ayo Technology | 15,3% |
| Sebastian Wurth | I Promised Myself | 15,3% |
| Sebastian Wurth | Mandy | 15,3% |
| Ardian Bujupi | We've Got It Goin' On | 16,1% |
| Ardian Bujupi | More | 16,1% |
| Ardian Bujupi | Died in Your Arms | 16,1% |
| Marco Angelini | Hollywood Hills | 18,6% |
| Marco Angelini | Fly Away | 18,6% |
| Marco Angelini | Major Tom | 18,6% |
| Sarah Engels | The Best | 26,5% |
| Sarah Engels | What a Feeling | 26,5% |
| Sarah Engels | Footprints in the Sand | 26,5% |
| Pietro Lombardi | I Just Called to Say I Love You | 23,5% |
| Pietro Lombardi | To Make You Feel My Love | 23,5% |
| Pietro Lombardi | Sweat | 23,5% |
- Jury Elimination Forecast: —
- Bottom 2: Ardian Bujupi & Sebastian Wurth
- Eliminated: Sebastian Wurth
"Top 4 - Pop, Rock and Discofever"
| Contestants | Song | Percentage of calls |
| Marco Angelini | Angels | 18,4% |
| Marco Angelini | How You Remind Me | 18,4% |
| Marco Angelini | Born to Be Alive | 18,4% |
| Ardian Bujupi | Here Without You | 23,0% |
| Ardian Bujupi | Fairytale | 23,0% |
| Ardian Bujupi | Sex Machine | 23,0% |
| Pietro Lombardi | You Are Not Alone | 30,9% |
| Pietro Lombardi | Just a Gigolo | 30,9% |
| Pietro Lombardi | Gimme Hope Jo'anna | 30,9% |
| Sarah Engels | I'm So Excited | 28,0% |
| Sarah Engels | Eye of the Tiger | 28,0% |
| Sarah Engels | A Moment Like This | 28,0% |
- Jury Elimination Forecast: Marco Angelini, Pietro Lombardi, No one
- Bottom 2: Marco Angelini & Sarah Engels
- Eliminated: Marco Angelini
"Top 3 - Semifinal"
| Contestants | Song | Percentage of calls |
| Ardian Bujupi | Wavin' Flag | 27.3% |
| Ardian Bujupi | Loving You Is Killing Me | 27.3% |
| Ardian Bujupi | Feeling Good | 27.3% |
| Sarah Engels | L ady Marmalade | 37,3% |
| Sarah Engels | One Day in Your Life | 37,3% |
| Sarah Engels | Beautiful | 37,3% |
| Pietro Lombardi | Can You Feel the Love Tonight | 35,4 |
| Pietro Lombardi | Wenn Das Liebe Ist | 35,4 |
| Pietro Lombardi | Mambo No. 5 | 35,4 |
- Jury Elimination Forecast: Can't Decide
- Bottom 2: Pietro Lombardi & Ardian Bujupi
- Eliminated: Ardian Bujupi
Top 2 - Final (Contestant's Choice, Highlight Song & Winner's Single)
| Contestant | Song | Percentage of calls |
| Sarah Engels | How Will I Know | 48,1% |
| Sarah Engels | Run | 48,1% |
| Sarah Engels | Call My Name | 48,1% |
| Pietro Lombardi | Dance with My Father | 51,9% |
| Pietro Lombardi | Que Sera, Sera | 51,9% |
| Pietro Lombardi | Call My Name | 51,9% |
- Judges' forecasts of who would win: Sarah Engels, Pietro Lombardi
- Winner: Pietro Lombardi
- Runner-Up: Sarah Engels
Group song
- Top 15: "Higher" by Taio Cruz ft. Kylie Minogue
- Top 10: "Club Can't Handle Me" by Flo Rida ft. David Guetta
- Top 9: "The Time " by The Black Eyed Peas
- Top 8: "Turn Around " by Flo Rida
- Top 7: "Yeah 3x" by Chris Brown
- Top 6: "On The Floor" by Jennifer Lopez ft. Pitbull
- Top 6: "Who's That Chick" by David Guetta ft. Rihanna
- Top 5: "I Gotta Feeling" by The Black Eyed Peas
- Top 4: "Crying at the Discoteque" by Alcazar
- Top 3: "When Love Takes Over" by David Guetta ft. Kelly Rowland
- Top 2: "We've Got Tonight" by Ronan Keating ft. Jeanette Biedermann
Top 10: "Higher" by the Taio Cruz ft. Kylie Minogue
Elimination chart
- On February 19 it was intended that the viewers would choose 7 and the judges 3 finalists. The judges, or mostly Dieter Bohlen, however chose not to decide and therefore the three people with the next highest votes made it through to the finals automatically. They were Sarah Engels, Zazou Mall and Nina Richel.
- On March 10, Nina Richel was taken out of the competition due to her numerous breakdowns. It was stated that she withdrew, however as it turned out RTL took Richel out against her will. She was replaced by Sarah Engels who returned after a one-week absence since her original elimination - finishing 2nd instead of 10th, Engels became the most successful replacement candidate in the history of the show.
- On April 2 RTL switched the numbers of Zazou Mall and Marco Angelini several times during the recap. The voting was therefore stopped at the beginning of the results and it was announced that no one would get eliminated that week and that the series will be extended with a one-week delay for the final. All votes that came in before the first mistake, were included in the result of the following week, people who called later got a refund.
Top 10 candidates
Pietro Lombardi
Pietro Lombardi| Show | Song | Percentage of calls |
| Top 15 | "Billionaire" | 12,7% |
| Top 10 | "With You" | 14,3% |
| Top 9 | "Freaky Like Me" | 17,2% |
| Top 8 | "Down" | 16,6% |
| Top 7 | "Que Sera, Sera " | 22,0% |
| Top 6 | Mein Stern | 28,4% |
| Top 6 | Every Breath You Take | 28,4% |
| Top 6 | Don't Worry, Be Happy | 24,9% |
| Top 6 | Mad World | 24,9% |
| Top 5 | I Just Called to Say I Love You | 23,5% |
| Top 5 | To Make You Feel My Love | 23,5% |
| Top 5 | Sweat | 23,5% |
| Top 4 | You Are Not Alone | 30,0% |
| Top 4 | Just a Gigolo | 30,0% |
| Top 4 | Gimme Hope Jo'anna | 30,0% |
| Top 3 | Can You Feel the Love Tonight | 35,4% |
| Top 3 | Wenn Das Liebe Ist | 35,4% |
| Top 3 | Mambo No. 5 | 35,4% |
| Top 2 | Dance with My Father | 51,9% |
| Top 2 | Que Sera, Sera | 51,9% |
| Top 2 | Call My Name | 51,9% |
Sarah Engels
was born in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia on October 15, 1992, but currently resides in Hürth, North Rhine-Westphalia with her family. Sarah has been taking vocal lessons for 4 years and has participated in street festivals on many occasions. She was also on DSDS in season 6 where she was eliminated in the recall after a duet with Eugen Flittner. She was eliminated in the Top 10. However, on March the 10th Nina Richel had to leave DSDS as a result of bad health conditions, this resulted in Sarah Engels taking her place at DSDS.| Show | Song | Percentage of calls |
| Top 15 | "One Moment In Time" | 6,1% |
| Top 10 | "When You Believe" | 6,7% |
| Top 8 | "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" | 26,0% |
| Top 7 | "Release Me" | 17,3% |
| Top 6 | Symphonie | 20,6% |
| Top 6 | Run | 20,6% |
| Top 6 | Walking on Sunshine | 17,8% |
| Top 6 | Hurt | 17,8% |
| Top 5 | The Best | 26,5% |
| Top 5 | What a Feeling | 26,5% |
| Top 5 | Footprints in the Sand | 26,5% |
| Top 4 | I'm So Excited | 28,9% |
| Top 4 | Eye of the Tiger | 28,9% |
| Top 4 | A Moment Like This | 28,9% |
| Top 3 | One Day in Your Life | 37,3% |
| Top 3 | Lady Marmalade | 37,3% |
| Top 3 | Beautiful | 37,3% |
| Top 2 | How Will I Know | 48,1% |
| Top 2 | Run | 48,1% |
| Top 2 | Call My Name | 48,1% |
Ardian Bujupi
Ardian Bujupi lives in Heidelberg today.| Show | Song | Percentage of calls |
| Top 15 | "Sway" | 9,7% |
| Top 10 | "In My Head" | 9,6% |
| Top 9 | "Tonight " | 8,6% |
| Top 8 | "Grenade" | 10,7% |
| Top 7 | "Beautiful Monster" | 12,7% |
| Top 6 | Dieser Weg | 15,1% |
| Top 6 | Feel | 15,1% |
| Top 6 | Glow | 16,0% |
| Top 6 | I Need A Dollar | 16,0% |
| Top 5 | We've Got It Goin' On | 16,1% |
| Top 5 | More | 16,1% |
| Top 5 | Died in Your Arms | 16,1% |
| Top 4 | Here Without You | 23,0% |
| Top 4 | Fairytale | 23,0% |
| Top 4 | Sex Machine | 23,0% |
| Top 3 | Loving You Is Killing Me | 27,3% |
| Top 3 | Feeling Good | 27,3% |
| Top 3 | Wavin' Flag | 27,3% |
Marco Angelini
Marco's present home is Graz. He completed his medical study shortly after the casting and is going to write his thesis after his departure from DSDS. Furthermore, he plans to write a book about his time at the Casting Show and his impressions of it. He is lead singer of the Austrian-based RockBand Black Balloon| Show | Song | Percentage of calls |
| Top 15 | "Stark" | 7,1% |
| Top 10 | "Dance With Somebody" | 8,0% |
| Top 9 | "Fliegerlied" | 10,3% |
| Top 8 | "Shame" | 10,5% |
| Top 7 | "Let Me Entertain You" | 10,4% |
| Top 6 | Vom selben Stern | 9,2% |
| Top 6 | Wonderwall | 9,2% |
| Top 6 | Der Kommissar | 13,7% |
| Top 6 | Use Somebody | 13,7% |
| Top 5 | Hollywood Hills | 18,6% |
| Top 5 | Fly Away | 18,6% |
| Top 5 | Major Tom | 18,6% |
| Top 4 | Angels | 18,4% |
| Top 4 | How You Remind Me | 18,4% |
| Top 4 | Born to Be Alive | 18,4% |
Sebastian Wurth
was born in Wipperfürth, North Rhine-Westphalia on July 24, 1994. Sebastian Wurth is the youngest participant in this year's Season. Dieter Bohlen sees great potential in Sebastian Wurth. Sebastian Wurth is often compared with Justin Bieber because of their similar hair style. He is a fan of Bayern Munich. Sebastian Wurth has already tried as a songwriter.| Show | Song | Percentage of calls |
| Top 15 | "Home" | 12,3% |
| Top 10 | "You Raise Me Up" | 15,8% |
| Top 9 | "Ich War Noch Niemals In New York" | 11,8% |
| Top 8 | "You Don't Know" | 12,6% |
| Top 7 | "Monsta" | 12,1% |
| Top 6.1 | Du trägst keine Liebe in Dir | 13,8% |
| Top 6.1 | Wonderful Life | 13,8% |
| Top 6.2 | You and Me | 14,0% |
| Top 6.2 | Hallelujah | 14,0% |
| Top 5 | Ayo Technology | 15,3% |
| Top 5 | I Promised Myself | 15,3% |
| Top 5 | Mandy | 15,3% |
Zazou Mall
Zazou Mall| Show | Song | Percentage of calls |
| Top 15 | "One Love" | 6,1% |
| Top 10 | "Don't Stop the Music" | 11,0% |
| Top 9 | "Born This Way | 10,8% |
| Top 8 | "Umbrella" | 8,8% |
| Top 7 | "Hot n Cold" | 16,3% |
| Top 6 | Stadt | 12,9% |
| Top 6 | Fight For This Love | 12,9% |
| Top 6 | A Night like This | 13,6% |
| Top 6 | Waka Waka | 13,6% |
Norman Langen
was born in Badenberg on March 7, 1985. But he currently lives in Übach-Palenberg, North Rhine-Westphalia. He likes to sing in German He likes Schlager, pop music and dance music. He is a trained welder, but he is retraining as a hospice nurse. He has previously sung in a boy band. He has three sisters. He was slightly overweight when he was a kid.| Show | Song | Percentage of calls |
| Top 15 | "Ich Bau Dir Ein Schloss" | 8,5% |
| Top 10 | "Wahnsinn" | 7,1% |
| Top 9 | "Ein Stern " | 10,3% |
| Top 8 | "Verlieben, verloren, vergessen, verzeihen" | 8,0% |
| Top 7 | "Hey! Baby" | 9,2% |
Anna-Carina Woitschack
Anna-Carina Woitschack| Show | Song | Percentage of calls |
| Top 15 | "If I Ain't Got You" | 8,4% |
| Top 10 | "I Will Always Love You" | 9,0% |
| Top 9 | "I Will Survive" | 10,0% |
| Top 8 | "Für Dich" | 6,8% |
Nina Richel
Nina Richel. The 17 years old contestant has been eliminated by RTL chief Tom Sänger after the second Mottoshow, allegedly for health reasons. Some days later she has told the whole story. After Sänger's decision Sarah Engels, not Marvin Cybulski, was invited for a comeback.| Show | Song | Percentage of calls |
| Top 15 | "There You'll Be" | 3,2% |
| Top 10 | "Breakaway" | 7,4% |
| Top 9 | "Everytime We Touch" | 13,5% |
| Top 8 | Elimintated by Tom Sänger, not the voters. | — |
Marvin Cybulski
Marvin Cybulski| Show | Song | Percentage of calls |
| Top 15 | "Midnight Lady" | 14,0% |
| Top 10 | "We've Got Tonight" | 11,1% |
| Top 9 | "1000 und 1 Nacht " | 7,5% |