Deutschland sucht den Superstar season 7 explained

Module1:
Network:RTL

The seventh season of Deutschland sucht den Superstar was aired on German channel RTL from 6 January to 17 April 2010. The season marked a new national record with more than 35,000 participants. The season's winner was Mehrzad Marashi.

Way to the Top 15

Auditions

The seven Audition episodes were shown every Wednesday and Saturday from 6 January 2010 until 27 January 2010. Open auditions were held in the five cities Frankfurt, Munich, Cologne, Berlin and Hamburg, and in September and October 2009, an auditions truck visited the fifteen cities Freiburg, Mannheim, Stuttgart, Würzburg, Regensburg, Dortmund, Münster, Kassel, Erfurt, Dresden, Halle, Hanover, Bremen, Kiel and Rostock.

"Recall"

The recall had 3 phases. The first phase was shot in a theater in Cologne. The 120 singers were split into 2 groups: Boys and Girls. Then every singer sang his favorite song. After that 55 singers were eliminated and the remaining singers sang in groups to get one of the 35 tickets for the next phase.

The second phase was shot in the Caribbean. The 35 singers sang three times: unaccompanied, in groups and in duos. The Top 25 came into the third phase.

The third and last phase was shot in the Schlosstheater Schwetzingen. The singers sang one song on their own. Then the jury decided which 15 singers came into the Top 15 live-show.

In this season, some of the contestants that had made it to the Top 15 had featured in previous seasons. Helmut Orosz made it to the Top 50 in season two but missing out on the Top 10 during the public vote. Menowin Fröhlich made it to the Top 20 shows in season 3 but was disqualified after being arrested and serving a two-year jail sentence. Kim Debkowski made it to the recall of the previous season but was eliminated after the group performance.

Songs in "Recall 3" by the Top 10

Finalists

(Ages stated at time of contest)

ContestantAgeHometownVoted offLiveshow theme
Mehrzad Marashi29HamburgWinnerGrand Finale
Menowin Fröhlich22Darmstadt17 April 2010
Manuel Hoffmann19Braunfels20 March 2010
10 April 2010
Hits in Germany and England
Boy Bands, Music Heroes & No. 1 Hits
Kim Debkowski17Hamburg3 April 2010New Hits & Old Hits
Thomas Karaoglan16Duisburg27 March 2010Ballads & Ballermann
Helmut Orosz30BraunschweigDisqualified
Ines Redjeb22Hamburg13 March 2010The 80s
Nelson Sangare24Aachen6 March 2010Happy Holiday Hits
Marcel Pluschke19Linnich27 February 2010All Time's Greatest Pop Hymns
Steffi Landerer19Fürstenwalde20 February 2010Today's Megahits

Live shows

Top 15 – "Jetzt oder nie" (Now or Never)

Original airdate: 13 February 2010

ContestantSong (Artist)Percentage of calls
Menowin FröhlichI'll Be There (Jackson 5)22,8% (2/15)
Helmut OroszSummer of 69 (Bryan Adams)6,0% (5/15)
Mehrzad MarashiUnd wenn ein Lied (Söhne Mannheims)27,3% (1/15)
Nelson SangareLet Me Love You (Mario)7,5% (4/15)
Kevin ReichmannSeñorita (Justin Timberlake)1,7% (12/15)
Marcel PluschkeCountry Roads (Hermes House Band)2,6% (10/15)
Manuel HoffmannYou Don't Know (Milow)5,8% (6/15)
Thomas KaraoglanMy Girl (The Temptations)9,3% (3/15)
Dirk PetryYesterday (The Beatles)1,6% (13/15)
Kim DebkowskiCan't Fight the Moonlight (LeAnn Rimes)4,2% (7/15)
Naomi MarteIrgendwie, irgendwo, irgendwann (Nena)1,3% (14/15)
Ines RedjebRelease Me (Agnes)3,6% (8/15)
Celine DeneflehSymphonie (Silbermond)2,3% (11/15)
Steffi LandererI Love Rock 'n' Roll (Britney Spears)2,8% (9/15)
Maria Elena ValenciaLet's Get Loud (Jennifer Lopez)1,2% (15/15)
Advancing to Top 10 (Public votes): Thomas, Nelson, Menowin, Kim, Mehrzad, Helmut, Manuel

Advancing to Top 10 (Jury selection): Marcel, Ines, Steffi

In this season the Top 10 was supposed to be formed by the Top 7 of the viewers vote plus 3 candidates picked by the jury (from the remaining 8 contestants). As a tribute to the viewers' support and the great success of the season the jury denied to choose advancing candidates. Instead they sent the 8th, 9th and 10th of the public vote. That also explains the gender ratio of the Top 10.

Top 10 – "Die Megahits von heute" (Today's Megahits)

Original airdate: 20 February 2010

ContestantSong (Artist)Percentage of calls
Menowin FröhlichChange (Daniel Merriweather)37,4% (1/10)
Helmut OroszI'll Be Waiting (Lenny Kravitz)6,2% (6/10)
Mehrzad MarashiBroken Strings (James Morrison)14,6% (2/10)
Nelson SangareCloser (Ne-Yo)6,3% (5/10)
Steffi LandererI Kissed a Girl (Katy Perry)3,2% (10/10)
Marcel PluschkeEin Kompliment (Sportfreunde Stiller)3,3% (9/10)
Manuel HoffmannPflaster (Ich + Ich)4,0% (8/10)
Thomas KaraoglanMonsta (Culcha Candela)12,7% (3/10)
Ines RedjebI Like (Keri Hilson)5,0% (7/10)
Kim DebkowskiTake a Bow (Rihanna)7,3% (4/10)

Top 9 – "Die größten Pop-Hymnen aller Zeiten" (All Time's Greatest Pop-Hymns)

Original airdate: 27 February 2010

ContestantSong (Artist)Percentage of calls
Nelson SangareWhat a Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong)10,9% (4/9)
Ines RedjebWhat a Feeling (Irene Cara) 4,8% (7/9)
Menowin FröhlichWe are the World (USA for Africa) 36,2% (1/9)
Marcel PlusckeLive is Life (Opus) 3,6% (9/9)
Kim DebkowskiFame (Irene Cara) 7,4% (6/9)
Helmut OroszIt's My Life (Bon Jovi) 11,4% (3/9)
Mehrzad MarashiOne (U2) 9,2% (5/9)
Thomas KaraoglanLooking for Freedom (David Hasselhoff) 12,4% (2/9)
Manuel HoffmannWind of Change (The Scorpions) 4,1% (8/9)

Top 8 – "Happy Holiday Hits"

Original airdate: 6 March 2010

ContestantSong (Artist)Percentage of calls
Thomas KaraoglanMamacita (Mark Medlock) 15,5% (3/8)
Helmut Orosz"Summer in the City" (Joe Cocker) 8,2% (5/8)
Menowin FröhlichMaria Maria (Santana) 26,0% (1/8)
Ines RedjebWhen Love Takes Over (David Guetta & Kelly Rowland) 7,9% (6/8)
Kim DebkowskiLa Isla Bonita (Madonna) 9,3% (4/8)
Manuel HoffmannLady (Hear Me Tonight) (Modjo) 7,6% (7/8)
Mehrzad MarashiFresh (Kool & The Gang) 18,7% (2/8)
Nelson SangareSummer Jam (The Underdog Project) 6,8% (8/8)

Top 7 – "80s"

Original airdate: 13 March 2010

ContestantSong (Artist)Percentage of calls
Mehrzad MarashiHello (Lionel Richie)14,0% (2/7)
Manuel HoffmannOhne dich (Münchener Freiheit)8,2% (5/7)
Kim DebkowskiEternal Flame (The Bangles)8,2% (6/7)
Thomas KaraoglanYMCA (Village People)11,8% (3/7)
Helmut OroszHungry Eyes (Eric Carmen)9,1% (4/7)
Menowin FröhlichBillie Jean (Michael Jackson)42,6% (1/7)
Ines RedjebLike a Prayer (Madonna)6,1% (7/7)

Top 6 – "Deutsch vs. Englisch" (German vs. English)

Original airdate: 20 March 2010

ContestantSong (Artist)Percentage of calls
Helmut Orosz(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction (The Rolling Stones) 12,4% (4/6)
1000 und eine Nacht (Klaus Lage)
Thomas KaraoglanRelight My Fire (Take That & Lulu)11,4% (5/6)
Hamma (Culcha Candela)
Manuel HoffmannLife is a Rollercoaster (Ronan Keating) 9,8% (6/6)
Bilder von dir (Laith Al-Deen)
Kim DebkowskiCan't Get You Out of My Head (Kylie Minogue) 16,7% (3/6)
Krieger des Lichts (Silbermond)
Menowin FröhlichIf You Don't Know Me by Now (Simply Red) 27,8% (1/6)
Über sieben Brücken musst du gehen (Peter Maffay)
Mehrzad MarashiBeggin' (Madcon) 21,9% (2/6)
Flugzeuge im Bauch (Herbert Grönemeyer)

On the following day, Helmut Orosz was disqualified from the competition after admitting to taking drugs during the competition. Just as done in season 4, the person who was eliminated the past week would be brought back into the competition; in which Manuel Hoffmann advanced to the top 5.

Top 5 – "Balladen & Ballermann" (Ballads & Ballermann)

Original airdate: 27 March 2010

ContestantSong (Artist)Percentage of calls
Menowin FröhlichWhat is Love (Haddaway) 27,3% (1/5)
How Deep Is Your Love (Bee Gees)
Thomas KaraoglanDas geht ab (Frauenarzt und Manny Marc) 13,4% (5/5)
Stand by Me (Ben E. King)
Mehrzad MarashiMr. Boombastic (Shaggy) 18,4% (3/5)
Hard to Say I'm Sorry (Chicago)
Kim DebkowskiDu hast mich tausendmal belogen (Andrea Berg) 15,5% (4/5)
Almost Lover (A Fine Frenzy)
Manuel Hoffmann Ein Stern (der deinen Namen trägt) (DJ Ötzi) 25,4% (2/5)
Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word (Elton John)

Top 4 – "Neue Hits & Alte Hits " (New Hits & Old Hits)

Original airdate: 3 April 2010

ContestantSong (Artist)Percentage of calls
Manuel HoffmannA Walk in the Park (Nick Straker)24,2% (3/4)
Chasing Cars (Snow Patrol)
Kim DebkowskiYes Sir, I Can Boogie (Baccara)15,7% (4/4)
Evacuate the Dancefloor (Cascada)
Mehrzad MarashiUnchained Melody (The Righteous Brothers)24,2% (2/4)
Crazy (Gnarls Barkley)
Menowin FröhlichCelebration (Kool & the Gang) 35,9% (1/4)
Ayo Technology (Milow)

Top 3 – Semi Final (Boygroups, Music Hero & Number 1 Hits)

Original airdate: 10 April 2010

ContestantSong (Artist)Percentage of calls
Menowin FröhlichNo Matter What (Boyzone)38,6% (1/3)
You Are the Sunshine of My Life (Stevie Wonder)
I Swear (All-4-One)
Manuel Hoffmann Human (The Killers)23,7% (3/3)
Englishman in New York (Sting)
Reality (Richard Sanderson)
Mehrzad MarashiEnd of the Road (Boyz II Men)37,7% (2/3)
Runaway (Del Shannon)
Ich kenne Nichts (Xavier Naidoo) feat (RZA)

Top 2 – Final (Contestant's Choice, Highlight Song & Winner's Single)

Original airdate: 17 April 2010

ContestantSong (Artist)Percentage of calls
Menowin FröhlichThat's What Friends Are For (Dionne Warwick)43,6% (2/2)
Billie Jean (Michael Jackson)
Don't Believe (Winner's Single (Dieter Bohlen))
Mehrzad MarashiEndless Love (Lionel Richie)56,4% (1/2)
Fresh (Kool & The Gang)
Don't Believe (Winner's Single (Dieter Bohlen))

Judges' forecasts of who would win: Menowin Fröhlich

Winner: Mehrzad Marashi

Runner-up: Menowin Fröhlich

Group song

Elimination chart

+ Legend
FemaleMaleTop 15Top 10Winner
SafeSafe FirstSafe LastEliminated
Stage:Top 15Finals
Week:2/132/202/273/63/133/203/274/34/104/17
PlaceContestantResult
1Mehrzad MarashiViewersBtm 3Btm 2
2Menowin FröhlichViewersRunner-Up
3Manuel HoffmannViewersBtm 3Btm 2Btm 2Btm 3ElimBtm 2Elim
4Kim DebkowskiViewersBtm 2Btm 2Elim
5Thomas KaraoglanViewersBtm 2Elim
6Helmut OroszViewersDQ
7Ines RedjebViewersBtm 3Btm 3Elim
8Nelson SangareViewersElim
9Marcel PluschkeViewersBtm 2Elim
10Steffi LandererViewersElim
11-15Celine DeneflehElim
Kevin Reichmann
Dirk Petry
Naomi Marte

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sylvie van der Vaart wird heute DSDS-Jurorin Nina Eichinger ersetzen. Bunte. 17 April 2010. 18 April 2010. de.
  2. Web site: Asche über Europa: Vom Vulkan-Ausbruch zum Verkehrs-Chaos. Die Welt. 17 April 2010. 18 April 2010. de.