"DSDS" final No Swiss victory, but a juicy fight in the jury

Despite a great performance, Lorent Berisha from Lucerne comes away empty-handed at the end of "DSDS": Another contestant takes the win. However, the members of the jury provide some controversy in the final of the anniversary season.

It's nice to see that things are back to the way they used to be on "DSDS". After the colossal flop of the last season with pop star Florian Silbereisen, RTL reactivated Dieter Bohlen, who had been fired, and put together a jury with explosive potential. Once again, there are candidates whose CV is more likely to make jaws drop than their voices.

And yes: a Swiss contestant also made it through to the final - Beatrice Egli and Luca Hänni send their regards.

Unfortunately, it wasn't enough for Lorent Berisha to win. But the Lucerne native delivered an absolute top performance on Saturday evening, both vocally and in terms of his performance.

His Sam Smith cover, for example, prompts a spontaneous standing ovation from the jury and audience. It's amazing how the seemingly inconspicuous 19-year-old becomes a ramp sow in front of the microphone, hits every note and radiates enormous aplomb.

In the end, Lorent takes third place, a lot of respect from the jury ("I love you", says Katja Krasavice), and a performance without a false note. Switzerland should definitely keep this man warm for future ESCs.

Beef in the jury

There are still plenty of off-key nuances in the final of the 20th season of "DSDS". It starts with the fact that the show is disrupted by a speeding car at the beginning, which can only be heard but not seen in the TV broadcast.

The discord that has built up over the whole season is also blithely continued in the jury. The rift between "DSDS" boss Dieter Bohlen and rapper Katja Krasavice has definitely been cut.

What began with a dispute over a sexist remark by the head judge has now degenerated into a petty war that at times overshadows the singers' performances. "Please no fighting today", presenter Laura Wontorra asks the two so that the verbal weapons can at least be laid to rest in the final show.

This appeal is met with mediocrity. Unlike in the semi-final, there is no open exchange of blows in the jury. But many little jibes, especially from Krasavice, keep the fire of enmity burning. For example, the rapper advised the candidates not to let themselves be ripped off by Bohlen: "If you win here, you'll go on tour with Dieter. And I've heard what the fees are there. If I were you, I would negotiate again."

After a borderline show act by Bohlen, who performed a horrible version of his hit "Brother Louie", the rapper demonstratively checked her cell phone and refrained from applause.

Titan - but no longer a demigod

This dynamic gives this year's "DSDS" season a spice that has been missing from the casting show classic, and not just since Silbereisen's attempt. Because the 26-year-old Krasavice is no lapdog like Pietro Lombardi, who dutifully nods off every vote from Dieter Bohlen. She is self-confident, has something to say, stands up to Bohlen and occasionally takes on the leading role in the jury.

It's clear that the pop titan from Tötensen doesn't like this. But it says a lot that RTL stuck with the rapper despite Bohlen's demand to kick Krasavice out. After all, the "crass Krasavice" is popular with the young audience - and Bohlen's time as a "DSDS" demigod seems to have run out the longer the more it goes on.

In fact, the final even shows the way to a "DSDS" future that Bohlen doesn't necessarily have to be a part of. In addition to Krasavice, new judge Leony also brings in fresh sounds, in the truest sense of the word: after decades of canned pop from the Bohlen hit factory, this time the singer wrote all the potential winning songs for the finalists.

In addition to Lorent's song "Complicated" and the ballad by eventual winner Sem Eisinger, the incredibly catchy dancefloor filler "Deep End" turned out to be a veritable instant hit. The song triggers enthusiasm from the jury and the contestants, while Bohlen has a look on his face that you wouldn't necessarily recognize from the past - but which you could certainly get used to. Not only in the upcoming 21st season.

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