DSDS anniversary – Mallorca recall: The big flutter

Who delivers in the second group selection? Who surprises the jury? And who goes down with their dreams? There are surprising twists and turns under the Mallorcan sun.

DSDS anniversary – Mallorca recall: The big flutter

Who delivers in the second group selection? Who surprises the jury? And who goes down with their dreams? There are surprising twists and turns under the Mallorcan sun. This is how the realization matures: A golden CD does not guarantee a format breakthrough.

This year's DSDS candidates had to swallow some bitter pills on their way to Pop Olympus. In addition to the tough casting mills in Hamburg, Munich and Cologne, there was also a dusty and uncomfortable camping scenario on the Balearic island of Mallorca. After the first tearful group selection, the tormented talents finally say hello from the sunny balcony of a snazzy villa.

But the good mood is a little deceptive. Despite the king-size bed, pool and roof terrace, hostel dad Fatih scolds like a sparrow: "Shoes off and quiet when arranging the beds!" demands the candidate with the pink head. But nobody really wants to listen. The next morning, juror Pietro also gets wind of the internal mood imbalance. A short, highly motivating incendiary speech later, all the candidates stand to attention again.

Is everything okay now? Not at all. One day before the next group selection, the homesickness virus spreads through the villa. Mothers miss their children, brothers their sisters and daughters their mothers: the wild roller coaster ride of emotions just doesn't want to end. It's a good thing that a Spanish evening is on the agenda for the day's finale. With paella, wine and lots of olé, the mood quickly rises again. Troubadour Sem is very touched: "It was a magical moment here tonight," rejoices the man from Frankfurt.

The next day, the fear of failure is written all over the face of many candidates before breakfast. The pressure increases every minute. Although vocal coach Juliette fights on all group fronts. But even the experienced singing teacher has no magic remedy ready to counter text dropouts, bitching and fundamental timing problems. Shortly before the descent towards the performance location, many supposed top-class relays suddenly get the big fluttering. When they finally arrive, the candidates make big eyes. Instead of somewhere in seclusion, this time the talents have to deliver on a public beach in front of a crowd of people strolling by. "That's quite a lot of pressure," whispers 17-year-old Dilara.

The excitement doesn't want to subside - especially not when the jury appears and once again makes it clear to each candidate that today it's "really about the sausage." Within a few minutes, confident performers are transformed into insecure industry laymen. Melino got it really bad. The 23-year-old from the Palatinate is completely beside himself during his group performance with colleagues Fatih and Nikolaus. The result: chief juror Dieter Bohlen pulls out the red card even before the actual decision: "Melino, that was a disaster, you're definitely out!" Blames the pop titan.

The visibly battered Melino ("I had a total blackout") is not the only secret favorite who has to pack his bags after the second group decision. Also Tilly and Riccardo, both of whom were celebrated in the castings with a lot of exuberant praise and a gold CD each, unexpectedly found themselves on the losing side after rather mixed performances.

Voice grenade Sem wants to avoid the area in which sad, failed and longing for home (candidate Clara voluntarily pulls the ripcord) figures sobbing and dejected in their arms. After a breathtaking Simply Red kneel by the robust Hessen, even the last doubter realizes that a Sem in this condition definitely has what it takes to become the new DSDS champ. In any case, Dieter Bohlen is on fire and full of praise: "That was crazy! You stand there like an American superstar!" The format boss cheers. So there he is: the first top favorite for the title.