The sixth season of Deutschland sucht den Superstar was aired on German channel RTL from January to May 2009. The season's winner, Daniel Schuhmacher, was awarded a contract with Sony BMG. The judges in this season were Dieter Bohlen, Nina Eichinger, and Volker Neumüller. It was hosted by Marco Schreyl. The viewers chose the contestant's fates as they were able to call for their favorite contestant. As with season 5, the "Top 10" was created by the Top 5 contestants with the most telephone and SMS voting and the other five were selected by the jury.
Finalists (Ages stated at time of contest)
Contestant Age Hometown Voted off Liveshow theme Daniel Schuhmacher 21 Pfullendorf WinnerGrand Finale Sarah Kreuz 19 Poppenhausen 9 May 2009 Annemarie Eilfeld 18 Dessau 2 May 2009 Uptempo Songs, Ballad Songs & No. 1 Hits Dominik Büchele 18 Kappel-Grafenhausen 25 April 2009 Film Hits & Unplugged Benny Kieckhäben 18 Worms 18 April 2009 Sun and Rain Vanessa Neigert 17 Nuremberg 11 April 2009 Current Hits & Love Songs Holger Göpfert 27 Würzburg 4 April 2009 Sexy Hits Marc Jentzen 21 Bonn 21 March 2009 Party Hits Cornelia Patzelsberger 29 Munich 14 March 2009 Gender Switch Michelle Bowers 16 Viereth-Trunstadt 7 March 2009 Greatest Hits Vanessa Civiello 16 Leinfelden-EchterdingenWithdrew
Voting controversy Annemarie Eilfeld demanded a redo after she was eliminated in the Top 3 show. RTL admitted that a speaker in the "reminder" trailers following the show had told viewers to vote 03 for Eilfeld and 02 for Daniel Schuhmacher. She called this problem a "scandal". The mistake was not considered big enough for RTL to bother with. After the initial show, Eilfeld had 19.3% of the vote and ended up with 19.8% with the second place contestant receiving a much higher total. Angry DSDS fans complained and demanded either a repeat of the Top 3 show or a three-way final between Eilfeld, Schuhmacher and Sarah Kreuz. Eilfeld's father was outraged over the error and reportedly considering taking legal action against RTL.
Top 15 – "Jetzt oder nie" (Top 15 - Now or Never) Original airdate: 28 February 2009
Contestant Song (Artist) Percentage of calls Marc JentzenBreathe Easy (Blue) 4.36% (8/15) Roshan PaulDance with Somebody (Mando Diao) 2.04% (12/15) Michelle BowersAlmost Lover (A Fine Frenzy) 1.16% (15/15) Annemarie EilfeldHot n Cold (Katy Perry) 4.57% (6/15) Florian EhlersHome (Michael Bublé) 4.12% (9/15) Vanessa NeigertSchöner fremder Mann (Connie Francis) 6.05% (5/15) Cornelia Patzlsperger Time After Time (Cyndi Lauper) 1.38% (13/15) Tobias Rößler Here Without You (3 Doors Down) 4.44% (7/15) Vanessa Civiello Greatest Love of All (Whitney Houston) 3.09% (11/15) Benny Kieckhäben Hurt (Christina Aguilera) 3.79% (10/15) Daniel Schuhmacher Broken Strings (James Morrison) 10.63% (4/15) Fausta Giordano Umbrella (Rihanna) 1.33% (14/15) Sarah Kreuz Listen (Beyoncé Knowles) 12.99% (3/15) Dominik Büchele Same Mistake (James Blunt) 22.22% (1/15) Holger Göpfert Oh! Darling (The Beatles) 17.83% (2/15) Advancing to Top 10 (Public votes): Vanessa N, Daniel, Sarah, Dominik, Holger
Advancing to Top 10 (Jury selection): Marc, Annemarie, Cornelia, Vanessa C, Benny
Although Florian and Tobias were eliminated, they both ranked within the top 10 in the phone voting with Florian placing 9th and Tobias placing 7th, ahead of Marc, Benny, Vanessa C., and Cornelia.
Finals
Top 10 - "Greatest Hits" Original airdate: 7 March 2009
Contestant Song (Artist) Percentage of calls Annemarie Eilfeld...Baby One More Time (Britney Spears) 4.49% (9/10) Benny KieckhäbenSo Sick (Ne-Yo) 5.67% (8/10) Cornelia PatzlsbergerMercy (Duffy) 11.52% (5/10) Daniel SchuhmacherIf You Don't Know Me by Now (Simply Red) 13.97%(3/10) Dominik BücheleImagine (John Lennon) 17.28% (1/10) Holger GöpfertThe Great Pretender (Freddie Mercury) 12.61%(4/10) Marc Jentzen End of the Road (Boyz II Men) 7.03% (7/10) Sarah Kreuz I Have Nothing (Whitney Houston) 16.61% (2/10) Michelle Bowers Valerie (Amy Winehouse) 3.69% (10/10) Vanessa Neigert Er gehört zu mir (Marianne Rosenberg) 7.13% (6/10) Bottom 4: Marc Jentzen, Benny Kieckhäben, Michelle Bowers, Annemarie Eilfeld
Jury Elimination Forecast: Benny Kieckhäben
Eliminated: Michelle Bowers
Top 9 - "Geschlechtertausch" (Gender Switch) Original airdate: 14 March 2009
Contestant Song (Artist) Percentage of calls Sarah Kreuz You Raise Me Up (Westlife) 12.45% (4/9) Annemarie Eilfeld All Summer Long (Kid Rock) 6.63% (7/9) Cornelia Patzlsperger Your Song (Elton John) 4.60% (9/9) Vanessa Neigert Über den Wolken (Reinhard Mey) 11.40% (5/9) Holger Göpfert Black Velvet (Alannah Myles) 15.39% (2/9) Benny Kieckhäben Like a Virgin (Madonna) 6.55% (8/9) Marc Jentzen I Kissed a Girl (Katy Perry) 7.40% (6/9) Daniel Schuhmacher Irgendwas bleibt (Silbermond) 13.11% (3/9) Dominik Büchele First Day of My Life (Melanie C) 22.47% (1/9) Bottom 4: Marc Jentzen, Cornelia Patzlsperger, Benny Kieckhäben, Annemarie Eilfeld
Jury Elimination Forecast: Benny Kieckhäben
Eliminated: Cornelia Patzlsperger
Top 8 - "Party Hits" Original airdate: 21 March 2009
Contestant Song (Artist) Percentage of calls Dominik Büchele Reality (Richard Sanderson) 18.11% (2/8) Benny Kieckhäben What Is Love (Haddaway) 9.37% (7/8) Sarah Kreuz I Will Survive (Gloria Gaynor) 11.74% (5/8) Marc Jentzen Celebration (Kool & the Gang) 7.62% (8/8) Daniel Schuhmacher Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) (Eurythmics) 18.39% (1/8) Vanessa Neigert Ich will 'nen Cowboy als Mann (Gitte) 10.03% (6/8) Holger Göpfert We Are the Champions (Queen) 12.62% (3/8) Annemarie Eilfeld 99 Luftballons (Nena) 12.12% (4/8) Bottom 4: Benny Kieckhäben, Marc Jentzen, Vanessa Neigert, Annemarie Eilfeld
Jury Elimination Forecast: Annemarie Eilfeld
Eliminated: Marc Jentzen
Top 7 - "Sexy Hits" Original airdate: 4 April 2009
Contestant Song (Artist) Percentage of calls Daniel Schuhmacher Sexual Healing (Marvin Gaye) 21.29% (1/7) Holger Göpfert Still Got The Blues (Gary Moore) 8.14% (7/7) Annemarie Eilfeld Lady Marmalade (Christina Aguilera) 15.72% (4/7) Benny Kieckhäben Don't Cha (The Pussycat Dolls) 8.85% (6/7) Vanessa Neigert Yes Sir, I Can Boogie (Baccara) 9.75% (5/7) Sarah Kreuz The Trouble with Love Is (Kelly Clarkson) 19.04% (2/7) Dominik Büchele Sunday Morning (Maroon 5) 17.21% (3/7) Bottom 4: Benny Kieckhäben, Holger Göpfert, Vanessa Neigert, Annemarie Eilfeld
Jury Elimination Forecast: Dominik Büchele (Nina), Annemarie Eilfeld (Volker & Dieter)
Eliminated: Holger Göpfert
Top 6 - "Aktuelle Hits & I Love You" (Current Hits & I Love You) Original airdate: 11 April 2009
Contestant Song (Artist) Percentage of calls Dominik Büchele Stark (Ich + Ich) 18.92% (3/6) Wire to Wire (Razorlight) Vanessa Neigert Liebeskummer Lohnt Sich Nicht (Siw Malmkvist) 12.98% (6/6) Gib Mir Sonne (Rosenstolz) Annemarie Eilfeld Just Dance (Lady Gaga) 19.38% (2/6) Nobody Knows (Pink) Sarah Kreuz Unforgettable (Nat King Cole) 19.68% (1/6) If I Were a Boy (Beyoncé Knowles) Benny Kieckhäben Closer (Ne-Yo) 13.16% (5/6) Und wenn ein Lied (Söhne Mannheims) Daniel Schumacher You Give Me Something (James Morrison) 15.88% (4/6) Allein Allein (Polarkreis 18) Bottom 4: Annemarie Eilfeld, Benny Kieckhäben, Daniel Schuhmacher, Vanessa Neigert
Jury Elimination Forecast: Benny Kieckhäben (Volker), Benny Kieckhäben or Vanessa Neigert (Nina), Didn't say (Dieter)
Eliminated: Vanessa Neigert
Top 5 - "Sonne und Regen" (Sun and Rain) Original airdate: 18 April 2009
Contestant Song (Artist) Percentage of calls Dominik Büchele Upside Down (Jack Johnson) 16.69% (3/5) Why Does It Always Rain on Me? (Travis) Sarah Kreuz You Are the Sunshine of My Life (Stevie Wonder) 15.04% (4/5) It's Raining Men (The Weather Girls) Benny Kieckhäben Walking on Sunshine (Katrina and the Waves) 13.27% (5/5) When the Rain Begins to Fall (Pia Zadora & Jermaine Jackson) Daniel Schuhmacher Here Comes the Rain Again (Eurythmics) 32.68% (1/5) Ain't No Sunshine (Bill Withers) Annemarie Eilfeld Purple Rain (Prince) 22.32% (2/5) Bailando (Loona) Oliver Pocher Durch den Monsun (Tokio Hotel) 0.00% (0/5) Bottom 3: Annemarie Eilfeld, Benny Kieckhäben, Sarah Kreuz
Jury Elimination Forecast: Annemarie Eilfeld (Nina), Dominik Büchele (Volker), Benny Kieckhäben (Dieter)
Eliminated: Benny Kieckhäben
Top 4 - "Filmmusik & Unplugged" (Movie songs & Unplugged) Original airdate: 25 April 2009
Contestant Song (Artist) Percentage of calls Dominik Büchele Can You Feel the Love Tonight (Elton John) 18.39% (4/4) The Sounds of Silence (Simon & Garfunkel) Sarah Kreuz I Will Always Love You (Whitney Houston) 31.94% (1/4) Warwick Avenue (Duffy) Daniel Schuhmacher Take My Breath Away (Berlin) 26.59% (2/4) You Are So Beautiful (Joe Cocker) Annemarie Eilfeld There You'll Be (Faith Hill) 23.08% (3/4) Because of You (Kelly Clarkson) Bottom 3: Annemarie Eilfeld, Dominik Büchele, Sarah Kreuz
Jury Elimination Forecast: Dominik Büchele (Nina & Volker), Sarah Kreuz (Dieter)
Eliminated: Dominik Büchele
Top 3 - "Uptempo, Ballade & Nr. 1 Hit" (Uptempo, Power ballad & No. 1 Hits) Original airdate: 2 May 2009
Contestant Song (Artist) Percentage of calls Annemarie EilfeldManeater (Nelly Furtado) 19.98% (3/3)The Voice Within (Christina Aguilera)My Life Would Suck Without You (Kelly Clarkson) Daniel SchuhmacherRehab (Amy Winehouse) 33.81% (2/3)Get Here (Oleta Adams)Stand by Me (Ben E. King) Sarah KreuzI'm Outta Love (Anastacia) 46.21% (1/3)One Moment in Time (Whitney Houston)Für dich (Yvonne Catterfeld)
Bottom 2: Annemarie Eilfeld, Sarah Kreuz
Jury Elimination Forecast: Didn't say
Eliminated: Annemarie Eilfeld
Top 2 - Finale - "Herzenssong", "Staffelhighlight", "Siegertitel" (Singer's choice, Highlight Song, Winner's Single) Original airdate: 9 May 2009 Contestant Song (Artist) Percentage of calls Daniel SchuhmacherSoulmate (Natasha Bedingfield) 50,47% (1/2)Ain't No Sunshine (Bill Withers)Anything but Love (winner's song) Sarah KreuzNatural Woman (Aretha Franklin) 49,53% (2/2)I Will Always Love You (Whitney Houston)Anything but Love (winner's song)
Judges' forecasts of who would win: Daniel or Sarah (Nina, Volker & Dieter)
Winner: Daniel Schuhmacher
Runner - Up: Sarah Kreuz
Top 10 contestants
Michelle Bowers
Michelle Bowers (born 6 August 1992 in Frankfurt am Main) was the youngest participant in the Top 10. She was originally eliminated in the "Top 15" show when both the viewers and jury did not put her into the next round. However one day before the first theme show, contestant Vanessa Civiello quit the competition bringing Bowers back into the Top 10. Although with only one night of rehearsal, the judges praised her comeback and believed it would allow her to go further in the competition. However, she was eliminated.
Theme (date) Song Original artist Place/Percentage The Top 15 - Now or Never (28 February 2009) Almost Lover A Fine Frenzy 1.16% (15/15) Top 10 - Greatest Hits (7 March 2009) Valerie Amy Winehouse 3.69% (10/10)
Dominik Büchele Dominik Büchele (born 23 February 1991 in Herbolzheim) has been voted off the competition after theme show 7, finishing in the Top 4. He was known for his comparison and looks of James Blunt. He was a fan favorite among the girls.
Audition: "Same Mistake" - James Blunt Recall 1: "I'm Yours" - Jason Mraz Recall 2: "You Give Me Something" - James Morrison Recall 3: "Goodbye My Lover" - James Blunt