“ESC” commentator Peter Urban puts an end to it: a pity or overdue?

Could be tearful. Peter Urban will commentate on the “European Song Contest” for the German audience for the 25th time this year – and at the same time say goodbye to this task with the final on May 13th. Or is the farewell more welcomed? In the first reactions of the “ESC” fans there is no clear opinion. While for some the music expert has a cult following and is an indispensable part of the contest, others see the 74-year-old as no longer up to date, a kind of outdated relic of the “ESC” tradition.

The NDR journalist, radio and TV presenter has been following the world’s largest music competition since it was held in Dublin in 1997. According to NDR information, Peter Urban officially retired in 2013, but worked as a commentator on the two ESC semi-finals and the ESC final. On May 12th at 8:15 p.m., NDR television wants to honor him with the 90-minute portrait “Lena, Stefan Raab and Co. – Peter Urban’s 25 legendary years at the ESC”.

“It was an honor for me”

Peter Urban said of an upcoming farewell: “Since 1997 I have experienced how much the ESC has gained in importance, topicality, diversity and quality, I have tried to make the change from the traditional Grand Prix to the world’s top event of the international music scene the German To bring viewers closer, sometimes informative and factual, sometimes emotional and with quieter or louder irony. “He hopes that even in the years with weaker German results he has helped with his comments to generate interest in this fascinating, unique event, which in unparalleled in the world. “It was an honor and a great pleasure!” said Urban.

NDR program director Frank Beckmann is known as a “big Peter Urban fan”. He knows the competition like hardly anyone else. “His comments on the posts are insightful, knowledgeable, dry, to the point – and cult,” said Beckmann. He succeeds in not mincing his words and at the same time in commenting benevolently and respectfully.

Peter Urban, born in Bramsche in 1948, studied English and history in Hamburg before earning his doctorate in 1977. His topic: the lyrics of Anglo-American popular music. His dissertation was published under the title “Rolling Words – The Poetry of Rock”. He began working for Norddeutscher Rundfunk in Hamburg while he was still studying. From 1974 he was an author and moderator for “Music for Young People” and also for the legendary program “Der Club” in the NDR 2 studio. Urban, who grew up in Quakenbrück in Lower Saxony, has been part of the music department at Popwelle since 1988. At NDR Info he was also responsible for the programs “Nachtclub” and “Nightlounge” as an editor and continued to present music specials at NDR 2.

Since his retirement in 2013, he can still be heard on NDR 2 (the “Peter Urban Show”) and with his successful music podcast “Urban Pop” – and at the ESC. On April 14, Peter Urban celebrates his 75th birthday. His memoirs appear in the same month.

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