German singer-songwriter Danger Dan and pianist Igor Levit were invited to perform a song titled "Keine Angst” (No Fear) for the 100th episode of a political satire TV show called "Die Anstalt" (The Institution). But shortly before the recording of the program, public broadcaster ZDF withdrew the invitation.
The sudden cancellation is sparking discussions on freedom of artistic expression and the limits of political speech in Germany. It is also drawing attention to the new song, which reached the top of the country's YouTube music charts shortly after the musicians decried the cancellation on June 17.
The broadcaster argued that parts of the lyrics could be interpreted as endorsing political extremism, vigilantism or violence against far-right activists, noting that this would conflict with ZDF's programming guidelines.
Show hosts condemn cancellation
"Die Anstalt" combines in-depth, single-topic investigations and political comedy. In the special 100th episode, titled "Die ANTIFAnstalt," the comedians analyzed the program of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which is currently the most popular political party in Germany, all while civil rights groups are assessing it for potential unconstitutionality and ban proceedings.
The episode airs on television on Tuesday evening and is already available online.
The cancellation was not left uncommented during the show.
Instead of the song, an empty stage with a piano and microphones was shown during the program. After a few seconds of dead air, the hosts discussed the controversy, noting that the lyrics had been submitted to the broadcasting directors weeks ahead of the recording and that their plan was to openly discuss the lyrics with the author after the performance.
"We understand that opinions on the song may be divided, but we simply consider ZDF's decision to be spineless — especially at a time when right-wing extremist violence has once again reached a record high in the history of the Federal Republic of Germany," said one of the show hosts, Claus von Wagner.
The team took turns reading out and commenting on passages from the song, pointing out the sections that could be interpreted as criminal offenses or calls to violence.
What the song is about
The song offers a step-by-step guide on how to organize local, leaderless structures aimed at countering far-right movements. It advocates strict operational security, such as avoiding digital footprints and relying on face-to-face communication. It also describes tactics for investigating political opponents and publicizing their identities and affiliations, a practice often referred to as "outing" or doxing.
The lyrics also include references to militant action and express solidarity with individuals who have been found guilty of leading violent attacks on neo-Nazis.
ZDF director Norbert Himmler said he stood by the decision to cancel the performance: "In my view, the lyrics unquestionably provide instructions for a leftist resistance willing to use violence," he told the German daily Süddeutsche Zeitung.
At the same time, he admitted that his station should have handled the case differently: "We can be faulted for the last-minute cancellation," he said, adding, "We should have asked ourselves basic questions earlier — ideally before inviting the artists."
Eight members of the ZDF Television Council have criticized the broadcaster over the cancellation. In an open letter published on Monday by the online outlet netzpolitik.org, the council members argued that ZDF missed an opportunity to spark a debate about right-wing extremism in Germany and the various ways to combat it.
Danger Dan: Testing the limits of freedom of art
Danger Dan, whose real name is Daniel Pongratz, is known for his politically charged lyrics.
He is active as a member of the hip-hop band Antilopen Gang and as a solo artist. Lyrics on his debut solo album from 2008 already dealt with antisemitism in German rap.
Igor Levit and Danger Dan performed together for ZDF in 2021Image: Rainer Keuenhof/picture alliance
His best-known hit came out in 2021. The single "Das ist alles von der Kunstfreiheit gedeckt" (That's All Covered by Freedom of Artistic Expression) deliberately tests the boundaries between protected artistic expression and potentially defamatory speech, and sharply criticizes right-wing politicians and public figures.
Igor Levit is a globally renowned pianist who is also widely recognized for his social activism, political engagement and public commentary. He had already accompanied Danger Dan on the piano in April 2021 for the live TV performance of the protest song "Das ist alles von der Kunstfreiheit gedeckt" on another ZDF program, "Magazin Royale."
Danger Dan and Igor Levit are now offering a substitute concert on Tuesday evening at Berlin's Columbia Theater. The show, "Die keine Angststalt" (a wordplay combining the title of the song with that of the TV show), will also be broadcast on YouTube.
According to reports, proceeds from ticket sales will go to the association Opferperspektive, described as "the central point of contact in Brandenburg [the state surrounding Berlin] for victims of right-wing, racist and antisemitic violence."
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Edited by: Josh Lang