Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009
Encyclopedia
Switzerland competed in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009. The Swiss broadcaster, SRG SSR idée suisse
, internally selected Lovebugs
to represent the country with the song "The Highest Heights
". The song did not progress from the first semi-final of the competition.
, and will send its 50th entry to the 2009 contest. The country has won the contest twice: their first win occurred at the very first contest, when Lys Assia
won for Switzerland with "Refrain
" when the contest was held in Switzerland, in the town of Lugano
; their second and latest win to date came in 1988
, when Canadian
singer Céline Dion
won with "Ne partez pas sans moi
". The country, however, has also come last in the contest on five occasions: in 1964
, 1967
, 1974
, 1998
and in the semi-final of the 2004 Contest
.
The Swiss broadcaster SRG SSR idée suisse
has been in charge of the Swiss Eurovision entry since its interception. In the past the organistaion has held a national final to select the Swiss entry to Eurovision, with each regional broadcaster entering songs to the contest. Since 2005, however, the organisation has held an internal selection for the Swiss Eurovision entry, which was continued for the 2009 selection.
(SF), the German-language sector of SRG SSR, began its selection for Eurovision 2009 in July 2008. From July to 20 October 2008 SF held an open call for artists interested in Eurovision. Artists and authors wishing to enter were not obliged to be Swiss citizens, however SF stressed that the experience of possible candidates was vital. An internal jury will select the final entry for Switzerland for the contest.
After months of deliberation, Swiss newspaper Blick
claimed in January 2009 that SF had selected the popular Swiss band the Lovebugs
to represent Switzerland at the 2009 Contest in Moscow, Russia. SF confirmed on 19 January that the Lovebugs had been selected by the five-person jury appointed by the broadcaster to represent Switzerland at Eurovision. No information has yet been disclosed on the song the band will sing in Moscow, however a poll held by Swiss radio station DRS
, part of SF, on their website showed that readers preferred "The Highest Heights" over other songs on their new album of the same name.
On 23 February, it was finally announced that the Lovebugs will compete at the contest with "The Highest Heights
". The group will compete in the first semi-final on 12 May 2009. They failed to qualify for the finals of the contest.
SRG SSR idée suisse
SRG SSR is the Swiss public broadcasting organisation, founded in 1931 as SRG-SSR. Headquartered in Bern, SRG SSR is a non-profit organisation, funded mainly through radio and television licence fees and making the remaining income from advertising and sponsorship.Switzerland's system of direct...
, internally selected Lovebugs
Lovebugs (band)
The Lovebugs are a Swiss Britpop inspired band from Basel, Switzerland founded in 1992.They are one of Switzerland's most successful bands with three number one albums in the Swiss charts...
to represent the country with the song "The Highest Heights
The Highest Heights
"The Highest Heights" is a song by the Lovebugs and was the Swiss entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 2009, held in Moscow, Russia.The song competed in the first semi-final on 12 May 2009 but failed to reach the final on 16 May.-Charts:-Year-end charts:...
". The song did not progress from the first semi-final of the competition.
Background
Switzerland first debuted at Eurovision at the first contest in 1956Eurovision Song Contest 1956
The Eurovision Song Contest 1956 was the first edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, held at the Teatro Kursaal in Lugano, Switzerland on 24 May 1956...
, and will send its 50th entry to the 2009 contest. The country has won the contest twice: their first win occurred at the very first contest, when Lys Assia
Lys Assia
Lys Assia born Rosa Mina Schärer on 3 March 1924, Rupperswil, Aargau, Switzerland) is a Swiss singer who won the first Eurovision Song Contest in 1956. When Lys Assia was a young girl she was a dancer. In 1940, however, she stood in for a female singer...
won for Switzerland with "Refrain
Refrain (song)
"Refrain" was the winning song of the Eurovision Song Contest 1956, co-written by Émile Gardaz and Géo Voumard, performed by Lys Assia representing Switzerland. It was the first-ever winner of the Contest, but not the first-ever performance by Switzerland...
" when the contest was held in Switzerland, in the town of Lugano
Lugano
Lugano is a city of inhabitants in the city proper and a total of over 145,000 people in the agglomeration/city region, in the south of Switzerland, in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino, which borders Italy...
; their second and latest win to date came in 1988
Eurovision Song Contest 1988
The Eurovision Song Contest 1988 was the 33rd Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 30 April 1988 in Dublin. The presenters were Pat Kenny and Michelle Rocca...
, when Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
singer Céline Dion
Celine Dion
Céline Marie Claudette Dion, , , is a Canadian singer. Born to a large family from Charlemagne, Quebec, Dion emerged as a teen star in the French-speaking world after her manager and future husband René Angélil mortgaged his home to finance her first record...
won with "Ne partez pas sans moi
Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi
"Ne partez pas sans moi" is the Swiss winning entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1988, performed by Céline Dion. It was released as a single in Europe on May 6, 1988...
". The country, however, has also come last in the contest on five occasions: in 1964
Eurovision Song Contest 1964
The Eurovision Song Contest 1964 was the ninth Eurovision Song Contest. It was held in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark after the Danish victory the previous year. Sweden did not participate because of a boycott by singers. They did however broadcast it...
, 1967
Eurovision Song Contest 1967
The Eurovision Song Contest 1967 was the twelfth Eurovision Song Contest. The presenter became confused whilst the voting was taking place, and declared the United Kingdom's entry to be the winner before the last country, Ireland, had announced its votes...
, 1974
Eurovision Song Contest 1974
The Eurovision Song Contest 1974 was the 19th Eurovision Song Contest. It was held in the seaside resort of Brighton on the south coast of the United Kingdom...
, 1998
Eurovision Song Contest 1998
The Eurovision Song Contest 1998 was the 43rd Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 9 May 1998 at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, United Kingdom. The presenters were Terry Wogan and Ulrika Jonsson...
and in the semi-final of the 2004 Contest
Eurovision Song Contest 2004
The Eurovision Song Contest 2004, was the 49th Contest and it was held in the Abdi İpekçi Arena in Istanbul, Turkey. This was the first occasion in which the contest was held in Turkey after they had won the competition in 2003 with Sertab Erener singing "Everyway That I Can"...
.
The Swiss broadcaster SRG SSR idée suisse
SRG SSR idée suisse
SRG SSR is the Swiss public broadcasting organisation, founded in 1931 as SRG-SSR. Headquartered in Bern, SRG SSR is a non-profit organisation, funded mainly through radio and television licence fees and making the remaining income from advertising and sponsorship.Switzerland's system of direct...
has been in charge of the Swiss Eurovision entry since its interception. In the past the organistaion has held a national final to select the Swiss entry to Eurovision, with each regional broadcaster entering songs to the contest. Since 2005, however, the organisation has held an internal selection for the Swiss Eurovision entry, which was continued for the 2009 selection.
Selection
Schweizer FernsehenSchweizer Fernsehen
Schweizer Fernsehen is the German language division of SRG SSR, in charge of production and distribution of television programmes in German for German-speaking Switzerland...
(SF), the German-language sector of SRG SSR, began its selection for Eurovision 2009 in July 2008. From July to 20 October 2008 SF held an open call for artists interested in Eurovision. Artists and authors wishing to enter were not obliged to be Swiss citizens, however SF stressed that the experience of possible candidates was vital. An internal jury will select the final entry for Switzerland for the contest.
After months of deliberation, Swiss newspaper Blick
Blick
Blick is a German-language daily tabloid newspaper published in Zürich, Switzerland since 1959 by Ringier.It has a circulation of 275,000 and a readership of 750,000 . Only the free daily 20 Minuten has a higher circulation in Switzerland....
claimed in January 2009 that SF had selected the popular Swiss band the Lovebugs
Lovebugs (band)
The Lovebugs are a Swiss Britpop inspired band from Basel, Switzerland founded in 1992.They are one of Switzerland's most successful bands with three number one albums in the Swiss charts...
to represent Switzerland at the 2009 Contest in Moscow, Russia. SF confirmed on 19 January that the Lovebugs had been selected by the five-person jury appointed by the broadcaster to represent Switzerland at Eurovision. No information has yet been disclosed on the song the band will sing in Moscow, however a poll held by Swiss radio station DRS
Schweizer Radio DRS
Schweizer Radio: Radio der deutschen und rätoromanischen Schweiz is a company of SRG SSR idée suisse. - Broadcasting :SR DRS own six radio stations, which in German-speaking Switzerland has a market share of over 60 percent....
, part of SF, on their website showed that readers preferred "The Highest Heights" over other songs on their new album of the same name.
On 23 February, it was finally announced that the Lovebugs will compete at the contest with "The Highest Heights
The Highest Heights
"The Highest Heights" is a song by the Lovebugs and was the Swiss entry to the Eurovision Song Contest 2009, held in Moscow, Russia.The song competed in the first semi-final on 12 May 2009 but failed to reach the final on 16 May.-Charts:-Year-end charts:...
". The group will compete in the first semi-final on 12 May 2009. They failed to qualify for the finals of the contest.