Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest

Switzerland has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 60 times since making its debut at the first contest in 1956, missing only four contests, in 1995, 1999, 2001 and 2003. Switzerland hosted the first contest in 1956 in Lugano, and won it. Switzerland won the contest again in 1988, with the 1989 contest being held in Lausanne.

Switzerland
Member stationSRG SSR
National selection events
Participation summary
Appearances60 (49 finals)
First appearance1956
Best result1st: 1956, 1988
Nul points1964, 1967, 1998, 2004 SF
External links
SF page
Switzerland's page at Eurovision.tv
For the most recent participation see
Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021

Lys Assia won the first contest in 1956 with the song "Refrain". She returned to place second in 1958. Switzerland would go on to finish second with Esther Ofarim (1963) and Daniela Simmons (1986) and third with Franca Di Rienzo (1961) and Arlette Zola (1982), before winning the contest for the second time in 1988 with Celine Dion and the song "Ne partez pas sans moi". Annie Cotton gave the country its 15th top five result in 1993, when she placed third.

Since the introduction of the semi-final round in 2004, Switzerland have failed to reach the final in 11 of 16 contests. Switzerland returned to the top five for the first time in 26 years when Luca Hänni gave the country its 16th top five result by finishing fourth in 2019. The country's only other top 10 result of the 21st century is Estonian girl group Vanilla Ninja's eighth-place in 2005.

Absences

Switzerland had been absent from Eurovision four times since their participation began in the first contest. These absences, in 1995, 1999, 2001 and 2003 were caused by poor results in previous contests that relegated Switzerland from the contest.[1][2][3][4]

Contestants

Switzerland has four official languages, French, German, Italian, and Romansh. For decades, the song requirements stated that the song had to be performed in a national language, which gave Switzerland leeway as they could perform in any of the four languages. Out of their 60 appearances in the Contest, Switzerland has sent 61 songs, 23 of which were in French, 12 in German, 15 in English, 10 in Italian and 1 in Romansh. Both of Switzerland's winning songs have been sung in French.

Table key
1
Winner
2
Second place
3
Third place
Last place
X
Entry selected but did not compete
Year Artist Language Title Final Points Semi Points
Lys Assia German "Das alte Karussell" 2[lower-alpha 1] N/A No semi-finals
Lys Assia French "Refrain" 1
Lys Assia French "L'enfant que j'étais" 8 5
Lys Assia German, Italian "Giorgio" 2 24
Christa Williams German "Irgendwoher" 4 14
Anita Traversi Italian "Cielo e terra" 8 5
Franca Di Rienzo French "Nous aurons demain" 3 16
Jean Philippe French "Le retour" 10 2
Esther Ofarim French "T'en va pas" 2 40
Anita Traversi Italian "I miei pensieri" 13 ◁ 0
Yovanna French "Non, à jamais sans toi" 8 8
Madeleine Pascal French "Ne vois-tu pas?" 6 12
Géraldine French "Quel cœur vas-tu briser?" 17 ◁ 0
Gianni Mascolo Italian "Guardando il sole" 13 2
Paola del Medico German, French "Bonjour, Bonjour" 5 13
Henri Dès French "Retour" 4 8
Peter, Sue and Marc French "Les illusions de nos vingt ans" 12 78
Véronique Müller French "C'est la chanson de mon amour" 8 88
Patrick Juvet French "Je vais me marier, Marie" 12 79
Piera Martell German "Mein Ruf nach Dir" 14 ◁ 3
Simone Drexel German "Mikado" 6 77
Peter, Sue and Marc English "Djambo, Djambo" 4 91
Pepe Lienhard Band German "Swiss Lady" 6 71
Carole Vinci French "Vivre" 9 65
Peter, Sue and Marc + Pfuri, Gorps and Kniri German "Trödler und Co" 10 60
Paola French "Cinéma" 4 104
Peter, Sue and Marc Italian "Io senza te" 4 121
Arlette Zola French "Amour on t'aime" 3 97
Mariella Farré Italian "Io così non ci sto" 15 28
Rainy Day German "Welche Farbe hat der Sonnenschein?" 16 30
Mariella Farré and Pino Gasparini German "Piano, piano" 12 39
Daniela Simmons French "Pas pour moi" 2 140
Carol Rich French "Moitié, moitié" 17 26
Céline Dion French "Ne partez pas sans moi" 1 137
Furbaz Romansh "Viver senza tei" 13 47
Egon Egemann German "Musik klingt in die Welt hinaus" 11 51
Sandra Simó Italian "Canzone per te" 5 118
Daisy Auvray French "Mister Music Man" 15 32
Annie Cotton French "Moi, tout simplement" 3 148 Kvalifikacija za Millstreet
Duilio Italian "Sto pregando" 19 15 No semi-finals
Kathy Leander French "Mon cœur l'aime" 16 22 8 67
Barbara Berta Italian "Dentro di me" 22 5 No semi-finals
Gunvor German "Lass ihn" 25 ◁ 0
Jane Bogaert Italian "La vita cos'è?" 20 14
Francine Jordi French "Dans le jardin de mon âme" 22 15
Piero and the MusicStars English "Celebrate" Failed to qualify 22 ◁ 0
Vanilla Ninja English "Cool Vibes" 8 128 8 114
six4one English "If We All Give a Little" 16 30 Top 11 previous year[lower-alpha 2]
DJ BoBo English "Vampires Are Alive" Failed to qualify 20 40
Paolo Meneguzzi Italian "Era stupendo" 13 47
Lovebugs English "The Highest Heights" 14 15
Michael von der Heide French "Il pleut de l'or" 17 ◁ 2
Anna Rossinelli English "In Love for a While" 25 ◁ 19 10 55
Sinplus English "Unbreakable" Failed to qualify 11 45
Takasa English "You and Me" 13 41
Sebalter English "Hunter of Stars" 13 64 4 92
Mélanie René English "Time to Shine" Failed to qualify 17 ◁ 4
Rykka English "The Last of Our Kind" 18 ◁ 28
Timebelle English "Apollo" 12 97
ZiBBZ English "Stones" 13 86
Luca Hänni English "She Got Me" 4 364 4 232
Gjon's Tears French "Répondez-moi" Contest cancelled[lower-alpha 3] X
Gjon's Tears


Congratulations: 50 Years of the Eurovision Song Contest

Artist Language Title At Congratulations At Eurovision
Final Points Semi Points Year Place Points
Celine Dion French "Ne partez pas sans moi" Failed to qualify 10 98 1988 1 137

Hostings

Year Location Venue Presenter(s)
1956 Lugano Teatro Kursaal Lohengrin Filipello
1989 Lausanne Palais de Beaulieu Lolita Morena and Jacques Deschenaux

Conductors

Year Conductor[lower-alpha 4] Musical Director Notes Ref.
1956 Fernando Paggi [lower-alpha 5] [5]
1957 Willy Berking N/A [lower-alpha 6]
1958 Paul Burkhard
1959 Franck Pourcel [lower-alpha 7]
1960 Cédric Dumont
1961 Fernando Paggi
1962 Cédric Dumont
1963 Eric Robinson [lower-alpha 8]
1964 Fernando Paggi
1965 Mario Robbiani
1966 Jean Roderes [lower-alpha 9]
1967 Hans Moeckel
1968 Mario Robbiani
1969 Henry Mayer
1970 Bernard Gérard [6]
1971 Hardy Schneiders
1972 Jean-Pierre Festi
1973 Hervé Roy
1974 Pepe Ederer
1975 Peter Jacques
1976 Mario Robbiani
1977 Peter Jacques
1978 Daniel Janin
1979 Rolf Zuckowski
1980 Peter Reber [7]
1981 Rolf Zuckowski
1982 Joan Amils
1983 Robert Weber
1984 Mario Robbiani
1985 Anita Kerr
1986 Atilla Şereftuğ
1987 No conductor
1988 Atilla Şereftuğ
1989 Benoît Kaufman [lower-alpha 10]
1990 Bela Balint N/A
1991 Flaviano Cuffari
1992 Roby Seidel
1993 Marc Sorrentino
1994 Valeriano Chiaravalle
1996 Rui dos Reis
1997 Pietro Damiani
1998 No conductor


Commentators and spokespersons

Over the years Switzerland has broadcast the Eurovision Song Contest on three television stations, SRF (German language), RTS (French language) and RSI (Italian language).

Year Commentator Spokesperson Ref.
SRF RTS RSI
1956 No broadcastRobert BurnierNo broadcastNo spokesperson
1957 Commentary via RTF FranceMäni Weber
1958 Theodor Haller
1959 Boris Acquadro
1960
1961
1962 Commentary via RAI ItalyAlexandre Burger
1963 Georges Hardy
1964 Robert Burnier
1965 Jean Charles
1966 Georges HardyGiovanni Bertini
1967 Robert Burnier
1968 Georges Hardy
1969
1970
1971 No spokesperson
1972
1973
1974 Michel Stocker
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979 Max Rüeger
1980 Theodor Haller
1981
1982
1983
1984 Bernard ThurnheerSerge MoissonEzio Guidi
1985
1986
1987 Wilma Gilardi
1988 Ezio Guidi
1989 Thierry MasselotGiovanni Bertini
1990 Emanuela Gaggini
1991 Lolita Morena
1992 Mariano TschuorIvan Frésard
1993 Jean-Marc Richard
1994 Wilma GilardiSandra Studer
1995 Heinz MargotJoanne HolderDid not participate
1996 Sandra StuderPierre GrandjeanYves Ménestrier
1997 Heinz Margot, Roman KilchspergerJonathan TedescoSandy Altermatt
1998 Jean-Marc RichardRegula Elsener
1999 Sandra StuderDid not participate
2000 Astrid Von Stockar
2001 Phil MundwillerDid not participate
2002 Jonathan Tedesco, Claudio LazzarinoDiana Jörg
2003 Roman KilchspergerJean-Marc Richard, Alain MorisodDaniele Rauseo, Claudio LazzarinoDid not participate
2004 Marco FritscheDaniela Tami, Claudio LazzarinoEmel Aykanat
2005 Sandra Studer Jean-Marc Richard, Marie-Thérèse PorchetCécile Bähler
2006 Jean-Marc Richard, Alain MorisodSandy Altermatt, Claudio LazzarinoJubaira Bachmann
2007 Bernard Thurnheer Jean-Marc Richard (all), Henri Dès (final),
Nicolas Tanner (semi-final)
Sven Epiney
2008 Sven Epiney Jean-Marc Richard, Nicolas Tanner Sandy AltermattCécile Bähler
2009
2010 Christa Rigozzi
2011 Jonathan TedescoCécile Bähler
2012 Clarissa Tami, Paolo MeneguzziSara Hildebrand
2013 Alessandro BertoglioMélanie Freymond
2014 Sven Epiney, Peter Schneider, Gabriel Vetter Alessandro Bertoglio, Sandy AltermattKurt Aeschbacher
2015 Clarissa Tami, Paolo MeneguzziLaetitia Guarino
2016 Clarissa Tami, Michele CarobbioSebalter
2017 Sven Epiney (all); Stefan Büsser, Micky Beisenherz (final)Clarissa Tami (all); Sebalter (final)Luca Hänni
2018 Sven EpineyClarissa Tami, SebalterLetícia Carvalho
2019 Jean-Marc Richard, Nicolas Tanner (all);
Bastian Baker (final)
Sinplus

See also

Notes

  1. The full results for the first contest in 1956 are unknown, as only the winner was announced. The official Eurovision site lists all other songs as being placed second.
  2. According to the then-Eurovision rules, the top ten non-Big Four countries from the previous year along with the Big Four automatically qualified for the grand final without having to compete in semi-finals. For example, if Germany and France placed inside the top ten, the 11th and 12th spots were advanced to the next year's grand final along with all countries ranked in the top ten.
  3. The 2020 contest was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  4. All conductors are of Swiss nationality unless otherwise noted.
  5. Also conducted the Dutch and German entries.
  6. Host conductor
  7. Host conductor
  8. Host conductor
  9. Host conductor
  10. Also conducted the Luxembourgish entry and half of the Danish entry.

References

  1. "History by Year: Eurovision Song Contest 1995". EBU. Archived from the original on 2011-02-17. Retrieved 2009-04-15.
  2. "History by Year: Eurovision Song Contest 1999". EBU. Archived from the original on 2011-02-17. Retrieved 2009-04-15.
  3. "History by Year: Eurovision Song Contest 2001". EBU. Archived from the original on 2011-02-17. Retrieved 2009-04-15.
  4. "History by Year: Eurovision Song Contest 2003". EBU. Archived from the original on 2011-02-17. Retrieved 2009-04-15.
  5. Roxburgh, Gordon (2012). Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest. Volume One: The 1950s and 1960s. Prestatyn: Telos Publishing. pp. 93–101. ISBN 978-1-84583-065-6.
  6. Roxburgh, Gordon (2014). Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest. Volume Two: The 1970s. Prestatyn: Telos Publishing. pp. 142–168. ISBN 978-1-84583-093-9.
  7. Roxburgh, Gordon (2016). Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest. Volume Three: The 1980s. Prestatyn: Telos Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84583-118-9.
  8. "«ESC» 2017: Satirischer Kommentar mit Stefan Büsser und «Aeschbacher Spezial – aus Kiew»" [«ESC» 2017: Satirical commentary with Stefan Büsser and «Aeschbacher Special - from Kyiv»]. SRF (in German). Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  9. "Eurovision Song Contest 2017". RSI (in Italian). Archived from the original on 7 May 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  10. Davies, Megan (1 May 2017). "Switzerland: Luca Hänni Announced As Spokesperson". Eurovoix. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  11. Granger, Anthony (16 April 2018). "Switzerland: Sven Epiney Returns to the Commentary Booth". Eurovoix. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  12. "Eurosong - TV - Play RTS". RTS (in French). Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  13. "Eurovision Song Contest 2018 - RSI Radiotelevisione svizzera". RSI (in Italian). 7 May 2018. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  14. Granger, Anthony (19 April 2018). "Switzerland: Leticia Carvalho Revealed as Spokesperson". Eurovoix. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  15. Granger, Anthony (16 April 2019). "Switzerland: Sven Epiney Confirmed as SRF's Eurovision Commentator". Eurovoix. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  16. Brown, Alistair (3 May 2019). "Switzerland: Bastian Baker Announced As Commentator For Grand Final". Eurovoix. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  17. "Dal 3 giugno addio al Digitale Terrestre in Svizzera, niente più Eurovision sulla RSI per gli italiani" [Farewell to DTT in Switzerland from 3 June, no more Eurovision on CSR for Italians]. eurofestivalnews.com (in Italian). 6 May 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  18. Herbert, Emily (24 April 2019). "Switzerland: Sinplus Revealed as Eurovision 2019 Spokespersons". Eurovoix. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
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