Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010

Switzerland participated at the Eurovision Song Contest 2010, that was held in Oslo, Norway. On 18 December SRG SSR idée suisse, following internal selection again, announced that they had selected Swiss singer Michael von der Heide to represent the country with "Il pleut de l'or", sung in French.[1][2]

Eurovision Song Contest 2010
Country  Switzerland
National selection
Selection processInternal Selection
Selection date(s)Artist: 18 December 2009
Song: 9 January 2010
Selected entrantMichael von der Heide
Selected song"Il pleut de l'or"
Finals performance
Semi-final resultFailed to qualify (17th, 2 points)
Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest
◄2009 • 2010 • 2011►

Before Eurovision

Internal selection
Michael von der Heide, the Swiss entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 2010.

SRG SSR opened a submission period for interested artists and songwriters to submit their entries until 22 October 2009, announcing that they are looking for "a strong song of an international standard".[3] Composers and artists of any nationality were able to submit songs; however, only artists that have had television and stage experience (live performances), have made at least one video and have released at least one CD which placed among the top 50 in an official chart were eligible.[4] Over 60 entries were submitted following the submission deadline, and a jury panel composed of members from the three Swiss broadcasters SF, TSR and RSI evaluated the entry submissions received and selected the winner.[5][6] On 18 December 2009, Michael von der Heide was announced as the Swiss entrant at the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 with the song "Il pleut de l'or".[1][2] The song was premiered on 9 January 2010 during the Swiss Music Awards show, broadcast on all channels in SRG SSR.[7]

Promotion

Von der Heide promoted his song for Eurovision before competing in the second semi-final. A new version of "Il pleut de l'or" was performed during the Latvian national final on 27 February.[8] Von der Heide also released a music video with the studio version of the new version of the song in March 2010.[9] German and English versions of "Il pleut de l'or"; "Es regnet Gold" and "It's Raining Gold" were also released respectively.[10]

Von der Heide performed at the "Eurovision in Concert" preview concert in the Amsterdam municipality of Zaanstad in the Netherlands on 24 April, along with 17 other competitors.[11] He performed "Il pleut de l'or" as well as his German national final entry in 1999, "Bye Bye Bar".

At Eurovision

As Switzerland had not competed in the final of the contest since 2006, and was not one of the "Big Four", it was obliged to compete in one of the two semi-finals of the contest.

Switzerland was drawn to perform in the second semi-final, held on 27 May, at the semi-final allocation draw on 7 February, performing in the first half of the show.[12] At the running order draw on 23 March, Switzerland was chosen as a "wildcard", allowing the Swiss delegation to select the country's draw in the semi-final. The delegation chose to perform 5th on the night, following Denmark and preceding Sweden[13]

Semi-final

Michael von der Heide was joined on stage by three female backing singers: Amanda Nikolić, Freda Goodlett and Sybille Fässler; and co-author Pele Loriano singing and playing the balalaika.[14]

At the end of the voting Switzerland failed to qualify to the final for the 4th consecutive time, finishing last out of the 17 entries, receiving only two points from Georgia. This was Switzerland's 6th last place finish in their history in the contest, after finishing last in 1964, 1967, 1974, 1998 and the 2004 semi-final.

Split results
  • In the Semi-final 2 Switzerland came 17th with 2 points: the public awarded Switzerland 17th place with 1 point and the jury awarded 16th place with 14 points.

Points awarded by Switzerland[15]
Points awarded to Switzerland (Semi-final 2)
12 points 10 points 8 points 7 points 6 points
5 points 4 points 3 points 2 points 1 point

After Eurovision

After failing to qualify, von der Heide joked that he would go again for Switzerland with a duet with Swedish singer and former Eurovision winner Carola.[16]

Several Eurovision songs charted in the Swiss Music Charts. The winning song, Lena's "Satellite" for Germany, reached number one, having previously peaked at number 2 in April 2010.[17] "Satellite" is the first Eurovision winning song to reach the top of the Swiss charts since 1982, with Nicole's "Ein bißchen Frieden", also for Germany.[18]

Entries from Denmark, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Romania, Armenia, Turkey, Sweden, Iceland, Ukraine and the Swiss entry itself also charted. "Il pleut de l'or", which charted at #65, was Michael von der Heide's first ever song to chart on the Swiss singles chart after 12 years in the music business.[18]

See also

References
  1. Schacht, Andreas (18 December 2009). "Michael von der Heide to represent Switzerland". European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 18 December 2009.
  2. Murray, Gavin (18 December 2009). "Switzerland: Michael von der Heide for Eurovision 2010". ESCToday. Retrieved 18 December 2009.
  3. Konstantopoulos, Fotis (3 July 2009). "Internal selection again for Switzerland". Oikotimes. Archived from the original on 8 July 2009. Retrieved 2 August 2009.
  4. Murray, Gavin (3 July 2009). "Switzerland: Internal selection for Eurovision 2010". ESCToday. Retrieved 2 August 2009.
  5. Hondal, Victor (25 October 2009). "Swiss song to be announced in December". ESCToday. Retrieved 25 October 2009.
  6. Anadioti, Eva (25 October 2009). "SF decides in December for Oslo". Oikotimes. Archived from the original on 26 October 2009. Retrieved 25 October 2009.
  7. Grillhofer, Florian (9 January 2010). "Switzerland: Michael von der Heide presents his song for Europe". ESCToday. Retrieved 9 January 2010.
  8. Grillhofer, Florian (28 February 2010). "Michael von der Heide presents new version of his song". ESCToday. Retrieved 28 February 2010.
  9. Lewis, Daniel (14 March 2010). "Switzerland: Il Pleut de l'or video released". ESCToday. Retrieved 14 March 2010.
  10. Grillhofer, Florian (12 April 2010). "Switzerland: German version of Il pleut de l'or available". ESCToday. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
  11. Medinika, Aija (16 April 2010). "Eurovision in Concert 2010". ESCtoday. Retrieved 16 April 2010.
  12. Klier, Marcus (7 February 2010). "Semi final allocation for Oslo determined". ESCToday. Retrieved 7 February 2010.
  13. Klier, Marcus (23 March 2010). "Live: Draw of the running order". ESCToday. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
  14. "ESC - Band". Michael von der Heide official website. Archived from the original on 6 April 2010.
  15. Eurovision Song Contest 2008
  16. Dahlander, Gustav (28 May 2010). "Joy and disappointment backstage". European Broadcasting Union. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  17. Lena Meyer-Landrut - Satellite swisscharts.com (in German) Swiss Singles Chart. Hung Medien.
  18. Klier, Marcus (9 June 2010). "Eurovision songs invade Swiss charts". ESCToday. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
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