Road to Basel: Switzerland
Road to Basel: Switzerland! As we eagerly anticipate the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, we continue our daily spotlight on this year’s contestants. Today, we focus on the host nation, Switzerland.
photo: SRF/Maurice Haas
Zoë Më
ZoĂ« Alina Kressler, better known by her stage name ZoĂ« MĂ«, is a Swiss singer-songwriter. She was born on October 6, 2000, in Basel. At the age of ten, she already began writing her own songs. Over time, she developed a unique musical style by mixing German and French lyrics and combining pop music with chanson, creating what she calls “poetry-pop.” As a result, ZoĂ« gained attention and, in 2024, received two important awards: RTS Artiste Radar and SRF 3 Best Talent. These awards recognized her as one of Switzerland’s most promising new musicians. Additionally, ZoĂ« has performed at prestigious events, such as the Montreux Jazz Festival and Luzern Live. Moreover, she has toured with well-known artists like Remo Forrer and Joya Marleen.
Voyage (What does AI say?)
“Voyage” is ZoĂ« MĂ«’s entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025. The song showcases her signature poetic lyrics and melodic composition, reflecting themes of personal growth and exploration. It was released on March 10, 2025, and has been praised for its artistic depth and emotional resonance. ​
National Selection Process
Switzerland’s national broadcaster, SRG SSR, opted for an internal selection process to choose their Eurovision representative for 2025. A submission period was open from August 8 to 22, 2024, during which 431 entries were received. The selection involved multiple rounds of evaluation by Swiss and international public panels, as well as a 25-member international expert jury. On March 5, 2025, ZoĂ« MĂ« was announced as the selected artist, with her song “Voyage” unveiled on March 10. ​
Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest
Switzerland has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest since its inception in 1956, achieving victories in 1956 with Lys Assia‘s “Refrain,” in 1988 with CĂ©line Dion‘s “Ne partez pas sans moi,” and in 2024 with Nemo‘s “The Code.” As the host country in 2025, Switzerland automatically qualifies for the Grand Final, scheduled for May 17, 2025, at St. Jakobshalle in Basel. ​
A Random Swiss Entry
Reflecting on Switzerland’s Eurovision history, random.org selected Gjon’s Tears‘ “Tout l’univers”. Gjon’s Tears was supposed to participate in 2020, but due to the cancellation of the contest, he had to wait a year. He won the jury vote and was 3rd overall in 2021. Never had anybody with Kosovar and Albanian roots scored so well in Eurovision.Â
Betting Odds
As of now, ZoĂ« MĂ«’s “Voyage” currently has the 22nd place in the betting odds. That means it’s the 22nd song in order to win the contest. According to the bookmakers, it is not likely that Switzerland will earn a second consecutive victory. But is that a problem? We don’t think so!
We eagerly await the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel and look forward to witnessing ZoĂ« MĂ«’s performance on the grand stage.
