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UEFA 2020: DAY 10

And again, we will have two matches in the European Soccer Championship. The first match will be between Italy and Wales. For this one we are going to look at male duos. In 1987, Umberto Tozzi and Raff, both big stars in Italy and abroad already, represented their country. They sang “Gente di mare”, which became third. It became a Eurovision classic. The United Kingdom was represented by Joe and Jake in the 2016 contest. Joe Woolford, the half of the duo, was a Welshman. With “You’re not alone” they became 24th. For the match between Switzerland and Turkey we add only one song: “Ne partez pas sans moi”. You are right, the singer Celine Dion is neither Swiss nor Turkish: she is a Canadian. But the song is composed by Atilla Şereftuğ, who is Turkish. The lyrics are from Nella Martinetti. And yes, she is Swiss!

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UEFA 2020: Day 6

Again, three matches in UEFA 2020. To start with Finland against Russia. Where have we seen this battle before? Well, remember the 2006 contest. Lordi from Finland won with a landslide. Their song “Hard rock hallelujah” broke all the records. It was hard for Dima Bilan from Russia to get there with his song “I never ever let you go”. But you don’t have to feel sorry for him: two years later Dima got the prize! Turkey and Wales meet today as well. In 2004, the contest was held in Turkey. For the host country the group Athena participated with the song “For real”. One of the other contestants that year was Welshman James Fox. He represented the United Kingdom with the song “Hold onto our love”. Italy will meet Switzerland in the arena today. In both countries, Italian is one of the main languages. So that might be an easy connection. But in fact, we found another one. Both countries once sent a song in a minority language. In 1991, host country Italy sent Peppino di Capri who sang “Comme e’ ddoce o’ mare”, sung in the Neapolitan language. Switzerland, also host country but in 1989, decided to sing a song in Romansh: “Viver senza tei”, song by the group Furbaz.

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UEFA Euro 2020 started!

With a year of delay, Euro 2020, the European soccer chiampionship, has started. The fun thing for a Eurovision fan is that a lot of matches remind us of Eurovision Songs, because it’s with (partly) the same countries. Yesterday, Italy won the match from Turkey. Many people on the internet mentioned Måneskin (of course) and Sertab (of course). But the match reminded us of another performance. You see Italian host Toto Cutugno (1991) learning Turkish. The Turkish contestants are Can Uğurluer, İzel Çeliköz & Reyhan Karaca singing “Iki dakika”. That is a hard one to pronounce for Toto. Today, Wales meets Switzerland. Wales is a part of the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest. But did you know that a Welsh woman almost won Eurovision? She became 2nd in 1970 and her name was Mary Hopkin. Also for Switzerland we chose someone who became 2nd: Daniela Simons in 1986. Both ladies have in common that in their years, one contestant could impossibly be defeated. In 1970 it was Dana and in 1986 Sandra Kim. Denmark meets Finland this year. Opposites attract, that’s what people say. We have a Eurovision winner from both countries. A ballad, sung by two man in their 40s from Denmark: “Fly on the wings of love” by the Olson Brothers. And a rock song from Finland, sung by Lordi, dressed as monsters: “Hard rock hallelujah”. And last but not least, Belgium meets Russia. They did so too in 2003. Turkey (as mentioned), Belgium and Russia struggled for the first place. Belgium became 2nd with Urban Trad, with a song in a non-existing language. Russia became third with the famous duo t.A.T.u. and their “Ne ver’ ne boysia”. Who is going to win? We put our money on Måneskin. Or were you talking about soccer?

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Road to Rotterdam: Switzerland

The Swiss contestant Gjon’s Tears is actually called Gjon Muharremaj. He is a Kosovar Albanian, but born in Friborg, Switzerland. When he was 12 he took part in Albanians Got Talent, a year later in the show’s Swiss sister. In 2019 he participated in The Voice. Gjon’s Tears would participate in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2020 with “Répondez-moi”. The Swiss broadcaster again chose Gjon’s Tears in 2021. Dutchman Wouter Hardy, jointly responsible for “Arcade” in 2019, co-wrote the song “Tout l’Univers”.

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Patrick Juvet passed away

Swiss pop star Patrick Juvet has died at the age of 70. His manager announced this news today. Juvet was most famous in the 1970s after first being a fashion model. He released a total of 15 albums. A big hit in France was “La Musica” in 1972. One year later he represented his country in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Je vais me marier, Marie”. Juvet scored even more with “Sonia” (1973). Other hits were “Ou sont les femmes?” (1977), “Got A Feeling, I Love America” ​​(1978) and “Lady Night” (1979).  Juvet died on april 1 in an apartment in Barcelona. The cause of death is not yet known. “There will be an autopsy, I had him on the phone three days ago and I thought he sounded good,” his manager told the press.

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Gjon’s Tears

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts NameGjon Muharremaj Born29 june 1998 Nationality🇨🇭 Swiss National SelectionInternal Selection In Eurovision2021 Rotterdam2020 Rotterdam (Cancelled) SongTout l’univers (2021)Répondez-moi (2020) Biography Gjon’s Tears, real name Gjon Muharremaj, is a Swiss singer of Kosovar origin. His stage name Gjon’s Tears is based on a childhood experience: When he was nine, he moved his grandfather to tears with a performance of Elvis Presley’s “Help Falling in Love”. It was his grandfather who registered him for Albania’s Got Talent in 2011, where he finished third. The following year, Gjon’s Tears participated in Die grössten Schweizer Talente. He also took part in the French version of The Voice. In 2020, he was supposed represent Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Répondez-moi”. Unfortunately, due to the cancellation of the contest, that didn’t happen. Swiss TV has now invited him to be the 2021 contestant. His song, “Tout l’univers”, became the winner of the expert jury. Overall, Gjon became 3rd. Also in 2021, Gjon’s Tears featured in a song of Arilena Ara, with the title “Dance me”. He won an MTV Europe Music Award for best Swiss song. At the end of 2021 he participated in The Voice All Stars France. In 2022, his song “Silhouette” became a huge hit in Albania. Entries Tout l’univers Country🇨🇭 Switzerland Year2021 LanguageFrench Lyrics & MusixGjon MuharremajWouter HardyNina Sampermans MusicGjon MuharremajWouter HardyNina SampermansXavier Michel Backings– Results Semi Points: 291Position: 1 Running order: 16 Results Finals Points: 432Position: 3Running order: 14 https://youtu.be/jznH_fltcYA Répondez-moi Country Switzerland Year2021 LanguageFrench Lyrics & MusicGjon MuharremajXavier MichelAlizé OswaldJeroen Swinnen Backings– Results Semi Points: –Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/O9GAfFHZE-E

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Lovebugs

About Quick Facts MembersAdrian SieberFlorian SennSimon RamseierStefan WagnerThomas Rechberger Founded1992 Nationality🇨🇭 Swiss National SelectionInternal selection 2009 In Eurovision2009 Moscow SongThe Highest Heights (2009) Biography Lovebugs, a Swiss rock band from Basel, was founded in 1992 by Adrian Sieber, Sebastian “Baschi” Hausmann, and Julie Lagger. The band originated when Adrian placed an ad looking for a drummer, which led to their early success by winning a local talent contest. This victory enabled them to record their debut album, Fluff, released in 1994. Shortly after, Julie left the band and was replaced by Simon Ramseier on drums. The band’s momentum grew as they embarked on their first European tour in 1995 and released their second album, Tart. Their breakthrough came in 1996 when the single “Fantastic” climbed to number 40 in the Swiss charts, leading to a deal with BMG Ariola. In 2000, Transatlantic Flight hit number three in the Swiss charts, followed by their first number one album, Awaydays, featuring the hit single “Music Makes My World Go Round.” Over the years, the band saw lineup changes, with bassist Florian Senn and keyboardist Stefan Wagner joining. In 2006, their album In Every Waking Moment topped the Swiss charts, and the single “Avalon” featuring Lene Marlin became a notable success. After a hiatus and a Eurovision appearance in 2009, Lovebugs returned with their 2024 album Heartbreak City, marking their resurgence with a fresh lineup. Entries The Highest Heights Country🇨🇭 Switzerland Year2009 LanguageEnglish LyricsAdrian Sieber MusicAdrian SieberThomas RechbergerFlorian Senn Backings– Results Semi Points: 15Position: 14Running order: 8 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/bMv0nMrrScE?si=XGLpBh6u0kx_Z87j

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Michael von der Heide

About Quick Facts NameMichael von der Heide Born16 October 1971 Nationality🇨🇭 Swiss National SelectionInternal selection 2010Countdown Grand Prix 1999 (🇩🇪) In Eurovision2010 Oslo SongIl pleut de l’or (2010) Biography Michael Von der Heide, a Swiss singer with a German father and Swiss mother, embarked on his musical journey at 16, taking vocal lessons from opera singer Ginette Girardier. He soon found his passion for chansons. In 1990, he entered the Showszene Schweiz competition, showcasing young talents, and by 1995, he clinched the Swiss KleinKunstPreis. His acting debut came in 1996 with the play “Lina Böglis Reise”. That same year, he released his debut album, which bore his own name and sold over 15,000 copies. His musical career further blossomed with the release of his second album “30° -” in 1998, featuring the hit single “Jeudi amour” which garnered the Silver Hare award. The album was critically acclaimed and sold over 24,000 copies. In 1999, Von der Heide participated in the German selection for the Eurovision Song Contest with “Bye Bye Bar,” written by Micha Lewinsky and composed by Thomas Fessler. He also started “Divamix,” a live project with Maja Brunner and Christina Jaccard. The following year, he was honored with the German cabaret prize, released his third album “Tourist,” and began a collaboration with Annette Humpe. The album included a Swiss German cover of “Where the Wild Roses Grow,” performed as a duet with Züri West’s Kuno Lauener and was a chart success. In 2001, he moved to Paris to work with artists like Doriand and Olivier Libaux, and recorded the album “L’heröine au bain” featuring a duet with Helena Noguerra. He toured with the live project “Hildegard – songs von und für Hildegard Knef” and released the album “Fresh” in 2002, which included duets with Nina Hagen and 2raumwohnung. His subsequent albums, including “Helvetia” and “2pièces,” continued to showcase his versatility and creativity in music. Von der Heide ventured into lyrics with the 2007 song “Bleib doch, bis es schneit” for 2raumwohnung, and in 2008, he released “Freiesicht” in Germany, a collaboration with producers from Ich + Ich and featuring Annette Humpe. In 2010, he represented Switzerland at the Eurovision Song Contest with “Il pleut de l’or,” though he did not advance to the finals. Post-Eurovision, his career continued to flourish with performances alongside the Zurich Symphony Orchestra and roles in significant musical productions like Christoph Marthaler’s “Meine faire Dame.” His subsequent album “Lido” was released in 2011 and he remained active in the music scene with tours and performances across Europe. Michael Von der Heide continued to make significant strides in his music and theatrical career from 2012 onward. In 2012, he took on a role in “The Black Rider,” a production by Tom Waits and Robert Wilson, where he played Stelzfuss at the Theater Basel under the direction of Corina von Rad. In 2013, he was part of the premiere of “Letzte Tage. Ein Vorabend,” directed by Christoph Marthaler, which debuted in Vienna and Paris. The same year, he also performed a duet “Chumm lee wärs doch la sii” with Sina. Furthermore, Von der Heide starred in “King Size,” a Liederabend featuring performances across several cities including Basel, Avignon, Paris, Sarajevo, Zagreb, Moscow, and Hamburg, with Tora Augestad. The following year, in 2014, he starred in “Wanderful,” a musical revue with Sandra Studer and Gardi Hutter, which had its premiere at Zurich’s Theater am Hechtplatz. The show was a success, selling out for six weeks and was directed by Dominik Flaschka. He also participated in “Letzte Tage. Ein Vorabend” at the Staatsoper Berlin, another production directed by Christoph Marthaler. In 2015, Von der Heide released a new album titled “Bellevue” and a single “Pas vu le temps passer.” He embarked on a European tour called “Kingsize,” which included performances at prestigious venues such as the Royal Opera House in London. Additionally, he conducted a Swiss tour titled “Wanderful.” Building upon Michael Von der Heide’s extensive career, his creative output continued to flourish with new albums in the subsequent years. In 2016, he released an album titled “Paola,” adding to his discography. This was followed by another album in 2019 called “Rio Amden Amsterdam,” showcasing his ability to blend diverse musical influences and geographical inspirations into his work. In 2021, Von der Heide released the album “Echo,” which further demonstrated his musical versatility and depth as an artist. Continuing his prolific career into 2023, he introduced “Nocturne,” an album that perhaps adds a reflective, possibly evening-themed aesthetic to his repertoire. Entries Il pleut de l’or Country🇨🇭 Switzerland Year2010 LanguageFrench LyricsMichael von der HeideHeike KospachAndré Grüter MusicMichael von der HeidePele Loriano BackingsPeter LerchAmanda NikolićFreda GoodlettSibylle Fässler Results Semi Points: 2Position: 17Running order: 5 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/qW2UPf1_Lcg?si=FE0QjbzQXwmG3_YA © Vincent Hasselgård, Wikimedia Commons Name : Michael von der Heide Born : 16-10-1971 Nationality : Swiss       National Finals : – ESC Entries : Il pleut de l’or (2010)       Website : http://www.michaelvonderheide.ch/ Biography Michael Von der Heide is a Swiss singer. He was born to a German father and a Swiss mother. At the age of 16 he took singing lessons with the opera singer Ginette Girardier and discovered his talent for chansons.  In 1990 he took part in the Showszene Schweiz competition for young talents. Five years later he won the Swiss KleinKunstPreis and in 1996 he acted in the play Lina Böglis Reise. In the same year he released his first album entitled “Michael von der Heide”, which sold over 15,000 copies.  In 1998 he released his second album, “30° -” The first single, “Jeudi amour”, became a big hit and received the Silver Hare award. The album received critical acclaim and sold over 24,000 copies. In 1999 he took part in the German national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Bye Bye Bar”. The song was written by Swiss film director Micha Lewinsky and composed by Thomas Fessler. Von der Heide initiated the live project

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Sebalter

© Albin Olsson About Quick Facts NameSebastiano Paú-Lessi Born01 July 1985 Nationality🇨🇭 Swiss National SelectionDie Entscheidungsshow 2014 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongHunter of Stars (2014) Biography Sebastiano Paù-Lessi, (born 1 July 1985) better known by his stage name, Sebalter, is a Swiss singer, fiddler, and attorney. Between 2000 and 2002, Sebalter showcased his bass skills with a Swiss hard rock ensemble, The Stalkers. From 2002 to 2012, he switched to playing the fiddle for a Swiss folk rock group, The Vad Vuc. During his tenure, he was part of three album releases and took part in numerous tours. Sebalter then left The Vad Vuc in 2012 to embark on a solo journey. Meanwhile, in 2005, during his university days, he co-hosted a youth TV program titled Le vostre vacanze on the Swiss TSI channel. In November 2013, Sebalter’s “Hunter of Stars” was disclosed as one of the three entries for the Swiss national selection by the Italian Swiss broadcaster RSI. The song made it to the national final. Sebalter and his band staged the song at the national final show on 1 February, winning the selection. At the Eurovision Song Contest 2014, he made it to the grand final on 10 May. Sebalter secured the 13th position. In July 2014, he brought out the single “Saturday”. His debut studio album “Day of Glory” was released in January 2015, featuring the singles “Hunter of Stars” and “Saturday”. The album climbed to the 9th position on the Swiss Albums Chart. In 2015, he paused his music career to resume his law practice, but he continued to perform across Switzerland and Italy with Mattia Bordignon on guitar and Rocco Casella on banjo. Sebalter’s second studio album “Awakening” was launched on 20 January 2017. In the same year, he performed his track “Weeping Willow” on ESC 2017 – Die Entscheidungsshow. Since the 2017 contest, he has been commentating during the grand final for the Swiss-Italian broadcaster RSI, alongside Clarissa Tami. In 2018, news broke that Sebalter aimed to make a comeback to Eurovision, this time vying to represent Switzerland in the 2019 contest with his song, “Carry the Light”. However, in 2019, SRF chose Luca Hänni as their representative. On 13 March 2020, a new album was released, “Gente simpatica”. The album was his first one, entirely in Italian. From this album, the singles “Gente simpatica”, “La fine dell’estate” and “Corrono i baci corrono” were released. The song “Gente simpatica” was used in the Netflix series The Lincoln Lawyer. After COVID19, SebAlter started touring live again with his band in September 2021. In April 2022 he teamed up with Kunz, where he featured in the song “Ciao”.  On 6 April 2023, Sebalter’s 4th album “SebAlter” was released. Entries Hunter Of Stars Country🇨🇭 Switzerland Year2014 LanguageEnglish LyricsSebastiano Paù-Lessi MusicSebastiano Paù-Lessi BackingsClaudio BodiniMattia BordignonRocco CasellaMarco CuzzovagliaChristoph Pedretti Results Semi Points: 92Position: 4Running order: 12 Results Finals Points: 64Position: 13Running order: 20 https://youtu.be/DqjoM8ZlyMc

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Sinplus

About Quick Facts MembersIvan BrogginiGabriel Broggini Founded2009 Nationality🇨🇭 Swiss National SelectionDie Grosse Entscheidungs Show 2012 In Eurovision2012 Baku SongUnbreakable (2012) Biography SinPlus is a Swiss rock band consisting of brothers Ivan and Gabriel Broggini. Growing up in a family deeply passionate about music, Ivan (on guitar) and Gabriel (on vocals) were naturally inclined towards music from a very young age. This early exposure laid the foundation for their musical careers, fostering a love for “dirty bass lines, pounding rhythms, and infectious melodies.” The Broggini brothers quickly made a name for themselves as SinPlus, gaining recognition for their raw energy and compelling sound. Their talent and dedication earned them multiple awards and nominations, including an MTV award as Best Swiss Act and a nomination as Best European Act. One of their most notable achievements was representing Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2012 in Baku, Azerbaijan, with the song “Unbreakable.” Their musical journey saw them collaborating with artists like Californian singer/songwriter Mickey Shiloh on the ballad “You and I,” which went gold in Switzerland. Furthermore, their soundtrack for the European Gymnastics Championship, “Tieniti Forte,” also struck gold, cementing their status in the music industry.  SinPlus embarked on tours across Europe, playing in diverse venues ranging from intimate bars to large arenas and prestigious festivals like Isle Of Wight and Moon & Stars. They shared stages with renowned international acts, including Roxette, showcasing their versatility and appeal. As their career progressed, they began incorporating more pop sounds and experimentation into their music. However, they remained true to the energy and attitude of rock and roll, evident in their album “This Is What We Are.” In 2019, the brothers embarked on a transformative journey, returning to California to soak in the West Coast rock vibe and then to Nashville. There, they worked with Grammy-nominated producer J.T. Daly, refining and experimenting with their sound. This period marked the birth of a new SinPlus sound, blending alternative rock with guitar-hooks and break-beats. They released the EP ‘It’s Not About Being Good’ in 2020, heralding the start of a new era for the band. This was followed by their album ‘Break The Rules,’ which they described as the first album to truly capture their vision from the outset: pure Rock and Roll. Following the success of ‘Break The Rules,’ in 2021, including significant recognition on major rock radio playlists and Spotify’s editorial “All New Rock,” SinPlus released the single “Wildflower” in March 2022. This track not only confirmed their distinctive sound but also marked the beginning of a new creative phase. In October 2022 the song “Dark Horse Running” came out.  In December it was an EP the brothers released: “Waiting For The Dawn”. In October 2023 they opened for The Darkness in their show. Entries Unbreakable Country🇨🇭 Switzerland Year2012 LanguageEnglish LyricsIvan BrogginiGabriel Broggini MusicIvan BrogginiGabriel Broggini BackingsLisa PanigadaRoberto Bianchetti Results Semi Points: 45Position: 11Running order: 7 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/lkMSptuVqHQ?si=1t3B30tAQV3IjqbC

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UEFA 2020: DAY 10

And again, we will have two matches in the European Soccer Championship. The first match will be between Italy and Wales. For this one we are going to look at male duos. In 1987, Umberto Tozzi and Raff, both big stars in Italy and abroad already, represented their country. They sang “Gente di mare”, which became third. It became a Eurovision classic. The United Kingdom was represented by Joe and Jake in the 2016 contest. Joe Woolford, the half of the duo, was a Welshman. With “You’re not alone” they became 24th. For the match between Switzerland and Turkey we add only one song: “Ne partez pas sans moi”. You are right, the singer Celine Dion is neither Swiss nor Turkish: she is a Canadian. But the song is composed by Atilla Şereftuğ, who is Turkish. The lyrics are from Nella Martinetti. And yes, she is Swiss!

Read More »

UEFA 2020: Day 6

Again, three matches in UEFA 2020. To start with Finland against Russia. Where have we seen this battle before? Well, remember the 2006 contest. Lordi from Finland won with a landslide. Their song “Hard rock hallelujah” broke all the records. It was hard for Dima Bilan from Russia to get there with his song “I never ever let you go”. But you don’t have to feel sorry for him: two years later Dima got the prize! Turkey and Wales meet today as well. In 2004, the contest was held in Turkey. For the host country the group Athena participated with the song “For real”. One of the other contestants that year was Welshman James Fox. He represented the United Kingdom with the song “Hold onto our love”. Italy will meet Switzerland in the arena today. In both countries, Italian is one of the main languages. So that might be an easy connection. But in fact, we found another one. Both countries once sent a song in a minority language. In 1991, host country Italy sent Peppino di Capri who sang “Comme e’ ddoce o’ mare”, sung in the Neapolitan language. Switzerland, also host country but in 1989, decided to sing a song in Romansh: “Viver senza tei”, song by the group Furbaz.

Read More »

UEFA Euro 2020 started!

With a year of delay, Euro 2020, the European soccer chiampionship, has started. The fun thing for a Eurovision fan is that a lot of matches remind us of Eurovision Songs, because it’s with (partly) the same countries. Yesterday, Italy won the match from Turkey. Many people on the internet mentioned Måneskin (of course) and Sertab (of course). But the match reminded us of another performance. You see Italian host Toto Cutugno (1991) learning Turkish. The Turkish contestants are Can Uğurluer, İzel Çeliköz & Reyhan Karaca singing “Iki dakika”. That is a hard one to pronounce for Toto. Today, Wales meets Switzerland. Wales is a part of the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest. But did you know that a Welsh woman almost won Eurovision? She became 2nd in 1970 and her name was Mary Hopkin. Also for Switzerland we chose someone who became 2nd: Daniela Simons in 1986. Both ladies have in common that in their years, one contestant could impossibly be defeated. In 1970 it was Dana and in 1986 Sandra Kim. Denmark meets Finland this year. Opposites attract, that’s what people say. We have a Eurovision winner from both countries. A ballad, sung by two man in their 40s from Denmark: “Fly on the wings of love” by the Olson Brothers. And a rock song from Finland, sung by Lordi, dressed as monsters: “Hard rock hallelujah”. And last but not least, Belgium meets Russia. They did so too in 2003. Turkey (as mentioned), Belgium and Russia struggled for the first place. Belgium became 2nd with Urban Trad, with a song in a non-existing language. Russia became third with the famous duo t.A.T.u. and their “Ne ver’ ne boysia”. Who is going to win? We put our money on Måneskin. Or were you talking about soccer?

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Road to Rotterdam: Switzerland

The Swiss contestant Gjon’s Tears is actually called Gjon Muharremaj. He is a Kosovar Albanian, but born in Friborg, Switzerland. When he was 12 he took part in Albanians Got Talent, a year later in the show’s Swiss sister. In 2019 he participated in The Voice. Gjon’s Tears would participate in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2020 with “Répondez-moi”. The Swiss broadcaster again chose Gjon’s Tears in 2021. Dutchman Wouter Hardy, jointly responsible for “Arcade” in 2019, co-wrote the song “Tout l’Univers”.

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Patrick Juvet passed away

Swiss pop star Patrick Juvet has died at the age of 70. His manager announced this news today. Juvet was most famous in the 1970s after first being a fashion model. He released a total of 15 albums. A big hit in France was “La Musica” in 1972. One year later he represented his country in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Je vais me marier, Marie”. Juvet scored even more with “Sonia” (1973). Other hits were “Ou sont les femmes?” (1977), “Got A Feeling, I Love America” ​​(1978) and “Lady Night” (1979).  Juvet died on april 1 in an apartment in Barcelona. The cause of death is not yet known. “There will be an autopsy, I had him on the phone three days ago and I thought he sounded good,” his manager told the press.

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Gjon’s Tears

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts NameGjon Muharremaj Born29 june 1998 Nationality🇨🇭 Swiss National SelectionInternal Selection In Eurovision2021 Rotterdam2020 Rotterdam (Cancelled) SongTout l’univers (2021)Répondez-moi (2020) Biography Gjon’s Tears, real name Gjon Muharremaj, is a Swiss singer of Kosovar origin. His stage name Gjon’s Tears is based on a childhood experience: When he was nine, he moved his grandfather to tears with a performance of Elvis Presley’s “Help Falling in Love”. It was his grandfather who registered him for Albania’s Got Talent in 2011, where he finished third. The following year, Gjon’s Tears participated in Die grössten Schweizer Talente. He also took part in the French version of The Voice. In 2020, he was supposed represent Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Répondez-moi”. Unfortunately, due to the cancellation of the contest, that didn’t happen. Swiss TV has now invited him to be the 2021 contestant. His song, “Tout l’univers”, became the winner of the expert jury. Overall, Gjon became 3rd. Also in 2021, Gjon’s Tears featured in a song of Arilena Ara, with the title “Dance me”. He won an MTV Europe Music Award for best Swiss song. At the end of 2021 he participated in The Voice All Stars France. In 2022, his song “Silhouette” became a huge hit in Albania. Entries Tout l’univers Country🇨🇭 Switzerland Year2021 LanguageFrench Lyrics & MusixGjon MuharremajWouter HardyNina Sampermans MusicGjon MuharremajWouter HardyNina SampermansXavier Michel Backings– Results Semi Points: 291Position: 1 Running order: 16 Results Finals Points: 432Position: 3Running order: 14 https://youtu.be/jznH_fltcYA Répondez-moi Country Switzerland Year2021 LanguageFrench Lyrics & MusicGjon MuharremajXavier MichelAlizé OswaldJeroen Swinnen Backings– Results Semi Points: –Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/O9GAfFHZE-E

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Lovebugs

About Quick Facts MembersAdrian SieberFlorian SennSimon RamseierStefan WagnerThomas Rechberger Founded1992 Nationality🇨🇭 Swiss National SelectionInternal selection 2009 In Eurovision2009 Moscow SongThe Highest Heights (2009) Biography Lovebugs, a Swiss rock band from Basel, was founded in 1992 by Adrian Sieber, Sebastian “Baschi” Hausmann, and Julie Lagger. The band originated when Adrian placed an ad looking for a drummer, which led to their early success by winning a local talent contest. This victory enabled them to record their debut album, Fluff, released in 1994. Shortly after, Julie left the band and was replaced by Simon Ramseier on drums. The band’s momentum grew as they embarked on their first European tour in 1995 and released their second album, Tart. Their breakthrough came in 1996 when the single “Fantastic” climbed to number 40 in the Swiss charts, leading to a deal with BMG Ariola. In 2000, Transatlantic Flight hit number three in the Swiss charts, followed by their first number one album, Awaydays, featuring the hit single “Music Makes My World Go Round.” Over the years, the band saw lineup changes, with bassist Florian Senn and keyboardist Stefan Wagner joining. In 2006, their album In Every Waking Moment topped the Swiss charts, and the single “Avalon” featuring Lene Marlin became a notable success. After a hiatus and a Eurovision appearance in 2009, Lovebugs returned with their 2024 album Heartbreak City, marking their resurgence with a fresh lineup. Entries The Highest Heights Country🇨🇭 Switzerland Year2009 LanguageEnglish LyricsAdrian Sieber MusicAdrian SieberThomas RechbergerFlorian Senn Backings– Results Semi Points: 15Position: 14Running order: 8 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/bMv0nMrrScE?si=XGLpBh6u0kx_Z87j

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Michael von der Heide

About Quick Facts NameMichael von der Heide Born16 October 1971 Nationality🇨🇭 Swiss National SelectionInternal selection 2010Countdown Grand Prix 1999 (🇩🇪) In Eurovision2010 Oslo SongIl pleut de l’or (2010) Biography Michael Von der Heide, a Swiss singer with a German father and Swiss mother, embarked on his musical journey at 16, taking vocal lessons from opera singer Ginette Girardier. He soon found his passion for chansons. In 1990, he entered the Showszene Schweiz competition, showcasing young talents, and by 1995, he clinched the Swiss KleinKunstPreis. His acting debut came in 1996 with the play “Lina Böglis Reise”. That same year, he released his debut album, which bore his own name and sold over 15,000 copies. His musical career further blossomed with the release of his second album “30° -” in 1998, featuring the hit single “Jeudi amour” which garnered the Silver Hare award. The album was critically acclaimed and sold over 24,000 copies. In 1999, Von der Heide participated in the German selection for the Eurovision Song Contest with “Bye Bye Bar,” written by Micha Lewinsky and composed by Thomas Fessler. He also started “Divamix,” a live project with Maja Brunner and Christina Jaccard. The following year, he was honored with the German cabaret prize, released his third album “Tourist,” and began a collaboration with Annette Humpe. The album included a Swiss German cover of “Where the Wild Roses Grow,” performed as a duet with Züri West’s Kuno Lauener and was a chart success. In 2001, he moved to Paris to work with artists like Doriand and Olivier Libaux, and recorded the album “L’heröine au bain” featuring a duet with Helena Noguerra. He toured with the live project “Hildegard – songs von und für Hildegard Knef” and released the album “Fresh” in 2002, which included duets with Nina Hagen and 2raumwohnung. His subsequent albums, including “Helvetia” and “2pièces,” continued to showcase his versatility and creativity in music. Von der Heide ventured into lyrics with the 2007 song “Bleib doch, bis es schneit” for 2raumwohnung, and in 2008, he released “Freiesicht” in Germany, a collaboration with producers from Ich + Ich and featuring Annette Humpe. In 2010, he represented Switzerland at the Eurovision Song Contest with “Il pleut de l’or,” though he did not advance to the finals. Post-Eurovision, his career continued to flourish with performances alongside the Zurich Symphony Orchestra and roles in significant musical productions like Christoph Marthaler’s “Meine faire Dame.” His subsequent album “Lido” was released in 2011 and he remained active in the music scene with tours and performances across Europe. Michael Von der Heide continued to make significant strides in his music and theatrical career from 2012 onward. In 2012, he took on a role in “The Black Rider,” a production by Tom Waits and Robert Wilson, where he played Stelzfuss at the Theater Basel under the direction of Corina von Rad. In 2013, he was part of the premiere of “Letzte Tage. Ein Vorabend,” directed by Christoph Marthaler, which debuted in Vienna and Paris. The same year, he also performed a duet “Chumm lee wärs doch la sii” with Sina. Furthermore, Von der Heide starred in “King Size,” a Liederabend featuring performances across several cities including Basel, Avignon, Paris, Sarajevo, Zagreb, Moscow, and Hamburg, with Tora Augestad. The following year, in 2014, he starred in “Wanderful,” a musical revue with Sandra Studer and Gardi Hutter, which had its premiere at Zurich’s Theater am Hechtplatz. The show was a success, selling out for six weeks and was directed by Dominik Flaschka. He also participated in “Letzte Tage. Ein Vorabend” at the Staatsoper Berlin, another production directed by Christoph Marthaler. In 2015, Von der Heide released a new album titled “Bellevue” and a single “Pas vu le temps passer.” He embarked on a European tour called “Kingsize,” which included performances at prestigious venues such as the Royal Opera House in London. Additionally, he conducted a Swiss tour titled “Wanderful.” Building upon Michael Von der Heide’s extensive career, his creative output continued to flourish with new albums in the subsequent years. In 2016, he released an album titled “Paola,” adding to his discography. This was followed by another album in 2019 called “Rio Amden Amsterdam,” showcasing his ability to blend diverse musical influences and geographical inspirations into his work. In 2021, Von der Heide released the album “Echo,” which further demonstrated his musical versatility and depth as an artist. Continuing his prolific career into 2023, he introduced “Nocturne,” an album that perhaps adds a reflective, possibly evening-themed aesthetic to his repertoire. Entries Il pleut de l’or Country🇨🇭 Switzerland Year2010 LanguageFrench LyricsMichael von der HeideHeike KospachAndré Grüter MusicMichael von der HeidePele Loriano BackingsPeter LerchAmanda NikolićFreda GoodlettSibylle Fässler Results Semi Points: 2Position: 17Running order: 5 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/qW2UPf1_Lcg?si=FE0QjbzQXwmG3_YA © Vincent Hasselgård, Wikimedia Commons Name : Michael von der Heide Born : 16-10-1971 Nationality : Swiss       National Finals : – ESC Entries : Il pleut de l’or (2010)       Website : http://www.michaelvonderheide.ch/ Biography Michael Von der Heide is a Swiss singer. He was born to a German father and a Swiss mother. At the age of 16 he took singing lessons with the opera singer Ginette Girardier and discovered his talent for chansons.  In 1990 he took part in the Showszene Schweiz competition for young talents. Five years later he won the Swiss KleinKunstPreis and in 1996 he acted in the play Lina Böglis Reise. In the same year he released his first album entitled “Michael von der Heide”, which sold over 15,000 copies.  In 1998 he released his second album, “30° -” The first single, “Jeudi amour”, became a big hit and received the Silver Hare award. The album received critical acclaim and sold over 24,000 copies. In 1999 he took part in the German national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Bye Bye Bar”. The song was written by Swiss film director Micha Lewinsky and composed by Thomas Fessler. Von der Heide initiated the live project

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Sebalter

© Albin Olsson About Quick Facts NameSebastiano Paú-Lessi Born01 July 1985 Nationality🇨🇭 Swiss National SelectionDie Entscheidungsshow 2014 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongHunter of Stars (2014) Biography Sebastiano Paù-Lessi, (born 1 July 1985) better known by his stage name, Sebalter, is a Swiss singer, fiddler, and attorney. Between 2000 and 2002, Sebalter showcased his bass skills with a Swiss hard rock ensemble, The Stalkers. From 2002 to 2012, he switched to playing the fiddle for a Swiss folk rock group, The Vad Vuc. During his tenure, he was part of three album releases and took part in numerous tours. Sebalter then left The Vad Vuc in 2012 to embark on a solo journey. Meanwhile, in 2005, during his university days, he co-hosted a youth TV program titled Le vostre vacanze on the Swiss TSI channel. In November 2013, Sebalter’s “Hunter of Stars” was disclosed as one of the three entries for the Swiss national selection by the Italian Swiss broadcaster RSI. The song made it to the national final. Sebalter and his band staged the song at the national final show on 1 February, winning the selection. At the Eurovision Song Contest 2014, he made it to the grand final on 10 May. Sebalter secured the 13th position. In July 2014, he brought out the single “Saturday”. His debut studio album “Day of Glory” was released in January 2015, featuring the singles “Hunter of Stars” and “Saturday”. The album climbed to the 9th position on the Swiss Albums Chart. In 2015, he paused his music career to resume his law practice, but he continued to perform across Switzerland and Italy with Mattia Bordignon on guitar and Rocco Casella on banjo. Sebalter’s second studio album “Awakening” was launched on 20 January 2017. In the same year, he performed his track “Weeping Willow” on ESC 2017 – Die Entscheidungsshow. Since the 2017 contest, he has been commentating during the grand final for the Swiss-Italian broadcaster RSI, alongside Clarissa Tami. In 2018, news broke that Sebalter aimed to make a comeback to Eurovision, this time vying to represent Switzerland in the 2019 contest with his song, “Carry the Light”. However, in 2019, SRF chose Luca Hänni as their representative. On 13 March 2020, a new album was released, “Gente simpatica”. The album was his first one, entirely in Italian. From this album, the singles “Gente simpatica”, “La fine dell’estate” and “Corrono i baci corrono” were released. The song “Gente simpatica” was used in the Netflix series The Lincoln Lawyer. After COVID19, SebAlter started touring live again with his band in September 2021. In April 2022 he teamed up with Kunz, where he featured in the song “Ciao”.  On 6 April 2023, Sebalter’s 4th album “SebAlter” was released. Entries Hunter Of Stars Country🇨🇭 Switzerland Year2014 LanguageEnglish LyricsSebastiano Paù-Lessi MusicSebastiano Paù-Lessi BackingsClaudio BodiniMattia BordignonRocco CasellaMarco CuzzovagliaChristoph Pedretti Results Semi Points: 92Position: 4Running order: 12 Results Finals Points: 64Position: 13Running order: 20 https://youtu.be/DqjoM8ZlyMc

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Sinplus

About Quick Facts MembersIvan BrogginiGabriel Broggini Founded2009 Nationality🇨🇭 Swiss National SelectionDie Grosse Entscheidungs Show 2012 In Eurovision2012 Baku SongUnbreakable (2012) Biography SinPlus is a Swiss rock band consisting of brothers Ivan and Gabriel Broggini. Growing up in a family deeply passionate about music, Ivan (on guitar) and Gabriel (on vocals) were naturally inclined towards music from a very young age. This early exposure laid the foundation for their musical careers, fostering a love for “dirty bass lines, pounding rhythms, and infectious melodies.” The Broggini brothers quickly made a name for themselves as SinPlus, gaining recognition for their raw energy and compelling sound. Their talent and dedication earned them multiple awards and nominations, including an MTV award as Best Swiss Act and a nomination as Best European Act. One of their most notable achievements was representing Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2012 in Baku, Azerbaijan, with the song “Unbreakable.” Their musical journey saw them collaborating with artists like Californian singer/songwriter Mickey Shiloh on the ballad “You and I,” which went gold in Switzerland. Furthermore, their soundtrack for the European Gymnastics Championship, “Tieniti Forte,” also struck gold, cementing their status in the music industry.  SinPlus embarked on tours across Europe, playing in diverse venues ranging from intimate bars to large arenas and prestigious festivals like Isle Of Wight and Moon & Stars. They shared stages with renowned international acts, including Roxette, showcasing their versatility and appeal. As their career progressed, they began incorporating more pop sounds and experimentation into their music. However, they remained true to the energy and attitude of rock and roll, evident in their album “This Is What We Are.” In 2019, the brothers embarked on a transformative journey, returning to California to soak in the West Coast rock vibe and then to Nashville. There, they worked with Grammy-nominated producer J.T. Daly, refining and experimenting with their sound. This period marked the birth of a new SinPlus sound, blending alternative rock with guitar-hooks and break-beats. They released the EP ‘It’s Not About Being Good’ in 2020, heralding the start of a new era for the band. This was followed by their album ‘Break The Rules,’ which they described as the first album to truly capture their vision from the outset: pure Rock and Roll. Following the success of ‘Break The Rules,’ in 2021, including significant recognition on major rock radio playlists and Spotify’s editorial “All New Rock,” SinPlus released the single “Wildflower” in March 2022. This track not only confirmed their distinctive sound but also marked the beginning of a new creative phase. In October 2022 the song “Dark Horse Running” came out.  In December it was an EP the brothers released: “Waiting For The Dawn”. In October 2023 they opened for The Darkness in their show. Entries Unbreakable Country🇨🇭 Switzerland Year2012 LanguageEnglish LyricsIvan BrogginiGabriel Broggini MusicIvan BrogginiGabriel Broggini BackingsLisa PanigadaRoberto Bianchetti Results Semi Points: 45Position: 11Running order: 7 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/lkMSptuVqHQ?si=1t3B30tAQV3IjqbC

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UEFA 2020: DAY 10

And again, we will have two matches in the European Soccer Championship. The first match will be between Italy and Wales. For this one we are going to look at male duos. In 1987, Umberto Tozzi and Raff, both big stars in Italy and abroad already, represented their country. They sang “Gente di mare”, which became third. It became a Eurovision classic. The United Kingdom was represented by Joe and Jake in the 2016 contest. Joe Woolford, the half of the duo, was a Welshman. With “You’re not alone” they became 24th. For the match between Switzerland and Turkey we add only one song: “Ne partez pas sans moi”. You are right, the singer Celine Dion is neither Swiss nor Turkish: she is a Canadian. But the song is composed by Atilla Şereftuğ, who is Turkish. The lyrics are from Nella Martinetti. And yes, she is Swiss!

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UEFA 2020: Day 6

Again, three matches in UEFA 2020. To start with Finland against Russia. Where have we seen this battle before? Well, remember the 2006 contest. Lordi from Finland won with a landslide. Their song “Hard rock hallelujah” broke all the records. It was hard for Dima Bilan from Russia to get there with his song “I never ever let you go”. But you don’t have to feel sorry for him: two years later Dima got the prize! Turkey and Wales meet today as well. In 2004, the contest was held in Turkey. For the host country the group Athena participated with the song “For real”. One of the other contestants that year was Welshman James Fox. He represented the United Kingdom with the song “Hold onto our love”. Italy will meet Switzerland in the arena today. In both countries, Italian is one of the main languages. So that might be an easy connection. But in fact, we found another one. Both countries once sent a song in a minority language. In 1991, host country Italy sent Peppino di Capri who sang “Comme e’ ddoce o’ mare”, sung in the Neapolitan language. Switzerland, also host country but in 1989, decided to sing a song in Romansh: “Viver senza tei”, song by the group Furbaz.

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UEFA Euro 2020 started!

With a year of delay, Euro 2020, the European soccer chiampionship, has started. The fun thing for a Eurovision fan is that a lot of matches remind us of Eurovision Songs, because it’s with (partly) the same countries. Yesterday, Italy won the match from Turkey. Many people on the internet mentioned Måneskin (of course) and Sertab (of course). But the match reminded us of another performance. You see Italian host Toto Cutugno (1991) learning Turkish. The Turkish contestants are Can Uğurluer, İzel Çeliköz & Reyhan Karaca singing “Iki dakika”. That is a hard one to pronounce for Toto. Today, Wales meets Switzerland. Wales is a part of the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest. But did you know that a Welsh woman almost won Eurovision? She became 2nd in 1970 and her name was Mary Hopkin. Also for Switzerland we chose someone who became 2nd: Daniela Simons in 1986. Both ladies have in common that in their years, one contestant could impossibly be defeated. In 1970 it was Dana and in 1986 Sandra Kim. Denmark meets Finland this year. Opposites attract, that’s what people say. We have a Eurovision winner from both countries. A ballad, sung by two man in their 40s from Denmark: “Fly on the wings of love” by the Olson Brothers. And a rock song from Finland, sung by Lordi, dressed as monsters: “Hard rock hallelujah”. And last but not least, Belgium meets Russia. They did so too in 2003. Turkey (as mentioned), Belgium and Russia struggled for the first place. Belgium became 2nd with Urban Trad, with a song in a non-existing language. Russia became third with the famous duo t.A.T.u. and their “Ne ver’ ne boysia”. Who is going to win? We put our money on Måneskin. Or were you talking about soccer?

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Road to Rotterdam: Switzerland

The Swiss contestant Gjon’s Tears is actually called Gjon Muharremaj. He is a Kosovar Albanian, but born in Friborg, Switzerland. When he was 12 he took part in Albanians Got Talent, a year later in the show’s Swiss sister. In 2019 he participated in The Voice. Gjon’s Tears would participate in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2020 with “Répondez-moi”. The Swiss broadcaster again chose Gjon’s Tears in 2021. Dutchman Wouter Hardy, jointly responsible for “Arcade” in 2019, co-wrote the song “Tout l’Univers”.

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Patrick Juvet passed away

Swiss pop star Patrick Juvet has died at the age of 70. His manager announced this news today. Juvet was most famous in the 1970s after first being a fashion model. He released a total of 15 albums. A big hit in France was “La Musica” in 1972. One year later he represented his country in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Je vais me marier, Marie”. Juvet scored even more with “Sonia” (1973). Other hits were “Ou sont les femmes?” (1977), “Got A Feeling, I Love America” ​​(1978) and “Lady Night” (1979).  Juvet died on april 1 in an apartment in Barcelona. The cause of death is not yet known. “There will be an autopsy, I had him on the phone three days ago and I thought he sounded good,” his manager told the press.

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Gjon’s Tears

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts NameGjon Muharremaj Born29 june 1998 Nationality🇨🇭 Swiss National SelectionInternal Selection In Eurovision2021 Rotterdam2020 Rotterdam (Cancelled) SongTout l’univers (2021)Répondez-moi (2020) Biography Gjon’s Tears, real name Gjon Muharremaj, is a Swiss singer of Kosovar origin. His stage name Gjon’s Tears is based on a childhood experience: When he was nine, he moved his grandfather to tears with a performance of Elvis Presley’s “Help Falling in Love”. It was his grandfather who registered him for Albania’s Got Talent in 2011, where he finished third. The following year, Gjon’s Tears participated in Die grössten Schweizer Talente. He also took part in the French version of The Voice. In 2020, he was supposed represent Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Répondez-moi”. Unfortunately, due to the cancellation of the contest, that didn’t happen. Swiss TV has now invited him to be the 2021 contestant. His song, “Tout l’univers”, became the winner of the expert jury. Overall, Gjon became 3rd. Also in 2021, Gjon’s Tears featured in a song of Arilena Ara, with the title “Dance me”. He won an MTV Europe Music Award for best Swiss song. At the end of 2021 he participated in The Voice All Stars France. In 2022, his song “Silhouette” became a huge hit in Albania. Entries Tout l’univers Country🇨🇭 Switzerland Year2021 LanguageFrench Lyrics & MusixGjon MuharremajWouter HardyNina Sampermans MusicGjon MuharremajWouter HardyNina SampermansXavier Michel Backings– Results Semi Points: 291Position: 1 Running order: 16 Results Finals Points: 432Position: 3Running order: 14 https://youtu.be/jznH_fltcYA Répondez-moi Country Switzerland Year2021 LanguageFrench Lyrics & MusicGjon MuharremajXavier MichelAlizé OswaldJeroen Swinnen Backings– Results Semi Points: –Position: –Running order: – Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/O9GAfFHZE-E

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Lovebugs

About Quick Facts MembersAdrian SieberFlorian SennSimon RamseierStefan WagnerThomas Rechberger Founded1992 Nationality🇨🇭 Swiss National SelectionInternal selection 2009 In Eurovision2009 Moscow SongThe Highest Heights (2009) Biography Lovebugs, a Swiss rock band from Basel, was founded in 1992 by Adrian Sieber, Sebastian “Baschi” Hausmann, and Julie Lagger. The band originated when Adrian placed an ad looking for a drummer, which led to their early success by winning a local talent contest. This victory enabled them to record their debut album, Fluff, released in 1994. Shortly after, Julie left the band and was replaced by Simon Ramseier on drums. The band’s momentum grew as they embarked on their first European tour in 1995 and released their second album, Tart. Their breakthrough came in 1996 when the single “Fantastic” climbed to number 40 in the Swiss charts, leading to a deal with BMG Ariola. In 2000, Transatlantic Flight hit number three in the Swiss charts, followed by their first number one album, Awaydays, featuring the hit single “Music Makes My World Go Round.” Over the years, the band saw lineup changes, with bassist Florian Senn and keyboardist Stefan Wagner joining. In 2006, their album In Every Waking Moment topped the Swiss charts, and the single “Avalon” featuring Lene Marlin became a notable success. After a hiatus and a Eurovision appearance in 2009, Lovebugs returned with their 2024 album Heartbreak City, marking their resurgence with a fresh lineup. Entries The Highest Heights Country🇨🇭 Switzerland Year2009 LanguageEnglish LyricsAdrian Sieber MusicAdrian SieberThomas RechbergerFlorian Senn Backings– Results Semi Points: 15Position: 14Running order: 8 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/bMv0nMrrScE?si=XGLpBh6u0kx_Z87j

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Michael von der Heide

About Quick Facts NameMichael von der Heide Born16 October 1971 Nationality🇨🇭 Swiss National SelectionInternal selection 2010Countdown Grand Prix 1999 (🇩🇪) In Eurovision2010 Oslo SongIl pleut de l’or (2010) Biography Michael Von der Heide, a Swiss singer with a German father and Swiss mother, embarked on his musical journey at 16, taking vocal lessons from opera singer Ginette Girardier. He soon found his passion for chansons. In 1990, he entered the Showszene Schweiz competition, showcasing young talents, and by 1995, he clinched the Swiss KleinKunstPreis. His acting debut came in 1996 with the play “Lina Böglis Reise”. That same year, he released his debut album, which bore his own name and sold over 15,000 copies. His musical career further blossomed with the release of his second album “30° -” in 1998, featuring the hit single “Jeudi amour” which garnered the Silver Hare award. The album was critically acclaimed and sold over 24,000 copies. In 1999, Von der Heide participated in the German selection for the Eurovision Song Contest with “Bye Bye Bar,” written by Micha Lewinsky and composed by Thomas Fessler. He also started “Divamix,” a live project with Maja Brunner and Christina Jaccard. The following year, he was honored with the German cabaret prize, released his third album “Tourist,” and began a collaboration with Annette Humpe. The album included a Swiss German cover of “Where the Wild Roses Grow,” performed as a duet with Züri West’s Kuno Lauener and was a chart success. In 2001, he moved to Paris to work with artists like Doriand and Olivier Libaux, and recorded the album “L’heröine au bain” featuring a duet with Helena Noguerra. He toured with the live project “Hildegard – songs von und für Hildegard Knef” and released the album “Fresh” in 2002, which included duets with Nina Hagen and 2raumwohnung. His subsequent albums, including “Helvetia” and “2pièces,” continued to showcase his versatility and creativity in music. Von der Heide ventured into lyrics with the 2007 song “Bleib doch, bis es schneit” for 2raumwohnung, and in 2008, he released “Freiesicht” in Germany, a collaboration with producers from Ich + Ich and featuring Annette Humpe. In 2010, he represented Switzerland at the Eurovision Song Contest with “Il pleut de l’or,” though he did not advance to the finals. Post-Eurovision, his career continued to flourish with performances alongside the Zurich Symphony Orchestra and roles in significant musical productions like Christoph Marthaler’s “Meine faire Dame.” His subsequent album “Lido” was released in 2011 and he remained active in the music scene with tours and performances across Europe. Michael Von der Heide continued to make significant strides in his music and theatrical career from 2012 onward. In 2012, he took on a role in “The Black Rider,” a production by Tom Waits and Robert Wilson, where he played Stelzfuss at the Theater Basel under the direction of Corina von Rad. In 2013, he was part of the premiere of “Letzte Tage. Ein Vorabend,” directed by Christoph Marthaler, which debuted in Vienna and Paris. The same year, he also performed a duet “Chumm lee wärs doch la sii” with Sina. Furthermore, Von der Heide starred in “King Size,” a Liederabend featuring performances across several cities including Basel, Avignon, Paris, Sarajevo, Zagreb, Moscow, and Hamburg, with Tora Augestad. The following year, in 2014, he starred in “Wanderful,” a musical revue with Sandra Studer and Gardi Hutter, which had its premiere at Zurich’s Theater am Hechtplatz. The show was a success, selling out for six weeks and was directed by Dominik Flaschka. He also participated in “Letzte Tage. Ein Vorabend” at the Staatsoper Berlin, another production directed by Christoph Marthaler. In 2015, Von der Heide released a new album titled “Bellevue” and a single “Pas vu le temps passer.” He embarked on a European tour called “Kingsize,” which included performances at prestigious venues such as the Royal Opera House in London. Additionally, he conducted a Swiss tour titled “Wanderful.” Building upon Michael Von der Heide’s extensive career, his creative output continued to flourish with new albums in the subsequent years. In 2016, he released an album titled “Paola,” adding to his discography. This was followed by another album in 2019 called “Rio Amden Amsterdam,” showcasing his ability to blend diverse musical influences and geographical inspirations into his work. In 2021, Von der Heide released the album “Echo,” which further demonstrated his musical versatility and depth as an artist. Continuing his prolific career into 2023, he introduced “Nocturne,” an album that perhaps adds a reflective, possibly evening-themed aesthetic to his repertoire. Entries Il pleut de l’or Country🇨🇭 Switzerland Year2010 LanguageFrench LyricsMichael von der HeideHeike KospachAndré Grüter MusicMichael von der HeidePele Loriano BackingsPeter LerchAmanda NikolićFreda GoodlettSibylle Fässler Results Semi Points: 2Position: 17Running order: 5 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/qW2UPf1_Lcg?si=FE0QjbzQXwmG3_YA © Vincent Hasselgård, Wikimedia Commons Name : Michael von der Heide Born : 16-10-1971 Nationality : Swiss       National Finals : – ESC Entries : Il pleut de l’or (2010)       Website : http://www.michaelvonderheide.ch/ Biography Michael Von der Heide is a Swiss singer. He was born to a German father and a Swiss mother. At the age of 16 he took singing lessons with the opera singer Ginette Girardier and discovered his talent for chansons.  In 1990 he took part in the Showszene Schweiz competition for young talents. Five years later he won the Swiss KleinKunstPreis and in 1996 he acted in the play Lina Böglis Reise. In the same year he released his first album entitled “Michael von der Heide”, which sold over 15,000 copies.  In 1998 he released his second album, “30° -” The first single, “Jeudi amour”, became a big hit and received the Silver Hare award. The album received critical acclaim and sold over 24,000 copies. In 1999 he took part in the German national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Bye Bye Bar”. The song was written by Swiss film director Micha Lewinsky and composed by Thomas Fessler. Von der Heide initiated the live project

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Sebalter

© Albin Olsson About Quick Facts NameSebastiano Paú-Lessi Born01 July 1985 Nationality🇨🇭 Swiss National SelectionDie Entscheidungsshow 2014 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongHunter of Stars (2014) Biography Sebastiano Paù-Lessi, (born 1 July 1985) better known by his stage name, Sebalter, is a Swiss singer, fiddler, and attorney. Between 2000 and 2002, Sebalter showcased his bass skills with a Swiss hard rock ensemble, The Stalkers. From 2002 to 2012, he switched to playing the fiddle for a Swiss folk rock group, The Vad Vuc. During his tenure, he was part of three album releases and took part in numerous tours. Sebalter then left The Vad Vuc in 2012 to embark on a solo journey. Meanwhile, in 2005, during his university days, he co-hosted a youth TV program titled Le vostre vacanze on the Swiss TSI channel. In November 2013, Sebalter’s “Hunter of Stars” was disclosed as one of the three entries for the Swiss national selection by the Italian Swiss broadcaster RSI. The song made it to the national final. Sebalter and his band staged the song at the national final show on 1 February, winning the selection. At the Eurovision Song Contest 2014, he made it to the grand final on 10 May. Sebalter secured the 13th position. In July 2014, he brought out the single “Saturday”. His debut studio album “Day of Glory” was released in January 2015, featuring the singles “Hunter of Stars” and “Saturday”. The album climbed to the 9th position on the Swiss Albums Chart. In 2015, he paused his music career to resume his law practice, but he continued to perform across Switzerland and Italy with Mattia Bordignon on guitar and Rocco Casella on banjo. Sebalter’s second studio album “Awakening” was launched on 20 January 2017. In the same year, he performed his track “Weeping Willow” on ESC 2017 – Die Entscheidungsshow. Since the 2017 contest, he has been commentating during the grand final for the Swiss-Italian broadcaster RSI, alongside Clarissa Tami. In 2018, news broke that Sebalter aimed to make a comeback to Eurovision, this time vying to represent Switzerland in the 2019 contest with his song, “Carry the Light”. However, in 2019, SRF chose Luca Hänni as their representative. On 13 March 2020, a new album was released, “Gente simpatica”. The album was his first one, entirely in Italian. From this album, the singles “Gente simpatica”, “La fine dell’estate” and “Corrono i baci corrono” were released. The song “Gente simpatica” was used in the Netflix series The Lincoln Lawyer. After COVID19, SebAlter started touring live again with his band in September 2021. In April 2022 he teamed up with Kunz, where he featured in the song “Ciao”.  On 6 April 2023, Sebalter’s 4th album “SebAlter” was released. Entries Hunter Of Stars Country🇨🇭 Switzerland Year2014 LanguageEnglish LyricsSebastiano Paù-Lessi MusicSebastiano Paù-Lessi BackingsClaudio BodiniMattia BordignonRocco CasellaMarco CuzzovagliaChristoph Pedretti Results Semi Points: 92Position: 4Running order: 12 Results Finals Points: 64Position: 13Running order: 20 https://youtu.be/DqjoM8ZlyMc

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Sinplus

About Quick Facts MembersIvan BrogginiGabriel Broggini Founded2009 Nationality🇨🇭 Swiss National SelectionDie Grosse Entscheidungs Show 2012 In Eurovision2012 Baku SongUnbreakable (2012) Biography SinPlus is a Swiss rock band consisting of brothers Ivan and Gabriel Broggini. Growing up in a family deeply passionate about music, Ivan (on guitar) and Gabriel (on vocals) were naturally inclined towards music from a very young age. This early exposure laid the foundation for their musical careers, fostering a love for “dirty bass lines, pounding rhythms, and infectious melodies.” The Broggini brothers quickly made a name for themselves as SinPlus, gaining recognition for their raw energy and compelling sound. Their talent and dedication earned them multiple awards and nominations, including an MTV award as Best Swiss Act and a nomination as Best European Act. One of their most notable achievements was representing Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2012 in Baku, Azerbaijan, with the song “Unbreakable.” Their musical journey saw them collaborating with artists like Californian singer/songwriter Mickey Shiloh on the ballad “You and I,” which went gold in Switzerland. Furthermore, their soundtrack for the European Gymnastics Championship, “Tieniti Forte,” also struck gold, cementing their status in the music industry.  SinPlus embarked on tours across Europe, playing in diverse venues ranging from intimate bars to large arenas and prestigious festivals like Isle Of Wight and Moon & Stars. They shared stages with renowned international acts, including Roxette, showcasing their versatility and appeal. As their career progressed, they began incorporating more pop sounds and experimentation into their music. However, they remained true to the energy and attitude of rock and roll, evident in their album “This Is What We Are.” In 2019, the brothers embarked on a transformative journey, returning to California to soak in the West Coast rock vibe and then to Nashville. There, they worked with Grammy-nominated producer J.T. Daly, refining and experimenting with their sound. This period marked the birth of a new SinPlus sound, blending alternative rock with guitar-hooks and break-beats. They released the EP ‘It’s Not About Being Good’ in 2020, heralding the start of a new era for the band. This was followed by their album ‘Break The Rules,’ which they described as the first album to truly capture their vision from the outset: pure Rock and Roll. Following the success of ‘Break The Rules,’ in 2021, including significant recognition on major rock radio playlists and Spotify’s editorial “All New Rock,” SinPlus released the single “Wildflower” in March 2022. This track not only confirmed their distinctive sound but also marked the beginning of a new creative phase. In October 2022 the song “Dark Horse Running” came out.  In December it was an EP the brothers released: “Waiting For The Dawn”. In October 2023 they opened for The Darkness in their show. Entries Unbreakable Country🇨🇭 Switzerland Year2012 LanguageEnglish LyricsIvan BrogginiGabriel Broggini MusicIvan BrogginiGabriel Broggini BackingsLisa PanigadaRoberto Bianchetti Results Semi Points: 45Position: 11Running order: 7 Results Finals Points: –Position: –Running order: – https://youtu.be/lkMSptuVqHQ?si=1t3B30tAQV3IjqbC

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UEFA 2020: DAY 10

And again, we will have two matches in the European Soccer Championship. The first match will be between Italy and Wales. For this one we are going to look at male duos. In 1987, Umberto Tozzi and Raff, both big stars in Italy and abroad already, represented their country. They sang “Gente di mare”, which became third. It became a Eurovision classic. The United Kingdom was represented by Joe and Jake in the 2016 contest. Joe Woolford, the half of the duo, was a Welshman. With “You’re not alone” they became 24th. For the match between Switzerland and Turkey we add

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UEFA 2020: Day 6

Again, three matches in UEFA 2020. To start with Finland against Russia. Where have we seen this battle before? Well, remember the 2006 contest. Lordi from Finland won with a landslide. Their song “Hard rock hallelujah” broke all the records. It was hard for Dima Bilan from Russia to get there with his song “I never ever let you go”. But you don’t have to feel sorry for him: two years later Dima got the prize! Turkey and Wales meet today as well. In 2004, the contest was held in Turkey. For the host country the group Athena participated with the

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UEFA Euro 2020 started!

With a year of delay, Euro 2020, the European soccer chiampionship, has started. The fun thing for a Eurovision fan is that a lot of matches remind us of Eurovision Songs, because it’s with (partly) the same countries. Yesterday, Italy won the match from Turkey. Many people on the internet mentioned Måneskin (of course) and Sertab (of course). But the match reminded us of another performance. You see Italian host Toto Cutugno (1991) learning Turkish. The Turkish contestants are Can Uğurluer, İzel Çeliköz & Reyhan Karaca singing “Iki dakika”. That is a hard one to pronounce for Toto. Today, Wales meets

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Road to Rotterdam: Switzerland

The Swiss contestant Gjon’s Tears is actually called Gjon Muharremaj. He is a Kosovar Albanian, but born in Friborg, Switzerland. When he was 12 he took part in Albanians Got Talent, a year later in the show’s Swiss sister. In 2019 he participated in The Voice. Gjon’s Tears would participate in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2020 with “Répondez-moi”. The Swiss broadcaster again chose Gjon’s Tears in 2021. Dutchman Wouter Hardy, jointly responsible for “Arcade” in 2019, co-wrote the song “Tout l’Univers”.

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Patrick Juvet passed away

Swiss pop star Patrick Juvet has died at the age of 70. His manager announced this news today. Juvet was most famous in the 1970s after first being a fashion model. He released a total of 15 albums. A big hit in France was “La Musica” in 1972. One year later he represented his country in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Je vais me marier, Marie”. Juvet scored even more with “Sonia” (1973). Other hits were “Ou sont les femmes?” (1977), “Got A Feeling, I Love America” ​​(1978) and “Lady Night” (1979).  Juvet died on april 1 in an

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Gjon’s Tears

© EBU/Andres Putting About Quick Facts NameGjon Muharremaj Born29 june 1998 Nationality🇨🇭 Swiss National SelectionInternal Selection In Eurovision2021 Rotterdam2020 Rotterdam (Cancelled) SongTout l’univers (2021)Répondez-moi (2020) Biography Gjon’s Tears, real name Gjon Muharremaj, is a Swiss singer of Kosovar origin. His stage name Gjon’s Tears is based on a childhood experience: When he was nine, he moved his grandfather to tears with a performance of Elvis Presley’s “Help Falling in Love”. It was his grandfather who registered him for Albania’s Got Talent in 2011, where he finished third. The following year, Gjon’s Tears participated in Die grössten Schweizer Talente. He also took

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Lovebugs

About Quick Facts MembersAdrian SieberFlorian SennSimon RamseierStefan WagnerThomas Rechberger Founded1992 Nationality🇨🇭 Swiss National SelectionInternal selection 2009 In Eurovision2009 Moscow SongThe Highest Heights (2009) Biography Lovebugs, a Swiss rock band from Basel, was founded in 1992 by Adrian Sieber, Sebastian “Baschi” Hausmann, and Julie Lagger. The band originated when Adrian placed an ad looking for a drummer, which led to their early success by winning a local talent contest. This victory enabled them to record their debut album, Fluff, released in 1994. Shortly after, Julie left the band and was replaced by Simon Ramseier on drums. The band’s momentum grew as they

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Michael von der Heide

About Quick Facts NameMichael von der Heide Born16 October 1971 Nationality🇨🇭 Swiss National SelectionInternal selection 2010Countdown Grand Prix 1999 (🇩🇪) In Eurovision2010 Oslo SongIl pleut de l’or (2010) Biography Michael Von der Heide, a Swiss singer with a German father and Swiss mother, embarked on his musical journey at 16, taking vocal lessons from opera singer Ginette Girardier. He soon found his passion for chansons. In 1990, he entered the Showszene Schweiz competition, showcasing young talents, and by 1995, he clinched the Swiss KleinKunstPreis. His acting debut came in 1996 with the play “Lina Böglis Reise”. That same year, he released

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Sebalter

© Albin Olsson About Quick Facts NameSebastiano Paú-Lessi Born01 July 1985 Nationality🇨🇭 Swiss National SelectionDie Entscheidungsshow 2014 In Eurovision2014 Copenhagen SongHunter of Stars (2014) Biography Sebastiano Paù-Lessi, (born 1 July 1985) better known by his stage name, Sebalter, is a Swiss singer, fiddler, and attorney. Between 2000 and 2002, Sebalter showcased his bass skills with a Swiss hard rock ensemble, The Stalkers. From 2002 to 2012, he switched to playing the fiddle for a Swiss folk rock group, The Vad Vuc. During his tenure, he was part of three album releases and took part in numerous tours. Sebalter then left The

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Sinplus

About Quick Facts MembersIvan BrogginiGabriel Broggini Founded2009 Nationality🇨🇭 Swiss National SelectionDie Grosse Entscheidungs Show 2012 In Eurovision2012 Baku SongUnbreakable (2012) Biography SinPlus is a Swiss rock band consisting of brothers Ivan and Gabriel Broggini. Growing up in a family deeply passionate about music, Ivan (on guitar) and Gabriel (on vocals) were naturally inclined towards music from a very young age. This early exposure laid the foundation for their musical careers, fostering a love for “dirty bass lines, pounding rhythms, and infectious melodies.” The Broggini brothers quickly made a name for themselves as SinPlus, gaining recognition for their raw energy and compelling sound.

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