Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest

Switzerland has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 56 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, and won it themselves. Switzerland won the contest again in 1988.

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

In the 21st century, Switzerland has only once reached the top ten, in 2005 with the girl band Vanilla Ninja finishing eighth. Since the introduction of the semi-final round in 2004, Switzerland has failed to qualify for the final eight times. At the 2014 contest, Sebalter gave the country its second best result of the century, finishing 13th.

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 55 appearances in the Contest, Switzerland has sent 52 songs, 24 of which were in French, 12 in German, nine in Italian, nine in English, and one in Romansh. Both of Switzerland's winning songs have been sung in French.

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NOTES:

a. ^ The full results for the first contest in 1956 are unknown, only the winner was announced. The official Eurovision site lists all the other songs as being placed second.

b. If a country had won the previous year, they did not have to compete in the semi-finals the following year. In addition from 2004-2007, the top ten countries who were not members of the big four did not have to compete in the semi-finals the following year. If, for example, Germany and France placed inside the top ten, the countries who placed 11th and 12th were advanced to the following year's grand final along with the rest of the top ten countries.

Voting history

As of 2015, Switzerland's voting history is as follows:

Most points given in the grand finals only Rank Country Points 1  United Kingdom 206 2  Ireland 176 3  France 175 4  Spain 166 5  Germany 152 Most points received in the grand finals only Rank Country Points 1  United Kingdom 156 2  Netherlands 130 3  Austria 124 4  Belgium 117 5  Finland 115

Most points given in the semis and finals Rank Country Points 1  United Kingdom 206 2  Ireland 191 3  France 175 4  Spain 166 5  Turkey 154 Most points received in the semis and finals Rank Country Points 1  United Kingdom 161 2  Finland 150 3  Austria 134 4  Germany 133 5  Netherlands 130

Hostings

Commentators and Spokespeople

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

Congratulations: 50 Years of the Eurovision Song Contest

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Photogallery

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  Jean Philippe at Luxembourg (1962)

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  Yovanna at Naples (1965)

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  Henri Dès at Amsterdam (1970)

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  Peter, Sue and Marc at The Hague (1976)

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  Piero and the MusicStars at Istanbul (2004)

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  DJ BoBo at Helsinki (2007)

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  Paolo Meneguzzi at Belgrade (2008)

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  Anna Rossinelli at Düsseldorf (2011)

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  Takasa at Malmö (2013)

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  Sebalter at Copenhagen (2014)

References

External links

• Points to and from Switzerland eurovisioncovers.co.uk

Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest   Participation 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016   Artists 1950s Lys Assia Lys Assia Lys Assia Christa Williams 1960s Anita Traversi Franca Di Rienzo Jean Philippe Esther Ofarim Anita Traversi Yovanna Madeleine Pascal Géraldine Gianni Mascolo Paola Del Medico 1970s Henri Des Peter, Sue and Marc Veronique Mueller Patrick Juvet Piera Martell Simone Drexel Peter, Sue and Marc Pepe Lienhard Band Carole Vinci Peter, Sue, Marc, Pfuri, Gorps and Kniri 1980s Paola Peter, Sue and Marc Arlette Zola Mariella Farré Rainy Day Mariella Farré and Pino Gasparini Daniela Simmons Carol Rich Céline Dion Furbaz 1990s Egon Egemann Sandra Simó Daisy Auvray Annie Cotton Duilio 1995 Kathy Leander Barbara Berta Gunvor 1999 2000s Jane Bogaert 2001 Francine Jordi 2003 Piero and the MusicStars Vanilla Ninja six4one DJ BoBo Paolo Meneguzzi Lovebugs 2010s Michael von der Heide Anna Rossinelli Sinplus Takasa Sebalter Mélanie René Rykka   Songs 1950s "Das alte Karussell" "Refrain" "L'enfant que j'étais" "Giorgio" "Irgendwoher" 1960s "Cielo e terra" "Nous aurons demain" "Le retour" "T'en va pas" "I miei pensieri" "Non, à jamais sans toi" "Ne vois-tu pas?" "Quel cœur vas-tu briser?" "Guardando il sole" "Bonjour, Bonjour" 1970s "Retour" "Les illusions de nos vingt ans" "C'est la chanson de mon amour" "Je vais me marier, Marie" "Mein Ruf nach dir" "Mikado" "Djambo, Djambo" "Swiss Lady" "Vivre" "Trödler und Co" 1980s "Cinéma" "Io senza te" "Amour on t'aime" "Io così non ci sto" "Welche Farbe hat der Sonnenschein?" "Piano, Piano" "Pas pour moi" "Moitié, moitié" "Ne partez pas sans moi" "Viver senza tei" 1990s "Musik klingt in die Welt hinaus" "Canzone per te" "Mister Music Man" "Moi, tout simplement" "Sto pregando" 1995 "Mon coeur l'aime" "Dentro di me" "Lass' ihn" 1999 2000s "La vita cos'è?" 2001 "Dans le jardin de mon âme" 2003 "Celebrate" "Cool Vibes" "If We All Give a Little" "Vampires Are Alive" "Era stupendo" "The Highest Heights" 2010s "Il pleut de l'or" "In Love for a While" "Unbreakable" "You and Me" "Hunter of Stars" "Time to Shine" "The Last of Our Kind" (Note : Entries scored out are when Switzerland did not compete)