Switzerland competed in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009. The Swiss broadcaster, SRG SSR idée suisse, internally selected Lovebugs to represent the country with the song "The Highest Heights".[1][2][3] The song did not progress from the first semi-final of the competition.
Switzerland debuted at Eurovision at the first contest in 1956,[4] and will send its 50th entry to the 2009 contest. The country has won the contest twice: their first win occurred at the very first contest, when Lys Assia won for Switzerland with "Refrain" when the contest was held in Switzerland, in the town of Lugano; their second and latest win to date came in 1988, when Canadian singer Céline Dion won with "Ne partez pas sans moi". The country, however, has also come last in the contest on five occasions: in 1964, 1967, 1974, 1998 and in the semi-final of the 2004 Contest.[5]
The Swiss broadcaster SRG SSR idée suisse has been in charge of the Swiss Eurovision entry since its interception. In the past the organisation has held a national final to select the Swiss entry to Eurovision, with each regional broadcaster entering songs to the contest. Since 2005, however, the organisation has held an internal selection for the Swiss Eurovision entry, which was continued for the 2009 selection.
Before Eurovision[]
Internal selection[]
Swiss-German broadcaster Schweizer Fernsehen (SF) opened a submission period for interested artists and songwriters to submit their entries between 11 July 2008 and 20 October 2008, announcing that they are looking for "a strong song of an international standard".[6] 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. SF also directly invited artists and composers to submit songs.[7] 55 entries were submitted following the submission deadline, and a 5-member jury panel evaluated the entry submissions received and selected the winner.[8]
In January 2009, Swiss newspaper Blick claimed that the popular Swiss band Lovebugs had been selected as the Swiss entrant at the 2009 contest, which was confirmed by SF on 19 January 2009.[9][10][11][12] Their song "The Highest Heights" was released on 23 February 2009.[1][2][3] Before the release of the song, a poll on radio station DRS' website also showed that readers preferred "The Highest Heights" over other songs on their new album of the same name.[13]
At Eurovision[]
Since Switzerland is not one of the "Big Four" and is not the host of the 2009 contest, it had to compete in one of the two semi-finals. The song competed in the first semi-final but failed to reach the final.[14]
Switzerland
Finland
Lithuania
Israel
France
Sweden
Croatia
Portugal
Iceland
Greece
Armenia
Russia
Azerbaijan
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Moldova
Malta
Estonia
Denmark
Germany
Turkey
Albania
Norway
Ukraine
Romania
United Kingdom
Spain