Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2006

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Eurovision Song Contest 2006
Participating broadcaster Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG SSR)
CountryFlag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland
National selection
Selection processInternal selection
Selection date(s)Artist: 1 December 2005
Song: 18 March 2006
Selected artist(s) six4one
Selected song"If We All Give a Little"
Selected songwriter(s)
Finals performance
Final result16th, 30 points
Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest
◄2005 •2006• 2007►

Switzerland was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 with the song "If We All Give a Little", composed by Ralph Siegel, with lyrics by Bernd Meinunger, and performed by the group six4one. The Swiss participating broadcaster, the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG SSR), internally selected its entry for the contest in November 2005. "If We All Give a Little" was presented to the public on 18 March 2006.

Contents

As one of the ten highest placed finishers in 2005, Switzerland automatically qualified to compete in the final of the Eurovision Song Contest. Performing as the opening entry for the show in position 1, Switzerland placed sixteenth out of the 24 participating countries with 30 points.

Background

Prior to the 2006 contest, the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG SSR) had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest representing Switzerland forty-six times since its first entry in 1956. [1] It won that first edition of the contest with the song " Refrain " performed by Lys Assia. Its second victory was achieved in 1988 with the song " Ne partez pas sans moi " performed by Canadian singer Céline Dion. Following the introduction of semi-finals for the 2004, it had managed to participate in the final one time up to this point. In 2005, "Cool Vibes" performed by Vanilla Ninja qualified to the final where it placed 8th.

As part of its duties as participating broadcaster, SRG SSR organises the selection of its entry in the Eurovision Song Contest and broadcasts the event in the country. The broadcaster confirmed its intentions to participate at the 2006 contest on 22 July 2005. Along with its participation confirmation, it also announced that it would internally select its entry. [2] SRG SSR has selected its entry for the Eurovision Song Contest through both national finals and internal selections in the past. Since 2005, it had internally selected its entry for the competition.

Before Eurovision

Internal selection

On 22 July 2005, SRG SSR opened a submission period for interested composers to submit their songs until 14 October 2005. [2] On 14 December 2005, the broadcaster announced that Ralph Siegel and Bernd Meinunger had written the song that would represent Switzerland. Siegel had previously composed 17 Eurovision entries for various countries, 14 of them which were written by Meinunger. Meinunger had also written the Swiss entry in 2005 (under the pseudonym John O'Flynn). The song was selected by a jury panel consisting of representatives of the three SRG SSR broadcasters: Swiss-German/Romansh broadcaster Schweizer Fernsehen der deutschen und rätoromanischen Schweiz (SF DRS), Swiss-French broadcaster Télévision Suisse Romande (TSR), and Swiss-Italian broadcaster Televisione svizzera di lingua italiana (TSI). [3]

Performer auditions took place between 25 and 27 November 2005 at the Olympia Studios in Munich where Siegel together with an expert panel consisting of representatives of SF DRS, TSR and RSI selected six artists from six different countries to form the group six4one for the Eurovision Song Contest. Eligible artists were those 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. [4] [5] six4one consisted of Andreas Lundstedt (Sweden), Claudia D'Addio (Switzerland), Keith Camilleri (Malta), Liel Kolet (Israel), Marco Matias (Portugal) and Tinka Milinović (Bosnia and Herzegovina); several of the members have previously attempted to represent their respective countries at the Eurovision Song Contest: Lundstedt as a solo artist in 1996 and 1997 as well as in 2003 and 2005 as part of the group Alcazar, Camilleri in 2004 and 2005, Matias in 2005, and Milinović between 2002 and 2005. [6] [7] "If We All Give a Little" was presented to the public as the song on 18 March 2006 during the SF1 show Benissimo. [8]

At Eurovision

six4one during a press meet and greet 2006ch Press Conference.jpg
six4one during a press meet and greet

According to Eurovision rules, all nations with the exceptions of the host country, the "Big Four" (France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom) and the ten highest placed finishers in the 2005 contest are required to qualify from the semi-final in order to compete for the final; the top ten countries from the semi-final progress to the final. As one of the ten highest placed finishers in the 2005 contest, Switzerland automatically qualified to compete in the final on 20 May 2006. [9] On 21 March 2006, a special allocation draw was held which determined the running order and Switzerland was set to open the final and perform in position 1, before the entry from Moldova. Switzerland placed sixteenth in the final, scoring 30 points. [10]

In Switzerland, three broadcasters that form SRG SSR aired the contest. Sandra Studer (who represented Switzerland in 1991) provided German commentary both shows airing on SF zwei. Jean-Marc Richard and Alain Morisod provided French commentary on TSR 2 for the semi-final and on TSR 1 for the final. [11] Sandy Altermatt and Claudio Lazzarino provided Italian commentary for the semi-final on TSI 2 and the final on TSI 1. [12] SRG SSR appointed Jubaira Bachmann as its spokesperson to announce the Swiss votes during the final.

Voting

Below is a breakdown of points awarded to Switzerland and awarded by Switzerland in the semi-final and grand final of the contest. The nation awarded its 12 points to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the semi-final and the final of the contest.

Points awarded to Switzerland

Points awarded to Switzerland (Final) [13]
ScoreCountry
12 pointsFlag of Malta.svg  Malta
10 points
8 points
7 points
6 pointsFlag of Monaco.svg  Monaco
5 points
4 points
3 pointsFlag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus
2 points
1 pointFlag of Portugal.svg  Portugal

Points awarded by Switzerland

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Switzerland was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 with the song "Celebrate", written by Greg Manning, and performed by Piero Esteriore and the MusicStars. The Swiss participating broadcaster, the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation, selected its entry through the national final Eurosong 2004. The broadcaster returned to the contest after a one-year absence following its relegation from 2003 as one of the bottom five entrants in 2002. The Swiss-German/Romansh broadcaster Schweizer Fernsehen der deutschen und rätoromanischen Schweiz, the Swiss-French broadcaster Télévision Suisse Romande (TSR), and the Swiss-Italian broadcaster Televisione svizzera di lingua italiana (TSI) each conducted varying selections and a total of twelve entries were selected to advance to the televised national final—four artists and songs from each selection. The twelve finalists performed during the national final on 6 March 2004 where two rounds of regional televoting ultimately selected "Celebrate" performed by Piero Esteriore and the MusicStars as the winner.

Switzerland was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 2002 with the song "Dans le jardin de mon âme" written and performed by Francine Jordi. The Swiss participating broadcaster, the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation, selected its entry through a national final. The broadcaster returned to the contest after a one-year absence following its relegation from 2001 as one of the bottom six entrants in 2000. Eight entries performed during the national final on 2 February 2002 where two rounds of public voting ultimately selected "Dans le jardin" performed by Francine Jordi as the winner. The song was later retitled as "Dans le jardin de mon âme".

Switzerland competed in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008 with the song "Era stupendo" by Paolo Meneguzzi. Meneguzzi was chosen by the Swiss national broadcaster, SRG SSR idée suisse, to sing for Switzerland in Belgrade, Serbia. For 2008, SRG SSR idée suisse had continued to internally select the song and singer to represent Switzerland at the 2008 contest, with an open call for songs being held by the broadcaster.

Switzerland participated at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 with the song "The Highest Heights" written by Adrian Sieber, Thomas Rechberger and Florian Senn. The song was performed by the band Lovebugs, which was internally selected by the Swiss broadcaster SRG SSR idée suisse in January 2009 to represent the nation at the 2009 contest in Moscow, Russia. "The Highest Heights" was presented to the public as the Swiss song on 23 February 2009.

Switzerland participated at the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 with the song "Il pleut de l'or" written by Michael von der Heide, Pele Loriano and Heike Kospach. The song was performed by Michael von der Heide, who was internally selected by the Swiss broadcaster SRG SSR idée suisse to represent the nation at the 2010 contest in Oslo, Norway. "Il pleut de l'or" was announced as the Swiss entry on 18 December 2009, while the song was presented to the public on 9 January 2010.

Switzerland participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 with the song "In Love for a While" written by David Klein. The song was performed by Anna Rossinelli. The Swiss entry for the 2011 contest in Düsseldorf, Germany was selected through the national final Die grosse Entscheidungs Show 2011, organised by the Swiss German speaking broadcaster Schweizer Fernsehen (SF) and radio station DRS 3 in collaboration with the other broadcasters part of SRG SSR idée suisse. SF, DRS 3, the Swiss-French broadcaster Télévision Suisse Romande (TSR) and the Swiss-Italian broadcaster Radiotelevisione svizzera (RSI) each conducted varying selections and a total of twelve entries were selected to advance to the televised national final—seven artists and songs from the SF selection, three from the DRS 3 selection, one from the TSR selection and one from the RSI selection. The twelve finalists performed during the national final on 11 December 2010 were public voting ultimately selected "In Love for a While" performed by Anna Rossinelli as the winner.

References

  1. ↑ "Switzerland Country Profile". EBU . Retrieved 13 August 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Swiss song submission deadline set for 14th October". Esctoday. 22 July 2005.
  3. ↑ Bakker, Sietse (9 November 2005). "UPD Switzerland 2006: Ralph Siegel, Bernd Meinunger!". Esctoday.
  4. ↑ Bakker, Sietse (1 December 2005). "Exclusive: this is six4one!".
  5. ↑ "«six4one» vertritt die Schweiz". sfdrs.ch (in German). Archived from the original on 19 December 2005. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  6. ↑ West-Soley, Richard (1 May 2006). "Athens 2006: Switzerland". Esctoday. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  7. ↑ "Switzerland". Six on Stage. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  8. ↑ Ercolani, Sacha (20 February 2006). "Siegen mit Siegel". Blick (in German). Archived from the original on 10 March 2006. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  9. ↑ Bakker, Sietse (22 May 2005). "Athens 2006: Who qualified for the final?". Esctoday.com.
  10. ↑ "Grand Final of Athens 2006". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  11. ↑ "Eurosong 2006". tsr.ch (in French). Archived from the original on 4 June 2006. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  12. ↑ "EUROVISION SONG CONTEST 2006". eurofestivalnews.com (in Italian). 12 September 2016. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  13. 1 2 "Results of the Grand Final of Athens 2006". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  14. ↑ "Results of the Semi-Final of Athens 2006". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
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