Lys Assia won the very first Eurovision in 1956, but she won’t have a shot to win it again in 2013. This morning Switzerland’s German-language broadcaster SF (Schweizer Fernsehen) revealed the four songs it will field for Die Grosse Entscheidungsshow—the Swiss national selection. Old Lys, who teamed up with Bernese rap group New Jack over the summer, won’t be among them.
Instead of embracing an old timer giving a new genre a go, SF have gone with Melissa—a Spaniard who previously failed in her efforts to represent Spain, and Jesse Ritch, a singer best known for losing on the German edition of Pop Idol. He’s singing a song called “Forever and a Day”—which is how long it will take us to recover from the reality that Lys will not be rapping in Malmo next spring.
The two other qualifiers are Heilsarmee—a group with members ranging in age from 20 to 94, who met at the Salvation Army—and Anthony Bighead. We find his name amusing.
In honor of Lys and New Jack, have another listen of their entry “All In Your Head.”
You can listen to all nine Swiss finalists on the SF web site.
I love it, I love it, I love it, I want it. Makes me smile, it’s ultra cool. Thanks wiwi for drawing my attention to it… Euro fans all over need to see it… Need to see it I’m Malmo… So theirs a wild card yes? We start a position… Come on… It brilliant!
I think Melissa, Jesse and Heilsarmee have the best songs in the Swiss bunch, but I have to agree that the loss of Lys is, on this occasion, a tragedy. It’s a travesty that her song will be buried under a tombstone that reads ‘Hello, how’s the flow?’
Trying to recreate the excellence that KLF did with Tammy Wynette? Not even close. Mu Mu.
Does this mean Ralph Siegel will give up, just as he promised earlier this year?
Anyway, Melissa to win!
I think Jesse Ritch or Melissa will win.
A real tragedy. Lys’s song was something fresh and interesting. I voted for Lys and am pretty saddened to see she won’t be getting the chance to represent her nation next year.
Shame!