Thanks to SRF’s online Eurovision platform, it’s already been a very long road to Stockholm. But, following the December 6 Expert Check, we’re now just one step away from knowing who will represent Switzerland at Eurovision 2016!

All 19 acts announced last month performed in front of the expert check jury in Zurich during a marathon day (and night) of performances, all hosted by Sven Epiney. Jurors judged the acts on live competency, vocal skills and stage presence. Eight hours later the juries began deliberations and we now know the six acts who will sing in the final of Die Grosse Entscheidungsshow 2016, which takes place on February 13. They are…

Die Grosse Entscheidungsshow 2016 finalists

Bella C — “Another World”

Vincent Gross — “Half a Smile”

Stanley Miller — “Feel the Love”

Rykka — “The Last of Our Kind”

Theo — “Because of You”

Kaceo – “Disque d’or”

Stéphanie Palazzo was originally one of the six, but was disqualified as her song “Perché mi guardi cosi?” had been published prior to 1 September 2015. She was replaced with Kaceo.

Watch our interview with Vincent

Expert Check jury panel

Tanja Dankner – Singer and vocal coach
Rafael Antonio – Choreographer from Germany
Daniel Meister – SRF’s Eurovision editor
Catherine Colombara – RTS
Andrea Bignasca – RSI

Who you do want to represent Switzerland in Stockholm?

FOLLOW ALL OF OUR SWITZERLAND EUROVISION NEWS HERE

45 Comments
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Hugh
Hugh
8 years ago

Definitely feels like these are works in progress, so I’m giving some… constructive notes. Bella C – Another World. This feels like a case of a genuinely very strong singer struggling with a language she isn’t especially comfortable with. Almost all of the issues I have with this are based on awkward or even totally wrong pronunciations. Sing it in German or French! Rykka – The Last of Our Kind. It’s got that 80s revival synth thing going for it, and she hits some good notes. But… it really feels like to me that this song is meant to be… Read more »

Alex
Alex
8 years ago

Stanley has a great voice but his song is generic… the same for Bella. Rykka’s song is at least interesting but the key change at the end is not necessary. Better production and a removal of that key change would give Switzerland a good chance at the final. Vincent’s entry is okay, Theo’s is okay but not a standout… honestly, Stephanie’s is probably my favorite among the ones that qualified. But there’s no way Switzerland would go to the final selecting her. I’m missing my favorite Sunanda here and her quirky song with the cool instrumentals. Disque d’or was also… Read more »

Katerina
Katerina
8 years ago

Rykka – The Last of our Kind!!! <3

2015
2015
8 years ago

The last of our kind is the best song out of these. However they’re all bad :/ Maybe Switzerland should change the format.

Mario = Legend
Mario = Legend
8 years ago

But Robyn! Then we would’ve had Maika if wiwi viewers decide! 🙂 She looked like she just walked in off street after night out on the lash, handing out black eye to anyone who look at her. xD Freaky. I think midpoint is best, not as conservative as experts but not as mental as Wiwi haha.

Mario = Legend
Mario = Legend
8 years ago

Eugene.

Of course they’re not the top six from the poll, they were all acts of the German broadcaster (minus Elias) if I remember correctly and only three could make it through! You forget the poll was judged on videos. During expert check, became apparent quickly that some just did not work. Elias shouting. Nathalie couldn’t sing R. Evelyn couldn’t sing verses. Platzhirsch without video setting and nine member didn’t have same atmosphere. Etc etc.

blondboybc
blondboybc
8 years ago

Rykka has the strongest voice and range, and I like the song…the others are decent to so-so…hardly standouts, really. Knowing the Swiss, they’ll choose something strange! 😀

DenizNL
DenizNL
8 years ago

Wooo Rykka and Vincent!

oooops
oooops
8 years ago

I hope Bella C or Theo win, Rykka and Vincent are good, but Bella or Theo must go to Stockholm

Blah
Blah
8 years ago

I can very easily see Bella, Vincent or Stéphanie to Stockholm. The two first may even have a good enough song to qualify. We shall see!

Tom
Tom
8 years ago

(Honestly these are all pretty high class songs for Switzerland

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
8 years ago

@Daniel: Only if Rykka wears that dress to the final could she flop. That dress don’t go with that song. It’s quite probable that she could still make it to ESC (she is 3rd on my list, among those remaining); but on the song title, let alone the lyrics, I’m thinking she should consider changing into something dystopian, if she qualifies for Stockholm. She did say she wanted to wear something with spikes, no?

Hanner McSinny/Calvin
8 years ago

2 of my 4 favorites (Bella and Stephanie) made it, which is more than I was expecting! I think I’m throwing my support behind Stephanie for the NF.

Foxreyna
Foxreyna
8 years ago

Go Vincent!

Daniel
Daniel
8 years ago

For me it will end like this:

1) Stanley Miller.
2) Bella C.
3) Vincent Gross.
4) Stephanie Palazzo.
5) Rykka.
6) Theo.

I love how almost everyone is overrating Rykka at this stage. It will be a hard hit for them when she flops.

Omar - Mexico
Omar - Mexico
8 years ago

They’re all bad, no matter who goes to Stockholm, it won’t make it to the final.

Hippo
Hippo
8 years ago

Two out of my six got through. From these it should be Rykka in my view but she wasn’t my first pick.

mocosuburbian
mocosuburbian
8 years ago

only rykka can remain
I was certain evelyn zangger would be in the national final, she was fantastic
also nathalie and sunanda were surprisingly good even though I didn’t like their songs at first

(by the way, elias looked incredibly uncomfortable and patric scot+abdullah alhussainy didn’t function well as a group, I’m not surprised they didn’t make it)

Charles
Charles
8 years ago

I do like Rykka’s but I just wish she wasn’t giving us so much Sia’s looks and her song specially the chorus screams some Katy Perry ballad a bit too much. After everybody hating Man’s Guetta “Heroes” (specially after the televoting results came out – prior to that it was seriously urgent for Sweden to no let Russia win in a very classy ESC fans fashion) I wish that such hating vibe would not pour on this one. But considering that there are 42 songs still on the horizon it might not be so bad.

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
8 years ago

That was quick. I was under the impression that they would wait until later tomorrow (Monday 7 Dec.). Or did they reveal their final 6 at 12:01 A.M. Swiss time? Be that as it may, I didn’t get to watch the performances until Sunanda came up. I thought Vincent Gross, and Patric and Abdullah, did well enough to qualify. Alas, from the audio presentations, I am left with this: 9.40 Vincent Gross 9.34 Stanley Miller 9.32 Rykka —— 9.22 Theo 9.20 Bella C. 9.14 Stéphanie Palazzo One of those 3 (Vincent, Stanley, Rykka) has the potential to qualify for the… Read more »

Sparrow
Sparrow
8 years ago

While I liked Another world from the start I feel any “Bond-ish” ballads will always be compared down to Rise like a Pheonix and vocally she was a mess. Half a smile is just another little bit with his guitar which has been done enough times *yawn* Feel the love was hands down the worst love vocal performance I’ve seen to date. Still makes me shudder. Stephanie felt more like a music teacher and her students doing a little performance, I can’t take it seriously. Rykka I feel is the strongest, it’s a sound that Switzerland hasn’t done before, change… Read more »

Marco
Marco
8 years ago

Overall a good selection (for Swiss standards…). I was a bit disappointed by Rykka’s performance, though. She seemed quite insecure and the song doesn’t work as well on stage as on record, but we will see how she is going to perform it at the national final – for me she’s still the best. Vincent Gross will get the granny/teen girls vote, but the song itself is rather dull… Bella C, Theo and Stanley Miller are imho too forgettable, and Stéphanie Palazzo has a very good song, but it is just no Eurovision song.

Mr Georpey
Mr Georpey
8 years ago

Really happy with Switzerland this year!! I agree with William and it’s Vincent vs Rykka for me… Stanley has great vocals but a bit annoying song; the Italian one is beautiful but not for the ESC, and the other two… I forgot.

Erin
Erin
8 years ago

@Robyn: ‘No Boundaries’ would have been a great choice and it wouldn’t even become ‘politicized’ because of the recent Paris bombings and massacre.
The song was obviously written way back before the recent upheaval and it’s a beautiful synthesis of voices, sounds, shared hopes and dreams. Hopefully, the reasons behind it not qualifying to the final had nothing to do with concerns about a backlash or for being a ‘hot potato’ subject. After all, “There Must Be Another Way” even if we are lost in the dark…

Rita
Rita
8 years ago

I loved No Boundaries by Patric Scott and Abdullah Alhuassainy! I watched their expert check video and thought it looked quite alright stage presence wise and by far more importantly their voices. I can’t believe it didn’t make it. I had two others that I could consider “favorites” which was Bella and Stephanie. I am rooting for Stephanie Palazzo now because her voice is great and really showcased (singing Italian makes it a really beautiful song) while Bella’s song is good as well but live it seemed that her music was making it powerful and not her voice. Go Stephanie!… Read more »

Andriy Samets
Andriy Samets
8 years ago

Rykka clear favorite

PP
PP
8 years ago

You put new video for 4 song from presentation of song . Where are video from Rykka and Theo.
My TOP 6 made from their video or audio,not from presentation live.

Steven
Steven
8 years ago

On one listen and a very weak choice to choose from:

1. Theo
2. Rykka
—————-
3. Vincent
—————-
4. Bella C
—————-
Other 2 are awful

Hey
Hey
8 years ago

Disaster

Steven
Steven
8 years ago

Probably going to NQ again. Should’ve just thrown glamazon hag maria christina if this is what they’re left with

D
D
8 years ago

1) Bella C
2) Rykka
3) Stephanie Palazzo
4) Theo
5) Vincent Gross
6) Stanley Miller
Not much to complain about, all but one of my top three made it through and I’m fairly certain Rykka will be able to pull off a victory. As long as Stanley Miller doesn’t win I’ll be satisfied with the result. I still think Switzerland will struggle to qualify though, considering the amount of countries in the semis this year and how they don’t really have any voting allies.

Calum Macleod
Calum Macleod
8 years ago

So glad for Rykka and Bella. I love how the finalists for this year have much more decency then last year’s finalists. It will definitely be a 3-4 horse race.

eve
eve
8 years ago

My two faves (Rykka and Vincent) made it so I’m happy

MalteseTimpana
MalteseTimpana
8 years ago

1. Stanley
2. Vincent
3. Rykka
4. Bella C
5. Theo
6. Stephanie

I feel like from this batch only Stanley & Vincent would be able to make it to the final.

Erin
Erin
8 years ago

Narrowing it down to TWO, its either Rykka or Vincent Gross because the rest either belong in a time warp or lack of a contemporary sound. I get why Vincent Gross will do likely well with his boyish charm with ‘Me and My Guitar’: It’s such a safe bet that I can’t see it not qualifying as he reminds me a lot of Austin Mahone and that just can’t go wrong…I am personally moved by Bella C’s ‘Another World’, but I realize it would have been right 30 years ago.

Daniel
Daniel
8 years ago

Have a little faith in me was the best imo. Now I’m all for Rykka.

PP
PP
8 years ago

My TOP 6
1.Rykka
2.Stanley Miller
3.Bella C
4.Theo
5.Stephanie
6.Vincent Gross

But I think result in final will be
1.Vincent Gross
2.Theo
3.Rykka
4.Stanley Miller
5.Stephanie
6.Bella C

Jairo
Jairo
8 years ago

1. Rykka
2. Stanely
3. Vicent

Sarah
Sarah
8 years ago

I watched some of it . It was so funny when the piano fell haha

Xoão
Xoão
8 years ago

Rykka to be chosen, please.

cheesecake
cheesecake
8 years ago

Happy for Vincent and Rykka, but I can’t believe that Patric Scott didn’t make it. Shame on the jury.

Stephanie
8 years ago

Kind of figured Rykka would make it (Canadians have given the Swiss some good results in the past), maybe her song will grow on me. Shocked that Patric and Abdullah got eliminated and Vincent made it in, “No Boundaries” is such a great song

Mario = Legend
Mario = Legend
8 years ago

Theo?! What the hell……!!! Worst of all.

Sarmi1995
Sarmi1995
8 years ago

He is*

Sarmi1995
Sarmi1995
8 years ago

I am soo happy for Vincent, hebis my favourite <3