Halleloo! After months of apparent hibernation, the silence has finally broken in Switzerland. On Friday 14 February broadcaster SRF confirmed the date upon which both its act and song for Eurovision 2020 will be revealed — 4 March.
Switzerland’s Eurovision 2020 entry to be released on 4 March
The news was broken on SRF’s official Eurovision Twitter account. Short and brief, it simply read:
“On👉4.3.👈the Swiss🇨🇭 #ESC2020 Song and Artist will be revealed!
Lots of love from Switzerland for #ValentinesDay💖”
That’s it. Aside from the date, it may be safe to assume that the Swiss are sending a solo performer — given that the announcement uses the word “artist” rather than “act”.
On?4.3.?the Swiss?? #ESC2020 Song and Artist will be revealed!
Lots of love from Switzerland for #ValentinesDay? #srfESC #SRF #Eurovision #Switzerland @SRF @Eurovision #TeamSRGSSR @SRGSSR #Schweiz #Suisse #Svizzera #Svizra #RTS #RSI #RTR @RTSUnDeux @RSInews @RTRSRG pic.twitter.com/dBLQQYDm0k— SRF ESC (@srfesc) February 14, 2020
Up to this point, it had been a fairly quiet season when it comes to news hailing from Switzerland. The alpine nation refrained from giving away too much information concerning its plans for the 65th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest.
We’ve known for a while that Switzerland would be opting once again for an internal selection. It was a no-brainer after the top five placing the country achieved in 2019 following the axing of its infamous selection process: Die Grosse Entscheidungsshow
Now we know the date, let’s have a look at what other information we have so far.
Switzerland’s Eurovision 2020 selection process
Back in September, the Swiss broadcaster confirmed that 515 songs had been submitted to the 2020 internal selection process.
Then, a 100-member audience panel and a 20-person international expert jury rateed both the song submissions and artists. SRF revealed the 20 individuals making up the jury in December of last year. The list contained several familiar faces from the Eurovision bubble, such as Spain’s Ruth Lorenzo and Slovenia’s Tinkara Kovac.
Furthermore, the broadcaster opted to invite back many who partook in the process last year — a clear indication that Switzerland aims to repeat the success of 2019. The two panels also made the final decision as to the lucky artist and song that will make it to Eurovision. The audience panel and expert jury votes were split 50/50.
Things are a lot quieter this season compared to last year. Back then, there was plenty of fan speculation that well-known singer Luca Hänni was one of the shortlisted acts for Tel Aviv. In 2020, however, rumours are scarce. Douzepoints.ch asked the German-Swiss broadcaster SRF what its next steps would be in selecting Switzerland’s act for Rotterdam. A spokesperson said, “Right now we are testing which singers fit to which best-ranked songs out of both juries the most. We are not just happy about the number of submissions we got but also about their quality.”
Switzerland Eurovision 2020 rumours
Despite the secrecy surrounding Switzerland’s internal selection, one artist has made their candidacy in the process clear. Back in September of last year, German singer Aly Ryan responded to fans on Twitter that she had submitted an entry to SRF after declining to represent Germany, unless the selection method were changed. Given the fact that the Swiss broadcaster were accepting applications regardless of nationality, there is nothing stopping the German songstress from representing Switzerland this year – only time will tell. Ms. Ryan subsequently made applications to other countries, including Estonia, Ireland and San Marino.
One singer who will most likely not be in the running is former Swiss national final participant – ILIRA. The Kosovar-Swiss artist voiced her dissatisfaction with fans asking her if she would consider representing her country at the Eurovision Song Contest stating the she “did not want to be associated with sh*tty non-quality shows” and would “rather take the slow road to success”.
At this point, it is too early to pay notice to any rumour, perhaps it might be someone from our Wednesday Wishlist series. Everything is up in the air at the moment; we’ll just have to wait and see who the Swiss broadcaster pull out of their hat.
What do you think about Switzerland’s selection process? Who would you like to see represent Switzerland in Rotterdam? Tell us your thoughts below!
Maybe Sebalther? He wanted to come back to ESC.
Isn’t it weird that he’s the first actual Swiss to give them a top 10 finish since 1991?
Jeez, you’re right.
Ginta Biku and i am readyyyyy
(Or song in french/italian)
Okay everyone would be shooked if its going to be ALY RYAN.
keep aly ryan out of the wiwibloggs comment section in 2020 challenge
Sorry but I don’t take part of that. #votemedownifyouwant
Switzerland for the most part has a poor track record at Eurovision so I’m not sure how this year will turn out for them.
Same
Imagine Aly was trolling this whole time and she acc is the german singer Lmao
I had strange feeling that Aly would be chosen to ESC… her last song was good and she was robbed
Can’t wait for Switzerland to serve us something in French (it’s been a while)!
Unless I’m very much mistaken, Switzerland is one of only two countries (them and San Marino) to have never scored consecutive qualifications. I hope 2020 changes that for both of them!
I was mentally scanning a map of Europe trying to prove this wrong because I was sure there was a third county, but you’re 100% correct. The only countries with a worse record are Andorra, Monaco and Slovakia, who have never qualified full stop.
It sounds wrong, but it’s true. Switzerland did make back-to-back finals appearances in 2005 and 2006, but they were pre-qualified for 2006 because of their finish in 2005.
They should have done it in 2012-2013-2014 but sadly juries..
Specially 2013-2014 with both being Top 5 in televoting
I wouldn’t have given it to them in 2013. I would definitely have given it to San Marino.
I prefer Switzerland but televoting had any doubts about it in 2013
And Austria has the same date
4.march
Julia Samoylova
Loooooool
I can’t waaaaiiiiiiiiiieeeeeiiiiiiittttt.
Even in the darkness…
It’s Aly Ryan of course
… Yeah. We know that before. I thought there will be a clue or something.