Gjon’s Tears will represent Switzerland at Eurovision 2020 with his song “Répondez-moi”. The singer-songwriter was internally selected by the Swiss broadcaster SRG SSR.
Switzerland returns to singing in French at Eurovision after ten years. The last time was in 2010 with “Il pleut de l’or” by Michael von der Heide, who failed to make it through to the final.
It could portend something beautiful. The country has won Eurovision twice, both times singing in French: in 1956 with “Refrain” by Lys Assia and in 1988 with “Ne partez pas sans moi” by Celine Dion.
Scroll down for the “Répondez-moi” lyrics
Switzerland in Eurovision 2020: Gjon’s Tears “Répondez-moi”
Gjon Muharremaj, professionally known as Gjon’s Tears, is a Swiss singer-songwriter of Kosovar-Albanian descent. His stage name developed after he moved his grandfather to tears with his rendition of Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love” at the age of nine.
At only twelve years of age Gjon placed third on Albanian’s Got Talent. One year later, he reached the semi-final of Die grössten Schweizer Talente.
The big breakthrough came in 2019, when Gjon auditioned for the eighth season of the French singing competition The Voice: la plus belle voix and reached the semi-finals competing on the team led by Mika.
The same year he released his debut single entitled “Babi”.
What do the “Répondez-moi” lyrics mean?
With his mystical and intense song “Répondez-moi”, Gjon’s Tears reflects on life, asking those big questions shared by us all. It’s a personal song, but one in which we can all find ourselves.
This is how the artist himself has explained the meaning of his entry:
“Everyone asks themselves why exactly are we here, where do we come from and where are we going? These are key questions, particularly for people from a migrant background. My parents are from Albania and Kosovo. I grew up in Switzerland and it’s my home, these are questions that I think about a lot.“
Why does it rain? Why do religions divide us? Why are some of us forced to live far from the people and places we most love? Will there be a future for our children? Why is there death after life?
These are in the long list of universal questions that Gjon asks someone, unspecified, because he is not able to glean the answers on his own. He movingly sings of his desire to get clear and honest explanations, in a moment of loss and despair, which can be shared by the listener.
“Répondez-moi” lyrics — Gjon’s Tears (Switzerland ESC 2020)
Written and composed by: Gjon Muharremaj, Xavier Michel, Alizé Oswald and Jeroen Swinnen.
Xavier Michel and Alizé Oswald are better known as the folk-pop duo Aliose, who were in the Swiss national final in 2011 with the entry “Sur le pavés”. Jeroen Swinnen co-wrote Belgium’s 2010 entry “Me and My Guitar” by Tom Dice, and other songs for the Belgian singer.
French textPourquoi la pluie Pourquoi le soir Pourquoi on dort Pourquoi la mort J’donne ma langue au chat Pas de langue de bois Pourquoi on court Pourquoi on prie Pourquoi je suis Pourquoi mon fils J’donne ma langue au chat Pas de langue de bois J’donne ma langue au chat J’donne ma langue au chat Pas de langue de bois |
English translationWhy the rain Why in the evening do Why do we sleep Why does death I give up No fake words Why do we run Why do we pray Why am I Why does my son I give up No fake words I give up I give up No fake words |
What do you think of Switzerland’s entry? Let us know in the comments below. And click here to read more Eurovision 2020 lyrics.
I am crossing my fingers for Bulgaria,Iceland,Lithuania,Germany,Malta and Greece.
I want any of this countries to win
Please dont win Switzerland I have other favorites
The best lyrics of this year and the most atmospheric song of the contest! I so hope it wins, if he nails it live and if they go with a breathtaking staging they can do this. Plus the guy is adorable and so down to earth. I sent him a message pon insta to express my adoraton for the song and he replied with a lovely and funny message! LOVE HIM!
I agree the song has the best lyrics however there’s something about italys song that I absolutely love and always makes me cry
Gjon is spelled the same like John. It’s the albanized version of John
Chanson surprenante dans le bon sens du terme. J’espère qu’elle gagnera.
That’s the correct Albanian pronunciation. Gj makes the sound in “jar” whereas g alone is the g sound in “great”. The Albanian alphabet actually is pretty straightforward once you learn it!
I just with Switzerland will sing in ITALIAN one day …
They did, in Belgrade 2008
… and in 2000, 1997, 1994, 1983, 1981, 1968, 1964, 1960, 1958.
It’s the highest quality song in Eurovision this year and would be a deserving winner. I love Iceland and Lithuania’s entries but I always like when a masterpiece such as this wins Eurovision. It just rams it down the necks of people who say Eurovision is full of crap music and the weirder you are, the better chance you have of winning.
I feel like they took everything that was good from last years winner and tried to put it into a new song, but trying a bit too hard. it’s not bad, just feels too.. try-hard
This is literally the only song I get winner vibes from
I find him super charming, especially with his hair <3 I think I now have found my annual "Eurovision lover". In 2017 they were Kris Kostov and Isaiah, 2018 Mélovin, 2019 Eliot and Roko, so 2020 Gjon's Tears <3
very uncomfortable question indeed
What is interesting in the French lyrics is that in the chorus there is two idioms with “tongue” that are lost in translation. “Donner sa langue au chat”=”giving his tongue to the cat”=admit to give up answering a question ; “pas de langue de bois” = “no wood tongue” = stop lying
This song has the whole package
Merci beaucoup pour cette déclaration.
Ah, thank you! I was wondering about that. I know enough French to understand the literal meaning of those strange sentences, but not the idiomatic. A lot of depth lost in translation here. This song is my winner, btw. So beautiful.
This should be the winner!!! The song is absolutely breathttaking, powerful and beautiful till the end. I was really moved. Gjon is really talented and this has everything to win it all. Switzerland is lucky to be able to send such an artist. I’ll certainly use my votes for this entry.
From the entries released thus far, I feel that the winner is either Switzerland or Lithuania. I can see Switzerland winning the jury vote, and Lithuania winning the televote. The big question is how will Switzerland fair with the televote, and Lithuania with the juries? As things stand, at least for me, that question will determine the winner this year, unless of course another great entry is yet to be released.
Good question, Una. I was pronouncing it like how you would say Bjorn (i.e., Gjorn). I also thought that maybe its like Dijon (yes the mustard lol) (i.e., Gee-John). But I suck at Eurovision names. For instance, I thought Jeangu was pronounced “Jee-un-goo”, Sebastian Rejman was pronounced like “Sebastian regimen”, Paenda was pronounced “pa-and-da”, and for years I thought that the “X” in Lighthouse X was pronounced as “x” and not “10”. So your suggestions of “Yon” and “John” seem more likely here.
Actually, “étranger” has two meanings, one chat could be translated by stranger and the other one by foreign, which also makes sense in this song…
Yes, it´s the same with “extranjero” in Spanish.
I’ve taken a look at the IPA of his name; it seems to be pronounced simply as ‘John’.
Best lyrics of the year so far. I hope juries will take this into consideration
Absolutely but there are already various translations for “Je donne le langue au chat”. Very cryptic lyrics and I love it so much.
I don‘t know, how they say it in the french part of Switzerland, but it‘s most likely similar to John.
Existential crisis triggered.
These lyrics are quite something else. Me likey.
Usually I don’t care about lyrics but even I have to admit, that’s some heavy stuff.
The song is very beautiful !! I love it a lot !! Good Luck Switzerland !!
its adorable song and video but on stage it will need to really show the emotion. if he just stands and sing he may NQ.
The delusions of the fandom are cute.. this will likely end up a NQ
You’re probably one of those “boohoo a horrible song won ESC once again” fans..
Good song
Feel like he will actually take the trophy in the end.
Delusions
Same. So far it’s the only entry that’s giving me winner vibes.
I love this song, it has real feeling and he has such a fabulous quality to his voice. And I like his hair too.
In my experience, it’s best not to ask yourself these questions – it doesn’t end well.
Beautiful, deep and touching lyrics for a wonderful song altogether! I would really want this to score top 5 in Eurovision. It certainly will on my list.
He would be pretty if he wouldn‘t wear that dead pet on his head.
i dont think its dead
Some people have curls on their hair. It’s a natural phenomenon.