After the three Swiss broadcasters revealed their 18 lucky qualifiers for the Swiss national selection last month, our attention turned to Zurich for the Expert Check stage yesterday. It took place at SRF-Studio 5. Hosted by Clarissa Tami, all 18 acts performed in front a panel of experts, who judged their live competency, vocal skills and stage presence over the course of eight hours. It was a very long day! The jurors then spent the night debating and deliberating, and we now know the six acts who will be singing in the final of Die Grosse Entscheidungsshow 2015 on January 31. They are:
Die Grosse Entscheidungsshow 2015 Finalists
Andy McSean – “Hey Now”
Deborah Bough “Take Me Back To 23”
Click image to listen on RSI platform.
Licia Chery “Fly”
Mélanie René “Time To Shine”
Tiziana – “Only Human”
Timebelle – “Singing About Love”
Expert Check Jury Panel
Rafael Antonio – Choreographer
Freda Goodlett – Vocal Coach
Moritz Faccin – Director Strategic Marketing Universal (SRF)
Catherine Colombara – Colombara, Cheffe d’antenne Option Musique (RTS)
Nicola Locarnini – Musician (RSI)
Who you do want to represent Switzerland in Vienna?
I’m sorry but I really don’t get the fuss about Abresha and her song “Same stars”. It is incredibly weak and the epitome of boredom. The song wouldn’t get Switzerland out of the semi-final not in a million years and would even give Switzerland its next zero pointer and last place after 2004.
When you look at the candidates for Copenhagen, there was a very good balance of artists (3 male soloists, 1 female soloist, 1 female duo, 1 mixed trio), song style (3 ballads, 3 up-tempo) and languages (3 English, 2 French, 1 Italian). The Vienna candidates’ songs are all in English, are mostly between mid- and up-tempo, and female soloists dominate (there are no duos or groups). So I really don’t know exactly what the judges were looking for this time compared to the expert check last year
No Celia? Sigh…
Wow… that really was the wrong descision. If you compare my original top 10 with the final 6, its so depressing. I guess the best performance is Timbelle, although I don’t feel comfortable with a Romanian performing for Switzerland 🙁 IT COULD’VE BEEN SO GOOD SWITZERLAND! My top 10: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGOlPL04yjo
Switzerland is meh this year in my opinion. Last year I loved Sebaltar, 3 for All and Christian Tschanz. This year may grow on me… But I think Switzerland will miss the final again 🙁 Anyway, it´s between Timebelle and Mélanie for me. 🙂
I can’t believe Arbresha was not selected. If her performance was not good, that can be fixed with rehearsals or staging. But there is nothing you can do with a bad (or mediocre) song. “Same Star” is a brilliant song.
The experts made a big mistake.
wtf bavarson?! Tastes can be different, but shooting other people for another opinion…? Remember that Eurovision was established for the exact opposite: after the terrible crimes of killing millions of people in the world wars, in order to bring them a little step closer together again. What you are doing is absolutely anti-eurovision spirit.
These experts show that they have no brains. They should be shot, because they do not deserve to live in this situation.
Melanie Rene. Thank you.
I hope she wins, lately I’ve been “right” when predicting winners. 🙂
Actually, the videos aren’t working for me… :/
Thanks for the link, Griffin!
Celia and Arbresha live performance was absolutely terrible. you can watch all the performance here http://www.srf.ch/unterhaltung/events-shows/eurovision-song-contest/esc-das-war-der-expertencheck
Elias ft. Zero has a good live performance, sad they did’nt make it through
My top 6: any one of the top 3 could do above average.
1. Licia Chery
2. Deborah bough
3. Timebelle
4. Andy McSean
5. Melanie Rowe
6. Tiziana
I’m happy that Deborah Bough, Timebelle and Licia Cherry qualified (I though they wouldn’t)
I’m surprised Arbresha and Celia didn’t qualify and I liked both 🙁
Yay for Deborah Bough!
I can see why Abresha didn’t make it, her song lacks the energy needed for the stage.
No Arbresha is an utter disgrace.
Did anyone record the show? I’d like to see these live performances. sigh… no Arbresha, Thierry Condor, or Elias… at least Deborah Bough made it. I don’t mind Licia either. But why such a small national final? Not the biggest fan of “Hey Now,” though… I can see the appeal in the song to a European audience, but as an American it’s too familiar of a style for me. I would’ve preferred “Open Heart Surgery” instead for that kind of adult contemporary pop. Tiziana has a very nice voice, but I’d like to see her revise her song to make… Read more »
“Fly” is by far the best of the six.
Once again, the best songs all eliminated in the expert check….they should just get rid of that stage completely and move onto the live show just with two semi-finals. I guess I’ll settle on Timebelle even though Dahi and Arbresha both had songs that could take Switzerland to the top ten. Hope they don’t qualify now just for those huge injustices.
Dahi not making it is a HUGE disappointment IMO but I hope Timebelle wins
Slightly disappointed. Listened to some swiss entries this morning and thought… wow what a great selection. The above are Ok, but mostly bland…
Licia Chery I guess gets my vote. Its infectious in its happiness. No winner here however… oh Switzerland, what have you done again?
Your Perfume didn’t make it!?!?!?!!? Neither Same Stars??? =(
Please, Switzerland, do not destroy your chances and go with “Singing About Love”…
I hope that Tiziana or Licia win!
Worst possible scenario in my opinion… although, Bough and Timebelle’s (to a lesser extent, Chery’s as well) entries are better than nothing.
Crap. I forgot the qualifying round was today. Luckily I was not privy to any activity related to this show. Here is what I thought would happen before the first round: 1. Bubble Beatz featuring Sandra Wild (SRF) 2. Sän Dii (SRF) 3. Elias featuring Zero-In-On (RSI) *4. Licia Cherry (RTS) (finalist) 5. Abresha (SRF) *6. Mélanie René (RTS) (finalist) Only my RTS picks qualified. Now that we have the final 6, here is what I think will happen, if everyone is on their A-game: 1. Licia Chery (RTS) 2. Mélanie René (RTS) 3. Deborah Bough (RSI) 4. Andy McSean… Read more »
It’s a whole other thing to listen to the recorded/radio version songs and the live versions (these can be watched here http://www.srf.ch/unterhaltung/events-shows/eurovision-song-contest/esc-expertencheck-das-sind-die-6-schweizer-finalisten for everyone interested). Especially Tiziana provided a much better live performance compared to the rather mediocre recorded song. My favourites now are Timebelle and Licia Chery.
And btw: yes, Arbresha’s performance really was weak. It sounded more like a lullaby than a Eurovision participant. A pity!
I’m so sad that Your Perfume didn’t make it. I hope Switzerland doesn’t make the final this year.
“Singing about love” but, I still prefer
1st Malta
2nd FYR of Macedonia
I think it’s a stronger final 6 overall compared to last year’s, but it’s missing a Grand Final worthy song imo.
Arbresha’s live performance wasn’t THAT good, but I’m still surprised she didn’t make it…
This is my top.
1) Singing About Love
2) Time To Shine
2) Take Me Back To 23
4) Fly
5) Only Human
6) Hey Now
I really thought Abresha would get to Vienna. Its upsetting. Atleast I can always listen to same stars on my phone. Good Luck Switzerland any how.
Abresha didnt make it? 🙁