While the internal selection of the Swiss entry for Eurovision 2019 is largely taking place behind closed doors, one Swiss broadcaster has just invited the public to help out. Italian-Swiss broadcaster RSI has launched an online poll, where members of the public can listen to and rate snippets of 13 songs.
This year Switzerland has done away with its national final and will instead choose their act internally. An audience panel and international jury will select the song after a non-broadcast event where the competing songs will be performed.
But it’s up to each of Switzerland’s three broadcasters to field the acts that the juries will judge. RSI have chosen to get the public involved via an online survey.
Interested members of the public can listen to snippets of the 13 potential songs and then rate them based on how much they like the song and if the song holds their interest.
This system has reminded fans of German-Swiss broadcaster SRF’s online public vote. But unlike that vote, RSI have already pre-selected the candidates. As well, voters have to register an account using their email address, making fraudulent voting a lot harder.
Of the 13 candidates, the most recognisable name is Sebalter. He represented Switzerland at Eurovision 2014, where his feel-good song “Hunter of Stars” placed 13th in the grand final. It remains Switzerland’s best result since 2005, and one of only two qualifiers in the past 12 years.
He’s long been a fan favourite to return to Eurovision — and this year fans may get their wish. This time Sebalter has the song “We’ll Carry the Light”.
Also on the list is The Voice of Switzerland finalist Iris Moné. She has two songs: the English “Lift My Soul Up” and the Italian “Torno a casa”.
Matteo Rossi is taking another shot at Eurovision. He first appeared in 2016 under the stage name Theo, where his song “Because of You” placed fifth in the national final. He is now hoping that he’ll have better luck with “One More Time”.
RSI online candidates – Swiss national selection 2019
- Davide Buzzi – “Mama”
- Dianaerika Lettieri – “Amore infernale”
- Iris Moné – “Lift My Soul Up”
- Iris Moné – “Torno a casa”
- Julie Meletta – “Mama (I Walk Alone)”
- Karin Cerini – “Sorry”
- Matteo Rossi – “One More Time”
- Max De Stefanis – “Dove finisce il giorno”
- NickAntic – “Until you will be mine”
- Scilla Hess – “Playground”
- Scilla Hess – “Silence Breakers”
- Sebalter – “We’ll Carry the Light”
- Tommaso Giacopini – “Mi hai detto ama”
Voting closes on 28 September. The winner of the poll will reportedly be announced on 30 September, on a radio special broadcast on RSI Rete Uno.
What is your favourite Italian-Swiss national selection candidate?
Once you’ve listened to all 13 songs, tell us what you think and vote in our poll. You can vote for as many songs as you like, but you can only vote once — so make it count!
[polldaddy poll=10103223]
I adore Playground! With great staging (and live vocals..) this can do very well! I kind of find the other songs underwhelming.
1) “Lift My Soul Up” – This song sounds quite Adele-ish. I like it, it’s one one of those gentle songs that might really take over a live audience with great vocals and stage presence. The lyrics are very, very simple but work quite well with the song. 2) “Mi hai detto ama” – There is something about this song. I can’t really decide if it’s art or just a failed attempt at being artsy but at least it’s different. Could be a major grower. The only thing that really puts me off is the heavy beat which feels a… Read more »
Sebalter’s song is so bad…
Loving Playground! It’s definitely the best of this bunch.
After reading the comments I decided that I won’t waste my time listening to them.
NickAntic’s “Until You Will Be Mine” is, by far, the best from this bunch. Sebalters’s song is worst than his 2014 attempt.
Playground is very catchy, with a good staging it could get a great result 🙂 Please Switzerland pick this one !
Probably an unpopular opinion from what I’ve seen so far, but I absolutely love Iris Mone’s songs. They’re so good.
If Nick Antik can deliver vocally i can’t see “Until you will be mine” NOT qualifying to the Grand Final in May. It may need some refining production-wise, but not much since it already works, as is. In this selection there are some bad songs, some utterly boring ones and many semifinal fillers that will just be…there, serving nothing more but building a good running order for the favourites.
“Until you will be mine” definitely stands out and i will be shocked if it doesn’t score big with the juries.
Playground by Scilla can reach the final with good staging. It sounds like K pop!
I wont judge too hard until i see the actual performances. Nassi from France was a huge let down, enough for me.
Lol, I really wanna know where you hear the ,,K-Pop” in Playground, cause I certainly don’t!
YOU’RE NOTHING WITHOUT GOOD STAGING, MOLDOVA , FOR EXAMPLE, GAVE US A LESSON THIS YEAR. THEIR SONG WAS ALSO A BIT WEAK AND OLD FASHIONED BUT THE STAGING WAS GREAT!!!! GOOD LUCK SWITZERLAND
How to listen to the songs?
They are on Youtube, on Planet Esc channel
Thanks, I can hear them 🙂
A lot of bad songs, a couple of nice ones. Honestly, the only one I really liked was Playground: catchy, fun, interesting voice. Yes, reminds of Netta, but among those 13 songs, this stands up.
A real bad bunch of songs, from the RSI Online Selection. Sebalter’s song is such a disappointment.
“Sorry” and “Until you will be mine” are o.k.
Let’s hope for Switzerland that the German and French broadcaster will have better song material.?
It would be amazing to see Sebalter again ! He has a great personality and a great musical identity who could bring Switzerland back to the final since… 2014 !
MEH! Sorry not sorry , if i would pick one it would be “one more time”!
1) SCILLA HESS – “PLAYGROUND” (omg Switzerland send this please I beg you)
2) Karin Cerini – “Sorry” (like the beat, really good chorus too)
3) Dianaerika Lettieri – “Amore Infernale” (she has a really voice, but the chorus lets me down a little)
OMG I am totally addicted to Playground <3 This would be the perfect entry for Switzerland. Yes, it is inspired by Netta's Toy but the instrumental is so catchy and funny that it is really memorable. You can dance, you can have fun and the "strong woman" message is not that "in your face" like Toy. It is more sophisticated here, what I absolutely love <3 And please remember, that the broadcaster asked to look for social and emotional issues cause of Netta and Michael Schulte. And that is actually a social issue, it's the same as with Netta, but… Read more »
Is it like a competition between broadcasters or is it like Belgium where each year it’s another broadcaster’s turn to choose?
I want Sebalter to win just because I’ve been following Eurovision since 2016 and I want to understand the hype behind him xD
His 2014 song is very cute but people seem to really love it
Great! One of these entries could possibly be Switzerland’s entry for 2019! The ESC season has officially started! 😀
Most songs here are really good. I listened to the snippets while voting then to the full songs afterwards and I must say that some songs truly reveal themselves only when you listen to the whole thing. Problem here is that many aren’t much Eurovision-friendly. Sebalter might do fine because of his name and because the violin’s sound is just heavenly, but the only good entries for Eurovision would be “Sorry”, “Until you will be mine” and “Silence breakers”. The others are just not suitable for a Eurovision entry, which is a shame because songs like for example “Amore infernale”… Read more »
So, I’ve listened to all of the Songs…Most of them are kinda meh or sound very underdeveloped. But there are some Songs that stood out of me: ,,Until you will be mine” and ,,PLayground” sound very good. I’d have to wait for a live performance to Judge everything tho… Some songs really come alive on stage!
Oh my god, I’m cringing at my English Right now… ,,Stood out TO me” not ,,of me”, holy lord I’m sorry. ._.
“I’m not playing in your playground”
Hmmm sounds familiar
i am not your toyyy :”)
Playground and Sebalter’s song are pretty good
Maybe one of them can “come alive” with the right performance, but nothing really stood out to me. My favorite of the bunch is “Playground”, which is super radio friendly and has some punch (even if Scilla doesn’t need to use her fist!), though it’s the kind of song that always can work terribly when played live. My second choice would be Matteo Rossi’s “One More Time”, simple but enjoyable. I like Sebalter very much, but at first it didn’t sound to me as the kind of song for a successful return story.
I’m rooting for Sebalter.
Sebalter is charismatic and likeable af
Televoters loved him in 2014. He was so votable.
Hunter of Stars was great. Folk and fresh.
But this isn’t “Hunter of Stars”. This is “We’ll Carry the Light”. Do you think this one’s as good as the first?
There are a few nice radio friendly songs in the selection but none really stands out as an Eurovision favourite.
I would go with Scilla Hess’ “Playground”.
Sebalter has a funny cool song.
Playground is definitely inspired by netta’s toy.
I also think this 😀 But the instrumental is VERY good! 🙂
The song isn’t very good to be honest.
None of the songs are remotely strong nor would stand out at Eurovision. I hope the French and German broadcasters have some better songs!
LOL german.
I liked Zibbz this year but I can’t think of another Swiss entry that was good. Their entries are so mediocre that it is not surprising they rarely get to the final. Hunter of Stars sucked, so I can’t say I’m excited about Sebalter’s return. Of all countries, Switzerland is the country that needs to improve the most.
Switzerland has quite a big music industry, bigger than people think. Switzerland were pretty good at Eurovision in the earlier years, but just like countries such as Germany, Ireland, Malta and the UK, they’ve lost their charm.
Iceland is the bottom of the barrel as of this year.
He’s cute, charming, wrote “Hunter Of Stars” himself and the televoters really like him. Go for it, Switzerland.
Just listened to the song. Pleasant but could still use some work!
I’d love that! I was such a big fan of ,,hunter of stars”, I’m sure he could deliver a great entry again. If Sebalter is sent ,and if he can reach such a good place again, Switzerland might consider to just send him every year lol.
Heyhey, my friend 🙂 Finally, we two have the same music taste… Hunter of Stars was a great song! #PrinzBlogArmy
That’d be funny if Sebalter was picked again. The last success of the selection show would be the first success of the internal selection. Also, Hunter of Stars was wonderful, so I’m all in favor of him going again.