While Switzerland‘s song selection for 2019 is taking place behind closed doors, broadcaster SRF is keeping fans up to date with the progress. The German-Swiss broadcaster has recently announced that of the 420 song entries received, a shortlist of five has been decided by the juries.

The broadcaster confirmed the update on its Facebook page. It told fans that the audience panel and expert jury had selected the top five songs.

The next stage is for the selected songs to be matched with performers. SRF said that music producers are now demoing the songs with various artists. After that, the completed songs will again be assessed by the juries.

All this is happening privately. The first the public will hear is when the selected song for Eurovision 2019 is released to the public sometime in March. It is not known if the four runners-up will also be released..

Selektions-Update:

Selektions-Update: Die Zuschauer- und Experten-Jurys haben die Top 5 Songs gewählt ?, die nun Musikproduzenten mit verschiedenen Künstlern testen ?. Dann folgt eine weitere Jury-Bewertung. Den Beitrag für die Schweiz kommunizieren wir im März.

Posted by SRF Eurovision Song Contest on Friday, November 16, 2018

Back in October, SRF confirmed that 420 entries had been received for open song selection process.

These songs included three shortlisted by the Italian-Swiss broadcaster RSI. The broadcaster held an online poll, open to all. In the end, the three top-rated songs were Julie Meletta with “Mama (I Walk Alone)”, Scilla Hess with “Playground” and Eurovision 2014 representative Sebalter with “We’ll Carry the Light”.

All the Swiss songs were then assessed by a 100-person audience panel and 20 international jurors. The audience panel was demographically selected from Swiss fans to represent the tastes of general Eurovision televoters. The audience panel and international jury each counted for 50% of the vote.

Earlier in the year, SRF announced major changes for the way it selects Switzerland’s act for the Eurovision Song Contest. In July it scrapped long-time national final Die Entscheidungsshow and unveiled the new internal selection process.

The process appears closely modelled on Germany’s selection for Eurovision 2018, down to the same data partner Simon-Kucher & Partners being drafted in to algorithmically select an audience panel with the broadest possible music taste for the competition.

SRF will hope changes can reverse a downturn in Switzerland’s fortunes at Eurovision in recent years. Swiss acts have spent the past four years in the semi-finals and have only made it to the grand final twice since the two semi-final format was introduced in 2008.

What do you think? What sort of song should Switzerland send to Tel Aviv? What singer should represent Switzerland? Share your thoughts below!

Read more Switzerland Eurovision news here

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Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
5 years ago

Imagine thinking that snoozefest could win in Lisbon…

Polegend Godgarina
Polegend Godgarina
5 years ago

I always say it, first the singer then the song, not the other way round.

CookyMonzta
CookyMonzta
5 years ago

Since I don’t know enough (yet), I’m inclined to go with what ain’t broke…

…Send Sebalter’s song, and let him sing it himself.

Héctor
Héctor
5 years ago

Well, “Chiara can be a strong contender in May if she wins” were, more or less, my words back then. The studio version captivated me, though it’s true the NF performance could have been stronger.

Joe
Joe
5 years ago
Reply to  Héctor

Chiara was never really on my radar – even back then, Zibbz were 100% my pick, and I still think they’d have had a chance if they weren’t in such a strong semi where even a slight flaw is enough to send you packing. No, the real heartbreak was Esamiba tanking in Supernova. If she could’ve just been better live, I bet you she could’ve had a real chance. But alas, we’ll never know…

ESCFan2009 (male, 22, German)
ESCFan2009 (male, 22, German)
5 years ago
Reply to  Joe

My heartbreak was Switzerland not sending “Redlights”. If I could write with crying smilies here I would do at least ten of them now 🙁

Kris
Kris
5 years ago

Songs with rubbish choruses should not be anyone’s favourite

ESCFan2009 (male, 22, German)
ESCFan2009 (male, 22, German)
5 years ago
Reply to  Kris

? “Got nothing to loose if there’s no you and I”. This is not rubbish, this is heart-warming. I am nothing without you, Kris darling XD

Regina Phalange
Regina Phalange
5 years ago

Redlights <33 I still don't know why they took it down from YouTube

ESCFan2009 (male, 22, German)
ESCFan2009 (male, 22, German)
5 years ago

@Regina: https://youtu.be/0ewZHJ6inkY
Here you go! 🙂

ESCFan2009 (male, 22, German)
ESCFan2009 (male, 22, German)
5 years ago

RSI sent three wildcards, didn’t they? Sebalter, Julie AND Scilla Hess 🙂 Don’t forget my favorite Scilla please 😀

ESCFan2009 (male, 22, German)
ESCFan2009 (male, 22, German)
5 years ago

You’re welcome, Robyn 🙂 Never forget Scilla Hess, the winner of Eurovision 2019 by a milestone 😉

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
5 years ago

Still don’t understand why Switzerland got rid of their national final. I’ve watched it for years and last year was literally, the first time that it was any good and had some quality songs. I know Switzerland have not qualified since…was it Sebalter? (That’s a long time) but most people agree that Zibbz were really unlucky not to qualify last year.
When it was broke, they didn’t fix it but as soon as it isn’t….

Campbell Grace
Campbell Grace
5 years ago
Reply to  Briekimchi

But it clearly is broken since they’ve not qualified since 2014…

Jo.
Jo.
5 years ago
Reply to  Briekimchi

Getting real, “Stones” was always a borderline entry and not many people cared about it. Eurovision is becoming bigger and stronger, and there will be no place for “harmless songs” in the Grand Final.

NQ = viewing figures dropping, less sponsorship interest, less money for the next year, etc
Going with an internal selection is a radical but necessary move. I’d suggest the same for Iceland.

Loin dici
Loin dici
5 years ago

Thank you, next.

Henry
Henry
5 years ago

Hmmm not too optimistic about these “match song to artist” selections. As I can remember Netta, Salvador, Jamala, Måns, and Conchita all had somebody level of involvement in how their song turned out. Feels like they’re heading for a Macedonia-style wave of non qualifications.

Joe
Joe
5 years ago

Feels like they’re headed in a good direction.