Switzerland is keeping their selection process for Eurovision 2019 under lock and key. But one name has emerged as a potential contender. Fan buzz is developing around German Idol winner Luca Hänni, suggesting that he may be on Switzerland’s internal shortlist.
The speculation started when German-Swiss broadcaster SRF started following Luca on their official Eurovision Twitter account.
The @srfesc account only follows 99 others and few musical artists. In fact, prior to following Luca, the most recent artist they followed was ZiBBZ.
But what does this even mean?
Earlier this year, SRF confirmed that Switzerland would be ditching its usual national final and would instead select its act internally.
From 420 song entries, the broadcaster used a panel of music experts and a demographically-selected fan panel to find the five best songs. In mid-November, the broadcaster was about to move onto the next stage: demoing the five songs with various artists in order to find the best combination to select for Eurovision 2019.
So there is a possibility that Luca Hänni is one of the artists who has been shortlisted by the broadcaster. There’s also the possibility that he was the overall favourite and has been internally selected as the Swiss act for Tel Aviv. But until the broadcaster confirms, nothing is certain.
Who is Luca Hänni?
Luca is a 24-year-old Swiss singer who came to fame when he won season nine of Deutschland sucht den Superstar (German Idol) in 2012.
Since winning Superstar, he has released four albums and a number of singles, many of which have charted well in his home country, as well as Germany and Austria. Earlier this year, he released the single “Signs”.
And like Mikolas Josef, he also has modelling experience. Back in 2012, Luca released his own range of men’s underwear and starred in the ad campaign, where he served Swiss six-pack realness.
While Luca’s last album was released back in 2015, he has still been keeping busy. Recently he teased a photo of a performance with German schlager queen Helene Fischer, from an upcoming Christmas gala.
He also presented the Swiss jury points at Eurovision 2017.
It remains to be seen if Luca Hänni will be the Swiss act for Eurovision 2019. Broadcaster SRF have said that they won’t reveal their entry until March 2019, so it is likely there will be still a bit of waiting until we find out for sure.
But whatever entry is selected for Tel Aviv, SRF will be hoping that it can will 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? Should Swtizerland select Luca Hänni as its Eurovision 2019 act? What sort of song should be sing? Tell us your thoughts below!
If it’s a song like Powder then Switzerland would (hopefully) see themselves on the left side of the scoreboard.
he’s gonna need to get a better song than ‘signs’ if he wants to succeed in 2019 … that song would be a hollow / formulaic entry even by eurovision standards
Luca Hänni is great. He did really well in my fanmade contest. He could do amazing in ESC as well.
He is singing, he is dancing. He has participated in Ninja Warrior. And they say perfect man doesn’t exist.
Eurovision rarely goes for the modern sound. If he has a modern song like the video posted then I’m all for Luca.
Last year, I thought their final was really strong, with a whole bunch of really amazing songs, many of them that I still listen to, such as Stones, Redlights, and Thousand Years. For 2019 though, I would love to see Sebalter, his song was a lot of fun, but if this guy has a great song and good voice, then good for him too if he is chosen to compete!
Still don’t understand why you’d even consider anyone else if Sebalter was interested…
Because Luca has a modern sound which will stand out at Eurovision.
Oh wow, I remember him from 2012, he’s aged well. His music has always been unremarkable, but maybe he can come up with something great for the Swiss selection.
As I am from Germany I have watched the “DSDS” = German Idol season, when he won and I even downloaded his winning single back in 2012 XD And I have also to admit that he looks quite hot. But it would be a pity if he would only be selected because he is well known in “DACH” (Germany, Austria, Switzerland). This doesn’t care at Eurovision. So I am only #TeamLuca if the SONG is good…
Next year’s contest will be full of hot guys as it seems lol.
No. Will be sebalter with CARRY THE LIGHT 🙂
I think you mean Scilla Hess with Playground haha 😀
I’m not sure if Luca could do those songs justice, in my mind nobody captures the spirit of “Carry the Light” better than Sebalter himself
I didn’t like those songs.
Great suggestion 😀 I understand the joke ofc, but what if we think about it serious for one second? I would say, “Carry The Light” is far too weak for Luca, he deserves a stronger song. And I love “Playground” as y’all know, but it is an “equality anthem”, so it would be strange to be performed by a straight man. It needs to be performed by a woman or an LGBT-boy (so I would represent Switzerland together with Scilla if they call me XD)
Reminds me of Markus Riva hahaha 😐