Gjon’s Tears will represent Switzerland at Eurovision 2021 in Rotterdam with “Tout l’univers’’.
Gjon was originally due to sing “Répondez-moi” at Eurovision 2020. However, the contest was cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. But, just like several other countries, Switzerland opted to retain its singer for 2021.
And now we’ve compiled 10 facts you need to know about Switzerland’s Gjon’s Tears. Let’s do this!
Switzerland at Eurovision 2021: Facts about Gjon’s Tears
1. He is Gjon Muharremaj
Born Gjon Muharremaj, he performs under the moniker Gjon’s Tears. His Tears, like Marina’s Diamonds or Christine’s Queens, are metaphorical. The name refers to a formative experience from Gjon’s childhood. As a nine-year-old, he performed Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling In Love” for his grandfather and moved the man to tears. And thus came the inspiration for his future stage name. “Whether it’s joy, sadness or melancholy – I want to touch people with my music in every possible way.”
2. He has a diverse background
Gjon was born on 29 June 1998 in Broc, Switzerland to a Kosovar father and an Albanian mother. Gjon is very open-minded when it comes to people’s backgrounds. He says: “For me, origin is not so important. If it’s important for you, then that’s super. But for me, it doesn’t define someone”. Speaking to wiwibloggs, he says that immigration is an important topic for him, adding that his Eurovision song is for those who struggle with identity.
3. He’s in a band
So, as we’ve established, Gjon’s Tears is not a band. However, Gjon is also in a band — Gjon’s Tears & The Weeping Willows. They are a five-piece indie-pop group from Gjon’s home canton of Fribourg. And while Gjon was selected to represent Switzerland as a soloist, he and his band have performed their own version of his Eurovision 2020 song “Répondez-moi”.
4. He was on Albania’s Got Talent
As a 12-year-old, Gjon competed on the first series of Albania’s Got Talent in 2011. Apparently, his grandfather — the same one he moved to tears — signed him up for the show. He finished third, impressing both the judges and viewers with his ability to tackle sophisticated French chansons.
5. He did Switzerland’s Got Talent
In 2012, one year after his first Got Talent stint, Gjon tried out for the Swiss version. His audition with Eurovision 1988 singer Lara Fabian’s “Je T’aime” left the audience awestruck. He progressed through the show, reaching the live semi-finals.
6. He reached the semi-final on The Voice France
After some time away, Gjon returned to the world of talent shows in 2019 when he appeared on France’s The Voice: la plus belle voix. His blind audition with Christine and the Queens’s “Christine (Tilted)” convinced all four coaches to turn. Gjon joined Mika’s team and ultimately made it to the semi-final.
7. He’s been a Eurovision fan from a young age
When Gjon was just 12 or 13 years old, he discovered the Eurovision Song Contest. Gjon says: “When you know that ABBA and Celine Dion come from Eurovision, that’s crazy.’’ Since then, it has been a dream of his to participate at the world’s biggest music event. However, it wasn’t the international superstars that first grabbed Gjon’s attention. He tells our Oliver more — “I watched Aurela Gaçe, a really big singer in Albania. When I saw that, I was like ‘that’s really big, really huge’. And I was dreaming about it”. His favourite Eurovision song is France’s 1969 winner “Un jour, un enfant” by Frida Boccara.
8. He started piano because he wanted a hobby
In a live stream interview, Gjon explains how everyone at school seemed to have a hobby which they were passionate about — yet he didn’t. So, he went in search of one. He tried all sorts of things, from karate to football. But in the end, one activity stuck — the piano. This led to him playing Elvis for his granddad and, as we know, the rest is history.
9. He’s been linked to two other national finals
Gjon considered participating in Destination Eurovision, the former French Eurovision selection, in 2019. When he auditioned for The Voice France, he said that one of his goals was to do Destination Eurovision. Also, Gjon had been invited by the Albanian broadcaster RTSH to enter FiK 58, the Albanian selection for Eurovision 2020. However, when Gjon accepted the invitation, he heard that all the places had been filled already. But Gjon didn’t give up, shortly afterwards he sent “Répondez-moi” to the Swiss broadcaster SRF. Over 500 potential Eurovision songs were submitted to the Swiss broadcaster. These were whittled down by a 100-member audience panel and an international jury, which consisted of 20 experts. Both panels chose Gjon’s Tears to represent Switzerland at the 2020 song contest. After Eurovision 2020’s cancellation, he was promptly reselected to sing for Switzerland again in 2021.
10. He went to number one in Albania
Gjon may be relatively fresh on the music scene, but he’s already got a strong track record. His debut single “Babi” — which examines his relationship with his father — went to number one on Albania’s “The Top List” chart in February 2019. Due to its hit status, Gjon got to perform the track on the country’s version of The Voice Kids. He’s also released the English-language “Back In Light”.
Are you excited for Gjon’s Tears? Will he give Switzerland a third Eurovision victory? Let us know in the comment section down below!
best song, best voice, best concept.
I don’t like his hairstyle. Lol
The songs have been good. I do see why it’s a favourite of many. Wish Switzerland and Gjon the best. May he burn the stage like Fire , Gasoline
5 reasons why Switzerland must win instead of Malta (actually I want Sam Marino, Greece or Italy but Switzerland is a great alternative to Destiny): 1. He co-wrote the song 2. No Swedish people were included 3. He chooses to sing in his mother tongue 4. He has a sad back-story 5. The song is at least more original than Je Me Casse PS: All my arguments are erased if he ends up in Rotterdam just singing while playing the piano… -_- PS2: I don’t hate Malta’s song or Destiny but, come on, some of her fans are presenting Gjon… Read more »
…but is true
Since when are we supposed to vote for a song only because it ticks some boxes? Malta is much more original and not a tailor-made-to-be-emotional ballad. Think about how many times in the recent years have this type of songs won, and then you ll find which of the two is more unoriginal.
Malta’s song was not even made for Destiny . That’s opposite of Original. It’s called cookie cutter
The song itself is original, this drop is original. The way it has been made, it’s another thing.
There are others very good alternatives you know and who are not among your favs, open up a little bit man, it’s the good year for it.
But Malta deserve to win just like the others.
Some of your arguments are not really valid and the originality of a song is only a matter of taste, personally I find “je me casse” original.
All the Eurovision winners wrote their songs, no.
All the Eurovision winners sang in their native languages, no.
All the Eurovision winners had a sad back story, no.
It’s not absolute criteria to win Eurovision.
I agree 100% on what you’ve written. Everyone deserves to win. Not one in particular.
Switzerland is definitely a contender for the win this year in my opinion.
Sorry Swiss I don’t buy…qualitative
faltseto cut my vains screams from outerspace…I prefere earthly silly and trashy pops.
GO ICELAND !!!
GO DENMARK !!!
GO CZECH !!!
GO MOLDAVIA !!!
A moment of silence for your taste in music. We will bury it in a trash can in a land fill. R.I.P
Take two moments Motzart of the poors…
What an amazing artist and what a beautiful song! Rooting for you, Gjon!
He’s such an interesting artist but they only focused on the contests when he was a kid 🙁 Dig deeper, WIWI!
A contest man. OK.
You could summarize the facts in one sentence.
11 He’s actually Isaura who represented Portugal in 2018
That made me lol
I hope Switzerland wins this year. I still dream of Celine Dion returning to Eurovision as an interval act.
She’s doing two concerts in Switzerland in June 2022, maybe she can arrive a month early…
Fact n°11: he’s cute as hell lol
We all make choices, but not considering Gjon as a cutie is a choice lol
Helloool…a cute from hell….Maybe is a fallen one of Tix
In an interview for an albanian program he said that he submitted his entry ‘Repondez moi’ at FIK 58. First, the artistic director Alketa Vejsiu said that the song was amazing and that she will contact him later to confirm his participation, but than thay said to him that the song can’t be in french for FIK and that there was no place left for him to join.
My personal winner. He’s an artist with an A
Then why did you write artist and not Artist ?
Heehee Ende 12 points !!!!!!
My winner two years in a row!
This is the main reason I’m an eurovision fan. I get to discover wonderful talented artists like Gjon.
for me, he could easily win.
So talented and an amazing person, I love him and the song is my winner as we’ll
WINNER…..
His version of “Je t’aime” is so impressive !
Love him…my winner!!!