He won the third season of The Voice of Switzerland, wowing the crowds with covers of “Someone You Loved” and “Say You Won’t Let Go”. And now Remo Forrer hopes to keep his winning streak alive as he represents Switzerland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 in Liverpool.

Twenty-one-year-old Remo, who is also a trained sports goods salesman, won’t release his Eurovision song until 7 March. But he already understands the significance of what lies ahead. 

“For a Swiss musician there is nothing greater than the Eurovision Song Contest,” he says in the official SRF statement. “For me it’s the music ‘Champions League’ and an enormous honour.”

“The ESC is the biggest music event there is, and I find it incredibly inspiring to be in a place where all the participants share the same passion for music.”

Remo Forrer: Switzerland’s Eurovision 2023 singer

A talented multi-instrumentalist, Remo first learned the accordion but has since moved on to the piano. 

“Music means everything to me. It gives me strength and fills me with great satisfaction. It’s with me all the time.”

Judges on The Voice praised his exceptional voice, which balances power and tenderness. That may explain his affinity for musicians like Lewis Capaldi, Ed Sheeran and James Arthur.

Remo’s appearance at the Eurovision Song Contest comes following an intense selection process at home. The Swiss broadcaster used two panels: One consisting of 100 television viewers from Switzerland, another consisting of twenty music industry professionals from around the world. 

SRF says:

“The viewers’ panel was designed to simulate the phone-in voting process used by the almost forty countries in the competition as accurately as possible. The entries and the performers were assessed in a multi-stage process. As in the international ESC final, the votes of each group counted for 50%.”

Switzerland will compete in Semi-Final 1 on May 9. 

Do you like the sound of Remo’s back catalogue? What type of song do you expect him to perform in Liverpool? Let us know in the comments box down below!

108 Comments
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Markus
Markus
1 year ago

Fun fact, Remo lives in a rural area in Estern Switzerland, not far, where Marius Bear comes from. 

Stephanie
1 year ago
Reply to  Markus

I also found out he has the same birthday as Alessandra and Alika (September 5), but is one year older than the other two (he was born in 2001, both girls were born in 2002)

HarpyDarper
HarpyDarper
1 year ago

This guy is clearly talented, and has lots of potential. Is he singing in English? I was hoping not, but maybe a mixture!

Panna
Panna
1 year ago

Not really my type of music, but I wish him the best of luck!

William
William
1 year ago

Can somebody tell me why Poland is climbing in the odds?

vangelis vt
vangelis vt
1 year ago
Reply to  William

Because Alicja will sing a song about ukrainian refugees.

William
William
1 year ago
Reply to  vangelis vt

Do you know when that song will be realeased?

kociszcze
kociszcze
1 year ago
Reply to  William

On friday, it’s strange to release a song only 2 days before NF you’re taking part in

GojoSatoru
GojoSatoru
1 year ago
Reply to  William

Gotta be Never Back Down by Felivers.

Alfie28
Alfie28
1 year ago

No to the Swiss.

Colin
Colin
1 year ago

OT, but Ronela Hajati (winner of FiK 2022, and Albania’s ESC representative), Alfie Arcuri (Australia Decides 2019), Nicole Hammett (MESC 2022), MeriCler (UVPSM 2022), and Kurt Cassar (UVPSM 2022) are officially in the line-up for this year’s UVPSM. Sadly, no Elettra Lamborghini. It starts TODAY at 22.00 PM, and lasts until midnight. Every day about 25 people will perform their hopeful entries (overall 106 of them, so good luck!). The finals is at Saturday, after UMK. The difference for this year is that *everyone* performs in the semis, Ronela included. No different categories, so the best songs qualify for the… Read more »

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

Eiffel 65 will be there too. Should be interesting, if not necessarily good. They did Sanremo twenty years ago.

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonas

The winner of Sanremo that year was Alexia, of “Uh La La La” fame.

Jo.
Jo.
1 year ago

My non-logical guess is that Switzerland will win esc 2023.

James
James
1 year ago

Is he of Italian origin or? He does not have a Swiss scull/features

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago
Reply to  James

Having a swiss skull is not written in the rules, as far as I know.

James
James
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonas

I know. Switzerland is full of immigrants. I just wondered where he is originally from.

Markus
Markus
1 year ago
Reply to  James

He is Swiss-Swiss. And his father plays even traditional Swiss folk music.

Karl
Karl
1 year ago
Reply to  Markus

They should have sent his father instead.

Max
Max
1 year ago
Reply to  James

Why though?

Nikki
Nikki
1 year ago
Reply to  James

Remo is definitely Italian. Forrer, sounds in the same area as other Italian names- Ferrero, Ferrara.

But it’s not like Switzerland doesn’t have a lot of Italian-speaking people of their own.

Markus
Markus
1 year ago
Reply to  Nikki

It’s ok if you don’t know Swiss family names. But you don’t have to share it.

Benito Camelo
Benito Camelo
1 year ago
Reply to  Markus

If they’re questioning this guy’s Swiss-ness, I don’t wanna know what they thought/think about Mélanie René xd

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago

Champion’s League is the sport Eurovision, not the other way around.

Mbappe
Mbappe
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonas

The first ever season of the Champions League (called the European Cup back in those days) started in autumn 1955, so it does actually precede the ESC. The first ever final took place nearly one month after Lugano 1956 tho.

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago
Reply to  Mbappe

The Eurovision Song Contest is based on the Sanremo festival, which started in 1951. I believe it was around 1954 when the EBU first set the Europe-wide version in motion. Anyway, the Champions League is for men only, so they’re not really the same thing at all. What I was really trying to say is that sport is not the highest form of human activity, which so many people seem to think.

Escfan
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonas

Hos about qe dont read into it literally, he just meant thats how big and important the contest is,dont forget theres lots of people who watch the champions league who may not be aware of esc, its meant as a compliment

Escfan
1 year ago
Reply to  Escfan

how about we*

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago
Reply to  Escfan

I’m not taking it seriously, I just always find it annoying how revered sport is, so much more than art and culture. That’s all. It’s nice that Remo sees them as equal. A song contest can’t have bad music, but a football tournament can have bad football and still people worship it.

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonas

There’s morons out there who downvote everything I ever say. I see you, you can stop now.

Fatima
Fatima
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonas

I’m with you Jonas, everything seems to come down to men’s football. The opening of the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest was ruined for me when some random footballer featured in the opening sequence. As if we all should know who he was.

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago
Reply to  Fatima

If Sam Ryder was a soccer player, he would probably have a knighthood by now.

Jofty
Jofty
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonas

Goldenballs has not got one and probably won’t. Are we not allowed to love football and MGP, two only of my greatest passions? I never downvote anything btw.

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago
Reply to  Jofty

Of course you can appreciate both. All I was saying is that society, as a whole, does not.

Jofty
Jofty
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonas

Sure. Wasn’t that chap from Belgium last year a footballer “in real life”? As was a member of VIP from Hungary in 1997 but perhaps before your time. Hope I am not disturbing your viewing of Champions League!

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago
Reply to  Jofty

Nicky Byrne was a soccer player for Leeds, I think.

Escfan
1 year ago
Reply to  Fatima

Eurovision is big but I do think perhaps ye underestimate how big football is as a sport.

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago
Reply to  Escfan

Sport is considered important. Culture is not. We can see this from government spending for example. Or news bulletins. That’s all I mean.

Mbappe
Mbappe
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonas

I get your point, I’ve always been a follower but not one to “worship” footballers or something like that. To be fair tho, the Champions League does actually feature the best that the sport has to offer, for the most part. As for the ESC, there is talent and merit involved in plenty of the entries that get submitted each year, but does it actually feature the “best” that European music has to offer, for the most part? The answer is simply no, that’s just how it is.

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago
Reply to  Mbappe

I don’t think soccer players are always at their best. World Cup tournaments decided by penalty shoot-outs. 0-0 draws. Nobody ever seems to lose respect for these gods, though.

Escfan
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonas

A penalty shootout isnt necessatily a bad thing, like in the recent world cup, there were plenty of goals before it went to penalties. Even eith 0-0 games, it depends far more on the wuality of a match than the scoreline. A match can finish 1-0 and still have lots of chances, dramatic saves and incidents.

Benito Camelo
Benito Camelo
1 year ago
Reply to  Escfan

Mexico’s matches were boring and lame as hell, though

Xxx
Xxx
1 year ago

Not gonna lie I nearly fell asleep while listening to his the Voice performance. lmao. But he has a good voice.

Mbappe
Mbappe
1 year ago

His affinity for people like Ed Sheeran and Lewis Capaldi doesn’t fill me with confidence as that type of music bores me to tears…

Escfan
1 year ago
Reply to  Mbappe

plenty of people like it a lot. (not that you cant have an opinion,ofc you can, but this type of music has a market)

Jofty
Jofty
1 year ago
Reply to  Mbappe

This does not exactly scream televote magnet to me, then again Sacha J-B might kit him out in a diamond encrusted thong and one of those see- through vests which seem to be very popular.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
1 year ago

Yaaas! Very excited for Remo. Plus, presumably, more piano! 🙂

Sol Stevia
Sol Stevia
1 year ago

Switzerland I desperately require your assistance.

Ria NL
Ria NL
1 year ago

I like his voice and I am very curious to hear his song

Catriona
Catriona
1 year ago

I was really hoping for Gjon. It’s his destiny to win Eurovision.

Panna
Panna
1 year ago
Reply to  Catriona

Why do people want the same artists to come back? I much prefer new artists to be given a chance.

Nikita Zhukov
Nikita Zhukov
1 year ago
Reply to  Catriona

I mean, true, he does deserve it, and Tout l’univers is my favorite Eurovision entry of all time
…But come on, he had two back-to-back entries, then Switzerland picked another artist, and you ALREADY want Gjon back?
Give him at least 5 years, make it mean something if he does decide to come back
I don’t want him to look desperate

Briekimchi
Briekimchi
1 year ago

Was pretty certain it was going to be somebody involved with The Voice. Seems to be Switzerland’s go-to more often than not nowadays.

Väggar
Väggar
1 year ago
Reply to  Briekimchi

You are aware only Gjon has participated in The Voice before Fero? No other Swiss contestant has performed there. So your statement it is more often than not is completely wrong.

tvescfan
tvescfan
1 year ago
Reply to  Väggar

And Gjon participated in the French version not the Swiss one like Remo.

Markus
Markus
1 year ago

This young man has an unexpected strong voice. I have seen a few performances from him before and there is obvious great potential here. I think with a good song (maybe a ballad, as we do not have too many yet) and professional support he could do well at Eurovision.

The Voice of Reason
The Voice of Reason
1 year ago

According to Remo: “The song means a lot to me. It definitely has catchy tunes and has been following me for months. It demands everything from my voice. It goes from very low to very high”

So could this song be a bop or something ‘catchy’ as the quote says?

Jofty
Jofty
1 year ago

Not expecting any yass queen vibes somehow

Roelof M
Roelof M
1 year ago

I mean hey, stick to what works. The last time a male act failed to qualify for Switzerland was 2012, and the last time a female act qualified for Switzerland was 2011, so why fix what’s not broken?

impressiveinstants
impressiveinstants
1 year ago
Reply to  Roelof M

As if sex had to do with anything

Jonas
Jonas
1 year ago

Since the contest began 67 years ago, 41 of the winners have been solo women. Only eleven men have done the same.

Panna
Panna
1 year ago
Reply to  Jonas

On average, women are just better and more interesting performers, plus women have better stage fashion, so this fact is not surprising at all.

Max
Max
1 year ago
Reply to  Panna

WTF

Colin
Colin
1 year ago
Reply to  Roelof M

Coincidence. Anyway, Apollo and Stones should have qualified before Boys Do Cry.

Sol Stevia
Sol Stevia
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

Apollo & Stones should have qualified period : )

Panna
Panna
1 year ago
Reply to  Roelof M

Except last year Marius got pre-last in televoting in the semi final… As there is no jury vote this year, countries have to be more careful and focus on what public loves. Good voice and a nice ballad may not cut it, if the public does not connect to it.

Colin
Colin
1 year ago

In general, I agree, but I actually think that foreign *harcore fans* care more about who gets to represent Switzerland than some average viewers who don’t even follow Eurovision. I agree that the voters should be *mostly* from the country, but there’s always good to have a foreign input, especially from the people who are more passionate for the subject than most of your audiences usually are.

Colin
Colin
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

I understand, but I don’t fully agree with that. I am always in favor of more different sources assessing something, because it’s the best mode. Televoters, fans, juries, and different experts have different strengths and weaknesses. Also, I believe that Eurovision is also about exchange of ideas and interaction. Every country should involve local singers, songwriters, juries, and audiences, but not exclusively at all times. Some ideas get better with more input. That’s my honest opinion. I’m not for 100% anything when it comes to crafting a song or voting for it. There should always be some balance.

Colin
Colin
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

Creative input from the performers themselves and the songwriters should always come first. Trust your instincts! If they don’t have a matching idea, it’s usually a bad sign. It paid off to Conchita, as it’s a good song.

Colin
Colin
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

Most of the time, singers being involved in the songwriting process is a big plus, but it’s not a rule set in stone. There have been great songs written by other people, as long as they actually reflect the feelings and thoughts of the singer. Not all singers are equally skilled lyricists or instrumentalists. But it is important that they are somehow involved in the creative process, even if by conversing and spinning ideas. What I call ”artificial” doesn’t mean that it’s been written by other people. It means that it feels like it doesn’t reflect the performer at all.… Read more »

Colin
Colin
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

That’s a pretty fair take. On average, I also much prefer when singers and songwriters collaborate from the beginning. And yes, like yourself, I still rate the final product on its own right, but some selection methods are in general better than others.

Colin
Colin
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

While I didn’t pay that much attention to it in most of previous years, retroactively looking, as a rule of thumb I do find that more of my top favorite songs have been co-written by their performers than not.

Colin
Colin
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

WOW! Not I actually went to check my 2022 playlist of my top 16, and the *only* entry there not to be co-written by the artist herself is SloMo. Yet, Chanel has been so involved in the development of this song and its choreo that the two are synonymous now. But yeah, most of them time, the performer co-writing it pans out. 🙂

Colin
Colin
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

100% agree with everything said here.

Colin
Colin
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

I actually really like Heroes, and I’d put it as an example of ”written by someone else, but perfectly reflects Mans as a performer”. On the other hand, I’d put Malta 2022, France 2020, and Azerbaijan 2018 as examples of songs that don’t feel natural to their performer, and thus, do feel ”artificial”. If Sweden picks Maria Sur, it will be another such example.

Colin
Colin
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

Agreed. I was originally wary on attacking the song, because I don’t dislike all of the Barker / Wrethov entries, and sometimes I find them under more scrutiny than other authors, especially Barker… However, this song feels so artificial and tailored for ESC that I have no other but to agree and say that it shouldn’t win.

Colin
Colin
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

And I retract what I said. I have no emotions whatsoever towards Heart of Steel, but it’s still a better song than Never Give Up.

Leo
Leo
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

Is it any coincidence that my 3 fave entries of Russia before its war on Ukraine were 2008, 2012 and 2021, all authentic to, and written by, their respective acts, rather than the always shallow “peace ballads” of 2013-2015 and the Yulia songs, which were nice but always felt inauthentic?

Colin
Colin
1 year ago
Reply to  Leo

Not at all. I’ll even go further. My favorite Russian entries are 1997, 2020, 2021, all with strong individual identities and performers who are against the regime. I cooled off of 2013, never really liked 2014, and really started *hating* 2015, considering how this woman supports genocide while pretending to sing about peace.

Leo
Leo
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

I think the worst thing about 2015, which was a case of the song made before being given to the singer, was that she got so much abuse just for being pictured with Queen C yet still was loyal to the leadership whose elements attacked her so virulently. I think that not many Russian entries were own songs before 2020, and most entries relied a lot on monied overseas producers. I also think that a feared repeat of 2015 was why Russia needed to be disqualified, despite 2020 and 2021 proving they could send acts that weren’t subservient.

Colin
Colin
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

Absolutely. Alla is a Queen, and she was *robbed*. She’s my 1997 winner, but I’d be happy if she had finished within top 5, even within top 10. This is just a poor judgment on the juries’ part.

Jofty
Jofty
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

So much to unpick there…..

Colin
Colin
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

To make it clear, I’d make a local televote still count for 60%-70%, but I feel like more input is usually needed in a larger scale competition.

Colin
Colin
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

Anyone can write a good or a bad song, local or foreign. And I wouldn’t want *any* singer picking a song that’s not up to their liking and compatible with their thoughts and taste. It comes off as awkward.

Jofty
Jofty
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

The second time, not the first (Destiny).

Thallo
Thallo
1 year ago

Interesting! The positive is that his voice is perfect and will suit almost any song, the negative is that I’m not sure if he has a certain style or artistic vision compared to ex-The Voice Switzerland contestants like Gjon’s Tears.

I hope we’re all pleasantly surprised on 7 March!

Leendert Jan
Leendert Jan
1 year ago

I like his voice. This could be interesting; reminds me of the way the Belgian French-language broadcaster has selected its entrants in recent years, which as we all know can work out very well.

rainer1
rainer1
1 year ago

Switzerland again with a jury-effective voice. Hopefully this time also effective for the audience.
But what I see on yt I find everything very convincing

Nikita Zhukov
Nikita Zhukov
1 year ago

This is interesting
Hopefully something on the 2019-2021 level for Switzerland
Starving for a strong contender

The Voice of Reason
The Voice of Reason
1 year ago

PLEASE give us an accordion bop!

Karl
Karl
1 year ago

Unless he comes with a song in one of Switzerland’s languages, I’m not interested. Sorry, not sorry.

Aurel
Aurel
1 year ago
Reply to  Karl

It’s gonna be in english, unfortunately… (’cause obviously german would be too risky and in my opinion not the best choice for a song)… but I’d love a song in italian for once… but for that they would have picked a swiss italian artist…

Sol Stevia
Sol Stevia
1 year ago
Reply to  Karl

Nothing wrong with singing in English…The artists can choose what languages they wanna sing in.

Colin
Colin
1 year ago

A wish a warm welcome to this young man. A suggestion for Switzerland – German or Italan. It would be a nice change of pace.

Colin
Colin
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

True. As far as I know, not a lot of people actually speaks it, and its status has been mostly affirmed to say that they *do have* a language of their own, and avoid the German occupation in the 30s, unlike what happened to Austria. But if they do come with a song in Romansh, I’d be very excited!

Colin
Colin
1 year ago
Reply to  Colin

I agree. I’d really like that. 🙂 It’s been 11 years since we’ve heard German on ESC, and we have three German-speaking countries here. It’s about time!

Tom
Tom
1 year ago

and Ronela is apparently back for San Marino…

Colin
Colin
1 year ago
Reply to  Tom

A source close to me says that Elettra Lamborghini is as well. UVPSM could be quite exciting if both of these are true. Also, who knows who else is in the game…

Karl
Karl
1 year ago
Reply to  Tom

Who still remembers when she ruined her original song, which was okay, with that horrendous revamp?

Leo
Leo
1 year ago
Reply to  Karl

The problem was the staging, not the revamp. The revamp was overseen by the people who produced Fester Skank. If SJB oversaw the staging, it would have made the final (but would have placed 18th-21st region)

Karl
Karl
1 year ago
Reply to  Leo

The problem was the staging AND the revamp. They ruined the song.

Sol Stevia
Sol Stevia
1 year ago
Reply to  Karl

Revamp was great, the issue was literally everything about that performance.

Karl
Karl
1 year ago
Reply to  Sol Stevia

No. The revamp was atrocious. The original song wasn’t as bad.

Panna
Panna
1 year ago
Reply to  Karl

That’s your opinion. I liked the revamp.

Sol Stevia
Sol Stevia
1 year ago
Reply to  Tom

That’s quite funny.

West
West
1 year ago
Reply to  Tom

I’m more curious about Eiffel 65 tbh

Sol Stevia
Sol Stevia
1 year ago
Reply to  West

Eiffel 65 are trying out for San Marino?? I’m very curious about that.

Mbappe
Mbappe
1 year ago
Reply to  Tom

Desperate, but not surprising at all. Haven’t we already had enough of trashy Ronela last year?