Switzerland In The Eurovision Song Contest
Switzerland has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest every year since it began, except 1995, 1999, 2001, and 2003. Switzerland hosted the first contest in 1956, and won it themselves. Switzerland won the contest again in 1988. A third victory in 1963 could have been possibly had Katie Boyle not recalled the Norwegian for their votes again.
Although most of the Swiss representatives are national acts not known outside of the country, many internationally successful artists have represented the country. In 1988 Céline Dion won the contest for Switzerland, in 1993 Annie Cotton finished third, and in 2005 the girl band Vanilla Ninja finished 8th. Esther Ofarim's 1963 second-place finish helped establish her as an international success.
Despite a fourth consecutive semi-final failure, as well as increasing pressure to withdraw from the Contest SRG SSR has confirmed that they have no current plans to withdraw from the contest, claiming that "the Eurovision Song Contest costs the broadcaster less than some entertainment shows". However, the country eventually qualified again for the final in the 2011 contest, with only one more point than Malta and Armenia.
Read more about Switzerland In The Eurovision Song Contest: Absences, Contestants, Voting History (1975-2012), Hostings, Commentators and Spokespeople, Congratulations: 50 Years of The Eurovision Song Contest
Famous quotes containing the words switzerland, song and/or contest:
“I look upon Switzerland as an inferior sort of Scotland.”
—Sydney Smith (1771–1845)
“The screech and mechanical uproar of the big city turns the citified head, fills citified ears—as the song of birds, wind in the trees, animal cries, or as the voices and songs of his loved ones once filled his heart. He is sidewalk- happy.”
—Frank Lloyd Wright (1869–1959)
“The contest between the Future and the Past is one between Divinity entering, and Divinity departing. You are welcome to try your experiments, and, if you can, to displace the actual order by that ideal republic you announce, of nothing but God will expel God.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)