Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008

Switzerland competed in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008 with the song "Era stupendo" by Paolo Meneguzzi. Meneguzzi was chosen by the Swiss national broadcaster, SRG SSR idée suisse, to sing for Switzerland in Belgrade, Serbia. For 2008, SRG SSR idée suisse had continued to internally select the song and singer to represent Switzerland at the 2008 contest, with an open call for songs being held by the broadcaster.

Eurovision Song Contest 2008
Country  Switzerland
National selection
Selection processInternal Selection
Selection date(s)Artist: 25 November 2007
Song: 12 January 2008
Selected entrantPaolo Meneguzzi
Selected song"Era stupendo"
Finals performance
Semi-final resultFailed to qualify (13th, 47 points)
Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest
◄2007 • 2008 • 2009►

Many artists announced their intention to submit songs to the Swiss broadcaster in the hope of representing Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008. Paolo Meneguzzi was selected by the broadcaster to perform for Switzerland with his Italian ballad "Era stupendo" ("It was wonderful").[1]

Before Eurovision

Internal selection
Paolo Meneguzzi represented Switzerland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2008

SRG SSR idée suisse opened a submission period for interested artists and songwriters to submit their entries until 22 October 2007. Composers and artists of any nationality were able to submit songs; however, only artists that have had television and stage experience (live performances), have made at least one video and have released at least one CD which placed in an official chart were eligible.[2] A jury panel composed of members from the three Swiss broadcasters SF, TSR and RSI, Swiss music channel VIVA and SF's German radio channel DRS evaluated the entry submissions received and selected the winner.[3] SF later revealed that it was most likely that a Swiss artist would be selected, with the media naming comedian Peach Weber, Jürgen Drews and Swiss German rapper Gimma as possible Swiss entrants.[4][5][6]

In November 2007, Swiss newspapers claimed that Italian Swiss singer Paolo Meneguzzi had been selected as the Swiss entrant at the 2008 contest with the song "Era stupendo", which was later confirmed by SRG SSR on 25 November 2007.[7][8][9] After the selection announcement, Meneguzzi stated that he was "very happy and honoured to represent [his] homeland at Eurovision 2008".[10] The song was premiered on 12 January 2008 during the sixth annual Swiss Music Awards show, broadcast on all channels in SRG SSR.[11][12]

Controversy

After the release of the song, there was speculation that "Era stupendo" was a plagiarism of "It Can Only Get Better" by Swedish singer Amy Diamond who was competing in the 2008 Swedish national final Melodifestivalen 2008. Accusations arose that the beginnings of both songs were too similar to be a coincidence, however the song was not disqualified by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the organiser of the contest.[13]

At Eurovision

Since Switzerland did not qualify for the final of the 2007 contest it was obliged to compete in one of the semi-finals of the 2008 contest in Belgrade. On 28 January 2008, the EBU held a special draw to determine which semi-final Switzerland would participate in. The 2008 contest featured a new system for semi-final allocation in order to reduce the problems of neighborly and diaspora voting that occurred in years past. Switzerland was placed in "Pot 6" of 6 and that ultimately determined that it would be in the second semi-final, held on 22 May 2008.[14]

Promoting his song, Meneguzzi appeared on a Eurovision TV special on Maltese television in April 2008.[15]

The commentators at the event were Sven Epiney for SF, Sandy Altermatt for RTSI and Jean-Marc Richard and Nicolas Tanner for TSR.[16][17][18] The spokesperson for Switzerland, announcing the results of the Swiss televote for the contest, was Cécile Bähler.[16]

Semi-final
Meneguzzi at the Eurovision semi-final

Before the contest, Meneguzzi was a favourite to qualify from the final, as well as to win the contest, evident by a poll conducted by Eurovision fan site "ESCToday.com".[19]

Meneguzzi sang in the second semi-final on 22 May 2008, performing 7th on the night. His performance included him wearing a black suit with a black shirt, and included two male and two female backing dancers and singers; the women dressed in black dresses with silver gloves, and the men in black shirts and black trousers. A pianist was also present on stage, dressed in a white shirt and black tie. The song began with Meneguzzi singing solo in the centre of the stage, with the back-up dancers surrounding the piano. As the song sped up, the dancers moved to behind Meneguzzi and began to sing. The performance included the use of pyrotechnics when the song sped up, as well as during the bridge.[20] Despite being a fan favourite the song only managed to receive 47 points, placing 13th in a field of 19 and failing to qualify for the final.[20]

Points Awarded by Switzerland[21]
Points Awarded to Switzerland (Semi-Final 2)
12 points 10 points 8 points 7 points 6 points
5 points 4 points 3 points 2 points 1 point
  •  Macedonia

After Eurovision

After failing to qualify for the final for a second year in a row, disappointment and cynicism arose in Switzerland and Swiss media began to question the point of Switzerland's participation in the contest, with Swiss newspaper Blick saying "Paolo out – why should we bother any more?", with Swiss Eurovision fans reeling after Meneguzzi's "premature" exit from the contest.[22]

Despite failing to qualify for the final, "Era stupendo" peaked at number 11 in the Swiss charts.[23] The compilation album for the contest, containing all the songs from the contest, also charted on the Swiss charts, peaking at number three.[24]

After Eurovision, Meneguzzi announced that he would be releasing his latest Spanish language album, "Corro via", in the USA and South America. He also talked about Italy (where he is popular thanks to his participations at Sanremo) and the Eurovision Song Contest saying that "Eurovision doesn't have to look for Italy, but Italy has to look for Eurovision!", that Italy would benefit from entering Eurovision.[25] Italy withdrew from the Eurovision Song Contest after the 1997 contest, but returned in 2011 and has continued participation ever since.

See also

References
  1. Floras, Stella (2007-11-27). "Switzerland: Paolo's song is Era stupendo". ESCToday. Retrieved 2008-10-11.
  2. "esc beilagen zur anmeldung e1_2.pdf (application/pdf Object)" (PDF). www.sf.tv. Retrieved 2009-06-07.
  3. "SF to select a local artist for Belgrade". Oikotimes. 2007-10-25. Archived from the original on 2010-02-12. Retrieved 2008-10-11.
  4. Holyer, Steve (2007-10-25). "Swiss exclusive: "Pretty sure we'll send a Swiss artist again."". ESCToday. Retrieved 2008-10-11.
  5. "Peach Weber interested for Eurovision 2008". Oikotimes. 2007-07-20. Archived from the original on 2010-02-12. Retrieved 2008-10-11.
  6. Reveler, Douwe (2007-10-24). "Gimma seems to be the favourite for Belgrade". Oikotimes. Archived from the original on 2010-02-12. Retrieved 2008-10-11.
  7. "Paolo Meneguzzi for Belgrade, claims newspaper". Oikotimes. 2007-11-25. Archived from the original on 2010-02-11. Retrieved 2008-10-11.
  8. Viniker, Barry (2007-11-26). "Swiss turn to Paolo Meneguzzi". ESCToday. Retrieved 2008-10-11.
  9. Konstantopoulos, Fotis (2007-11-25). "Schweizer Fernsehen confirms Paolo Meneguzzi as a choice". Oikotimes. Archived from the original on 2012-02-29. Retrieved 2008-10-11.
  10. Costa, Nelson (2007-11-27). "Paolo Meneguzzi his song & his exclusive statement". Oikotimes. Archived from the original on 2012-02-29. Retrieved 2008-10-11.
  11. Hondal, Víctor (2008-01-13). "Switzerland: Era stupendo publicly presented". ESCToday. Retrieved 2008-10-11.
  12. Fisher, Luke (2008-01-13). "Song entry presented for Paolo Meneguzzi". Oikotimes. Archived from the original on 2008-06-18. Retrieved 2008-10-11.
  13. Råberg, Leif (2008-01-20). "Amy and Paolo: Similar songs?". ESCToday. Retrieved 2008-10-11.
  14. Viniker, Barry (2008-01-28). "The Eurovision Song Contest semi final draw". ESCToday. Retrieved 2008-09-25.
  15. "Paolo Meneguzzi on Maltese television show". Oikotimes. 2008-05-01. Archived from the original on 2008-06-18. Retrieved 2008-10-29.
  16. "Eurovision Song Contest 2008 - Internationaler Halbfinal aus Belgrad/Serbien" (in German). Schweizer Fernsehen. Retrieved 2008-10-11.
  17. "Paolo Meneguzzi rappresenta la Svizzera" (in Italian). Radiotelevisione Svizzera di lingua Italiana. Archived from the original on 2008-12-17. Retrieved 2008-10-11.
  18. "Eurovision: la Suisse n'ira pas en finale" (in French). Télévision Suisse Romande. 2008-05-22. Retrieved 2008-10-12.
  19. Viniker, Barry (2008-03-06). "Eurovision 2009: Opinion Poll - Geneva or Reykjavik to host?". ESCToday. Retrieved 2008-10-11.
  20. Eurovision Song Contest Semi-final 2, 22 May 2008, SRG SSR idée suisse. Retrieved on 2008-10-11.
  21. Eurovision Song Contest 2008
  22. West-Soley, Richard (2008-06-23). "Switzerland: Isolation and disappointment". ESCToday. Retrieved 2008-10-11.
  23. "Swiss Charts - "Era Stupendo"". swisscharts.com. Retrieved 2008-10-11.
  24. "Swiss Charts - "Eurovision Song Contest"". swisscharts.com. Retrieved 2008-10-11.
  25. Jiandani, Sanjay (2008-05-22). "Switzerland: Paulo - Italy has to look for Eurovision". ESCToday. Retrieved 2008-10-11.
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