Switzerland

Switzerland is one of the co-founders of the Eurovision Song Contest. Not only was the first edition of the contest (1956) held on Swiss soil (Lugano), but the country also won this first contest – with Lys Assia and her song Refrain.

Lys Assia often returned to the festival and became responsible for four Swiss entries, just as much as the trio Peter, Sue & Marc in the seventies and eighties. But they sang in a different language every time: French, German, English and Italian. Which is not that strange for the Swiss as they have four official languages. French is sung most often and Romansh is the language they have sung in the least.

The Swiss have often sent artists that came from elsewhere. They were most successful with a singer from Canada: superstar Céline Dion, who won in 1988 with Ne partez pas sans moi.

Nowadays Switzerland seems to be struggling more: in the last twelve editions the Swiss only managed to reach the final two times, and at four occasions they even ended last.

(T: Inès Verstraete)