Switzerland: Gjon's Tears to Eurovision 2020 with "Répondez-moi"

After last year's 4th place with Luca Hänni's She Got Me, Switzerland announced last year, that they will maintain the internal selection for Eurovision Song Contest again.

A total of 515 songs were submitted to the Swiss broadcaster, SRF. The chosen artist and song was selected by a 100 member audience panel and an international jury, which included 20 experts. The two panels selected Gjon's Tears to take the responsibility of representing Switzerland at Eurovision Song Contest 2020 in Rotterdam with the song Répondez-moi ("Answer Me").

How was "Répondez-moi" chosen?

SRF revealed last year, that the 120 people who decided "Répondez-moi" have proven their "Eurovision Song Contest expertise" as member of one of the national juries.

The selection and decision process went through a multi-stage process where each part of the panels rated the submitted songs and artists. Alike the actual Eurovision show, the audience panel's vote was worth 50% while the jury panel another 50%.

The 2020 project will – similarly to last year's – be a joint of forces of the members of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR: SRF (German language), RTS (French language), RSI (Italian language) and RTR (Romansh language).

Gjon's Tears

Gjon Muharremaj, on stage known as Gjon's Tears, is a 21-year-old Swiss singer that is no stranger to competitions.

The singer, also with Albanian roots, has been a part of Albania's Got Talent, Switzerland's Got Talent and quite recently got to The Voice France's semi-finals.

Why Gjon's Tears?

- Whether it’s joy, sadness or melancholy, I want to touch people with my music in every possible way, he explains.

Besides his Eurovision entry, "Répondez-Moi", Gjon has another single released, "Babi".

Switzerland in Eurovision Song Contest

Switzerland has been in Eurovision Song Contest since it's beginning in 1956 - in Switzerland. And the winner of the very first Eurovision Song Contest was... Lys Assia from Switzerland with the song "Refrain". Since then, Switzerland won the 1988-contest by an, back then, unknown girl, Céline Dion with the song "Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi" (only ONE point to number two, United Kingdom). A Star was born.

Since then, Switzerland hasn't had huge succes in Eurovision. Since the introduction of Semi-finals in 2004, Switzerland only managed to qualify for the Grand Final 5 out of 16 tries. Switzerland is a proud member of "Club Null", with four contests without any points.