Although for many, tonight was a great night for Eurovision � a fair night, and as far from the grumbles of the 2007 semi-final that anyone could imagine � disappointment is nonetheless a bitter pill to swallow, and almost immediately after the second semi-final, the Swiss press have begun to question the purpose of the country�s participation.
“Paolo out – why should be bother any more?” screams the top headline on Swedish publication Blick’s webpage, mere minutes after the ten envelopes were read out. “It’s over in the semi again” the site ruefully announces. And indeed, many fans will be reeling at the unexpected premature exit of Paolo Meneguzzi, especially after a strong vocal performance.
But Blick is quick not to lay the blame at Easten Europe’s door alone, as was the case last year. “As the only Western European country in the second semi-final…” (Blick apparently counting Scandinavia as a separate block) “…Switzerland failed to get through to the final. Does Europe have something against us?”
Blick ends its article with a question to readers: “should Switzerland even take part in Eurovision any more?” although the tone of the article suggests that cynicism has already set in at the Swiss camp. With so many smiling faces in both sides of Europe at the 2008 results so far, being a Swiss Eurovision supporter seems a difficult thing in these times.
