Tonight, Michael von der Heide, the artist chosen to represent Switzerland at the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest in Oslo has presented his song Il pleut de l'or to the public for the first time at the annual TV show SwissAward.

Michael von der Heide has been working in the Swiss music scene since 1996, already having released numerous albums and given lots of concerts. Swiss television states to be glad about being represented at the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest by an artist who is established in the Swiss music scene. However, this isn’t the first attempt for the singer to get a ticket to the Eurovision Song Contest: In 1999, he reached 6th place at the German preselection with a song called Bye Bye Bar.

In a first statement about his participation at the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest, von der Heide expressed his enthusiasm about the contest, stating that it is a childhood dream come true. He also said that he is not afraid to fail as he is geared to those singers who achieved great success for Switzerland, such as Lys Assia and Celine Dion, who both won with a song in French language.

Von der Heide will be acompanied in Oslo by Amanda Nikolic (31), known as former member of the split- up girlband Tears, who climbed the top of the Swiss single charts with their first single Music, back in 2001. Morever, Tears were also performed the soundtrack of the German film Mädchen Mädchen 2. After the break- up of Tears, Nikolic has been pursuing her solo career, singing in musicals, as well as working as radio- and TV host. She was invited by Michael von der Heide himself to be a background singer for him at the Eurovision Song Contest and states that her engagement at Eurovision is a "dream come true" for her.

You can watch the performance and read the text of the song below:

<<< SONG LYRICS >>>

A l'horizon
Une touche d'argent
Comme après l'orage
S'en vont les nuages
Les nuits d'été
Sommeil oublié
Grâce a ton parfum
Je retrouve mon chemin

Il pleut de l'or
Chaque fois que tu me parles d'amour
Il pleut de l'or
Ensemble partons pour faire le grand tour
Sous la voute étoilée
Les destins sont dorés
Il pleut de l'or

Et au matin
Secret commun
Des regards échangés
Sans qu'on puisse redouter
Le jour chasse la magie
restent les yeux qui brillent

Il pleut de l'or
Chaque fois que tu me parles d'amour
Il pleut de l'or
Ensemble partons pour faire le grand tour
Sous la voute étoilée
Les destins sont dorés
Il pleut de l'or

Toute la nuit et jusqu'à l'aurore
Il pleut de l'or

Danse avec moi
Vole avec moi
Parle tout bas
Parle moi

Il pleut de l'or
Il pleut de l'or
Il pleut de l'or
Ensemble partons pour faire le grand tour
Sous la voute étoilée
Les destins sont dorés
Il pleut de l'or
Toute la nuit et jusqu'à l'aurore
Il pleut de l'or