Today is deadline day for submissions to enter the Eurovision Song Contest for Switzerland. A popular Swiss newspaper 20 Minuten asks on the front page, “Is DJ Bobo already qualified?” According to the paper most of the competition to represent Switzerland in the next Eurovision Song Contest has “turned tail and run”. The paper already believes DJ Bobo is the only viable candidate.
The commuter paper backs off from its premature question of DJ Bobo's qualification inside its "People" lifestyle section. The paper only reports that DJ Bobo's management team confirmed he submitted a song to Swiss Television. At the same time most other Swiss names who expressed interest have dropped out.
Skandal rapper Gimma told the paper he has "no time", while the management team from for DJ Santiago Cortés said, "We're leaving the field to Bobo". Cortés previously gathered headlines by announcing he was submitting a track with Ari a popular Swiss finalist on the German Popstars casting show. But the quick reading commuter rag is now reporting that Ari rebuffed Cortés. DJ Christoper S. is still determined to submit a Borat-style song, but the 20 Minutenbelieves that the "cheap House-track should have very little chance."
By proclaiming that DJ Bobo is the only viable candidate the paper ignores the possibility that Swiss Television will again look for an artist from beyond the Swiss borders as it has the past two years. Indeed Swiss television may have a hard time selecting a foreign representative this year.
DJ Bobo appealed to national pride and attracted attention in October when he told a Swiss television audience that he would sing for Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest if it was the "people's will". Following that he conducted a phone survey and then hosted an unprecedented press conference to reveal the survey results. According tohis own phone campaign it was in fact the will of the people that he represents Switzerland.
DJ Bobo's manager Marcel Olberholzer confirmed to esctoday.com that DJ Bobo was submitting a song, but said DJ Bobo and his team will not be answering any other questions regarding the Eurovision Song Contest until Swiss television announces their selection.
