SRF, the Swiss German broadcaster has confirmed to esctoday.com that the the names of the 9 candidates that have qualified for the casting phase of the 2014 Swiss national selection will be released by Friday.
The online voting for the public to vote for their favourite entry on SRF”s internet platform concluded on Monday 18 November. Around 158 songs competed in the Swiss German Eurovision 2014 online selection process. Fans got the chance to vote for their favourite songs from 04-18 November.
The top 9 entries from SRF’s internet selection via a 50/50 jury and online voting deliberation will qualify for the first round of the 2014 Swiss national Eurovision selection, the live audition scheduled to be held in Zurich on 30 November. During the live audition all candidates will get the chance to showcase their vocal skills and talent live in front of a special jury.
New selection mode
The 9 best candidates from the internet platform of SRF / RTR selection +6 candidates of RTS (via an internal selection)+3 candidates from RSI (via a regional radio selection) will present their song live in front of a panel of experts. Hence a total of 18 candidates will be go through an audition enfront of a special jury on November 30 in Zurich. They will all have to showcase their vocal and singing skills live along with their stage presence.
The 3 best performers from SRF+ 2 best performers from RTS +the best performer from RSI will qualify to compete at the 2014 Swiss Eurovision National Final which will be held on 1 February 2014 in Kreuzlingen. A total of 6 acts will fight for the golden ticket to Denmark, each act will have to peform 2 songs ( their respective Eurovision entry + a cover version of a song) in order to showcase their talent and vocal skills to the Swiss audience.
Takasa represented Switzerland at the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo with You and Me. Takasa failed to qualify to the grand final in Malmo.
Switzerland is one of the founder members of the Eurovision Song Contest, having hosted the very first edition in Lugano in 1956 and winning the very first grand prix with Lys Assia‘s Refrain on home ground. The Helvetic nation has won the event 2 times in 1956 with Lys Assia and in 1988 with Celine Dion’s Ne partez pas sans moi.
Stay tuned to esctoday.com for the latest information on Switzerland and the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest.
