Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest 1985

The Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG SSR) held a national final to select its entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 1985. The national final was a collaboration between three broadcasters that comprised SRG SSR: the Swiss-German and Romansh broadcaster {{lang|de|Schweizer Fernsehen der deutschen und rätoromanischen Schweiz|i=no}} (SF DRS), the Swiss-French broadcaster {{lang|fr|Télévision suisse romande|i=no}} (TSR), and the Swiss-Italian broadcaster {{lang|it|Televisione svizzera di lingua italiana|i=no}} (TSI). Unlike previous Swiss national finals, where all composite broadcasters internally selected their entries, a public preliminary round was held by one of the regional broadcasters. SF DRS held a preselection to select its three entries, while TSR and TSI internally selected their entries.{{cite news |title=Concours Eurovision de la chanson: Ein neuer Ausscheidungsmodus |trans-title=Eurovision Song Contest: A new elimination mode |url=https://www.e-newspaperarchives.ch/?a=d&d=TTB19840730-01.2.40.8 |access-date=10 March 2025 |magazine=Thuner Tagblatt |date=30 July 1984 |volume=108 |issue=176 |location= |page=16 |language=de |via=E-newspaperarchives.ch}}

{{lang|de|Ein Lied für Schweden}}: {{lang|fr|Concours de l'Eurovision 1985}}, the SF DRS preselection, was held and broadcast on radio on 15 December 1984 at 20:00 (CET) on DRS 1 and RTS 2 and was held in Beromünster. Songwriters from Switzerland and Liechtenstein were able to submit songs for Mariella Farré (who represented {{esccnty|Switzerland|y=1983|t=Switzerland in 1983}}), {{ill|Pino Gasparini|de|i=no}} (who represented {{esccnty|Switzerland|y=1977|t=Switzerland in 1977}} as part of the Pepe Lienhard Group), and the Martin Richard Trio. The Swiss-German and Romansh viewers then voted to decide which songs would qualify to the final.{{cite magazine |title=Radio et TV |trans-title=Radio and television |url=https://www.e-newspaperarchives.ch/?a=d&d=LGE19841215-01.2.66 |access-date=10 March 2025 |magazine=La Gruyère |date=15 December 1984 |volume= |issue= |location= |page=22 |language=fr |via=E-newspaperarchives.ch}}

The following songs were selected to enter the national final. No other information is currently known about the preliminary round, including the titles of the remaining songs and artists.

TSR staged the national final on 23 February 1985 at 21:10 (CET) in its studios in Geneva. It was hosted by Serge Moisson, with Le Groupe Instrumental Romand accompanying the performances. Les Compagnons de l'Arche featuring Hana Lamkova and the Black Theater of Prague made guest appearances.{{cite magazine |title=23 Février — TV Samedi |trans-title=23 February — TV Saturday |url=https://www.scriptorium.ch/zoom/325302/view?page=14&p=separate& |access-date=10 March 2025 |magazine=Radio TV – Je vois tout |date=21 February 1985 |issue= |location= |page=14 |language=fr |via=Scriptorium}}{{Cite AV media |title={{lang|fr|Concours Eurovision de la Chanson}} 1985 |date=23 February 1985 |type=Television production |language=French |publisher=Télévision Suisse Romande}}

Among the participants were Arlette Zola (who represented {{esccnty|Switzerland|y=1982|t=Switzerland in 1982}}), {{ill|Rainy Day (group)|de|lt=Rainy Day|i=no}} (who represented {{esccnty|Switzerland|y=1982|t=Switzerland in 1984}}), and Daniela Simons (who would later represent {{esccnty|Switzerland|y=1986|t=Switzerland in 1986}}). The Martin Richard Trio was renamed to 'Swiss Singers' and featured a fourth member.{{cite news |title=Nationales Concours-Finale: Schweizer Chansons Auswahl für Göteborg |trans-title=National Concours Final: Swiss Chansons Selection for Gothenburg |url=https://www.e-newspaperarchives.ch/?a=d&d=TTB19850223-01.2.40.1 |access-date=10 March 2025 |magazine=Thuner Tagblatt |date=23 February 1985 |volume=109 |issue=45 |location= |page=17 |language=de |via=E-newspaperarchives.ch}}

The voting consisted of regional public votes which were sent to the three divisions of SRG SSR (DRS, TSR, TSI: German, French, and Italian speaking, respectively), a press jury, and an "expert" jury.{{cite news |last= |first= |title=Concours Eurovision — Votez pour la chanson qui ira à Göteborg |trans-title=Eurovision Song Contest — Vote for the song that will go to Gothenburg |url=https://www.e-newspaperarchives.ch/?a=d&d=NVE19850214-01.2.13 |access-date=10 March 2025 |magazine=Le nouvelliste |date=14 February 1985 |volume=18 |issue=37 |location= |page=9 |language=fr |via=E-newspaperarchives.ch}} Applications for viewers to join the regional juries were sent via postcard until 17 February, and 50 viewers from each canton were randomly selected to cast their votes to their broadcaster divisions via phone call. The winner was the song "{{lang|it|Piano, piano|i=no}}", composed by Anita Kerr with lyrics from {{ill|Trudy Müller-Bosshard|de|lt=Trudi Müller-Bosshard|i=no}} and performed by Mariella Farré and {{ill|Pino Gasparini|de|i=no}}.

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At the Eurovision Song Contest 1985, held at the {{lang|sv|Scandinavium|i=unset}} in Gothenburg, the Swiss entry was the fifteenth entry of the night following the {{esccnty|United Kingdom|y=1985}} and preceding {{esccnty|Sweden|y=1986}}. The Swiss conductor at the contest was Anita Kerr, who composed the song and was one of the only female conductors in the Eurovision Song Contest. At the close of voting, Switzerland had received 39 points in total; finishing in twelfth place out of nineteen countries.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}

Each participating broadcaster assembled a jury panel with at least eleven members. The jurors awarded 1-8, 10, and 12 points to their top ten songs.

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{{Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest}}

{{Eurovision Song Contest 1985}}

1985

Category:Countries in the Eurovision Song Contest 1985

Eurovision