Semi 2: 14 Switzerland

I'll be blunt and say it right away: I have very little to say about the Swiss entry. Mainly because it is yet another polite almost-ballad that isn't bad as such - by this time in semi 2 that kind of entry has really piled up, right? - but escapes me as soon as it finishes.

I listened to it many many times and still have no idea what it sounds like. I have a faint recollection of Mélanie's visual appearance but the song vaporises at once.

Let me instead point out what a silly thing it was for the Swiss to let every performer sing a cover version in addition to their entry in the national final. What difference does it make if somebody can sing another song beautifully if their own song doesn't have what it takes? We don't really need more people who can sing beautifully, we need more star quality and more engaging songs.

Oh sorry, I'm straying from the subject. There's nothing wrong with Mélanie or her voice, but her song just goes on for three minutes before ending. It lacks focus, it lacks ambition, it lacks personality. And that won't do.

Qualifier:
No. I said the same about Sebalter too last year, so maybe I'm equally wrong here. But the Swiss would have to pull out every trick they could think up in order to make this one many people's top favourite.

My grade: 1/5



Mélanie René - My Time To Shine (Switzerland 2015)