Switzerland sends French ballad ‘Répondez-moi’ by Gjon’s Tears
Switzerland has been struggling in the recent history of the Eurovision Song Contest. Since semi-finals were introduced back in 2004, the country only ended up in the grand final on five occasions. Last year was a big turning point for the Swiss delegation though, when Luca Hänni reached the fourth place with his song ‘She Got Me’. It was Switzerland’s best result since 1993(!). After that huge success, the Swiss broadcaster opted for an internal selection once more. Singer Gjon’s Tears is the chosen one with his ballad ‘Répondez-moi’ (‘Answer Me’), sung in French.
Gjon’s Tears is the stage name of Gjon Muharremaj, a Swiss singer-songwriter with Kosovar-Albanian roots. He participated in multiple talent shows of which the French version of The Voice, in which he reached the semi- finals, was the most recent. He co-wrote ‘Répondez-moi’ together with Xavier Michel, Alizé Oswald and Jeroen Swinnen. Together, they created a beautifully melodic and elegant ballad with a subdued nature for most of the tune. The verses are driven by a haunting melody and Gjon’s emotive, raw and compelling vocal performance. The chorus is big enough to live up to the expectations created in the verses, without being too bombastic or predictable. Over the last chorus, Gjon belts for his life with insanely high notes which make for the grande finale ‘Répondez-moi’ deserves.
In the lyrics of the song, Gjon asks big questions about life (which could be relatable to anyone) in the verses, while demanding answers in the chorus. The track’s lyrics have even more personal meaning for the singer, as he sings about being a stranger both ‘here and there’, growing up without summer and sleeping far away from his family in another country, all referring to his experiences with a migrant background. The message is heartfelt and beautifully written and executed.
Judging by live performances of other songs Gjon did, he should be able to nail ‘Réponzed-moi’ live too. If he manages to hit all the big notes, I could see Switzerland go for a second great Eurovision result in a row. Regardless of how many ballads sung by male performers are selected, compositions as strong as ‘Répondez-moi’ will stand out either way. If he does his stunning song justice live, he deserves all the douze points coming his way.
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