# Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest 1985

Switzerland was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1985 with the song "Piano, piano", composed by Anita Kerr, with lyrics by Trudi Müller-Bosshard [de], and performed by Mariella Farré and Pino Gasparini [de]. The Swiss participating broadcaster, the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG SSR), selected its entry for the contest through a national final.

## Before Eurovision
### Regional preliminary rounds

The Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG SSR) held a national final to select its entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 1985. The broadcaster used a different selection method. Although the Swiss-French and Italian songs were internally selected, the Swiss-German broadcaster, DRS, held a separate preliminary round for three artists.

#### Ein Lied für Schweden: Concours de l'Eurovision 1985

On 15 December, 1984, a preliminary round titled Ein Lied für Schweden: Concours de l'Eurovision 1985 was held and broadcast on 20:00 CET only on radio 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 Switzerland in 1983 —, Pino Gasparini [de]— who represented Switzerland as part of the Pepe Lienhard Group —, and the Martin Richard Trio. The Swiss-German and Romansh viewers then decided which songs would be performed in the final.
The following songs were selected to enter the national final. No other information is known about the preliminary round, including the titles of the remaining songs and artists.
Ein Lied für Schweden: Concours de l'Eurovision 1985 — 15 December 1984 :
| Artist(s) | Song | Songwriter(s) | Songwriter(s) | Result |
| Artist(s) | Song | Composer | Lyricist | Result |
| Mariella Farré | "Pierrot" | Markus Ellenberger | Markus EllenbergerWaltraud Battaglia | Advanced |
| Mariella Farré and Pino Gasparini [de] | "Piano, piano" | Anita Kerr | Trudi Müller-Bosshard [de] | Advanced |
| Martin Richard Trio | "Der Kuckuck" | Acid Cider BandMarcel Bless | Marcel Bless | Advanced |

### Concours Eurovision de la Chanson 1985

The broadcaster ultimately selected nine songs to compete in the final (three per language). Swiss-French broadcaster Télévision suisse romande (TSR) staged the national final on 23 February 1985 at 21:10 CET at its studios in Genève. 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.
Among the participants were Pino Gasparini [de] and Mariella Farré— who participated in the Swiss-German preliminary round —, Arlette Zola— who represented Switzerland in 1982—, Rainy Day [de]— who represented Switzerland in 1984—, and Daniela Simons, who would later represent Switzerland in 1986. The Martin Richard Trio was renamed to "Swiss Singers" and featured a fourth member.
Participating entries :
| R/O | Artist(s) | Song | Songwriter(s) | Songwriter(s) | Language |
| R/O | Artist(s) | Song | Composer | Lyricist | Language |
| 1 | Rainy Day [de] | "Gioventù" | Nella Martinetti | Hans GmürNella Martinetti | Italian |
| 2 | Nicky Nicolas | "Je n'aime que toi" | Franco Bussmann | Nicky Nicolas | French |
| 3 | Mariella Farré | "Pierrot" | Markus Ellenberger | Markus EllenbergerWaltraud Battaglia | German |
| 4 | Friends | "Europeo" | Corry Knobel | Corry Knobel | Italian |
| 5 | Mariella Farré and Pino Gasparini [de] | "Piano, piano" | Anita Kerr | Trudi Müller-Bosshard [de] | German |
| 6 | Arlette Zola | "Aime-moi" | Pietro Silvestri | Pietro Silvestri | French |
| 7 | Daniela Simons | "Repars à zéro" | Daniela Simons | Daniela Simons | French |
| 8 | Swiss Singers | "Der Kuckuck" | Acid Cider BandMarcel Bless | Marcel Bless | German |
| 9 | Renato Mascetti | "Una notte a Casablanca" | Renato Mascetti | Renato Mascetti | Italian |
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. 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 "Piano, piano", composed by Anita Kerr with lyrics from Trudi Müller-Bosshard [de] and performed by Mariella Farré and Pino Gasparini [de].
Final — 23 February 1985 :
| R/O | Artist(s) | Song | Regional Juries | Regional Juries | Regional Juries | Press Jury | Expert Jury | Total | Place |
| R/O | Artist(s) | Song | DRS | TSR | TSI | Press Jury | Expert Jury | Total | Place |
| 1 | Rainy Day [de] | "Gioventù" | 3 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 30 | 4 |
| 2 | Nicky Nicolas | "Je n'aime que toi" | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 9 |
| 3 | Mariella Farré | "Pierrot" | 5 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 22 | 7 |
| 4 | Friends | "Europeo" | 4 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 21 | 8 |
| 5 | Mariella Farré and Pino Gasparini [de] | "Piano, piano" | 8 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 4 | 35 | 1 |
| 6 | Arlette Zola | "Aime-moi" | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 31 | 3 |
| 7 | Daniela Simons | "Repars à zéro" | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 32 | 2 |
| 8 | Swiss Singers | "Der Kuckuck" | 10 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 27 | 5 |
| 9 | Renato Mascetti | "Una notte a Casablanca" | 2 | 1 | 10 | 4 | 7 | 24 | 6 |

## At Eurovision

At the Eurovision Song Contest 1985, held at the Scandinavium in Gothenburg, the Swiss entry was the fifteenth entry of the night following the United Kingdom and preceding Sweden. 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.

### Voting

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.