Meet The Artists: WV15-17
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WorldVision, an international song competition, brings together artists and music enthuiasts from all over the world. Switzerland made its debut at WV04 in Uppsala and appeared twice more before taking a break, represented by ESC 2011 finalist Anna Rossinelli (WV04), Clochard Deluxe (WV05) and ESC 2012 hopefuls Sinplus (WV06). The nation returned to the fold in time for the fifteenth edition of WorldVision in Miami, Florida, with a new head of delegation and has continued on with some exciting talent yet to come. Here are the first three artists sent to WorldVision under this new delagation head.
WV15 MIAMI: JACKIE
The first artist selected was female pop/rock singer Jackie Leuenberger. Considered by some to be the Swiss equivalent to American singer Sheryl Crow, she won her first talent contest at the age of 18 and has said she wanted people to feel things through her songs. She has released 4 albums of note: "Gib mir ä Minute", "Südhang", "Chönig vo mim Härz" and her most recent "Unger myni Huut". She has a Eurovision connection as one of her band members is Christoph Jakob, the lead singer of the group Takasa, who competed for Switzerland at the 2013 contest in Malmo.
Jackie was selected internally, but her song was left to the decision of the public with 2 different tracks presented. In the end, the selection was determined by a coin toss after a tied public vote, and the song "O-oo!" from the album "Chönig vo mim Härz" was sent to Miami.
Performing fourth in the first semifinal at WV15, Jackie gave an enthusiastic performance, but did not qualify, amassing 18 points to finish 20th out of the 23-song field. For the nation's return, it was a valiant first effort.
WV16 HOUSTON: DJ ANTOINE
With Southern USA winning for the second consecutive time, WorldVision came to Houston, Texas for the sixteenth edition. Back in Switzerland, the team was looking to build on a promising start by holding a 5-song national final to find its next entrant. Consisting of the recent German Idol winner, a former Eurovision participant, the runner-up of the 2013 Swiss national final, a Swiss R&B artist and a Basel-based house DJ, it was a very close final especially where the top 2 was concerned. Eurovision 2008 participant Paolo Meneguzzi had led the voting for much of the selection period, but it was DJ Antoine who came from up the middle and earned the ticket to Houston by 1 point with his most recent song "Sky Is The Limit".
Jackie Leuenberger brought Switzerland back to WorldVision in Miami with her pop-rock song "O-oo!"