Meet The Artists: WV15-17
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WV17 LIVERPOOL: ROBERT MILES
The United Kingdom was triumphant in WV16, having sent the epic Queen song "The Show Must Go On" (which Switzerland enthusiastically gave its "douze points" to in the final), the contest went back across the pond to Liverpool, the home of the Beatles, for WV17. With a city so famous, Team Suisse decided on an internal selection with what is practically known as the song that pioneered the trance music genre.
Roberto Concina, better known as Robert Miles, was born in Fleurier, Switzerland and raised in Italy - he has been on the music scene since the 1980s. However, it wouldn't be until the mid 1990s when he would have his breakthrough thanks to his wildly successful debut album and its equally renowned first single.
"Children", the first single off Robert's 1996 album "Dreamland" was released in 1995 and hit the top of the charts in over a dozen countries around the world and several gold and platinum certifications. Its success earned Robert a Brit Award in the UK and a World Music Award as well.
One of the most recognizable instrumentals thanks to its memorable piano intro, it uses dream-like melodies to enhance the overall effect of the song. Robert had a couple of reasons for its composition: one based on photos of war children his father brought back from a humanitarian trip to the former Yugoslavia, the other as a method of calming young partygoers at the raves he DJs before driving home so as to decrease fatal car accidents.
In the third semifinal in Liverpool, Switzerland performed first and received a huge ovation from the WorldVision fans gathered at Ansfield Stadium. It successfully qualified for the final with 80 points and 5th place overall in the semi.
Unlike DJ Antoine last edition in Houston, Robert went into the final with better odds of winning at 31-1 behind favorites London and USA. In the final performing fifth, he again wowed the crowds with an incredible performance. Needless to say Team Suisse was thrilled with the possibility that they could have the nation's best finish ever at WorldVision. And their dream became reality. Thanks to 12s from Berlin and Estonia , 10s from Wales, Denmark and Northern Bulgaria and good scores from others, Switzerland finished in 11th place overall with 136 points behind winner London. Whatever is next to come in WorldVision, you can bet that the Swiss will be riding high!
Swiss-Italian artist Robert Miles rocked Liverpool at WV17 with his international hit "Children"