Switzerland – Lys Assia’s participation in the Swiss national final has produced headlines in Switzerland for months and today all of the most important media in Germany report about her ambitions. With such publicity Assia has to be considered the number one favourite to win the Swiss national final tomorrow. However, friends and family of the 87 year-old singer have expressed their concern about Assia’s state of health.
This May the first winner of the Eurovision Song Contest in 1956 had undergone serious heart surgery. A pacemaker was implanted. In the German talk show “Menschen bei Maischberger” she was a guest for the topic “The strong sex – female, bold, insane” and spoke about people in her environment that are very concerned about her ambitions. They fear that if she wins the national final, the Eurovision participation may be too stressful and may seriously impact her health. Assia would be the oldest Eurovision entrant ever. Assia rejected such concerns saying that she will “just go through with it” and added: “I can sleep after it. To return 56 years later, it would be a scoop”
The Swiss media have described her ambition to lie “between boldness and insanity”. Ralph Siegel, who wrote Assia’s song and who, just a few years ago, had advised her not to enter again due to her age is quite confident about her abilities and chances. He told German media that he believes Assia could make it to the Top 3 in the Eurovision final in Baku.
Here is her song “C’était ma vie” which according to Ralph Siegel is supposed to be for Lys Assia what “My way” was for Frank Sinatra or “Je ne regrette rien” for Edith Piaf:
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Well, she is my favourite from the Swiss NF and I’d like to see her representing Switzerland, but maybe she shouldn’t do it if she thinks it’s not good for her health.
However, if she feels ready to enter the contest again (and it seems she does), I don’t think she should hesitate, unless a doctor says otherwise of course.
I think Ralph Siegel has completely lost his touch with reality… The story is great and everything,,, but this song would never get into the Top 3…
If Lys Assia makes it to Baku, I have no clue how she would fare. Would televoters forget about the lame Siegel song and be touched and moved enough to vote for her? Would the juries be biased in her favour? Would there be some let’s write history dynamics leading to extensive media coverage (and thus an advantage) in different countries? Or would everyone just take her song for what it is and act / vote accordingly?
I think that, like Charlotte, Niamh or Chiara, she’d get barely in the final and be totally lost there… voters do not vote likewise in semis than in the final, same for juries actually
people would be touched enough to want her in the final, but not as a Eurovision winner (based simply on how clichéd and boring it is, if it was a very modern ballad at least, but no…)
but that’s only what I think; I’ve been proven wrong many times before in esc
Do you think she will win tomorrow?
I didn’t think so at first and really thought Macy and Sinplus had the extra edge. But the huge publicity is now that extra edge and think that Lys could really well win it (and disappoint me big time)
It’s really incredible… Stern, Spiegel, Süddeutsche, n-tv they all talk about Lys… And Germanophone Swiss do read those as well…
I’m a bit sad I won’t be able to see it live.( Fête des lumières in Lyon) .. I hope SF puts it on their “videoportal” so I can watch it when I get back at night ^^
wait now, the fête des lumières is not on the 8th anymore? wtf?
I hope not lol ^^
Please read my post on Eurovision 2012 at the top of the page.
Thanks ,
Steve
If she wins the NF, it’ll be a sympathy/nostalgic vote. It’s a little too classic for the modern Eurovision, and I’m not sure the audience for Baku would really “get it”.
as long her dr says ok, then I wouldnt mind seeing her in Baku.. she is a tough lady!