"This is not the first time that Switzerland has been represented at the Eurovision Song Contest by an international artist - Canadian Céline Dion won the competition for Switzerland in 1988."

In October 2004, representatives of Swiss public regional broadcasters reviewed the entries for the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest 2005 and came to a unanimous decision: Switzerland will be represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 2005 in Kiev by the Estonian girl band Vanilla Ninja. Producer and songwriter is Basel-born David Brandes.

David Brandes has been working with Vanilla Ninja since the summer of 2003 and has written every one of the band's hits. A songwriter, composer and producer, Brandes was chosen not only on the basis of his musical track-record but also because of his links with Switzerland - he was born in Basel and went to school in Ettingen, Canton Basel-Land.

Vanilla Ninja, comprising Piret, Katrin, Lenna and Triinu, have enjoyed enormous success throughout Europe and especially in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Their album 'Traces of Sadness', for example, went straight in to the German charts at number three and has since gone gold.

This is not the first time that Switzerland has been represented at the Eurovision Song Contest by an international artist - Canadian Céline Dion won the competition for Switzerland in 1988.

The Singer

Well, there's only one of them that can sing, and perhaps unsurprisingly it's the non-blonde. The other three just stand there plucking on their unplugged electric guitars like extras form a Robert Palmer video. Don't get me wrong, as wall flowers I think they work, but they have to try harder to convince Alan Titchmarsh.

The Past

The inaugural champions as represented by a Cypriot, the Swiss have never been afraid of looking abroad to develop their interests in European light entertainment. In the days of yore when ballards ruled the Eurosong firmament, Switzerland was a power to behold, and had many a strong performance.
Lys Assia was the acceptable face of Swiss Eurosong, when compared to their other victory in '88. Beelzebub sent a minion to Earth in a puff ball skirt that year, who has since gone on to suck souls from millions of demented folk the world over, the type of people who thought Princess Diana was a "true angel". Yes, Canadian Dion was the last "success" for Switzerland, and I argue that the nil points that they secured in the semi final in 2004 was an artistic failure of similar merit.
They have never sent anything worth listening to...but it's Switzerland were talking about here...I'm not surprised in the least.

The Song
There's a heritage here. Putting aside for one moment that Vanilla Ninja have tried to qualify for Europe more often than Spurs end of season run, Switzerland sadly have experienced joy when looking outside for inspiration. I can't write her name too often, it makes me sick, but as you will see below, the Swiss have won twice when looking abroad. After the shambles of last year, this song is in the bookies top 5.

Gestures - 0 I may be able to make a case for minimalist movement of some acts, but for a young guitar beat pop combo, a complete lack of budging suggests utter failure. They cannot win.
"Wanna" Count - 0

Overall
Anyone remember Chocolate Soldiers? That fun filled playground activity when all the kids would line up along a way and some Neanderthal child would throw a cricket ball as hard as possible at you? The idea was to get out of the way. I'm reminding you of this because 1. the name of the game is similar to Vanilla Ninja and 2. I wouldn't mind nailing these four against a wall, utilising my balls not unlike the game (Christ).

In a Nutshell
"A full toss on the inner thigh"

"The Shrink Says"

Gestalt: a term meaning an organised whole. Gestalt psychologists study how people integrate and organize perceptual information into meaningful wholes. A leading Gestalt psychologist, Dr Grunwald Flupper, just happens to be the choreographer for Vanilla Ninja, and they are in good hands. With Mr Flupper's eye for the most minute minutiae in interdependent body language, we all should be in store for an exhilarating performance of close harmony pop swaying.

3 of "Cool Vibes" Vanilla Ninja of Tallinn
 All 3 of "Mmbop" Hanson of Tulsa

Cool Vibes

Don't want you to lead me to the dark
Don't need you to tear my heart apart
Don't do that, the people say that you're my enemy
I know you can set me free

Don't want ya to come so close to me
Don't need ya to blow my fantasy
But I know that you are leaving far beyond those lines
I can see the danger rise in your eyes

Cool vibes, why don't you kill me?
Cool vibes, why don't you turn your eyes away?
Can't you see we're free to die?
Cool vibes, all we can do is fight and pray

Cool vibes, why don't you thrill me? (Cool vibes)
Cool vibes, why don't you kill me?
All that I can see are shadows of my destiny

Don't want you to make me feel afraid
Don't need you to take away the hate
But I know that you will break the seal of history
Leave it to my fantasy, part with me

Cool vibes, why don't you kill me?
Cool vibes, why don't you turn your eyes away?
Can't you see we're free to die?
Cool vibes, all we can do is fight and pray

Cool vibes, why don't you thrill me? (Cool vibes)
Cool vibes, why don't you kill me?
All that I can see are shadows of my destiny

Stay close to me, infinity
Anyone want to share?
But I don't care
You'll be there

Cool vibes, why don't you kill me? (Cool vibes)
Cool vibes, why don't you turn your eyes away?
Can't you see we're free to die?
Cool vibes, all we can do is fight and pray

Cool vibes, why don't you thrill me? (Cool vibes)
Cool vibes, why don't you kill me? (Cool vibes)
All that I can see are shadows of my destiny
Prediction Semi Final 10th
Final 6th