“Nemo, you are the best”: Switzerland delighted after its Eurovision triumph

"Nemo, you are the best!" the city of Bienne and the whole of Switzerland exploded. of joy on Sunday evening when the local child woné Eurovision, with his song "The Code", offering the Alpine country its third victory & this competition.

Bienne, a city of 55,000 inhabitants in north-west Switzerland, has promised a triumphant return to Nemo Mettler, 24, whose very personal song deciphers the realization of being a non-binary person.

“Nemo, you are the best! (in English in the text, Editor's note) You did it! You won the Eurovision final! Your enthusiasm and your authentic performance convinced everyone!” exulted the municipality on the social network X.

“Congratulations! Your city of Biel is extremely proud of you: BRAVO and THANK YOU! You have carried the colors of Biel high all over the world! We look forward to celebrating your victory in Biel soon at an official public reception” , she added.

– “Open-mindedness” –

Also known by her German name, Biel, Bienne is the largest bilingual city in the country and the heart of the Swiss watch industry.

Sitting on benches and tables surrounded by food trucks on rue du Général Dufour, several hundred people followed the final of the competition on a giant screen, around a bottle of wine or a beer, in the heat of Saturday evening. When Nemo's turn came to sing, many climbed onto the benches and accompanied the song by waving Swiss flags.

The artist Nemo after winning Eurovision for Switzerland, in Malmö, Sweden, May 11, 2024 © AFP – Tobias SCHWARZ

When the vote of the 37 countries began and Nemo got off to a flying start, the atmosphere became electric, until the final triumph in front of the Croatian favorite.

“The City of Bienne is proud of Nemo and his career, which began in the city’s training establishments and cultural institutions,” the municipality wrote on its website.

“In various interviews and videos carried out ahead of the competition, Nemo regularly suggested to what extent the simplicity and open-mindedness of the bilingual city of Bienne had inspired and positively influenced his cultural journey” , she emphasized.

– Like a fish in water –

“Congratulations Nemo for this crazy victory! A spotlight on your multiple talents and recognition of your personality imbued with exuberance, sensitivity, intimacy and audacity,” said Swiss Interior Minister Elisabeth Baume on X -Schneider.

On Thursday, the Rex cinema in Bienne screened the second semi-final live from Malmö, to the great joy of Eli Schewa Dreyfus, Nemo's former singing teacher, who was in the audience.

“He was like a fish in water on stage,” she told RTS television. “He sang things in four voices without problem (…) He was so naturally gifted on stage.”

Before conquering Eurovision, Nemo s is produced at the municipal theater of Bienne and at the Lakelive festival, recalls Glenda Gonzalez Bassi, director of training, culture and sports at the town hall.

Supporters let their joy burst forth in northwestern Switzerland in Bienne, birthplace of the artist Némo who won Eurovision, on May 12, 2024 © AFP – Fabrice COFFRINI

“Nemo's career and talent are remarkable and unique, a perfect example of the diversity and openness of Bienne culture,” she said. “Nemo creates and evolves freely between classic, alternative and popular culture. A wonderful example of the inclusive and dynamic culture that we are proud of in Biel,” added the official.

This is the third time that Switzerland has won Eurovision. Lys Assia won the very first edition in 1956 with “Refrain”, and the Canadian Céline Dion triumphed in 1988 under the Swiss colors with “Ne partez pas sans moi”. Eurovision does not require that the candidate have the nationality of the country they represent.

As tradition dictates, Switzerland will host the competition next year .

In 1956, Switzerland hosted the first edition at the Teatro Kursaal in Lugano, but refused to do it again the following year despite the victory of its representative. In 1989, the event took place at the Palais de Beaulieu in Lausanne.

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