Switzerland Eurovision 2017: Timebelle – Apollo
SWITZERLAND’S Timebelle will take centre stage on the Eurovision stage tonight to perform their power ballad Apollo.
Timebelle's 2017 Eurovision Song Contest entry for Switzerland
The band consists of vocalist Miruna Manescu, pianist Emanuel Daniel Andriescu and drummer Samuel Forster.
Timebelle competed to represent Switzerland at the Eurovision Song Contest last year but came second in the national selection.
Now the band have the chance to win and are hoping to get through the semi-final in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev tonight.
“We don't try to be impressive. We just want to make music and touch people's hearts with our music. We are just being ourselves," the band said.
Despite Timebelle forming in Bern and representing Switzerland, the band members themselves hail from all over Europe.
Lead singer Miruna and pianist Emanuel come from Romania while Samuel was born in Germany.
“Our band itself celebrates diversity,” the band said, echoing this year’s Eurovision theme Celebrate Diversity.
Timebelle said that Eurovision was musical fixture of their childhoods, adding: “It's an honour to perform on such a grand stage…
Pop trio Timbelle will represent Switzerland in Eurovision 2017
It's an honour to perform on such a grand stage
“Being able to meet so many people from different cultures is incredibly important and overwhelming.”
Their track Apollo was written and composed by Elias Näslin, Alessandra Günthardt and Nicolas Günthardt – a trio of producers who previously worked with Swedish Eurovision contestants Mariette and Jennifer Brown.
Apollo has been described as a song about love and the devotion to the arts.
Timebelle said: “Our entry comes from within us, is natural and artistic and the song itself has a very deep meaning, to follow your dream, whether that dream is a person, an art, a country or a job. Just follow it.”
Switzerland has 15/8 odds of qualifying tonight and 200/1 odds of winning the grand final on Saturday may 13, according to Betfair.
When is the Eurovision 2017?
The second semi-final of the Eurovision will take place on Thursday May 11 between 8pm BST (9pm CEST local time) and about 10pm BST (11pm CEST).
Ten countries will qualify from the second semi-final, which will be broadcast on BBC Four.
The finalists will then compete against the ‘Big Five’ – the UK, France, Italy, Spain and Germany – and host country Ukraine in the grand final on Saturday May 13.
Graham Norton will host the live BBC One coverage from 8pm BST (9pm CEST). The winner is expected to be announced around 11.30pm BST (12.30am CEST).