Switzerland - Remo Forrer - Watergun

20 - 92 pts / 7 - 97 pts in semi 1

On February 20 Remo Forrer was announed as the Swiss singer for Liverpool. 

His song is Watergun, written by Argyle Singh, Ashley Hicklin and Mikolaj Trybulec.

The song was revealed and released on March 7.

September 29 sees the release of new song Not Okay coupled with Watergun and two new remixes of the Eurovision song. (Manifester music)

Forrer is the winner of The Voice Switzerland 2020.

He has released a few singles since then, the most recent before Watergun being Out Loud.

Songwriters

For Ashley Hicklin it's the 6th Eurovision he co-wrote.

The others are Belgium 2010 & 2014, Spain 2020*, Austria 2021 and Poland 2022

2022 single Out Loud

* of thát cancelled contest.

Mikolaj Trybulec also has his name under Poland 2022 and he's also one of the seven writers of this year's Polish effort.

Versions:

Watergun - single version

- digital 7-3

Watergun - Addal remix

Watergun - Addal extended remix

- remixes on digital EP Not Okay (29-9)

Watergun - karaoke

- On the official karaoke album (digital)

Charts:

Watergun entered the Swiss charts in Eurovision week.

Swiss top 100: 9, 2, 8, 19, 24, 40, 60, 75, 83 (2-9)

Finland top 50 (IFPI): 26, 49, -

Austria top 75: 70, -

Links and sources:

Remo Forrer: FB, Insta, Website (in German)
SRF news (in German)

France - La Zarra - Évidemment

16 - 104 pts, not in semi

TV2 selected La Zarra as the singer for France. 

Her song, Évidemment, was presented and released on the digital platforms on February 19.

Évidemment was written by La Zarra herself with Ahmen Sagir and Banx & Ranx (Yannick Rastogi and Zachary Raymond).

A pronounciation mistake in the first digital single release has been corrected and it has been updated in a version replacing the original. (see comments, thanks Earl) The difference is at 2:27.

This probably makes it the tiniest revamp in Eurovision recording history, technically only removing one letter.

A 1-track promo cdsingle is issued.

On June 23 a duet version with Katerina Stikoudi was released.

Stikoudi sings her parts in Greek.

The Xookwankii remix has been on the net a while before it was released through Spotify on September 22. Not sure how official this is as it's not through La Zarra's own label.

La Zarra (Québec born Fatima Zahra Hafdi) released her recommended  first album Traîtrise in December 2021. Tu t'en iras was a #75 hit in France in 2021 and achieved Platinum status in January 2023.

Her last single (before Évidemment) was Sans Moi. 

Versions:

Évidemment - corrected single version

- digital march 27-ish (?), 1-track promo

Évidemment - single version

- digital 19-2

Évidemment (french/greek)- duet version with Katerina Stikoudi

- digital 23-6

Évidemment (Xookwankii remix)

- digital 22-9

Évidemment - karaoke 

- on the official karaoke album (digital)

Charts

Swedish top 100 (Topplistan): 84, -

Ireland top 100 (IRMA): 95, -

Finland top 50 (IFPI): 23, -

U.K. top 100 (OCC): 94, -

Switzerland top 100 (Hitprade.ch): 79, -

France top 200 (SNEP): 82, -

Portugal top 200: 197, -

Links and sources:
La Zarra FB, Insta

picture from La Zarra's Facebook