UK national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest had hit with "Walking On Sunshine", to enter a new track, "Love Shine A Light". This produced a win in the Eurovision Contest itself for the United Kingdom and for Katrina and the Waves in 1997, and followed with a second place for Imaani in 1998, but disappointment in 1999 for the all-girl band Precious. In 2000, the same format continued, but the final four songs were performed live in "A Song For Europe", still shunted to a graveyard Sunday afternoon slot. The result proved disappointing. Nicki French gave what author John Kennedy O'Connor describes in his book The Eurovision
Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 Switzerland participated at the Eurovision Song Contest 2010, that was held in Oslo, Norway. On 18 December SRG SSR idée suisse, following internal selection again, announced that they had selected Swiss singer Michael von der Heide to represent the country with "Il pleut de l'or", sung in French. SRG SSR announced plans for the 2010 Contest which, as with every year since 2005, the broadcaster would hold an internal selection to select the Swiss entry. The group announced that they are looking for "a strong song of an international standard", with a public