With “Watergun” he should bring points to Switzerland – that’s Remo Forrer

The Swiss Remo Forrer will represent Switzerland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023. Meet the winner of “The Voice of Switzerland” of 2020 and enthusiastic snowboarder and wakeboarder.

Remo Forrer grew up in a musical family in the small village of Hemberg in eastern Switzerland in the canton of St. Gallen. He is doing an internship as a retail specialist in a sports shop. He came to music through his family: his father and older brother played the accordion and the Schwyzerörgeli. Forrer himself started playing the flute at a young age and also got a taste for playing the piano through the accordion – and especially the keys. He teaches himself this and learns purely by ear. And: the 21-year-old discovered his singing talent.

In 2020 he signed for the third season of “The Voice of Switzerland” – and promptly won it together with coach Noah Veraguth, the lead singer of Pegasus.

After winning The Voice, his winning single Home, written by Noah Veraguth and the band Karavann, is released. Three more singles follow before Remo Forrer is lured back to TV: in the RTL television program ‘Show us your voice’, in which the participants have to guess whether someone can sing, he is introduced as a ‘broker’. And inspires both audience and jury when he “unveils” his singing talent at the end of the show.

An active TikToker and Instagrammer, Remo Forrer has built a fan base on social media, which he regularly serves “with mischievousness, charm and impressive vocal performances”, as stated on his homepage.

Participating in the ESC 2023 in Liverpool, UK at the beginning of May has been a dream come true for the avid snowboarder and wakeboarder: “I find it incredibly inspiring to be in a place where all participants have this passion for music.”

“Watergun” is the name of the song with which the East Swiss represents his homeland and wants to strengthen “faith in a better world”.

In the Watergun music video, Remo Forrer walks through the darkness singing about how he and his friends played soldiers as children and dreamed of being “kings” one day. But: “I don’t wanna be a soldier soldier” – he doesn’t want to be a soldier at all, the Ed Sheeran and Lewis Capaldi-influenced artist sings with increasing intensity.

In doing so, Forrer contrasts the childish game with the hard facts – the real events of the war. In the video, an emotional walk takes him through a thunderstorm of red light, a shower of stones, a thunderstorm of sparks and finally into the free, redeeming nature. “What we’ve become,” sings the 21-year-old.

Remo Forrer is said to have said in a press release that his generation has to live with the consequences of bad decisions they didn’t make. “Still, I have hope that we can change something.” He feels a deep connection with the song, according to his website. “There are too many conflicts and wars in the world. All people want is peace. I want to bring this universal message to the main stage of the ESC.”

(lacquer/yam/sda)