You've just finished your second rehearsal - what's your impression of the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest so far?
The general standard of everything is extremely high. All acts that I've seen so far were really good. There is nothing like a 'dual class society' any more, with professional performers on one side and the total flops on the other side. The Eurovision Song Contest is on a very high level. The TV images are fabulous, the sound is very good, so now it's only up to us. It's hard to ask us if we think we're good. I actually always find something that could still be improved, but I think we're already coming close.

Watching your performance, one could assume that it follows the steps of recent winners of the Eurovision Song Contest. Is that right, or is it rather just a consistent way of applying your own style?
Well, I'd say it is. That's DJ BoBo just as everybody knows him. We didn't have to change anything, but the

Eurovision Song Contest did change in a way that allows us to participate. DJ BoBo has always been about dancing, spectacle, costumes. We just had to adapt to the rules in certain aspects - the size of the stage, only six people performing - but everything else was just as always.

Have your song and performance been designed especially for the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest or did you just enter an existing song, adding a newly created performance?
It's a wholly new song. I was only written for this event. And I think it doesn't make sense to do it in any other way. You just cannot take any existing radio song and say: "Hey. Let's use it for the Eurovision Song Contest!" Everyone who wants to enter that stage professionally needs a more selective approach. We wrote the song just for the contest. By the way, this is not meant to be negative towards radio in general. The thing is just that it's called 'Eurovision Song Contest', so the main aspect is the visual impact of a performance. That's what we had to keep in mind when we created the song and the stage act.

During your performance, we get to see a few dolls on stage. Does this convey a certain message?
Well, the original idea was that, in the beginning, we should all stand on stage motionless, just like dolls. That way, the viewers should not be able to tell who's actually a doll and who's real, until the real singers and dancers step forward. That does seem quite effective, but then again the effect is gone after fifteen seconds. It's just a nice gag to start off the performance, a gimmick. And it makes the stage look more crowded. Well, we'll just add some more life to the dolls by applying some make-up, so that it's totally impossible to see who's real and who's not.

Before the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest, there has been some controversy regarding the subject of your song - religious groups were requesting a change of the lyrics. How do you respond to something like that as a musician?
Basically - not at all. You can't really think of an intelligent way of reacting to that. Linking the song lyrics to some religious things is kind of absurd. What should you do if somebody says: "From heaven to hell, enjoy the ride - don't say that! It glorifies satanism!" How should you reply to that?

You said in the press conference that you were disappointed about last year's Swiss entry to the Eurovision Song Contest, with a group of non-Swiss artists representing your country. Why?
They were actually all good singers, but I couldn't identify with the whole entry as they were all foreigners. I could neither love nor hate it. This could actually happen in any country. People just don't have the possibility to identify with their representatives.

So, what's your opinion on other Swiss entries to the Eurovision Song Contests that have been performed by non-Swiss artists? For example, Celine Dion - a Canadian - won the contest for Switzerland in 1988!
Back at that time, there was no televoting yet - that doesn't count! Anyway, the German-speaking countries, in particular, seem to have an ambivalent relation toward the Eurovision Song Contest. Our entries are either genious, or just embarrassing. And that's not necessary. The Germans have already changed course recently, and that's good. The Eurovision Song Contest is not a joke, it's one of the highest level TV events in the whole world. DJ Bobo representing Switzerland and Roger Cicero representing Germany will mark the beginning of a new era of the contest in our countries.

What would you say in order to encourage your fellow compatriot singer in order to convince them to take part in the Eurovision Song Contest as well?
The best reason is actually that I did it myself! If DJ Bobo does it, the other Swiss singers can do it too. And the main thing is not to fear the result. Whoever comes here while being afraid of ending up with nil points at the same time should rather stay at home. That's the game!

Apart from that, are there any commercial aspects which speak in favour of participation in the Eurovision Song Contest?
No, I couldn't imagine any. I'm not earning money here, I'm rather losing it. Of course, the CD is being promoted where it has been released, like Germany, as any other of my singles. But there are ulterior motives as well - I do want some points from Germany! Getting no points from Germany would be the worst thing that could happen to me, actually. I belong to this culture area of Germany-Austria-Switzerland, and if I don't get any points from there, it would mean that the last fifteen years would have been totally in vain. Of course, this is also to promote my tour around Germany in 2008, but on all radio and TV programs, the Eurovision Song Contest has always been the main focus.

So, which kind of result do you expect or hope for, in order to be satisfied yourself?
Qualification for the final. I have to be realistic. That's the hardest thing to achieve - from 28 down to ten. If I survive the semi-final, you can count on me. If I don't, I'll vanish for two weeks with my family, in a place where nobody can find me."

Thanks for taking your time to talk to us, and the best of luck to you!