Alice (Veronica Fusaro song)

Swiss media and personalities

"Alice" was met with mixed reviews from Swiss music critics. In a review for Corriere del Ticino, Mauro Rossi praised the song's "excellent indie rock" sound, stating it was "neither banal nor predictable" despite its radio-friendly aims. While he lauded Fusaro’s "consummate confidence", he expressed concerns regarding the song's chances in Eurovision, noting that it might be "too busy for the standards of the event".^[15] Ane Hebeisen of Tages-Anzeiger praised Fusaro’s vocal performance and songwriting craftsmanship, but found that the song lacked a memorable melody or genuine emotional urgency, describing it as having "harmonic progression reminiscent of 60s heartbreak ballads, yet it cleverly breaks free from this pattern time and again". He compared the track's impact to that of a routine television crime drama, suggesting that as soon as the song builds up, it then disappears "without a melody or any urgent emotion lingering in the short-term memory". Hebeisen also expressed doubt regarding the entry's Eurovision chances, noting that rock-influenced songs from Switzerland have historically struggled in the competition.^[16]

Writing for Bote der Urschweiz, Michael Graber noted the effective pairing of Fusaro’s vocals with the song's rock arrangement, but he argued that the track lacked the energy and distinctiveness required for the contest. However, he suggested that they are always at their best when they are "not on everyone's radar".^[17] In Watson, Nadine Sommerhalder characterised the track as a solid and well-produced radio song and called Fusaro's vocals "convincing", but found it too "predictable" for the competition and that the song fell significantly short compared to the entries Switzerland has sent to the contest in recent years. While she suggested the song's craftsmanship might appeal to professional juries, she believed its lack of a "surprise" factor would make qualifying for the final a challenge.^[1] Similarly, Niels Bossert of Neue Zürcher Zeitung wrote that despite the song's compelling theme and Fusaro's "powerful vocals", the chorus does not "burrow deeply enough to be truly memorable" and found the song "too tame". He further noted that the "thematically strong" entry might find more favour with professional juries than with the general public during the semi-finals.^[18]

Eurovision-related and international media

In the Dutch newspaper de Volkskrant, Robert van Gijssel and Els de Grefte dubbed the song as one of the 10 best Eurovision songs of 2026, praising Fusaro's vocals by calling it "beautiful" and "raw enough" to convincingly deliver the song's message and that she can "deliver the high notes without losing her coolness", albeit noting that the guitar solo is "quite cliché".^[19] Eva Frantz of Yle gave the song a rating of nine out of 10, praising its "old school rock sound" and Fusaro's "pleasant voice", but acknowledged that the entry is "not everyone's cup of tea".^[20]

Jon O'Brien from Vulture ranked the entry fourth out of the 35 entries, describing it as a "well-crafted" but "sobering meditation" on domestic violence that lacked the qualities of a typical crowd-pleaser. While he predicted the song might struggle to gain public support in a similar nature as "Voyage" by Zoë Më, he suggested that Fusaro may be the "contestant with the brightest future".^[21] In the Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet, Ralf Lofstad gave the song a four out of six, calling it "quite atmospheric and rock club-like" and likening it to "Stop!" by Sam Brown and "Lose Control" by Teddy Swims. While he applauded Fusaro's vocals, he expressed doubts about the track's lasting appeal.^[22]

Internal selection

On 2 June 2025, the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG SSR) announced its intent to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026.^[23] SRG SSR later opened a submission period between 4 and 25 August 2025 for interested artists and composers to submit their entries. Artists and songwriters of any nationality were able to submit songs, with priority given to Swiss nationals or residents.^[24] At the closing of the window, 493 entries had been submitted.^[25] Submissions were assessed in various rounds by a Swiss public panel, an international public panel, and a 25-member international expert jury; the public panels consisted of Swiss and international audience members, while the international jury consisted of former national jurors for their respective countries at the Eurovision Song Contest.^[26] It was then announced on 20 January 2026 that Fusaro will represent the country in the contest,^[25][27] and was later revealed that she will be performing the song "Alice",^[28] with the Swiss-German newspaper Blick unofficially confirming the entry shortly before the broadcaster's announcement.^[29]

At Eurovision

The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 will take place at Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna, Austria, and will consist of two semi-finals to be held on the respective dates of 12 and 14 May and the final on 16 May 2026.^[30] During the allocation draw held on 12 January 2026, Switzerland was drawn to compete in the second semi-final, performing in the first half of the show.^[31] Fusaro was later drawn to perform seventh, after Armenia's Simón and before Cyprus' Antigoni.^[32]

For her Eurovision performance, the staging was directed by Fredrik Rydman.^[33] "Alice" failed to qualify for the grand final.^[34]