Baschi

Swiss pop singer Baschi catapulted to fame in his homeland via the TV show MusicStar, on which he starred in 2003-2004. Born Sebastian Bürgin on September 6, 1986, in Gelterkinden, Basel-Landschaft, he didn't win the MusicStar program, ultimately placing sixth, yet he garnered enough publicity to launch a solo career. Universal released his debut single, "Diis Lied," in 2004, a few months after the completion of the TV show, and while the song wasn't a remarkable hit -- domestically charting for only three weeks and peaking at 29 -- it set the stage for "Gib Mer ä Chance." This follow-up single was a smash hit, charting for 24 weeks and climbing all the way to number two. As "Gib Mer ä Chance" was climbing the singles chart, Universal released Baschi (2004); the debut album proved successful, charting number one. Baschi's second album, Irgendwie Held (2005), followed a year later, spawning a pair of major hits: the Top Ten "Irgendwie Wunderbar" and the chart-topping "Bring en Hei." Baschi's third album, Fürs Volk (2007), followed a similar trajectory, spawning a couple hits ("Wenn das Gott Wüsst," "Fürs Volk") and charting well itself (at number one, in fact). ~ Jason Birchmeier