Cyprus confirmed Greek singer Elena Tsagrinou will be the nation’s representative at the Eurovision Song Contest 2021, in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
The Cypriot broadcaster CyBc announced the artist and song-title ‘El Diablo‘ in an official statement in November.
The 26-year-old Athens-born singer will perform in the Eurovision’s first Semi-Final, at Rotterdam’s Ahoy Arena this May. The song is up-tempo, and is said to be a current radio-friendly hit and Eurovision “competitive” enough. The scenario, Elena seems to have fallen in love with someone as bad as ‘El Diablo’ (Spanish, for ‘The Devil’).
The official song and music video will be released very soon. The choreographer Chali Jennings will be responsible for, Elena and her dancers routine in long-anticipated release of the Eurovision video.
Elena takes over from Sandro Nicholas, [his song ‘Running’] last year’s Cypriot titleholder, [he was unfortunate not to sing it], at the cancelled Eurovision Song Contest.
The song-writing team composed of Jimmy Thornfeldt, Swedish songwriter, the Canadian songwriter and Eurovision regular Laurell Barker, behind ‘You Got Me’ by Luca Hanni, which came fourth in 2019, Brazilian-born songwriter Oxa, and Thomas Stengaard, penning the 2013 Eurovision winner ‘Only Teardrops’ by Emmelie De Forest.
Cypriot bosses have stuck to the winning formula of choosing artist and song internally. Cyprus have a 100% qualification record in five years which is impressive and one that Elena Tsagrinou is hoping to emulate their successes. The 2018’s runners-up with Eleni Foureira’s ‘Fuego’, plus five qualifiers between 2015 and 2019, Cyprus have upped their game in the music event for sure.
Cypriot chiefs felt that the songstress was right for this year’s contest as the upbeat song compliments Elena as a vocalist and performance-stage artist.
Head of the Cypriot Delegation in Eurovision Evi Papamichael helped define the criteria for their selection. “In recent years we have been collaborating with major record companies of the region. Greece and Cyprus are, as you know, a single record and music market.” Papamichael explained, confirming that Cyprus music is almost intertwined with Greece’s record labels, and world-class vibrant music industry.
Elena is signed to Panik Records, record label whose former Eurovision predecessors have included Ivi Adamou, Demy, Eleni Foureira and Anna Vissi.
The female soloist has been in the music industry since she was 14, where she reached the semi-finals of Greece Has Talent.
After five years with the band OtherView, Elena went solo in 2018 and has presented shows like The Voice of Greece, Just the 2 of US and K-POP Stars.
Last summer she released Latin-Reggaeton-fused ‘Amore’, the exotic tune also made it to our airplay charts. Her debut hit ‘Pame Ap’ Tin Archi’ launched a young-fledging solo career. The hits included ‘Paradeisos’, ‘Logia’, and duets; with Mike ‘Pare Me Agkalia’, feat, with Oge ‘San Lava’, ‘Tsai me Lemoni’ with Dakis and last December, Elena and DJ Kas covered dance track ‘Be My Lover’.
Elena performed at concerts in Cyprus and Greece, alongside artists such as Konstantinos Argiros and Melisses. Her music videos have accumulated millions of views on youtube, and entrusted Elena as one of the most exciting up-and-coming artists, in Greek music.
Cyprus will be staged with the help of artistic director Marvin Dietmann who helped Austria to a Eurovision triumph in 2014 with their song ‘Rise Like a Phoenix’. The involvement of the Austrian creative highlights the Cypriot ambition to impress at this competition.
Cyprus competes in the First Eurovision Semi-Final which airs on Tuesday 18th May, on BBC Four. The Top 10 qualifying nations have progression to the Final on Saturday 22nd May, on BBC One.
London Greek Radio wishes Elena and Cyprus the best of luck in the Eurovision.
