ENTERTAINMENT
“British Cypriot” sitcom, ‘Stath Lets Flats’ was a winner at the Bafta TV Awards on Sunday night, scooping Best Male Performance in a Comedy for its star and creator Jamie Demetriou.
It’s a hat-track for Jamie, this is the third Bafta for ‘Stath Lets Flats’ which Jamie created and co-writes.
There have been three series of this popular comedy which also stars Jamie’s sister Natasia Demetriou.
Mr Demetriou beat out tough competition in the form of the new Doctor Who Ncuti Gatwa – who was announced earlier as the next Time Lord, to take home the comedy gong.
Jamie Demetriou is “Stath” an imbecilic lettings agent working at ‘Michael & Eagle Lets’, an apparently chaotic London lettings agency run by his father, Vasos, [Christos Stergioglou).
The set-up is that Stath comes across as incompetent, impulsive and ambitious – in equal measure, and is desperate to prove himself to his Greek-Cypriot father who is retired and at home in series three but still as ever-observant and watchful over his son’s antics.
“I promised myself I wouldn’t sing” (he teased his audience), as Jamie accepted his award. “Thank you so much to everyone who makes this show possible, Channel Four, for having me a part of your insane roster of unbelievable shows that inspired me, and I would never be doing what I was doing if it wasn’t for them. Thank you to Ash Atalla for sticking to this for so long, thank you to Andrew Gaynord for being such a good friend and director. Thank you to Seb Barwell, the producer of this show, who is my rock. And I think a lot of the time he rather not be a rock, but be a producer.
Thank you to this astonishing cast that I’ve had the privilege of working with for so long now, Al, Ellie, Katy, Kiell, Christos, and my amazing sister Natasia who I couldn’t do this show without. Thank you to my flat-mate Ollie Cambridge for just having to put up with a really, really dirty… comedian and to my girl-friend Claire”.
The Bafta TV Awards were held at the Royal Festival Hall on Sunday evening of May 8th.
Jamie Demetriou: “London Greek Radio has been playing in my house since I was a foetus.” Same Jamie, same here…
Article written by Tony Neophytou
Eurovision excitement continues as Greece releases this year’s act with Greek TV bosses confirming that Amanda Georgiadi Tenfjord will be their representing artist.
This year, the Eurovision Song Contest takes place in Turin, at PalaOlimpico and the 25-year-old, who is studying to be a doctor, is a half Greek and half Norwegian singer-songwriter, born in Ioannina, Greece and raised in Norway.
The song, “Die Together” has the sounds of a strong, melodic electro-pop ballad with emotional overtones which seem to cut deep. It’s a break-up song about a genuine relationship that’s expected to tear at the heart-strings.
Amanda has co-written the track with fellow Norwegian producer and songwriter, Bjørn Helge Gammelsæterx and Amanda mixes modern pop, folk, electronic, alternative and ambient sounds.
LGR’s Eurovision fanatic, Tony Neophytou’s view is that “the song starts with an acapella section through a vocoder, which steadily builds up into a full-orchestral electro-pop ballad. The progression has its peaks and dynamic twists, causing intrigue and curiosity for the listener. The slow song then explodes to a grand orchestral feel as it progresses to its climatic finish. It is instantaneous with its catchy chorus, which a competition song requires.”
He added, “The singer and songwriter ballad feels honest and sincere. Amanda is a likeable soloist and incredibly authentic, with a well-made, intimate tune. The minimalist stripped-back acapella builds patiently into the explosive, orchestration. This is a potential jury bait song with on-point vocals. Amanda is emoting a stirring intense ballad that has won lots of admirers in recent weeks.”
Tony Neophytou believes in Greece’s chances at a qualification spot: “Her soaring melodies combined with vocal hooks gives the tune that feel of a competitive package and a game-changer as Greece embarks on a Top 10 placement.“
He continued, “It is a sad, melancholic song with deep lyrics.”
Since it was released, many avid fans have interpreted its poignant lyrics to mean human bonds, the raging frontline, and conflict situations in the world now. The public reaction seems to give the track extra potency and powerful mileage.
Her immediate and direct lyrics is a sure asset in resonating intimately with the listener like, for example, when Amanda sings: “It’s been a hell of year, and we’ve been living in fear, close to giving up…”
Tony Neophytou also feels that the bridge section, with guitar, is almost uniquely dark and dramatic, with the verse, “Take my heart and rip it out, bring it to the other side”; a verse, she repeats four times, emphasising its blatant edgier undertones.
Tony says, “Amanda with a hauntingly beautiful, well-sung radio hit for the stage performance.”
The singer’s creative staging director is Fokas Evangelinos, a well-known figure in Eurovision circles, tasked with the elevation of her song. Her team says the “thoughtfully staged routine and emotional act” angles every single shot and frame as a captivating performance.
The official music video is filmed on the Greek island of Symi, as the backdrop to narrating Amanda’s song, which will be performed in slot number 15 of a running order of 17.
Greece competes in the Eurovision First Semi-Final which airs on 10th May on BBC Three. The Top 10 qualifying countries will advance to the Final on Saturday 14th May on BBC One.
London Greek Radio wishes Amanda and Greece the best of luck in the competition.
Article written by Tony Neophytou
Greek singer Andromache will represent Cyprus in the up-coming Eurovision Song Contest, which takes place at PalaOlimpico in Turin.
The 27-year-old newcomer’s full name is Andromachi Dimitropoulou and she was born in Germany and raised in Ilia, Greece.
CyBc made the official announcement along with the title of her entry ‘Ela’. The song is written by Alex Papaconstantinou, or Alex P, a Greek-Swedish producer, well-known in Eurovision circles.
He collaborates on the tune with Cypriot singer-songwriter Giorgos Papadopoulos, Arash, Eyelar Mirzazadeh, Fatjon Miftaraj, Filloreta Raci Fifi, Geraldo Sandell, Robert Uhlmann, Viktor Svensson and Yll Limani.
Cypriot TV bosses had been extremely tight-lipped about the entrant for weeks, choosing to announce the details and releasing its official music video on 9th March.
Cypriot chiefs have stuck to the successful formulae, of internally picking a singer and song-package with Andromache mixing traditional Greek folk and Byzantine, with modern music.
It’s is a mid-tempo song fusing Greek/Cypriot ethnic elements with modern production values. It is a solid, well-made ‘slow-tsifteteli’, with its English verse, and Greek choruses.
LGR’s Tony Neophytou said, “On first listening I felt really hypnotised, mainly because of its melodic riffs and Andromaches’ sultry presence and it’s good traits as a Eurovision song.
He added, “It is evoking Cypriot folklore music which has a veneer of authenticity to today’s music market.”
The track is an ethno song that embellishes the instrument of bouzouki and the flute which blends into the ensemble, giving this track a more modernised touch, mixing old and new.
With its catchy choruses and useful ‘Ela’ hook, the song is almost uniquely seductive and sung very well.
The percussions and the bouzouki add some magical reverie to the song.
Andromache’s music video to “Na Soun Psema” has accumulated millions of views on YouTube. Her current hit is “Vasano Mou” and other hits include “S’agapo”, “To Feggari” and “De Mporo”.
The whole Eurovision package from Cyprus, with the ethno-beat, helps to stand-out in a competitive field of some 18 songs in the semi-finals.
Andromache’s stage routine will ultimately drive the song’s fortunes at the contest.
Marvin Dietmann and Dan Shipton are responsible for the creative and artistic aesthetics that we will see. There are two female dancers – Despina Lagoudaki and Nefeli Theodotou assisting Andromache’s stage performance.
Tony Neophytou at LGR believes in Cyprus’s chances of qualifying, saying, “Ethnic songs do really well at this contest, especially ones with well-crafted melodies.
He continues, “The mid-tempo song is lively enough, which packs a fair bit of oomph. The sweet ornamented melody is driving the catchy hook-line. A pretty song, which is causual and laidback, which produces a nice result. Her ethereal vocal suits the floaty, airy light template, with its verse and chorus. Her “Aman” utterances, are, so sultry and pleasing… The potential exists of a real great stage act, which will help to elevate it as a radio song probably qualify it as a result.”
The official music video looks like a period set-piece with its old-century aesthetics.
Andromache is signed to Panik Records, whose roster includes former Eurovision predecessors such as Ivi Adamou, Demy, Eleni Foureira and Anna Vissi and Elena Tsagrinou.
Cyprus has a streak of six qualification songs to the finals, from 2015 to 2021 and the Cypriot delegation will be quietly optimistic about their chances at a seventh finalist.
Andromache performs in slot number 9 in the running order of 18.
Cyprus competes in the Eurovision Second Semi-Final which airs on Thursday 12th May on BBC Three. The Top 10 qualifying countries will advance to the Final on Saturday 14th May, on BBC One.
London Greek Radio wishes Andromache and Cyprus the best of luck in the Eurovision.
Article written by Tony Neophytou
LGR Club Nights coming soon…
One of the biggest Greek club nights in North London, which is celebrating its tenth year is back soon.
Its been two years since LGR’s 30th anniversary bash as a FM-licensed station at The Country Club, Trent Park, on November 2019.
LGR launched its debut Club Nights on Thursday 19th April 2012, with Cypriot singer Ivi Adamou, Cyprus’ former Eurovision entrant that year. Her performance, with London-Cypriot act Kyriacos Georgiou had wowed over 500 club-spectators…
LGR event DJs and music acts have performed throughout its ten-year reign. The leading-stars-of-Greek music Stan and Kelly Kelekidou, Giorgos Mais, Valentinos Valeas and home-grown talented, G3orge-e, Mixalis Theodosiou, Elizabeth Chapman, and Iphigenia Loucaides have all featured.
LGR Club Nights are celebrating 10 years. 2012 – 2022.
Check back for all of the latest information about our next event, which is coming real soon!
LGR 103.3 FM London, lgr.co.uk, or DAB+ in Birmingham, London, Manchester, via LGR App and smart speaker, ”Play London Greek Radio”
Article written by London Greek Radio
Eurovision excitement has already started with Greece announcing this year’s Eurovision act.
Greek TV bosses have confirmed that Amanda Tenfjord – real name Amanda Georgiadis – will be representing their nation.
This year, the Eurovision Song Contest takes place in Turin, at PalaOlimpico, in May.
The 25-year-old, who is studying to be a doctor, is a half Greek and half Norwegian singer-songwriter, born in Ioannina, Greece. She was raised in Norway.
Her Eurovision song is described as a strong, melodic and modern ballad with emotional overtones which cut deep. It’s a break-up song about a genuine relationship that’s expected to tear at the heart-strings.
Amanda has co-written the song with fellow Norwegian producer and songwriter, Bjørn Helge Gammelsæterx. Her vocal has a latent self-doubt, fragile vulnerability, which works well with such emotional songs. This, coupled with the slow-introspective song-style, seems to suit Amanda.
As a versatile artist, Amanda mixes modern pop, folk, electronic, alternative and ambient moods.
ERT, Greece’s national broadcaster, listened to an estimated 40 songs from 28 artists. The seven-member Greek jurors’ were solely given the task of assessing each of the applicant’s song merits and its potential Eurovision success.
The music experts were Dimitris Papadimitriou, composer, and President of its internal selection, Maria Kozakou, Fotis Apergis, Peter Adam, Giannis Petridis, Konstantinos Bourounis and Leonidas Antonopoulos.
Eurovision jurors whittled down the original entrants to just five short-listed finalists, formally announcing Amanda’s “beautiful” ballad, as the outright favourite, last December.
Amanda beat off the other four finalists in a highly competitive selection, who were, Good Job Nicky (Nikola Varthakouri) – the son of legendary singer Yiannis Parios, Ilias Kozas – lead frontman of Koza Mostra, pop-rock fusion artist Joanna Drigo and Entehno-styled singer Lou Is, or Louiza Sofianopoulou.
The Eurovision song and its song title too will be officially released alongside the music video by director, Kostas Karydas, in the coming weeks.
Amanda’s Eurovision circles confirmed that Fokas Evangelinos, a legendary creative director in Eurovision, will be responsible for the staging concept.
She has already had several television appearances and toured the European festival circuit. In 2017, Amanda was the recipient of a Role Model Award, in the Scandinavian, Nordic By:Larm music festival awards.
Amanda released her debut EP ‘First Impression’ and her most-streamed song on Spotify is ‘Then I Fell In Love’, which has racked up over 1.5 million views. In 2020, Netflix featured her song ‘Troubled Water’, in the series Spinning Out.
Last year’s Greek Eurovision act Stefania earned a Top 10 finish with a Dimitris Kontopoulos and Arcade production, ‘Last Dance’.
The Eurovision Song Contest takes place in Turin at PalaOlimpico and spans two mid-week Semi-Finals and a Final on Saturday 14th May 2022.
Greece competes in the first Semi-Final, on Tuesday 10th May, with only 10 acts advancing on the night.
Make sure you regularly return to lgr.co.uk to hear all the latest Eurovision news and by tuning into London Greek Radio on FM, on digital, via the LGR App and Smart Speaker, ‘Play London Greek Radio’.
Article written by Tony Neophytou
Cypriot singer Konstantina released the charity song called “Antipera Oxthi” in aid of CyBC’s 2021 Radiomarathonios.
Her sweet mid-tempo ballad is written off to Cypriot composer Stalo Georgiou and lyricist Fanis Anastasiou.
The song is accompanied by the music video filmed in Pano Lefkara, in Larnaca. It’s visually aesthetically beautiful with its picturesque village.
Konstantina is driving the video performance forward with Taksidi Sti Siopi, the nation’s official sign-language school.
The people from the school and even Konstantina sing-along-to-the verses and choruses, with the medium of sign-language throughout the various parts of the song’s music video.
Its songwriter Stalo Georgiou’s participation, in the signing sequences to the music video is furthermore, a lovely touch.
Credits:
Singer: Konstantina
Music: Stalo Georgiou
Lyrics: Fani Anastasiou
Music Production: Christos Moralis
Video Production: Stefanos Zrika
Sign-language School: Taksidi Sti Siopi
Article written by London Greek Radio
Stath Lets Flats, with its quaint eccentric humour and a Greek, Cypriot twist…
The BAFTA TV-winning agency comedy will begin in October, series 3 will pick up events following the series two cliffhanger, with the family agency in jeopardy.
Channel 4 renewed the so-called “British Cypriot” comedy for a third series in the autumn of 2020, following a BAFTA TV winning streak.
At the time, London Cypriot creator and star-of-the-show “Stath” Jamie Demetriou commented: “This is lovely. I love Channel 4. Thanks so much for having us back for a series three. Sorry the title is still hard to say. Love Jamie Demetriou from Stalph Les Flav”.
Series two of the sitcom won three BAFTA TV Awards: Best Male Actor in a comedy, for lead star Jamie Demetriou; Best Writer of a Comedy, also for Demetriou; and the programme itself won the award for Best Scripted Comedy.
Also returning are Demetriou’s sister, Natasia (What We Do In The Shadows), Al Roberts (King Gary), Christos Stergioglou (Dogtooth), Katy Wix (Ghosts), Kiell-Smith-Bynoe (Ghosts) and Ellie White (The Other One).
Comedy actors Charlie Cooper (This Country), Julia Davis (Gavin and Stacey) and David Avery (We Are Lady Parts) will all be joining the third series.
Davis will guest in one episode as Kris, Carole’s belittling and snobbish sister. Meanwhile Avery plays Bambos, Stath’s flash barber cousin; and Cooper plays Gregory, a lettings agent who is “passionately devoted to his wife and runs a rival agency called Live Love Lets”.
Jamie Demetriou said, “Times are the worst they have been in living memory, but fear not, a sitcom about a lettings agency is back for a third series! All the characters (bar a few who had availability issues) are back and saying stuff aaaall over again! Get ready to hear what they say!
“Listen closely and you might even hear a thing or two from some new celebrated guest stars. Did somebody say… the whole England football team? No, it’ll be comedy actors!”
The third series is set to pick up following the season two cliffhanger, which saw Stath tasked with rescuing the family business, Michael & Eagle, in addition to facing up the terrible state of his love life.
Ash Atalla, managing director of the show’s production company Roughcut TV, said: “We’re so happy to bring STATH back and welcome the new cast. The audition process was nine months of actually letting flats so we have high hopes for the new series.”
Stath Lets Flats returns to Channel 4 at 10:15pm on Tuesday 26th October.
Article written by London Greek Radio
Michael Constantine, known for playing ‘Gus Portokalos’, the patriarch father, in “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” has died. He was 94.
Constantine was a native of Reading, Pennsylvania and the son of Greek immigrants. He died on 31st August but news of his death has only just been released.
In the film, the highest-grossing romantic comedy of all time, the ‘know-it-all’ Gus was popular for thinking that “Windex” (an American brand of glass and hard-surface cleaner), could cure just about any ailment.
“I’m actually sick of Windex,” he said. “There must have been hundreds of bottles sent to me, and then there were all those people who asked me to autograph their Windex bottles.”
His character coined the iconic phrase in the film’s franchise, “There are two kinds of people,” he reminds Toula, (Nia Vardalos) “Greeks, and Everybody Else who Wish they was Greek.”
Actress Nia Vardalos paid tribute to her on-screen father on Twitter, writing: “Michael Constantine, the dad to our cast-family, a gift to the written word, and always a friend. Acting with him came with a rush of love and fun. I will treasure this man who brought Gus to life. He gave us so much laughter and deserves a rest now. We love you Michael.”
Rita Wilson, who produced My Big Fat Greek Wedding and the sequel film and served as an executive producer on My Big Fat Greek Life, also paid tribute to Constantine on Twitter, posting, alongside a photo of him with a poster for the second film, “My friend, Michael Constantine, our sweet patriarch of the Portokalos family, has gone to heaven. I’m so thankful for the love he brought to his Windex wielding, loving father in both our My Big Fat Greek Wedding Movies and the series My Big Fat Greek Life.”
He was born Gus Efstratiou on 22nd May 1927, the son of an iron worker. After attending Reading High School and a stint as the manager of the dairy department at his local grocery store, he didn’t really know what he wanted to do for a living. A chance encounter with a friend who had left for New York to become an actress convinced him to follow her lead.
Constantine eventually studied acting with Howard Da Silva (Broadway’s Oklahoma!) and spent nearly almost two years with the ‘Inherit the Wind’ company. He then played a character based on attorney Clarence Darrow opposite Dean Stockwell, Roddy McDowall and Da Silva in ‘Compulsion’, a dramatisation of the Leopold and Loeb murder trial.
In ‘The Miracle Worker’, he portrayed Anagnos, the man who put Annie Sullivan (Bancroft) with the Keller family.
Constantine made his big-screen debut alongside Mickey Rooney in the death-row- themed ‘The Last Mile’ (1959), directed by Howard W. Koch. He soon proved adept at TV guest-starring roles in the 1960s, appearing on The Defenders, Naked City, Dr. Kildare, The Untouchables, The Twilight Zone, Perry Mason, Ironside and The Flying Nun.
He had a regular role as one of the apartment-building residents, a photographer, on the 1966-67 NBC sitcom ‘Hey, Landlord’, created by Garry Marshall and Jerry Belson, and he starred as a night court judge on the 1976-77 NBC comedy ‘Sirota’s Court’.
On NBC’s Remington Steele, Constantine showed up in a few episodes as eager businessman George Edward Mulch.
His film résumé also included Beau Geste (1966), Steve McQueen’s The Reivers (1969), The North Avenue Irregulars (1979), Prancer (1989), My Life (1993) and The Juror (1996).
Constantine won the Emmy for best supporting actor in a comedy in 1970 for playing ‘Seymour Kaufman’, the jaded principal at L.A.’s fictional Walt Whitman High and was nominated the following year as well.
The series, created by the soon-to-be legendary Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Simpsons co-creator James L. Brooks, was ahead of its time, featuring an integrated cast that tackled serious contemporary issues during its five-season (1969-74) run.
Constantine also portrayed Big John, a pool-playing associate of Minnesota Fats (Jackie Gleason), in Robert Rossen’s atmospheric The Hustler (1961) and was among those taking a whirlwind tour of Europe in If It’s Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium (1969).
He also played an intelligence officer from behind the Iron Curtain in Don’t Drink the Water (1969), a film version of Woody Allen’s Broadway hit.
On the stage, Constantine served as Paul Muni’s understudy in the original 1955-57 production of Inherit the Wind on Broadway and then appeared with Patty Duke and Anne Bancroft in The Miracle Worker, playing the head of the institute for the blind.
Constantine was married and divorced twice. He is survived by his sisters, Patricia and Chris and his adult children, Brendan Constantine (Son) and Thea Constantine (Daughter).
Our prayers and condolences go out to Michael’s family and friends.
Michael Constantine 1927 – 2021
Article written by London Greek Radio
Tonight’s Eurovision Grand Final sees Helena Paparizou in a one-off ‘Rock the Roof’ interval act for this year’s competition.
16 years later since Greece’s first Eurovision winner, in 2005, with the still-brilliant ‘My Number One’.
And just hours after celebrating her Orthodox Greek name, she’s in for a weekend of celebration with Eurovision fans world-wide.
‘Rock the Roof’ will be a spectacular interval performance featuring six previous winners of the Eurovision song contest.
The former champions will perform their winning songs across three unique arenas in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
The roofs of party venue Maassilo, Hotel New York and the iconic Boijmans Van Beuningen Depot museum will be transformed into sky-high stages for the performers.
The other winners involved are Lenny Kuhr (De Troubadour, Netherlands 1969), Teach-In with Getty Kaspers (Ding-a-dong, Netherlands 1975), Sandra Kim (J’aime La Vie, Belgium 1986), Lordi (Hard Rock Hallelujah, Finland 2006) and Måns Zelmerlöw (Heroes, Sweden 2015).
EBU press release outlines: “The winners will perform their song from three unique locations in the Eurovision Song Contest host city Rotterdam. The roofs of the Maassilo, Hotel New York and the Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen will be transformed into a stage, lifting the six former winners to new heights. Hence the name of the act: ‘Rock the Roof’.”
Head of Show Gerben Bakker said: “The Eurovision Song Contest is back after a year of absence. Reason enough to treat the millions of viewers to unique performances from three locations in the middle of the city. The title of this great act is ‘Rock the Roof’ for a reason. By literally filming at great heights, we want to surprise Europe creatively and visually. In addition, I could not have wished for a better city than Rotterdam. Every shot in this city is a hit. Rotterdam will not soon be forgotten.”
“Because this is the 65th Eurovision Song Contest, we are taking a journey through time. Of course we give Dutch winners such as Lenny Kuhr and Getty Kaspers this unique podium with a lot of love. We are particularly proud that Teach-In reunites in the original line-up after a very long time. Every performance has its own unique atmosphere.”
Cyprus, Greece, the UK
Cyprus’ singer Elena Tsagrinou with ‘El Diablo’ have the honour of opening the contest, slot #1. Greece’s Stefania Liberakakis with ‘Last Dance’ is up at slot #10. Elsewhere, UK’s act James Newman, with ‘Embers’ in the running order of 26 is at slot number #9.
The Eurovision Song Contest Final 2021, Saturday 22nd May, at 8pm BST
Photo credit: Panos Giannakopoulos
Article written by Tony Neophytou
Greek singer Stefania on Thursday night qualified for the Eurovision Song Contest Final with her song ‘Last Dance‘.
18-year-old Stefania Liberakakis had taken to the Ahoy Arena in Rotterdam. She was born in Utrecht in the Netherlands to Greek parents from Sofiko Evrou in Greece.
‘Last Dance’ is a 80s slight retro-uptempo catchy song, current and mainstream. The Eurovision-friendly hit which has entered London Greek Radio playlists.
It a progressive well-built song, atmospheric and up-tempo on top of swirling hooks. Stefania dramatically drips over a cocktail of bass lines, scintillating strings and a “Ooh oh oh” refrain drives the up-beat vibes.
LGR’s Tony Neophytou said, “Last Dance is a really pretty song, very melodic. It is catchy and very captivating as a Eurovision song requires”.
The Eurovision veteran Dimitris Kontopoulos and music production ARCADE, composed and produced the tune, with lyrics by Sharon Vaughn. Teaming up with creative director Fokas Evangelinos has certainly proved fruitful, and with his reputation as the innovative stage creator, Greece has an ace up their sleeve.
The hi-tech wizardry and green screen performance: the digital invisible dancers which look really cool. At one point Stefania climbs invisible stairs against a futouristic city landscape.
The four dancers, Giorgos Papadopoulos, Marcos Giakoumoglou, Nikos Koukakis and Kostas Pavlopoulos.
It is very slick and visually arresting, and unique than anything else in this year’s Eurovision line-up.
Mr Neophytou’s view, “Stefania’s teen pop looks, talent and telegenic, likeable, approachable personality, are good assets to this pop-package. The wink to the camera was a sweet touch”.
Of the 17 competing countries, Greece was one of the 10 that gained enough votes from professional juries and the public to advance to Saturday night’s sing-off.
Stefania sang fourth in the running order and gave a strong performance of the dance number.
The announcement of the 10 qualifying songs was a nail-biter, with Greece ninth to be announced.
This is the eleventh time that Greece has qualified for a Eurovision since 2008.
Bookmakers and fan polls had predicted that Greece would make it through this highly competitive semi-final.
Greek fashion designer Vrettos Vrettakos, fits Stefania into a violet glitter outfit, she’s got real teen pop star looks. The team consists too, of Giannis Mourikis, as the set designer. George Segredakis, who’s designed the costumes of the dancers. Asterman Company, who’s undertook the creation of graphics.
In 2016, Stefania represented The Netherlands at Junior Eurovision in Malta, as part of the three-piece girl group Kisses. Their upbeat song ‘Kisses and Dancin’ placed eighth in the contest.
Amongst the other qualifiers was Switzerland’s Gjon’s Tears ‘Tout L’univers’ ballad number. The Icelandic song ’10 Years’ also qualified and is now sixth favourite to go the distance and win on Saturday.
The other qualifying songs were from San Marino, Moldova, Albania, Serbia, Finland, Portugal and Bulgaria.
Greece are at slot number #10, in the final. Meanwhile, Cyprus’ singer Elena Tsagrinou with ‘El Diablo’ has the honour of opening the night, slot #1. Elsewhere, UK’s James Newman with ‘Embers’ in the running order of 26 at slot number #9.
London Greek Radio wishes Stefania and Greece the best of luck in the Eurovision.
* Pic: Stefania celebrates after securing a place in the final in Rotterdam, in the second semi-final for the Eurovision Song Contest.
Article written by Tony Neophytou
