ENTERTAINMENT
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
Tonight Greece compete in the Second Semi-Final of Eurovision which airs at 8pm BST.
18-year-old Stefania Liberakakis takes to the Ahoy Arena in Rotterdam in her country of birth. She was born in Utrecht in the Netherlands to Greek parents from Sofiko Evrou in Greece.
She is a fresh, very talented young lady and ‘Last Dance’ is a really good 80’s retro up-tempo song. The radio-friendly hit, current, mainstream, 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. She is a very good vocalist and in rehearsals Stefania nails a big note at the end of this song.
She is likeable, amenable, telegenic, even gives a cheeky wink to camera, all in all, a lovely pop-package.
LGR’s Tony Neophytou said, “Last Dance is actually a pretty song, very melodic. It’s 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 staging is immensely creative, with its hi-tech, green screen wizardry. The digital invisible dancers with hoodies or other bodily parts are fun elements, which look really cool. At one point Stefania climbs invisible steps, and there’s a bit Stefania and her dancers come together as song progresses.
It’s 80’s aesthetics with blues/purple neon and a city skyscraper, which works with the retro feel to this song.
The four dancers, confirmed as Giorgos Papadopoulos, Marcos Giakoumoglou, Nikos Koukakis and Kostas Pavlopoulos.
It is visually arresting, very different and unique than anything else in this year’s Eurovision line-up.
The Eurovision odds favouring Greece as 10th or so in winning outright, and 4th as a semi-final favourite to advance through to Saturday night.
It has been 8 years since Greece was a Top 10 in the finals, 2013’s, still-great ‘Alcohol is Free’. The team have pulled out all the stops to qualify and to conquer the left-side scoreboard.
In Mr Neophytou’s view, “The stage act is a very slick, professional, and the creativity is really good. It’s a catchy Eurovision song and enjoyable, let’s hope the public has the appetite to lap this up!”
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.
The Top 10 qualifying countries are through to Saturday night’s sing-off.
Stefania performs in the running order of 17 at slot number #4.
London Greek Radio wishes Stefania and Greece the best of luck in the competition.
Article written by Tony Neophytou
Cyprus’ singer Elena Tsagrinou on Tuesday night qualified for the Eurovision Song Contest Final with her song ‘El Diablo’.
The entry is penned by producer Jimmy “Joker” Thornfeldt, a Swedish Grammy-Award winner. He collaborates on the tune with Laurell Barker, Oxa, and Thomas Stengaard.
It is a radio-friendly hit, current and mainstream, which has entered London Greek Radio playlists.
The fun number stirs with a hidden message, she’s in a toxic relationship with a “bad boy” or even “aliti” in Greek. She somehow escapes the wrong’un by the end of this song.
The refrain that would even make a Yorkshire terrier twerk on demand sinks in, you realise ‘El Diablo’ is just as catchy and addictive as anything on the Eurovision line-up this year.
LGR’s Tony Neophytou’s said, “The Cypriot song is really catchy and is instantaneous which a Eurovision song requires.”
Of the 16 competing countries, Cyprus was one of the 10 that gained enough votes from professional juries and the public to advance to Saturday night’s sing-off.
Elena sang eighth in the running order and gave a strong performance of the catchy up-tempo bop. Elena’s dynamic singing and dancing act, with her four female dancers Chali Jennings, Liolia Kerogli, Paraskevi Karataidou and Mariia Sharafetdinova.
It is a very slick stage show, with features like a great mirror-effect and extremely punchy red colours, even fire-lit flames.
Mr Neophytou’s view, “Elena’s energetic performance and a likeable demeanour helps sell this song. It is very slick and well-done. I think it might get a pretty decent result, potentially Top 10 finish, a result Cypriots would be proud of.”
Elena seems a lovely person and likeable and approachable which helps sell the song.
She finishes with a sideways knowing glance to camera, which is a sweet touch.
Cyprus will be staged with the help of Austrian artistic director Marvin Dietmann who helped Austria to a Eurovision triumph in 2014 with their song ‘Rise Like a Phoenix’.
The announcement of the 10 qualifying songs was a nail-biter, with Cyprus seventh to be announced.
This is the sixth time that Cyprus has qualified for a Eurovision since 2015.
Bookmakers and fan polls had predicted that Cyprus would make it through this highly competitive semi-final.
Amongst the other qualifiers was Malta’s Destiny up-tempo fun number with ‘Je Me Casse’. The Ukrainian song ‘Shum’ also qualified and is now fourth favourite to go the distance and win on Saturday.
The other qualifying songs were from Lithuania, Russia, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, Israel, Azerbaijan.
Elena began her music career in 2008 as the lead soloist of the Greek band OtherView, before pursuing a solo career after she left them in 2018.
Elena is signed to Panik Records one of Greece’s biggest music labels in Greece, and Cyprus, releasing many hits which are much-loved modern hits heard on the LGR air-waves.
It’s now full steam ahead for Team Cyprus towards Saturday night, and beyond that… to stick-to-it’s winning formulae in 2022!
London Greek Radio wishes Elena and Cyprus the best of luck in the Eurovision.
*Pic: Elena Tsagrinou celebrates after securing a place in the final in Rotterdam, in the first semi-final for the Eurovision Song Contest. Her female dancers and head of the Cypriot delegation Evi Papamichael in the green room.
Article written by Tony Neophytou
It‘s that Eurovision time of year. Tonight Cyprus compete in the First Semi-Final for Eurovision, which airs at 8pm BST.
26-year-old Greek singer Elena Tsagrinou takes to the Ahoy Arena in Rotterdam in slot #8 out of 16 countries.
‘El Diablo‘ is an up-tempo, dance-pop song, current and mainstream. It is a radio-friendly hit, which has entered London Greek Radio playlists.
The entry is penned by producer Jimmy “Joker” Thornfeldt, a Swedish Grammy-Award winner. He collaborates on the tune with Laurell Barker, Oxa, and Thomas Stengaard.
The refrain that would even make a Yorkshire terrier twerk on demand sinks in, you realise ‘El Diablo’ is just as catchy and addictive as anything on the Eurovision line-up this year.
LGR’s Tony Neophytou’s said, “The Cypriot song is really catchy and is instantaneous which a Eurovision song requires.”
Elena Tsagrinou found time aside from rehearsals and told London Greek Radio, “The people behind the Cypriot team are exceptional and professional individuals. Panik records label every step has assisted me in this entire process. I instantly thought this was a strong song and felt it was exactly competitive enough, which a Eurovision song requires [translated].”
We are told there is a deeper meaning about someone who’s fallen in love with a “bad boy” or even “aliti” in Greek. CyBC in a statement said the song describes an abusive relationship and what it means to be a victim of this abuse. “The song represents the age-old battle between good and evil and it speaks of a problematic relationship between a man and woman who suffers from Stockholm Syndrome – the psychological condition when a victim of abuse identifies and bonds with their abuser – who seeks help to get out and the truth always shines.”
The Eurovision odds have favoured Cyprus’ entry as 5th most likely winner in this year’s Eurovision line-up. The entry moreover is a Semi-Final favourite with Malta, Ukraine and Lithuania, and no doubt Cypriot avid fans are cock-a-hoop at knowing the island’s entry is so well-received at this pre-contest stage.
Last night jurors already cast their votes in a dress-rehearsal, meaning half-of-all-votes have been allocated, it’s up to the public to have their say now.
Elena Tsagrinou, is telegenic, star-of-the-stage performance, seductive, and sultry which suits the song. Elena seems a lovely person and likeable and approachable which are good assets, to this whole package.
The Athenian songstress is a pop-package as a strong performance artist and vocalist. Stylist-to-the-stars Celia Kritharioti has fitted Elena into a sparkly silver-outfit. Elena has four female dancers Chali Jennings [choreographer], Liolia Kerogli, Paraskevi Karataidou and Mariia Sharafetdinova. Her dancers are in red cat-suits against a fiery red backdrop which suits the song.
It’s a very slick and professional stage show for Cyprus’ up-tempo fun song. The precise staging makes good a mirror prop, which is basically mirroring dancers and Elena which is a cool effect. She finishes with a sideways knowing glance to camera, which is a sweet touch.
Cyprus will be staged with the help of Austrian artistic director Marvin Dietmann who helped Austria to a Eurovision triumph in 2014 with their song ‘Rise Like a Phoenix’.
Mr Neophytou’s view, “Elena’s energetic performance and a likeable demeanour help this song. It is very slick and well-done. It is a decent song and I think the result will be pretty decent, potentially a Top 10 finish, a result Cypriots would be proud of.”
Cyprus is defending a qualification streak since 2015, without a pause. The Cypriot delegation will be quietly optimistic about their qualifying chances for a sixth year.
LGR’s ‘Eurovision guru’ spelt it out, “The chances at qualification are pretty good and in a semi-final with competition in this genre. The catchier Cypriot song and elevated staging helps to sell it, let’s hope the public reciprocates with a few votes its way.”
Elena began her music career in 2008 as the lead soloist of the Greek band OtherView, before pursuing a solo career after she left them in 2018.
CyBc bosses have stuck to the successful formulae, of internally picking artist and song-package. Elena is signed to Panik Records one of Greece’s biggest music labels in Greece, and Cyprus, releasing many hits which are much-loved modern hits heard on the LGR air-waves.
Elena performs in the running order of 16 at slot number 8.
The Top 10 qualifying countries are through to the Final on Saturday 22nd May, on BBC One.
London Greek Radio wishes Elena and Cyprus the best of luck in the Eurovision.
Article written by Tony Neophytou
Greece named 18-year-old Stefania Liberakakis as the 2021 Greek artist at the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam in The Netherlands.
The fledging young-artist would have a second shot at Eurovision, exactly a year later. Stefania with ‘Superg!rl’, a up-tempo ethnic banger, was due to represent the Greek nation, at 2020s’ cancelled contest. Unfortunately, the Coronavirus pandemic even took its toll, on our favourite music event.
The Greek broadcaster ERT announced Stefania at Eurovision’s second semi-final, at Rotterdam’s Ahoy Arena, this May. She was born in Utrecht in the Netherlands to Greek parents from Sofiko Evrou in Greece.
Stefania will perform ‘Last Dance’, 80’s inspired, modern, up-tempo dance number, and is said to have dynamic musical twists. The radio-friendly pop song with its 80’s feel, is current and on-trend with music now. There are said to be influences, from Dua Lupa’s ‘Physical’ rhythmical-wise in the choruses or refrain. The song progresses from slow-atmospheric, to up-tempo, and is believed to have a solid melodic chorus line. A tune written by the song-writing team, behind her previous entrant.
The Eurovision veteran Dimitris Kontopoulos and music production ARCADE, composed and produced the tune, with lyrics by Sharon Vaughn. The creative director Fokas Evangelinos will be responsible for the stage-performance, known in Eurovision circles, for his innovative staging, for many countries. The four male dancers, accompanying Stefania have been confirmed, as Nikos Koukakis, Marcus Giakoumoglou, Kostas Pavlopoulos, Giorgos Papadopoulos.
The lyrics have optimistic overtures, which suggest this won’t be the ‘Last Dance’, instead there will be infinite chances to “dance”, with affirmative life-choices and moments, amid a post-coronavirus pandemic world.
The music video which is filmed in Athens, at the Hilton Hotel and Jockey Club, among other Athenian places, and is said to have encapsulated the concept, that in every end there is a beginning. The filmmaker Kostas Karidas said his video is creating an imaginary, fantastical, dream-like narrative, with Stefania centred at the core of this action. There are special effects, and a sense of wonderment in the visuals, furthermore, Karidas underlined, the video will have no similarities, to the stage act or routine.
Eurovision fans will be waiting with feverish anticipation, for release of the Greek tune and the official music video, in March.
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.
Stefania came to fame in 2014, when she participated on The Voice Kids. After wowing judges with her audition performance of Alicia Keys’ ‘No One’, Stefania made it as far as the Battle round before being eliminated. She also sang as part of the Dutch children’s choir Kinderen voor Kinderen.
More recently, Stefania has worked on her solo pop career. In 2019, Stefania released ‘Turn Around’, a sophisticated contemporary pop track. Her debut single in 2018, ‘Stupid Reasons’ reached No1 in the Kids Top 20, a hit single, composed and written by J Joachim Vermeulen Windsant and Maarten ten Hove. She released the single ‘Wonder’ which was the soundtrack to the animation film ‘Wonder Park’.
Stefania has also been working on her pop career in Greece. She performed at the Mad VMA music awards [2019], as part of an all-girl cover of Daddy Yankee’s ‘Con calma’ along with Ilenia Williams and Konnie Metaxa.
As well as singing, Stefania also has an acting career. She has starred in the Dutch high school mockumentary Brugklas, the recent dystopian action film De club van lelijke kinderen (The club of ugly children) and made an appearance in the teen comedy 100% Coco New York.
Greece compete in the second Eurovision Semi-Final which airs on Thursday 20th May. The final will be broadcast on Saturday 22nd May, at 8pm BST on BBC1.
London Greek Radio wishes Stefania and Greece the best of luck in the competition.
Article written by Tony Neophytou
