EUROVISION
Top 40 London Greek Radio Airplay Chart, March 2021.
Some of this month’s most-played Greek hit songs on LGR. Spinning the best new hit music not to mention hot exclusives and promos…
London Greek Radio Est. 1989.
The original station you know, tunes you trust
1 Konstantinos Argiros – Tha ‘mai Edo
2 Konstantinos Christoforou – S’ Ena Tetarto
3 Ivi Adamou, Giorgos Mazonakis – Fotia Mou
4 Vasilis Karras – Lene Gia Mena [NEW VERSION]
5 Gianna Terzi, Paschalis Terzis – Gia Sena Mono
6 Petros Iakovidis – Mi Thymoneis
7 Melisses – Pou ‘nai I Agapi
8 Nikos Oikonomopoulos – Emena Na Akous
9 Michalis Hatzigiannis – Min Argeis
10 Natasa Theodoridou – Exapsi
11 Antonis Remos – Otan Se Rotisane
12 Katy Garbi, Dionisis Shinas – Atofio Hrisafi [NEW VERSION]
13 Giorgos Papadopoulos – Pote Tha Se Do
14 Panos Kiamos – Eipa Ki Ego
15 Josephine – Paliopaido [NEW]
16 Anastasios Rammos – Oti Ki An Kano
17 Konstantinos Pantelidis – Ki An Me Miso
18 Konstantinos Argiros – Athina Mou
19 Christos Menidiatis – Teleftaia Agkalia [NEW]
20 Ageliki Darra – Se Thelo Edo [NEW, World Exclusive to London Greek Radio]
21 Ioulia Kallimani, Stamatis Gonidis – Gynaika Einai
22 Giannis Ploutarhos – Monos Mou [NEW]
23 Giorgos Sampanis, Panos Katsimichas – Afto Pou Agapas
24 Helena Paparizou [Feat. Marseaux] – Deja Vu
25 Petros Iakovidis – Mou Lipses Poli [NEW]
26 Giorgos Tsalikis – Ftais
27 Natasa Theodoridou – Paradothika Se ‘sena
28 Loukas Giorkas – Mou Eleipses Poly
29 Giorgos Kakosaios – I Mia [NEW]
30 Anna Vissi – Loulaki [NEW]
31 Elena Tsagrinou – El Diablo [NEW, Cyprus Eurovision Song Contest 2021]
32 Stefania – Last Dance [NEW, Greece Eurovision Song Contest 2021]
33 Giannis Parios – Ah Agapi [NEW]
34 Stan – Na Xanartheis
35 Melina Aslanidou, Glykeria – Ftani Kai Perisevi [NEW]
36 Panos Kiamos, Anastasios Rammos – Sta Hirotera [NEW]
37 Alkistis Protopsalti – Nikites Chamenoi
38 Sakis Rouvas – Yperanthropos
39 Thodoris Ferris – Paraskevi
40 Elli Kokkinou – Ti Echo Travixei
Your Top 20 Chart Hits
lgr.co.uk/chart/
Article written by London Greek Radio
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.
Article written by Tony Neophytou
In essence, tonight was supposed to be Eurovision night but our favourite song contest, like other events around the globe, has been postponed.
Instead, we’ll be watching “Eurovision: Europe Shine A Light”, a non-competitive replacement “song contest” which honours the 41 countries which would have competed to win the 2020 Eurovision crown.
Hosted by Chantel Janzen, Edsilia Rombleyand and Jan Smit, who would have fronted the ‘regular’ Eurovision from the Ahoy Arena of Rotterdam in The Netherlands, it promises to be just as spectaculous!
Eleni Foureira, whose ‘Fuego’ tune came second for Cyprus in the 2018 Eurovision, returns with a virtual performance in the “Eurovision Heroes” segment of the show.
Other returning artists, alongside the current “Class of Eurovision” have a virtual sing-song [from their countries] to thank essential frontline workers battling Coronavirus daily.
In a time before “social distancing” and “staying at home”, there was often occasion for Cyprus and Greece to come up with their Eurovision trump-cards.
Cypriot broadcaster CyBC internally selected Sandro Nicholas [real name Alessandro Rütten] to fly the island’s flag.
The entry ‘Running‘ is a deep, house-style inspired electronic-pop song and is dark and dramatic. The lyrics have a deeper meaning about mental health issues and depression and is very relevant now, as this once taboo-issue is ever-more discussed openly, with its impact on males in particular.
The 23-year-old German-Greek singer-songwriter, worked for months to find the right song and he co-wrote it with Greek producer Teo Arkitekt, Australian singer-songwriter Alfie Arcuri, Sebastian Rickards, and Octavian Rasinariu.
CyBC told LGR, “Having gone through depression himself, Sandro’s performance underlines the tunnel of darkness that we must keep on running through in difficulties or catastrophes but also of the strength needed to stand tall and not fall.”
The video is dark and moody with Sandro appearing as a solitary figure.
As the song choruses on about ‘running’ progressively, it comes to a visual-climax in a hopeful and optimistic way, with shades of light on the screen.
For Greece, 17-year-old Stefania Liberakakis stood out as the nation’s candidate this year. She was born in The Netherlands to Greek parents from Greece.
‘Superg!rl‘ is an up-tempo, pop-dance track with ethnic beats that are really catchy. The song has already entered the radio-friendly playlists of London Greek Radio for several months.
The song’s lyrics are about social adolescent empowerment and young people attaining their goals, as well as trusting their super-innate-strength to achieve their ambition.
Unfortunately, Eurovision fans won’t have the chance to see the Greek ‘Superg!rl’ on stage, however, there will be news about the singer’s Eurovision adventure.
The broadcaster confirmed Stefania would be Greece’s Eurovision 2021 Song Contest act, with a new Eurovision tune up her sleeve especially composed for next year. The details of the entry are not yet known, although we think it might include the current team of creative songwriting talent.
Eurovision veteran, Dimitris Kontopoulos and Arcade comprising of Pavlos Manolis, Diveno and Gabriel Russel composed and produced ‘Superg!rl’. The lyrics are co-written with Swedish songwriter Sharon Vaughn.
The music video was filmed in Athens which included the Fokas Evangelinos dance school of performing arts.
Mr Evangelinos who has staged some of the biggest and effective performances in Eurovision for Greece, Russia and Azerbaijan, has confirmed his involvement in the Greek song next year.
To top off the night, all 41 acts will come together, from their separate locations across Europe, for a rendition of the United Kingdom’s 1997 winner ‘Love Shine a Light’ by Katrina and the Waves.
Watch Cyprus and Greece Eurovision videos here: lgr.co.uk/videos
Article written by Tony Neophytou
Greece has confirmed that Stefania will be the nation’s representative at the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam taking place later this year.
The 17-year-old Greek-Dutch singer Stefania Liberakakis will perform in the Eurovision 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.
The Greek broadcaster ERT announced the artist and song-title ‘Superg!rl’ in an official statement this month. The ethnic up-tempo song, where Stefania sings about the adolescent youth, a self-empowerment song which draws on the innate strength each person possesses against which battling challenging situations, or issues.
Stefania had taken to Instagram thanked the Greek delegation and responded she was “proud” to be flying the Greek colours at the Eurovision, told music fans.
The Eurovision veteran Dimitris Kontopoulos and music production ARCADE, composed and produced the tune, co-written the lyrics with Sharon Vaughn. The Creative Director Fokas Evangelinos will be responsible for the stage show, well-known in Eurovision circles, for numerous impressive stage acts in the contest.
The songwriters confirmed a modern ethnic up-tempo dance-pop track for Greece, with Greek instruments. The producers describe a “radio-friendly current hit song” with immense potential, standing out amongst the competitors in the Eurovision’s line-up.
The Eurovision tune and the official video-clip whose filming was shot in Athens, will be released in March. We at London Greek Radio are super-excited to be premiering our Greek entry very soon…
The Greek Eurovision delegation which included head Dimitri Papadimitriou and spokesperson Maria Koufopoulou chosen the so-called ‘Dream Team’ earlier this year.
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. Late last year, 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. In March last year 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. Last summer, she performed at the Mad VMA music awards, 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.
The Eurovision Song Contest Semi-Finals are on 12th and 14th May, with the Grand Final on Saturday 16th May 2020.
Stefania will perform ‘Superg!rl’ in the Second Semi-Final on Thursday 14th May.
London Greek Radio wishes Stefania and Greece the best of luck in the Eurovision.
Article written by Tony Neophytou
Cyprus has confirmed that Sandro Nicholas will be the island’s representative at the 2020 Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam taking place later this year.
The Cypriot broadcaster, CyBC, announced the news to excited Eurovision fans in an official statement towards the end of last year.
The 23-year-old German-Greek is an up-and-coming artist and a star of “The Voice Germany” from 2018. He managed to turn all four chairs with Shawn Mendes’ ‘In my blood’ where he reached the semi-finals.
Sandro Nicholas’ real name is Alessandro Rütten and he was born and bred in Germany, with an American father and a Greek mother from Zakynthos. He speaks Greek and travels to Greece frequently. He plays the drums and guitar and at the age of 15, started to write songs and formed his own rock-band.
Sandro has a soulful, pop and rocky-edged vocal and exudes a confident manner on stage.
As well as ‘The Voice’, Sandro was the American entrant at the New Wave Festival in Russia last summer. One of the judges was the Greek Eurovision hit-maker veteran, Dimitris Kontopoulos, who was said to have put in a word with the decision-makers in Cyprus for Eurovision.
Cypriot bosses have stuck to the format that has served them well in previous years by internal selection of the artist and song.
The formula has yielded fairly good results for Cyprus with Eleni Foureira’s spectacular 2nd place and Tamta scoring 13th in Tel Aviv last year.
Mr Nicholas will face the task to uphold Cyprus’ impressive qualification run, with five qualified entries in a row from 2015 to 2019.
Cyprus received 120 songs, all vying to compete as the island’s act for 2020 and have shortlisted the options to three songs. The exact details about the song will be released at a later date.
CyBC chose Mr Nicholas out of several artists, trusting the young and talented potential to resonate with the Eurovision voter.
Sandro is playing a constructive role in the creative song-writing to the entry, in order to find the killer-tune for this contest. Mr Nicholas has told media, he wants “an emotional song”, one that is a genuine, honest song.
In his interview to Cypriot media, Sandro said, “[I am] absolutely captivated. This country is probably one of the most beautiful countries I have ever been to. I’ve been to Zakynthos, Greece. I am Greek, but this place is magical and I’m so honoured and so pleased to be able to represent such an amazing country.”
He added, “It’s an honour for me, [to represent] for the Cypriot flag, and I want to do my very best. It’s fantastic, it’s a dream for me.”
The Eurovision Song Contest Semi-Finals are on 12th and 14th May, with the Grand Final on Saturday 16th May 2020.
London Greek Radio wishes Sandro and Cyprus the best of luck in Eurovision.
Article written by Tony Neophytou
Cypriot broadcaster CyBC has confirmed that Cyprus will participate in the Eurovision Song Contest in the Netherlands Ahoy Arena Rotterdam next year.
Eurovision fans have eagerly awaited for developments as to what Cyprus may have up its sleeve in 2020.
The Cypriot bosses are most likely to be in favour of sticking to the format as it is now: internally selecting both the song and the artist, which repeats their more-recent successful formula. The Cypriots have a solid qualification record which is no doubt attributed to the formula of the last few years.
Cyprus have received 120 song entries from Greek and non-Greek song-writers, and Eurovision hit-makers of past contests. The powers that be have already short-listed a few, strong entries as the Cypriots rapidly proceed with their ambitious, concrete-solid approach and ideas to Eurovision. The selection will be responsible to pair the right song, with the relevant artist, to compliment the entry. The end of a process that would ultimately choose a performance-artist that has the complete package, for the contest.
The most likely scenario is to have a big named artist, one that is a Cypriot or Greek in the Greek-speaking music industry, flying the Cypriot flag for the 2020 Eurovision, and there will no doubt be an air of anticipation amongst fans.
Cyprus have five Top 10 consecutive results in the semi-finals, which is pretty impressive. These songs have often been contesting tightly in Eurovision Semi-Finals from 2015 to date.
The outstanding result of 2018’s Eleni Foureira’s ‘Fuego’ which finished second placed; agonisingly close to achieving the island’s first ever victory.
Tamta with the song ‘Replay’ scored a respectable 13th place in Tel Aviv, holding up the favourable results on the left-side of the scoreboard.
Cyprus made its Eurovision debut in 1981 with the band ‘Island’ finishing 6th. In 1982, the legendary and iconic artist Anna Vissi scored 5th with ‘Moni I Agapi’. A number of Cypriot singers have comprised that illustrious list including Alexia, Michalis Hatzigiannis, Constantinos Christoforou and Evridiki, Ivi Adamou and Despina Olympiou. Locally British-Cypriot Lisa Andreas, who was 16-years-old performed the Mike Connaris ballad ‘Stronger Every Minute’ in the 2004 contest. All in all thirty-five hopefuls have pinned their colours to the mast as Cypriot acts in the biggest music competition in the world.
The Cypriot delegation will be certain to want to maintain the good run of form, following the recent successes by John Karayiannis, Minus One, Hovig, Eleni Foureira and Tamta.
Eurovision fans will be patiently waiting to find out the island’s thirty-sixth representative.
The Eurovision Song Contest Semi-Finals span from May 12th and May 14th and the Grand Final airs on Saturday 16th May 2019.
For all of your Eurovision news on Cyprus, make sure you regularly check back to lgr.co.uk and tune in to London Greek Radio to hear the latest music news.
Article written by Tony Neophytou
Singer Tamta, has officially recorded the Cypriot entry for this year’s Eurovision Song Contest at studios in Stockholm, Sweden.
She will sing ‘Replay‘, described as an up-tempo pop “banger”, at the 64th annual contest in Tel Aviv this May.
Georgian-Greek singer, Tamta Goduadze, 38, was announced as CyBC’s artist to represent Cyprus last December, officially instigating the Cypriot ‘well-drilled’, organised Eurovision machine quite early this year.
The song’s composer Alex Papaconstantinou AKA Alex P, was the man behind Eleni Foureira’s ‘Fuego’ – last year’s impressive runners-up position in the competition.
He has been assisted by Sweden-based songwriters Teddy Sky, Viktor Svensson, Kristoffer “Bonn” Fogelmark and Albin Nedler.
The songwriters have penned hits for some of the biggest-named artists in music such as One Direction, Mark Anthony, Demi Lovato, Avicii, MO, 5SOS, Jennifer Lopez, Nicki Minaj, Arash and more.
Tamta told Cypriot TV, (translated) “I’m going to (sic.Tel Aviv) without forecasting what position Cyprus will achieve. I hope that what we will present on stage will make you proud. I’d like to thank everybody for their support and hope that you stand by me on this wonderful Eurovision journey.”
Tamta revealed that she felt that the tune complimented her signature pop-style credentials and she was impressed with the creative team behind the track, which convinced her to fly the Cypriot flag in the competition.
She is soon to start filming the official music video to the Eurovision track this month.
The release date for the Cypriot tune is confirmed for March at the earliest, which enhances the fans’ excitement even more.
Cyprus competes in the Eurovision first Semi-Final on Tuesday 14th May at 8 pm GMT.
For all of your Eurovision news on Cyprus, make sure you regularly check back to lgr.co.uk and tune in to hear “Replay” on LGR in the coming weeks.
London Greek Radio wish Tamta and the Cypriot delegation the very best of luck in the competition.
Cyprus’ Eurovision Entry for 2019 Confirmed (click here for more Eurovision news)
‘Replay’ team, from left to right, Alex Papaconstantinou, Viktor Svensson, Teddy Sky, Tamta, Kristoffer “Bonn” Fogelmark, Albin Nedler (picture)
Article written by Tony Neophytou
Tamta Goduadze will represent Cyprus at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Tel Aviv in May.
The Cypriot broadcaster CyBC announced the female artist and song a few weeks ago, ending weeks of speculation.
Tamta will sing ‘Replay‘, a pop-dance, up-tempo number. Her entry is penned by Greek-Swedish hitmaker Alex Papaconstantiou, aka ‘Alex P‘, the man behind Eleni Fouriera’s ‘Fuego’ – the impressive runners-up from last year, along with Sweden-based songwriters Teddy Skye, Viktor Svensson, Kristoffer “Bonn” Fogelmark and Albin Nedler.
Tamta, 38, was born and raised in Georgia, where she started singing at the age of five and moved to Greece at the age of 20. After singing on a TV reality talent contest, she was signed by a major record label in Greece and has a back catalog of several hits.
The sure-fire Eurovision track is believed to be exactly moulded for Tamta’s signature pop-style credentials.
CyBC chiefs felt that Tamta was right for this year’s contest as she is perceived earnestly to have the “complete package” that comprises of a strong ‘live’ singer and entertaining act.
The Cypriot tune will be officially released in February or March, further maximising Eurovision fans excitement.
Cyprus also returns with Eurovision artistic stage director Sacha Jean-Baptise, the woman behind ‘Fuego’. She will be tasked with elevating Tamta’s stage routine ensuring that it will translate into points on the scoreboard.
The Head of the Cypriot delegation, Evi Papamichael explained that a big named artist would be a necessary solution to answer the Eurovision’s competitiveness, amidst so many countries, which numbers 42 this year. She said that Tamta was the broadcaster’s preference this year.
Tamta has had a long-time quest to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest and almost came close to achieving it on previous occasions. In 2007 Tamta was pipped to the post by Cypriot singer Sarbel, in Greece’s Eurovision heat stages, with the ballad ‘With Love’. In 2016, she missed the deadline for the Greek selection process by a few hours with the subsequently-released track ‘Unloved’.
Tamta felt it an incredible honour to be representing Cyprus, a nation which has always strongly supported her music endeavours and undertaking this bold task, was a way of her giving something back to her Cypriot fan-base.
Having released four studio albums (including a Best Of) and multiple hit singles, Tamta is frequently heard on the LGR airwaves.
For all of your Eurovision news on Cyprus, make sure you regularly check back to lgr.co.uk and tune in to hear “Replay” on LGR in the coming weeks.
London Greek Radio wish Tamta and the Cypriot delegation the very best of luck in the competition.
Article written by Tony Neophytou
Cyprus has confirmed that Greek star Eleni Foureira will be the Cypriot representative for this year’s Eurovision Song Contest held in Portugal.
Cypriot broadcaster CyBC made the official announcement and the title of her entry ‘Fuego’ (Spanish for “It’s Fire”), is written by Alex Papaconstantinou, or Alex P, a Greek-Swedish producer, well-known in Eurovision circles.
The up-tempo Eurovision track has a distinctive, maybe even innovative, ethnic feel with it sometimes being referred to as “ethno upbeat”.
It is a modern pop song that embellishes the instrument of the clarinet or ‘klarino’ as a familiar ethnicity trait in Greek, as well as Mediterranean music.
CyBC chiefs felt that the Albanian-born singer was right for this year’s contest as the upbeat song compliments Eleni as a singer and dancer.
Eleni, who will be 31 by the time of the contest in May, began her music career in 2007 as a member of the Greek girl group Mystique, before pursuing a solo career after the group disbanded in 2009. She is charismatic, who’s stage-skills are expected to “attack” the Cypriot entry effectively which will no doubt, help this upbeat song.
The staging of the entry has been assigned to the internationally acclaimed artistic director and choreographer Sacha Jean-Baptiste, who has extensive experience at the Eurovision Song Contest.
Cypriot bosses had ditched ideas of a Cypriot sing-off to find their entry’s hopeful and instead made the offer to Eleni’s Panik Records, therefore, internally selecting her for it.
In a statement, the singer said she felt incredibly honoured to sing for Cyprus and is hoping to set the leader board on fire, with her catchy track.
”I would like to say a big thank you to CyBC and all the Cypriot people, for giving me this opportunity. It is a great honour for me to represent this wonderful country which has supported me that much for all of these years.
She added, “My Eurovision song is called Fuego. It is written in English; only its title is Spanish. I am very glad that Alex has composed such a great song. This has actually been the reason for my positive answer to this Eurovision invitation. My promise is that I will do my best.”
Eleni was born in Fier, Albania and is a Greek artist of Albanian origin. She has lived in Greece from a very young age when her family settled in Kallithea, Athens.
Her back-catalogue of successful London Greek Radio hits have included her current hit ‘Vasilissa’, along with ‘To Kati’, ‘Ase Me’, ‘Chica Bomb’, ‘Reggaeton’, ‘To Party De Stamata’, ‘Ston Erota Tin Trela’, ‘Fotia ft. Nevma’, ‘Pio Erota Pethaineis’, ‘Rantevou Stin Paralia’, ‘Anemos Agapis’, ‘Pio Dinata’, ‘Ti Koitas’, and ‘2018 S’agapo’.
Eleni has always desired to be at Eurovision, revealing that it has always been a childhood dream of hers.
In 2016 she proposed ‘Ti Koitas (Come Tiki Tam)’ to the Greek national broadcaster ERT, but they refused it. Greece failed to qualify for the final for the first time that year with Argo.
Eleni almost made it to Eurovision in 2010, when she competed in the 2010 ‘Ethniko Teliko’ with ‘Kivotos Tou Noe’. While she missed out by coming second place, it did not diminish her Eurovision goal, which is lucky for Cyprus as she’s tipped to have a “killer track.”
In the last few years, Eleni has released four successful studio albums and multiple singles. One of those hits was ‘Sto Theo Me Paei’, a Greek cover of the 2015 Eurovision entry of Israel ‘Golden Boy’ by Nadar Guedj.
More recently she has released singles in both Greek and English and in 2017 scored a new international hit with the song ‘Send For Me’, a collaboration with successful producer and rapper A.M. SNiPE.
‘Fuego’ will be released in the coming weeks, with no official date set yet.
The LGR website will have the song on its release date in the weeks leading up to the competition.
The Cypriot delegation will be quietly optimistic about their qualifying chances for a fourth year, following the recent successes by Minus One, John Karayiannis and Hovig.
Cyprus competes in the First Eurovision Semi-Final which airs on Tuesday 8th May, on BBC Four. The Top 10 countries to qualify are assured a place in the final on Saturday 12th May, on BBC One.
London Greek Radio wish Eleni Foureira and the Cypriot delegation the very best of luck in the competition.
Article written by Tony Neophytou
With the dust barely settled to this year’s Eurovision Song Contest since the elapse of a few months, the Cypriot broadcaster CyBc is expected to be announcing very soon the launching of a nationwide song contest, as a way of selecting our Cypriot tune, at 2018’s Eurovision Song Contest to be held in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon.
The drawing up of the specific rules for our Cypriot national final will be soon to be officially released, and it’s believed, this will be as quickly as August or in the autumn. We here at London Greek Radio have also learnt some information about what shall comprise the local competition. The public contest will be applicable to Cypriot singers, ‘maybe’ also songwriters and composers… We ‘insert’ here… another option… the powers that be are seriously thinking of appointing a well-known ‘composer’, to pen our Cypriot tune. Our very own UK Cypriot songwriters, producers and singers of Cypriot origin, will have eligibility to be entering the race (only in the case of an ‘open’ final). In years gone by, our talented British Cypriot artists have noticeably left a strong impression on it, taking advantage of their chance to be entering Eurovision finals on the island.
Now, as Cyprus regroups and looks towards the future let’s take a moment to reflect on the last couple of successful years. This year’s finalists ‘Hovig’ came 5th in the semi-final, continuing the qualifying streak, as we cannot forget the achievement of the up-beat Cypriot band Minus One in 2016. In 2015 John Karayiannis with the song ‘One Thing I Should Have Done’ – written by UK Cypriot Mike Connaris won the only Cypriot final we have seen, in the last three years.
The local Eurovision delegation is certainly looking to make it a fourth qualification Cypriot entry in a row, from the selection procedure they are about to embark on.
With the prospect of having a national song contest to choose our next entrant, the country’s Eurovision strategy for 2018 is starting to take shape.
Head back to the London Greek Radio website for all of the latest developments including the release of the formal rules and regulations for the Cypriot Final, outlining the steps that must be taken to submit your potential entry to the Cypriot song competition.
Article written by Tony Neophytou
