In an interview to Greek magazine Downtown, former Eurovision winner Helena Paparizou explains the reason she declined the offer to represent Cyprus with the song “Fuego”.
Helena Paparizou, having won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2005 for Greece with the song “My Number one”, as well ending 3rd as part of the duo Antique in Eurovision 2001 with the song “Die For You”, was proposed by Cypriot broadcaster to represent the island with the song “Fuego”, an offer despite ongoing negotiatons led to a “No” by the singer.
In an interview to Greek magazine Downtown, Helena was asked why she declined.
However, Helena explained that this was simply not the right moment for her and praised Eleni Foureria for her fiary performance and she concludes that Eleni was in fact the right choice for “Fuego”.
Helena Paparizou declined Fuego and explains here why
“I loved the song from the very beginning – of course, it has been written by my favorite, Alex Papaconstantinou, with whom we already had been cooperating with Antique. I just felt that it was not what I had to do at this moment in my life. This. So simple…Eleni was amazing, I admired her! She could – and should – come out first! I was out of Athens with my husband, we had ordered in the room, we saw Eurovision both of us and it was a pity! I woke the tourists out of my joy, made an amazing look! And did you finally see? It was better that Eleni went and I did not go. She was absolutely perfect! “
The demo version of the song was sung by Paparizou, but was later offered to Greek pop singer Eleni Foureira who accepted the offer and literally took ownership of the song, becoming a strong pre-contest favorite which ended up in 2nd place for Cyprus. Eleni Foureira brought Cyprus it’s best ever placing in the contest.
Watch the Cypriot entry from Eurovision Song Contest 2018 performced by Eleni Foureira below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyDTbJ4wenY
Are you happy with the choice of Eleni Foureira for “Fuego”?
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