Rotterdam 2021🇨🇾 Cyprus

🇨🇾 Head of Delegation for Cyprus discusses selection for Eurovision 2021

Evi Papamichael gives more information for 2021

The head of delegation for Cyprus and therefore will lead her team to Rotterdam in 2021 representing the broadcaster responsible for the Cypriot entry in the Eurovision Song Contest RIK, Evi Papamichael has given an interview to TV Ethnos magazine on her plans over the coming year. This comes as it was reported that their representative for Eurovision in 2020, Sandro was not returning to the contest in 2021 even though that he was selected via an internal selection.

The 2020 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest was due to take place in Rotterdam but due to the global Covid_19 pandemic the contest was cancelled and rearranged for May 2021. This was of course the first time that the contest was cancelled in its 64 year history since its debut edition in 1956.

This is at odds with other nations that selected their representatives via internal selection for example Efendi for Azerbaijan. Their choice is also at odds with their fellow Hellenic sisters Greece who have re entered their 2020 representative Stefania for competition in 2021.

What was said by Evi Papamichael?

This interview comes after Katerina Stikoudi, another Greek artist that has joined the long list of artists that have expressed their interest in representing the Mediterranean island nation in 2021. Evi has said that like everyone else she will need to submit her entry via the relevant routes to RIK.

We are always open to consider and listen to any serious proposal. In recent years we have been collaborating with major record companies of Hellenism. Greece and Cyprus are as you know a single record and music market…

Other names that have been mentioned are as follows.

One artist that is noticeably missing is Eleni Foureira. This is due to the fact that Evi has denied claims that she could represent Cyprus in 2021. She states though that she is very proud of the team behind “Fuego” and what the song and performance did for Cyprus in Lisbon in 2018.

One thing that has been stated quite vehemently is that the broadcaster and her team has as yet not started any formal consultations with any artist as that they won’t open their 2021 portfolio until the end of August at the earliest.

One thing is definitely known!

Evi has confirmed that the man who was meant to be in control of staging and presentation in 2020, Marvin Dietmann will also be overseeing the 2021 presentation. He was of course the stage director of Conchita Wurst’s winning performance for Austria in 2014 with the song “Rise Like A Phoenix”

Cyprus at the Eurovision Song Contest

Cyprus made their Eurovision Song Contest debut 37 years ago, back in 1981. The island nation has participated in every contest since, with the exception of 1988, 2001 and 2014. Prior to 2018, Cyprus’ best results had come in the form of three fifth place finishes. These came courtesy of Anna Vissi’s “Mono i agapi” in 1982, Hara & Andreas Constantinou’s “Mana mou” in 1997 and Lisa Andreas’ “Stronger Every Minute” in 2004.

While Cyprus secured seven top 11 finishes in the 1990s, the nation’s form dipped as the contest entered its semi-final era. Cyprus failed to qualify in six out of eight occasions between 2006 and 2013, withdrawing in 2014 for financial reasons.

In 2018, following a string of three qualifications, Eleni Foureira brought them to second place for the first time with the iconic “Fuego”. The following year, Tamta brought them their fifth consecutive qualification with “Replay”. 

What do you think? Who should represent Cyprus in 2021? Write in your answers in the comments below. You can also get in touch with us @escxtra on all social media platforms. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel where we will be publishing interviews and content in a more audio visual way.

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