Not a day goes by where news doesn’t emerge from the glorious island nation of Cyprus. Just when we thought the race for Eurovision 2021 was clear cut, a challenger has emerged. If rumours are correct, RIK may be looking to approach Eurovision 2018 icon Eleni Foureira for an early Eurovision return.
Last time we checked, the battle for the ticket to Rotterdam (possibly via Zoom) had boiled down to two Minos EMI artists and a Cypriot-only selection from Panik Records. The latter confirmed a potential return for Eurovision 2012’s Ivi Adamou.
However, according to a recent Eurovision Fun, we could be heading for the return of another fan favourite. And this is not just any fan favourite, we’re talking about THE Eleni Foureira.
Despite Eleni’s label, Panik Records, stating that they would only be putting forward Cypriot artists for Eurovision 2021, RIK might have other ideas. If a report by STAR’s Elissavet Kyritsi is to be believed, the Cypriot broadcaster might well be looking to approach Eleni Foureira.
In an editorial by Eurovision Fun, they stressed that this still not rule out Katerina or Irini’s chances. After all, it is only two years after Eleni almost won. Although RIK have neither confirmed nor denied this rumour, a lot of other factors would still need to fall into place. Most importantly, Eleni herself would need to agree.
What we can reliably say is that RIK are looking to send a female artist, and likely an uptempo dance track, to Rotterdam.
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” (1982), Hara & Andreas Constantinou’s “Mana you” (1997) and Lisa Andreas’ “Stronger Every Minute” (2004).
While Cyprus secured seven top 11 finishes in the 1990s, their form dipped during the 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 qualifications, Eleni Foureira brought them to second place for the first time with “Fuego”. The following year, Tamta brought them their fifth consecutive qualification with “Replay”.
In 2020, CyBC selected ‘Sandro’ to represent Cyprus at the Eurovision Song Contest, with the song “Running”. Sandro was set to perform 13th in semi-final one of the 2020 contest, which was ultimately cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Who are you hoping will represent Cyprus next year? Let us know! Be sure to stay updated by following @ESCXTRA on Twitter, @escxtra on Instagram and liking our Facebook page for the latest updates! Also, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to see our reactions to the over the coming months.