We can not wait for the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool. Therefore, we have a closer look at one of the contestants every day. Today: Cyprus.
Andrew Lambrou
Cyprus internally selected Andrew Lambrou for the Eurovision Song Contest. His song “Break a broken heart” is written and composed by Jimmy Jansson, Jimmy ‘Joker’ Thornfeldt, Marcus Winther-John and Thomas Stengaard.
Andrew Lambrou is an Australian singer of Cypriot descent. He was born in Sydney in 1998. In 2013, he gained attention when he uploaded his version of Evanescence’s “My immortal“. Two years later he took part in the X-Factor Australia. In 2021 he signed a record contract and released his debut single “Throne“. In 2022 he was already close to Eurovision: he took part in the Australian national final with the song “Electrify“.
Anna Vissi
Anybody who says Cyprus says Anna Vissi. She is probably the most famous artist ever from Cyprus. Anna Vissi was born in Larnaca, Cyprus. She rose to fame when she won the Thessaloniki Song Festival in 1977. She had many hits and almost all of her albums got at least the gold status, but most of the times platinum or more. She reached the international charts with “Still in love with you“, “Call me” and “Everything“. The last one was one of her Eurovision Songs. Because Anna Vissi IS Eurovision.
Already in 1978 she was supposed to take part. Due to troubles with the composers of the two candidate songs for the contest, Anna withdrew. But in 1980, she represented Greece. With the song “Auto-stop“, accompanied by The Epikouri who became 2nd in the national final, she had her first Eurovision experience. In 1982 she reached a 5th place, the best score for Cyprus, with “Mono I agapi“. She had to give away that title only in 2018. In 2006 she represented host country Greece with the song “Everything”.
Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest
Cyprus first took part in 1981, with the group Island and their “Monica”. A debut with a 6th place, quite well! As mentioned, Cyprus became 5th with Anna Vissi‘s “Mono I agapi” in 1982. She had to share that record when in 1997 Hara and Andreas Konstantinou reached the top-5 with “Mana mou”. Cyprus did not reach the top-5 in other years, until…. Eleni Foureira participated in 2018. The song “Fuego” was not really noticed by the bookmakers until the first rehearsals. Suddenly she became one of the serious contenders to win. Cyprus ended up in 2nd place.
Bookmakers
In the betting odds, Cyprus is currently 24th. That means the country might reach the final but will not do well there. Of course we hope the betting odds are wrong and he will end up higher.
The song
And of course, this is the song:
