Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024

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Eurovision Song Contest 2024
Country Cyprus
National selection
Selection processInternal selection
Selection date(s)
  • Artist: 25 September 2023
  • Song: 29 February 2024
Selected entrantSilia Kapsis
Selected song"Liar"
Selected songwriter(s)
Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest
◄2023 • 2024

Cyprus is set to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 in Malmö, Sweden, with "Liar" performed by Silia Kapsis. The Cypriot national broadcaster Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC) originally intended to select its entrant through the fifth season of the reality show Fame Story, produced in collaboration with the Greek channel Star. However, this plan was later cancelled after the Greek broadcaster ERT raised objections to the Cypriot selection process being aired in Greece by another broadcaster, and CyBC ultimately reverted to an internal selection for its entrant.

Background[edit]

Main article: Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest

Prior to the 2024 contest, Cyprus has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 39 times since the island country made its debut in the 1981 contest.[1] Its best placing was at the 2018 contest where Eleni Foureira placed second with "Fuego". Before that, Cyprus's best result was fifth, which it achieved three times: in the 1982 competition with the song "Mono i agapi" performed by Anna Vissi, in the 1997 edition with "Mana mou" performed by Hara and Andreas Constantinou, and the 2004 contest with "Stronger Every Minute" performed by Lisa Andreas. Cyprus' least successful result was in the 1986 contest when it placed last with the song "Tora zo" by Elpida, receiving only four points in total. However, its worst finish in terms of points received was when it placed second to last in the 1999 contest with "Tha 'nai erotas" by Marlain Angelidou, receiving only two points.[2] After returning to the contest in 2015 following their absence in 2014 due to the 2012–13 Cypriot financial crisis and the broadcaster's budget restrictions,[3] Cyprus has qualified for the final of all the contests except in 2022, when "Ela" performed by Andromache failed to advance from the semi-finals. In 2023, "Break a Broken Heart" performed by Andrew Lambrou qualified for the final, where it placed 12th.[2]

The Cypriot national broadcaster, CyBC, broadcasts the contest within Cyprus and organises the selection process for the nation's entry. Cyprus has used various methods to select its entry in the past, such as internal selections and televised national finals to choose the performer, song or both to compete at Eurovision. Since 2016, the broadcaster has opted to select the entry internally without input from the public.

Originally devised plans for 2023 included the selection of the Cypriot artist through a Greek-Cypriot talent show based on the British reality television music competition All Together Now.[4] However, the broadcaster later decided to stick to an internal selection, and deferred consideration of a national final for 2024.[5] In May 2023, Fame Story, the Greek version of the talent show Star Academy originally aired between 2002 and 2006 on ANT1, was announced to return on CyBC in order to be used as its national final for 2024.[6]

Before Eurovision[edit]

National final dispute[edit]

CyBC initially intended to use the fifth season of the Greek talent show Fame Story to select its entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024. The show, filmed at the Star Channel studios in Greece, would have aired in Cyprus on CyBC.[7][8] However, in late July 2023, the Greek public broadcaster Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (ERT), the exclusive owner of the rights to Eurovision events in Greece, filed a complaint to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), claiming that the Cypriot national final being aired in Greece through a different broadcaster would be an infringement of the contest's rules; ERT reportedly threatened to withdraw from the union if no action was taken.[9][10][11]

In early August 2023, it was reported that the EBU had amended the contest's rules at the request of ERT, specifying that "each national selection of a representative for Eurovision should be undertaken and organised under the exclusive control of each participating broadcaster" and that "the organisation and production may not be subcontracted, except with the prior approval of the EBU".[12] Asked to clarify its intentions for Fame Story in view of the new rules, CyBC reportedly responded that the Cypriot entrant would be internally selected in January 2024 from emerging artists in the national music industry, including Fame Story participants, and that this did not qualify the format as a national final. Instead, that same month a show would be aired from Nicosia, where the selected entrant would perform a number of songs among which the public would be called to choose.[12][13] It was reported that the EBU would host a video conference on 7 August 2023 in order to reach an agreement between CyBC and ERT.[14]

Star confirmed on 19 August that the format would not be used as part of the Cypriot national selection, contradicting earlier public announcements.[15] Shortly after, it was announced that the show would be broadcast by Omega TV in Cyprus and not by CyBC, with the national broadcaster reverting to an internal selection.[16][17]

Internal selection[edit]

CyBC internally selected Cypriot–Australian singer Silia Kapsis as the Cypriot entrant for the Eurovision Song Contest 2024. On 3 September 2023, OGAE Greece reported her name and that her selection had taken place by mid-August;[18] the official confirmation came the following 25 September.[19][20][21] Her entry "Liar", written by Dimitris Kontopoulos and Elke Tiel, was announced on 8 January 2024[22] and was released on 29 February.[23]

Promotion[edit]

As part of the promotion of her participation in the contest, Silia Kapsis attended the Eurovision Party SKG in Thessaloniki on 29 March 2024[24] and the Eurovision in Concert event in Amsterdam on 13 April 2024.[25] She additionally launched a social media challenge whereby the creator of the most liked video performance for "Liar" on TikTok between 1 and 30 April 2024 wins two tickets for the Eurovision final and a meet-and-greet with her.[26] The song was promoted by co-writer Elke Tiel on the Dutch TV show Beau, airing on RTL 4, on 2 April 2024.[27]

Greek voting controversy[edit]

In mid-April 2024, Greek newspaper Ta Nea reported that as early as 22 February the Cypriot ambassador to Greece Stavros Avgoustidis had been informed that ERT would assign Cyprus a predetermined low score in the jury voting of the final; this was before the release of "Liar" and reportedly before the Greek jury was even established.[28][29] As a response, ERT president Konstantinos Zoulas denied any involvement of the broadcaster in the jury vote,[28][30] while CyBC's head of press for the contest Andreas Anastasiou addressed the matter on a TV broadcast on 15 April, denouncing that the alleged behaviour would constitute a breach of the contest's rules and announcing that the EBU had been informed of the controversy.[28][29][31]

At Eurovision[edit]

The Eurovision Song Contest 2024 will take place at the Malmö Arena in Malmö, Sweden, and consist of two semi-finals held on the respective dates of 7 and 9 May and the final on 11 May 2024. All nations with the exceptions of the host country and the "Big Five" (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom) are required to qualify from one of two semi-finals in order to compete for the final; the top ten countries from each semi-final will progress to the final. On 30 January 2024, an allocation draw was held to determine which of the two semi-finals, as well as which half of the show, each country will perform in; the EBU split up the competing countries into different pots based on voting patterns from previous contests, with countries with favourable voting histories put into the same pot.[32] Cyprus was scheduled for the first half of the first semi-final.[33] The shows' producers then decided the running order for the semi-finals; Cyprus was set to open the show, before the entry from Serbia.[34]

CyBC's commentators for the contest will be Melina Karageorgiou and Hovig.[35] As part of the Eurovision programming, from 14 April 2024 until the contest week CyBC is airing the Sunday broadcast United by Music, with members of the Cypriot delegation as well as Karageorgiou and Hovig discussing the competing entries.[36]

Performance[edit]

Kapsis is taking part in technical rehearsals on 27 April and 1 May, followed by dress rehearsals on 6 and 7 May.[37] Her performance of "Liar" at the contest is directed by Dan Shipton[38] and choreographed by American dancers Kelly Sweeney and Guy Groove.[39] She will be joined on stage by four Danish dancers, namely Theo B. Kofoed, Thomas Hegnet, Sebastian Laurentius Nielsen and Martin Daugaard.[40] Her costume designer is Stelios Koudounaris.[41]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Gallagher, Robyn (3 August 2017). "Cyprus: Broadcaster reportedly will internally select songwriter for 2018". Wiwibloggs. Archived from the original on 24 October 2018. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Cyprus". Eurovision.tv. European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  3. ^ Psyllides, George (3 October 2013). "CyBC pulls out of 2014 Eurovision song contest". Cyprus Mail. Archived from the original on 24 October 2018. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  4. ^ Daniel, Giannis (28 May 2022). Κύπρος: Eurostars, τραγουδιστές & μέλη των επίσημων σωματείων fans στο σόου ανάδειξης του εκπροσώπου για το 2023! [Cyprus: Eurostars, singers & members of the official fan associations at the representative selection show for 2023!] (in Greek). OGAE Greece. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  5. ^ Adams, William Lee (22 July 2022). "Cyprus: Internal selection remains for Eurovision 2023…with 'All Together Now' choosing for 2024". Wiwibloggs. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  6. ^ Bijuvignesh, Darshan (19 May 2023). "Cyprus: 2024 Eurovision National Selection Set to be Named 'Fame Story'". Eurovoix. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  7. ^ Thermos, Kostantinos (10 July 2023). "Cyprus: More details revealed about the Eurovision 2024 entry selection show!". Eurovisionfun. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  8. ^ Zefteridis, Giorgos (20 July 2023). "Cyprus: Fame Story's first trailer is on air | How to apply!". Eurovisionfun. Retrieved 20 July 2023.
  9. ^ Granger, Anthony (29 July 2023). "Greece: ERT Files Complaint With EBU Over Cyprus' Eurovision Selection Being Held in Greece". Eurovoix. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  10. ^ Katsoulakis, Manos (29 July 2023). "Cyprus: Problems with the 2024 Eurovision selection 'Fame Story'?". Eurovision Fun. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  11. ^ Argyriou, Giannis (30 July 2023). Εν μέσω καλοκαιριού τα Παραγιουροβιζιονικά είναι εδώ! [In the middle of summer, "Para-Eurovisioniká" is here!]. Eurovisionfun (in Greek). Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  12. ^ a b Georgiou, Giannis (6 August 2023). "ERT Vs RIK: The Eurovision controversy continues | RIK's response to EBU!". Eurovisionfun. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  13. ^ "Cyprus: National final for Eurovision 2024 in January!". OGAE Greece. 6 August 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  14. ^ Argyropoulos, Dimitris (7 August 2023). "Exclusive: Teleconference between ERT, RIK and EBU for the conflict solution!". Eurovisionfun. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  15. ^ Bijuvignesh, Darshan (20 August 2023). "Cyprus: STAR Channel Confirms Fame Story Will Not Be The Eurovision 2024 Artist Selection Process". Eurovoix. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  16. ^ Ntinos, Fotios (25 August 2023). "Exclusive: Cyprus will internally select its entry for Eurovision 2024 | The artist announcement soon to be made!". Eurovisionfun. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
  17. ^ Argyropoulos, Dimitris (26 August 2023). "Cyprus: RIK replied to EBU regarding Fame Story! | Full confirmation for Eurovisionfun!". Eurovisionfun. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  18. ^ Kanellopoulou, Tzeni (3 September 2023). "EXCLUSIVE: Silia Kapsis with Cyprus to Eurovision 2024!". OGAE Greece. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  19. ^ "Cyprus: Silia Kapsis joins the party!". Eurovision.tv. EBU. 25 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  20. ^ CyBC [@rik_cybc] (25 September 2023). Η εκπρόσωπος της Κύπρου για την Γιουροβίζιον 2024! #eurovision [The representative of Cyprus for Eurovision 2024! #eurovision] (in Cypriot Greek). Retrieved 25 September 2023 – via Instagram.
  21. ^ Koronakis, Spyros (17 December 2023). "Cyprus: RIK and artistic team are in feverish preparations!". Eurovisionfun. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  22. ^ CyBC [@cybc_eurovision] (8 January 2024). "Exciting news! Unveiling the title and the amazing team behind Cyprus' Eurovision 2024 entry! Are you ready to say no to a Liar?". Retrieved 8 January 2024 – via Instagram.
  23. ^ Bijuvignesh, Darshan (14 February 2024). "Cyprus: 'Liar' to be Released on February 29th". Eurovoix. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  24. ^ Argyriou, Giannis (1 March 2024). Η Silia Kapsis η πρώτη guest artist στο Eurovision Party SKG | Live on stage στις 29/3 στο WE! [Silia Kapsis the first guest artist at Eurovision Party SKG | Live on stage on 29/3 at WE!]. Eurovisionfun (in Greek). Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  25. ^ @eurovisioninconcert (31 March 2024). "Our 30th confirmed act for Eurovision in Concert 2024 is CYPRUS! We can't wait to see @silia_kapsis hitting the stage of AFAS Live in Amsterdam. Roll on, 13 April!". Retrieved 31 March 2024 – via Instagram.
  26. ^ Palaskas, Theodore (1 April 2024). Κύπρος: Πρωταπριλιά και "Liar" – Η Silia μας προσκαλεί στο νέο challenge! [Cyprus: April Fool's Day and "Liar" – Silia invites us to her new challenge!]. Eurovisionfun (in Greek). Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  27. ^ Argyriou, Giannis (2 April 2024). Κύπρος: Το "Liar" στο BEAU του RTL! [Cyprus: "Liar" on BEAU on RTL!]. Eurovisionfun (in Greek). Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  28. ^ a b c Eurovision 2024: «Πόλεμος» ΕΡΤ- ΡΙΚ για…ένα δωδεκάρι- Τι λένε οι δύο πλευρές [Eurovision 2024: ERT–RIK "war" for... a dozen - What the two sides say]. dailypost.gr (in Greek). 15 April 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  29. ^ a b Álvarez, Jesús (15 April 2024). "El embajador chipriota en Grecia asegura que la televisión griega dice que 'no daría alta puntuación' a Silia Kapsis aún sin haber elegido jurado" [The Cypriot ambassador to Greece assures that the Greek television said that it "would not give a high score" to Silia Kapsis even without having chosen a jury]. ESCplus España (in European Spanish). Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  30. ^ Antoniou, Despina (14 April 2024). Eurovision: Η απάντηση του Κωνσταντίνου Ζούλα μετά το δημοσίευμα για το πώς θα βαθμολογήσει η ΕΡΤ την Κύπρο [Eurovision: Konstantinos Zoulas' response after the publication on how ERT would rate Cyprus]. OK! (in Greek). Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  31. ^ ΡΙΚ: «Είναι σε γνώση της EBU όσα κυκλοφόρησαν» [RIK: "The EBU is aware of what has been released"]. fosonline.gr (in Greek). 15 April 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
  32. ^ Van Dijk, Sem Anne (13 December 2023). "Eurovision 2024: Semi-Final Allocation Draw on January 30". Eurovoix. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  33. ^ "Eurovision 2024: Semi-Final Draw results". Eurovision.tv. EBU. 30 January 2024. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  34. ^ "Eurovision 2024: Semi-Final Running Orders revealed!". Eurovision.tv. EBU. 26 March 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  35. ^ Van Dijk, Sem Anne (3 April 2024). "Cyprus: Melina Karageorgiou and Hovig Commentators for Eurovision 2024". Eurovoix. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  36. ^ Anastasiou, Andreas (10 April 2024). "UNITED BY MUSIC" (in Cypriot Greek). Retrieved 16 April 2024 – via Facebook.
  37. ^ "Eurovision 2024: Rehearsal Schedule". Eurovisionworld. 25 April 2024. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  38. ^ Granger, Anthony (6 April 2024). "Dan Shipton Creative Director for Austria, Germany and Cyprus for Eurovision 2024". Eurovoix. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  39. ^ Adams, William Lee (23 November 2023). "Cyprus: Silia Kapsis reveals Kelly Sweeney and Guy Groove as Eurovision 2024 choreographers". Wiwibloggs. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  40. ^ Van Waarden, Franciska (2 April 2024). "Cyprus: CyBC Reveals Dancers For Eurovision 2024". Eurovoix. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  41. ^ Granger, Anthony (28 March 2024). "Cyprus: Designer of Silia Kapsis Eurovision Outfit Revealed". Eurovoix. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
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