Introduction

• Participant(s): Hovig
  
• Song: "Gravity"
  
• Writer(s): Thomas G:son
  
• Composer(s): Thomas G:son
  
• Broadcaster: CyBC
  
• Social media: 
• Team review: 

Like last year the Cypriot broadcaster CyBC has made an internal selection for the representative and song for Kiev. Last year the band Minus One made it to the Grand Final with “Alter Ego” and made the 21st place in Stockholm. The same Swedish composer Thomas G:sson has now written this year’s Cypriot entry “Gravity” for Hovig as well.

Hovig Demirjian was born in Nicosia in 1989 and has Armenian roots. He studied marketing and business at the European University of Nicosia. After that he wanted to become a singer, also played the guitar and piano. In Cyprus he had the nickname "The Music Messenger". In 2009 he participated in The X-Factor Greece where he ended up 7th. Then he returned to Cyprus and started his solo career, toured in clubs. He has released six singles up to now. Hovig had two attempts in the Cypriot national final in 2010 with "Goodbye", where ended up 3rd and 2015 with “Stone In A River” with a 4th place. So for Hovig a dream has come true to represent his country at Eurovision.

The song “Gravity” is a fresh and catchy song in the R’n’B style. The chorus is memorable and with the right choreography a good stage performance will be granted. Thanks to the professional mentor Thomas G:sson who has a lot of experiences with the Eurovision performances, we can be sure to expect something great. Greece and Cyprus are both in the Semi Final 1, so both countries can rely on the support of the other. But that is no guarantee for the Grand Final.

History

• Debut: 1981
• Participations: 34
• Victories: 0
• Finals: 27 (6 since 2004)
• Top 10: 9
• Chances for Top 10: 27 %
• Chances for Final: 50 %

Cyprus joined the Eurovision Song Contest in 1981, seven years later than Greece. This year it will be the 34th time for Cyprus in the ESC. With the first Cypriot song “Monika” by the group Island, Cyprus could reach the 6th rank, which is not too bad for a debut year. Since then Cyprus is participating on a regular basis in the ESC. In 1988 the entry was disqualified in advance as the song has been published before the official deadline. In other years Cyprus had to pause to the current EBU regulations.

Music from Cyprus has always been warm-hearted and showed all the enthusiasm of the composers and singers. Of course the music taste is similar to the neighbour country Greece. Sometimes the singers are well known in both countries and the singers are exchanged like Anna Vissi or Elpida. Both countries have often been criticised that they have been too generous with their 12 point to each other. But this phenomenon can also be noticed in the Balkan or Scandinavian countries. Greece is mostly set in the other Semi Final to avoid vote exchanges, but this year both countries will start in the Semi Final 1 in Kiev.

In the past years Cyprus utilizes the free choice of language, Evridiki has once tried to sing in French with “Comme ci comme ca”and did not qualify for the Grand Final in Helsinki 2007. Every year Cyprus has to get through the qualification process, since the Semi Finals have been introduced in 2004. Cyprus took part in the Grand Final for 27 times and could reach the Top10 nine times. The chances for a Top10 placing is approximately 27% and the chances for a qualification for the Grand Final is at 50%. The best place Cyprus could reach was the 5th place and at least for three times.