Introduction

• Participant(s): Eleni Foureira
  
• Song: "Fuego"
  
• Writer(s): Alex Papaconstantinou, Geraldo Sandell, Anderz Wrethov, Viktor Svensson, Didrick
  
• Composer(s): Alex Papaconstantinou, Geraldo Sandell, Anderz Wrethov, Viktor Svensson, Didrick
  
• Broadcaster: CYBC
  
• Social media:    
  
• Team review: 

The Cypriot entry has been determined by the national broadcaster CyBC like in the previous years. In the past three years Cyprus had a good hand with their choices, as they all managed to reach the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest. This year the Greek singer Eleni Foureira has been chosen to represent Cyprus in Lisbon with the song “Fuego”.

Elenia Foureira was born in Fier, Albania in 1987, but grew up in Kallithea, north of Athens. In the year 2007 she began her music career as a member of the group Mystique for two years, after that she has concentrated on her solo career. Elenia’s debut album received platinum in Greece. Songs like “Chica Bomb” became the summer hit of 2010 and “Tranquilla” in 2014, which has been viewed over 11 mio times on YouTube. The song “Send For Me” has become a hit internationally. Two times Elenia has attempted to represent Greece in Eurovision: 2010 with “Kivotos tou Noe” and 2016 with “Come Tiki Tam”. Over the years Elenia released four studio albums and various singles.

The Cypriot entry has a Spanish title “Fuego” and means fire. It’s a contemporary music piece which could be played in any club around the world. The attractive singer Elenia will for sure be presenting an appealing stage show. The style of this song is an interesting mix of pop with R’nB and latin disco. One of the composers Alex Papaconstantinou has already composed “La La Love” for Ivi Adamou in 2012. The song “Fuego” definitely has potential to become a summer hit.

History

• Debut: 1981
• Participations: 35
• 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 35th 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, either ballads or rhythmic songs and showed huge 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 2 in Lisbon.

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 28 times and could reach the Top10 nine times. The chances for a Top10 placing is approximately 36% 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.

Biggest successes

3x 5th place

• Anna Vissi | Mono I Agapi (1982)
• Chara & Andreas Konstantinou | Mana Mou (1997)
• Lisa Andreas | Stronger Every Minute (2004)

Video Nostalgia

• “S.O.S.” | Elena Patroclou, Rank 9, Rome 1991
• “Comme Ci, Comme ça” | Evridiki, Rank 15 (Semi Final), Helsinki 2007