Introduction

• Participant(s): Tamta
  
• Song: "Replay"
  
• Writer(s): Alex Papaconstantinou, Teddy Sky, Viktor Svensson, Albin Nedler, Kristoffer Fogelmark
  
• Composer(s): Alex Papaconstantinou, Teddy Sky, Viktor Svensson, Albin Nedler, Kristoffer Fogelmark
  
• Broadcaster: CYBC
  
• Social media:          
• Team review: 

Like in previous years, Cyprus had made an internal selection. The national broadcaster CyBC has declared that Tamta should represent Cyprus with “Replay” in Tel Aviv at the Eurovision Song Contest. Last year Tamta has been asked as well to sing “Fuego” but she denied as she had different plans at that time. Would have Tamta also made such a great second place in Lisbon? Nobody knows. This year she has the chance to demonstrate her talent in front of millions all around the world.

Tamta Goduadze was born in Tbilisi, Georgia in 1980 and grew up in Georgia. When she was 22 years old, her family moved to Greece. In 2004 she participated in the Greek version of Pop Idol and made a 2nd place. From that point she started her career. In 2007 she already participated in the Greek national final “With Love” and made a 3rd place. By now she has released three albums and various singles. She has been juror in the X Factor show both in Greece and Georgia, toured in Greece and Australia, worked together with former ESC singers like Sakis Rouvas, Mikolas Josef and Mihai Traistariu. Currently Tamta is one of the most successful artists in the Greek pop industry with a lot of influence. She is also a fashion queen, well-known for her extraordinary outfits.

The Cypriot song “Replay” is a modern dance song with a remarkable interlude and a professional video clip with sexy erotic elements. It reminds a bit of last year’s entry “Fuego” by Eleni Foureira, no wonder these are the same composers: Alex Papaconstantinou, Teddy Sky, Viktor Svensson, Albin Nedler, Kristoffer Fogelmark. The song is about a desire of love, to replay over and over again. The Cypriot entry is handled as one of the big favourites this year. It’s a cool song which will attract a lot of people, but will this be enough to win Eurovision?

History

• Debut: 1981
• Participations: 36
• Victories: 0
• Finals: 29 (8 since 2004)
• Top 10: 9
• Chances for Top 10: 28%
• Chances for Final: 53%

Cyprus joined the Eurovision Song Contest in 1981, seven years later than Greece. This year it will be the 36th time for the sunny island of 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 1 in Tel Aviv.

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 ten times. The chances for a Top10 placing is approximately 28% and the chances for a qualification for the Grand Final is at 53%. Last year, Eleni Foureira could make the best place ever: #2! With the song “Fuego” Eleni was almost close to victory.

Biggest successes

3x 5th place

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

Video Nostalgia

• “To Katalava Arga” | Lia Vishy , Rank 16, 1985, Gothenburg
  
• “Aspro Mavro" | Alexia , Rank 7, 1987, Brussels
  
• “Genesis" | Michael Hajiyanni , Rank 11, 1998, Birmingham