Introduction

• Participant(s): Elena Tsagrinou
  
• Song: El Diablo
  
• Writer(s): Thomas Stengaard, Jimmy "Joker" Thornfeldt, Laurell Barker, Oxa
  
• Composer(s): Thomas Stengaard, Jimmy "Joker" Thornfeldt, Laurell Barker, Oxa
  
• Broadcaster: CYBC
  
• Social media:    
  
• Team review: 

Like last year, Cyprus has made an internal selection again. Last year’s singer Sandro Nicholas could not participate as the ESC has been cancelled, unfortunately, he did not get another chance and a new singer should bring a better result. With the internal choice Cyprus seems to be on the right way. Since 2015 Cyprus has always qualified for the Grand Finals. With Eleni Fourera’s “Fuego” Cyprus made the 2nd place in the Grand Final, Cyprus has never been so close to victory.

This year the choice felt to the Greek singer Elena Tsagrinou. It’s not the first time that Greek singers perform for Cyprus and vice versa.
Elena Tsagrinou was born in Athens in 1994. From young age Elena was interested in music and participated the “Got Talent” show in the age of 14, where she reached the semi-final. In 2018 Elena published her debut single “Pame ap' tin archi” . Beside of singing Elena is also a TV presenter and jury member “The Voice Greece”, having her own TV show “K-POP Stars”.

Have a look at the other songs of Elena:

• “Paradeisos”
  
• “Logia” 
  
• “Amore”

The song “El Diablo” is about falling in love with somebody, who is not good for you and the attraction is too big to deny:

Tonight we gonna burn in a party
We wild as fire that’s on the loose
Hotter than sriracha on our bodies
T- taco - tamale - ya that’s my mood
I fell in love I fell in love I gave my heart to El Diablo El Diablo I gave it up I
gave it up because he tells me I’m his angel, I’m his angel

The Cypriot song has already caused a lot of trouble. The Orthodox Church complained that the lyrics glorify the devil. Nevertheless the song is rising in the bets. A very cool and inspiring song with a catchy melody and a good rhythm. And there is a little bit of “Fuego” and “Replay” in it, but this is the way to success and Cyprus is on a very good way. “El Diablo” yearns for a lavish dance performance on stage and will definitely shape up well.

History

• Debut: 1981
• Participations: 37
• Victories: 0
• Finals: 30 (9 since 2004)
• Top 10: 10
• Chances for Top 10: 27%
• Chances for Final: 56%

Cyprus joined the Eurovision Song Contest in 1981, seven years later than the neighbour country Greece. This year it will be the 37th 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 Eurovision Song Contest. In 1988 the Cypriot entry was disqualified in advance as the song has been published before the official deadline. In 2001 Cyprus had to pause and returned the year afters, due EBU regulations at that time.

Music from Cyprus has always been warm-hearted. There have been either ballads or rhythmic songs, but all entries have 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 could perform either for Cyprus or Greece Anna Vissi or Elpida. Both countries are always being criticised that they have been too generous with their yearly 12 points exchange. 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 trafficking, but in some years it could be that both countries have to compete in the same semi-final, it depends on the allotment.

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 30 times and could reach the Top10 ten times. The chances for a Top10 placing is approximately 27% and the chances for a qualification for the Grand Final is at 56%. Last time in Tel Aviv, the Greek singer Tamta started for Cyprus with “Replay” and could make a 13th place in the Grand Final. Eleni Foureira’s “Fuego” has reached the best place ever for Cyprus - #2!

Biggest successes

• 1x 2nd place
  “Fuego” | Eleni Foueria (Lisbon 2018)
• 3x 5th place
  “Mono I Agapi” | Anna Vishy (Harrogate 1982)
  “Mana Mou” | Chara & Andreas Konstantinou (Dublin 1997)
  “Stronger Every Minute“| Lisa Andreas (Istanbul 2004)

Video Nostalgia

• “Mono I Agapi” | Anna Vishy
  Rank 5, Harrogate
• “Aspro Mavro” | Alexia
  Rank 7, Brussels
• “Móno Gia Más” | Constantinos
  Rank 9, Oslo