Introduction

• Participant(s): Stefania
• Song: Last Dance
  
• Writer(s): Dimitris Kontopoulos, Arcade, Sharon Vaughn
• Composer(s): Dimitris Kontopoulos, Arcade
• Broadcaster: ERT
• Social media:        
• Team review: 

Stefania has been chosen last year to represent Greece with the song “SUPERG!RL”, but she had to wait another year for her big chance. Due to the cancellation of the ESC, Stefania got the right to be the representative again, with the new song called “Last Dance”.

Stefania is a daughter of Greek parents and was born in Utrecht, The Netherlands in 2002. She also grew up there. In 2014 she took part in The Voice Kids, two years later she was a member of the band Kisses and had the chance to represent the Netherlands in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Kisses and Dancin" , where she came 8th. With her first single “Stupid Reasons”  she could improve her singing profile. Furthermore Stefania is acting in various films. Additionally she is an online presenter and co-hosts two YouTube channels MEIDEN Magazine and Yours Daily.

This year’s entry “Last Dance” has been composed again by Dimitris Kontopoulos and Arcade who also composed ESC song like “Scream” for Sergej (Russia 2019) and many more. Compared to “SUPERG!RL” the new song is faster is uplifting and has no Rn’B elements anymore. In the video clip the world is overflowing with water, so the “Last Dance” before the world collapses can be taken literally. At the end Stefania is riding on a Pegasus horse.

My heart was born in neon lights
floating in space like satellites
looking for signs of life tonight
as we collide in black and white
Holding on beyond the night

This catchy dance song with a good stage show of the beautiful Stefania will definitely impress the juries and TV spectators in the Ahoy Arena and at the TV screens. Stefania will also enjoy a little home advantage, as she is Dutch and the audience will award this for sure.

History

• Debut: 1974
• Participations: 41
• Victories: 1
• Finals: 38 (14 since 2004)
• Top 10: 18
• Chances for Top 10: 44%
• Chances for Final: 82%

For Greece it’s the 41st participation in the ESC this year. The singer Stefania Liberakakis, who would have sung last year already, will have another chance in 2021.

After the debut in 1974 Greece was not often seen among the favourites, but thanks to televoting at the beginning of the new Millennium, Greece has often been found on the top of the tableau and reached many top 10 positions including one big victory by Helena Paparizou with “Number One” in 2005. This might also happened due to many Greeks living spread out over Europe, who like to support their home country with their votes. This phenomenon can be seen as well in other countries.

Since the Semi Finals have been established, Greece has mostly passed them and this could guarantee a place in the Grand Finals, beside of in Stockholm 2016 and Lisbon 2018, where the Greek entry failed to qualify. Furthermore Greece could achieve eight Top10 places within ten years! In the 41 years of participation, Greece could reach a Top10 place for 18 times, so statistically there is a 44% chance for Greece achieving a very good place and furthermore to qualify for the final is at 82%!

The Greeks have always dreamed to win the ESC, the dream came true when the Greek-Swedish superstar Helena Paparizou sang her “Number One” in Kiev, 2005. This outstanding contribution was celebrated like a storm back in Greece and even beyond. Helena is still a super star in Greece and Sweden, where she was born. This victory was truly deserved as there were former years with really unfair bad rankings.

The 2006 ESC in Athens was the first and by now only time Greece could host the Eurovision Song Contest. There was a warm and lovely atmosphere and the Greek television ERT has produced a great show. The host entry “Everything” by super star Ana Vissi came 9th in the Grand Final.

The juries have been quite strict with Greek entries in former years. But one jury was always very loyal with Greece – it was and still is Cyprus. The famous 12 points have always been exchanged regularly between these countries, it’s almost a tradition. That’s why Greece never had zero points at the end. Over the years the Greek entries have become very contemporary in combining the traditional folkloristic roots with modern tunes. A lot of these songs became summer hits in the Mediterranean.

Biggest successes

• 1x 1st place
  “My Number One” | Helena Paparizou (Kiev 2005)
• 3x 3rd place
  “Die For You” | Antique (Copenhagen 2001)
  “Shake It” |Sakis Rouvas (Istanbul 2004)
  “Secret Combination” |Kalomira (Belgrade 2008)
• 2x 5th place
  “Mathema Solfege” | Pascalis, Marianna, Robert and Bessy (London 1977)
  “Olou Tou Kosmou I Elpida” |Cleopatra (Malmö 1992)

Video Nostalgia

• “Miazoume” | Takis Biniaris
  Rank 16, Gothenburg 1985
• “To Diko Sou Asteri” | Marianna
  Rank 9, Lausanne 1989
• “I Anixi” | Sofia Vossou
  Rank 13, Rome 1991