Introduction

• Participant(s): Andromache
  
• Song: Ela
  
• Writer(s): Alex Papaconstantinou, Arash, Eyelar Mirzazadeh, Fatjon Miftaraj, Filloreta Raci Fifi, George Papadopoulos, Robert Uhlmann, Viktor Svensson, Yll Limani
  
• Composer(s): Alex Papaconstantinou, Arash, Eyelar Mirzazadeh, Fatjon Miftaraj, Filloreta Raci Fifi, George Papadopoulos, Robert Uhlmann, Viktor Svensson, Yll Limani
  
• Broadcaster: CYBC
  
• Social media:     
  
• Team review: 

Since years, Cyprus chooses a song by an internal choice. The national finals have not ensured a good placing in the ESC. But with “Fuego”, which was sung by Eleni Foureira, the second place could be achieved for the first time. Inspired by this enormous success, the Cypriots must be taken seriously, presenting contemporary and strong entries.

Unlike previous years with fast rhythmic songs, Cyprus is sending another ballad to Turin. This song complies with the common music from Cyprus and Greece. “Ela” will be sung be the lovely Andromache. The name Andromache heritages from the Greek mythology and means “Fighter for Men”.

Andromache Dimitropoulou was born in Siegen, Germany, where she also grew up. Her parents moved back to Lechena, Greece (Western Peloponnese). Due to the fact that Andromache’s family loves to sing and dance, Andromache has strongly been influences in her way to make music. She studied German philology in Athens and has been singing in clubs in Greece at the same time.

In 2015 Andromache took part in ‘The Voice Greece’ and her first single “To Feggari”  she was able to release in 2017. Her breakthrough came with the song “Na Soun Psema” 

“Ela” means “Come” and it’s a beautiful love song with lovely lyrics:

Come to my arms, let‘s go far away together!
Come to my arms, grow wings and fly!
You could be my only one

An international team of ten people have been composing and texting the Eurovision song for Andromache. It’s not the first time that the singer for Cyprus is Greek or from another country. With this entry, Cyprus is showing its musical heritage in a modern and appealing way. A great entry to spend the summer with.

History

• Debut: 1981
• Participations: 38
• Victories: 0
• Finals: 30 (9 since 2004)
• Top 10: 10

Cyprus joined the Eurovision Song Contest in 1981, seven years later than the neighbour country Greece. This year it will be the 38th 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 has been participating on a regular basis in the Eurovision Song Contest. In 1988 the Cypriot entry was disqualified, due to a too early publishing, before the official deadline. In 2001 Cyprus had to pause and returned the year afters, because EBU regulations at that time, which said, that if a country does not reach the Top 10, it will have to pause for a year. This rule does not exist anymore, luckily.

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 26%. Last time in Rotterdam, Elena Tsagrinou was able to reach the Grand Final with “El Diablo”, a 13th place was the outcome. 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

• “Monika” | Island
  Rank 6, Dublin 1981
• “Apopse As Vrethoume” | Fanny Polymeri and Yiannis Savvidakis
  Rank 11, Lausanne 1989
• “Genesis” | Michael Hajiyanni
  Rank 11, Birmingham 1998
  
  

First Rehearsal