Cyprus: CyBC in search for a new ESC 2021 hopeful?

Saturday, 30 May 2020

• According to local media reports the Cypriot National broadcaster, CyBC, has decided to search for a new Eurovision 2021 hopeful and not stick with its Eurovision 2020 representative, Sandro Nicolas. 

  According to a TV Mania report , CyBC will not continue with Sandro in Eurovision 2021, marking the first internally 2020 act not to return in next year's edition.  According to the same report the Cypriot broadcaster is seeking for an artist that is popular in Greece and Cyprus or comes from the mediterranean island.  

  This year, CyBC internally selected Sandro Nicolas to fly the flag in Rotterdam with his entry Running, written by Alfie Arcuri, Sebastian Rickards, Octavian Rasinariu and Sandro himself while the productionwas work of Teo DK.

  Once the Eurovision song contest was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic the question that arouse was what will happen with this year’s unlucky contestants that didn’t eventually were deprived the right to complete their Eurovision 2020 journey in Rotterdam. The EBU through a clear statement outruled the ESC 2020 songs ,by not allowing the  ESC 2020 entries to compete in 2021. Therefore the broadcasters were left to decide whether they will return with the same acts or not.

  The decision was accepted by broadcasters and delegations with mixed feelings and reactions. However  the participating countiries are leaving things behind and are progressively unveiling their intentions for next year's edition.

  So far a total of 18 countries have confirmed their Eurovision 2021 participation and the comeback of the ESC 2020 acts .These are:

  1. Spain – Blas Canto
  2. The Netherlands– Jeangu Macrooy
  3. Ukraine– GO_A Band
  4. Greece– Stefania
  5. Georgia– Tornike Kipiani
  6. Azerbaijan– Samira Efendi
  7. Switzerland–Gjon’s Tears
  8. Belgium– Hooverphonic
  9. Bulgaria– Victoria
  10. Israel – Eden Alene
  11. Austria - Vincent Bueno
  12. Romania - Roxen
  13. Australia - Montaigne
  14. Czech Republic - Benny Cristo
  15. Malta - Destiny Chukunyere
  16. Latvia - Samanta Tina
  17. Slovenia - Ana Soklič
  18. San Marino - Senhit

   

  Cyprus in Eurovision

  Cyprus debuted at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1981 with the group Island, achieving an honorable 6th placing in Dublin. Aphrodite’s island has been represented by some of the biggest names in the Greek and Cypriot music industry: Anna Vissi (1982), Michalis Hatzigiannis (1998), Evridiki (1992,1994,2007), Ivi Adamou (2012), Despina Olympiou (2013), etc.

  The country achieved its best Eurovision result this year when it placed 2nd with Eleni Foureira’s Fuego. The Greek famous star was selected internally to fly the Cypriot flag at the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest in Lisbon. Eleni’s explosive performanc on  the Altice Arena stage blew away Europe which boosted the country to its highest position ever in the competiton.

  Last year internally selected Tamta, want to make a strong repeat of last year’s success with her song enttitled , Replay, and through her energetic performance at Expo Tel Aviv accomplished a 13th place for Cyprus, keeping the country on the left side of the final scoreboard.