Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Cyprus is back in Eurovision and back with a national final for the first time since 2011. In 2012 Ivi Adamou was internally selected but people had a say on the song and she La la la ed her way to Baku. Despite being a hot favorite she only managed 16th place. The year after Despina Olympiou was graceful and elegant, internally selected both song and artist, but failed to make the final and Cyprus stayed home from Copenhagen. But now folks, it all changes: 60 songs and semifinals and who knows what before we get to know the Cypriot entrant in Vienna. Judging the number of Swedish-Cypriot collaborations among the songs it's going to be more la la la oriented stuff. Maybe. Among the composers we have also previous glories Mike Connaris , Zinon Zintilis and Constantinos and among the singers a finalist from The Voice of Greece. Previous Eurovision entrants Elena Patraklou, Alex Panayi and beforementioned Despina Olympiou will be in the special jury that will sort out the fina...

In our exclusive interviews in Malmö 2013 Eurovision we asked the artists who would they like to represent their country next year in Denmark 2014. Cypriot Despina Olympiou had some hard time coming up with a suitable name "as everyone has done it already" but then she found it: Alkinoos Ioannidis .  Aikinoos a Cypriot singer, songwriter and musician. He wanted to become a drummer but as there were no teachers in Nicosia he settled for guitar instead. Studies of theater and philospohy followed in Athens later and at the age of 23 he released his debut album. Seven studio albums have followed along with a couple of live ones and a greatest hits compilation. He is known not to give interviews and appear on TV-shows and lets his music speak for himself in the concerts, so him doing Eurovision seems quite unlikely, but beautiful music he makes! He has toured all over the world from Madison Square Garden to St.Petersburg. His songs include Den mporo , Όσα η αγάπη ονειρεύε...

Namely in the greem room during the first semifinal. A guy from the Ukrainian delegation came to ask her for a dance during Cyprus performance. The security guard asked them to stop so apprently they moved somewhere nearby to continue dancing, lol! Ding dong! And yes, she was dressed like Minnie Minaj tonight!

The Bicycling reporter Robert has a chat next with the Cypriot entrant Despina Olympiou, and a chat turns into a long conversation of this and that. She's very lovely, without further ado, find out yourself here: Hello and thank you for this interview, Despina Olympiou. What a beautiful name! Thank you! But you can call me Denna like my family and friends call me :-) It's like a shortened version of my name, pronounced very quickly. A very Cypriot thing! Your musical career covers some 21 years. Could you name some highlights of your career? I feel blessed for having had such a wonderful career so far, with so many nice moments. I have been singing to many beautiful theaters all over Europe, in Greece and Cyprus. In some theaters that have a historical meaning to us. Then of course when I sung in the studio for the first time, all the big events... like the Badminton Theater in Athens singing songs by great Greek composers... singing with Giorgios Dalaras.... the...

And here comes the last lot: IRELAND - Ryan Dolan - Only love survives Ireland may be the surprise of this season as their song is gaining fans day by day. The act on stage really works and even if filled with some Eurovision clichées in some strange it works and looks fresh. The drummer boys with bodypaint drum their thing on the catwalk in the beginning, then join the others on stage and keep banging and jumping and waving their hands in perfect harmony with Ryan, who is in top form. This is old and new, heard and unheard in one package. Everything works. I wouldn't be surprised if this was the shock winner of this edition, stranger things has happened over the years. But maybe not. This number works best when it is also seen, listening only isn't that strong (so the total contrast of Serbia but more of that in a bit...) CYPRUS - Despina Olympiou - An me thimasai She's alone in the blue lit simple stage, singing her beautiful ballad in a sexy dress. Class. ...

Cyprus - Despina Olympiou - An Me Thimáse First thunbs up for Cyprus for singing in Greek (especially when the English version sounds very bland, just like San Marino btw). The problem with this song for me is that I like it when I'm listening to it, but otherwise I don't remember it or rank it very high, unfortunately. I think Cyprus may have a hard struggle to get past the semifinal, and it's a shame considering they have an artist with a real career, a beautiful song and even sing it in original language. But the sparkle is missing.... Hungary - ByeAlex- Kedvesem A little bit the same goes for Hungary that has changed their original version to Zoohacker remix for Eurovision, even if there is even better remix yet around, namely  Lotfi Begi's Deep In The Forest Mix . I like it everytime I hear it, but tend to forget otherwise. The song has something irresistible about it though and even if I must admit I was very surprised it won in Hungary and I was wonde...

An me thimase , translates to If you remember me will be the Cypriot entry in this year's Eurovision song contest in Malmö 2013. It's a ballad in Greek and sung by internally selected Despina Olympiou. You can watch the presentation of the song here today at 16.00 CET. Update: Well, not bad at all. A classic ballad, quite sad feeling in it but nice. One of the better songs this year so far!

After all the fuss and hassle Cyprus has confirmed Despina Olympiou for malmö 2013 Eurovision. Wasn't it like this from the beginning before some sites started spreading all kind of false and unconfirmed informarmation? Anyways Despina, 37, will sing a ballad in Greek it seems (hooray!) Her seventh album will be released in 2013 and her rather succesful past includes collaborations with Michalis Hadzigiannis among others, like their duets Na 'soun allios (which is actually a cover of Mia Martini's duet with Roberto Murolo!), O paradeisos and Vale mousiki , penned by Hadzigiannis. Her Eurovision entry is written by Andreas Giargallis and Xenon Zindilis though. The song will be presented later.

It is reported today that Cyprus is ready to make it's annoucement next Tuesday and the race for the Malmö ticket is between five artists. All more or less familiar names or with connections. Vera Boufi is Anna Vissi's niece and if selected would become the third lady from the Vissi family to represent Cyprus in the Eurovision after Anna and Lia. Then we have Filippos Konstantinos , ex-member of ONE and previous backing singer, this would be his 4th ESC. Valanto Tryfonos is also one, a familiar name from both Cypriot and Greek national finals. And then we have also Giorgos Douka s and Despina Olympiou . Let's wait and see if it is one of these or someone else....