Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Giannis aka John Karayiannis (20) won the Cypriot national selection with One thing I should have done . Not everyone's favorite at first, not even by this blogger's. But, once I managed to stop comparing it to Lisa Andreas' Stronger every minute (same composer Mike Connaris, btw) and heard this fantastic remix , I was sold. One of the most underrated songs this year, no doubt. 

Cyprus has confirmed a return to Eurovision after one year of absence. And instead of an internal selection or one night only national final they are planning a long, long procedure that fans have already labeled Melodifestivalen-esque. There will be audition shows, semifinals, second chance round and of course the grand final. But after all that there will be only four songs in the final. The good thing is that Cyprus takes lead from Finland and the same rule apply: At least one of the writers must be a Cypriot (and probably the same goes for the lead singer, like in Finland?)  Cyprus joined the Eurovision in 1981 and has failed to participate or willingly not taken part only in three occasions: 1988, 2001 and 2014. They have scored 5th place (their best) three times: Anna Vissi's Mono i agapi (1982), Hara & Andreas Konstantinou's Mana mou (1997) and fabulous Lisa Andreas with Stronger every minute (2004). This blogger welcomes Cyprus back with open arms, they have...

After Croatia also Cyprus skips the Copenhagen 2014 edition of Eurovision song contest blaming the public opinion on the economical crisis and further cuts on RIK's budget for 2014.  Shame, Cyprus has been always a nice addition to the line up, and has scored 9 top-10 finished since their debut back in 1981. Yet their best placing is 5th that they have achieved three times: 1982 with Anna Vissi 's Mono i agapi , in 1997 with Hari & Andreas Konstantinou 's Mana mou and most recently in 2004 with Stronger every minute with Lisa Andreas (it is rumored she won the jury only vote so it could have been the first win for the island, if ...). In the past ten years with the semifinals Cyprus has made it to the final 4 times and left out 6 times. Ivi Adamou 's La la love was the last qualifier, placing 16th in the final despite being a hot fan favorite to do much better. Worth mentioning is also Marlain in 1999 who was a top contender for the victory before the fina...

Saara Aalto (22) is no stranger for Euroviisut. She has been in the backing choir of Heidi Kyrö in 2004, Hanna Marsh in 2008 and Riikka in 2009. In 2010 she participated in the internet selection for the first time and now again and she made it and qualified to the semifinals with her ballad Blessed with love . In 2007 she also participated in Talent Suomi and reached the top-3. At the moment she's prepairing her solo debut album with her partner Teemu Roivainen and arranger Pessi Levanto. It will be released March 5, 2011. At the moment she's also in Wicked musical that runs in Helsinki City Theatre. She's a real Eurovision fan and tells in Viisukuppila's interview: "I've been a fan since 2002 when I was 15. My favourites are Stronger every minute , I'm not afraid to move on and Molitva . Even if these are all ballads I also like the Eurovision dance songs, they're great to party with! The best Finnish song is Signmark's Speakerbox . I was in t...

Cypriot TV has just announced the song titles for their ten finalists and their writers. Amongst the writers is Constantinos Christoforou who has already sung for Cyprus three times: 1996 , 2002 and 2005 . Also Mike Connaris who wrote the fantastic Stronger every minute in 2004 is back. The songs are:   Nothing is real, Island of love, Play, Like a woman, Angel, I'm gonna be, You gotta go, Goodbye, Rhapsody and Life looks better in spring .