Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest 2003

{{main|Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest}}

Prior to the {{Escyr|2003||2003 contest}}, the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC) had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest representing Cyprus 20 times since its first entry in 1981.{{cite web|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/history/by-country/country?country=14|title=History by Country: Cyprus|publisher=European Broadcasting Union|access-date=2021-03-15|archive-date=7 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907194341/http://www.eurovision.tv/page/history/by-country/country?country=14|url-status=dead}} It then participated yearly, only missing the {{escyr|1988||1988 contest}} when its selected song "{{lang|el-latn|Thimame|i=no}}" by {{ill|Yiannis Dimitrou|el|Γιάννης Δημητράς}} was disqualified for being previously released,{{sfn|O'Connor|2010|p=212}} and the 2001 contest when it was relegated. To this point, the country's best placing was fifth, which it achieved twice: {{esccnty|Cyprus|y=1982|t=in 1982}} with the song "{{lang|el-latn|Mono i agapi|i=no}}" performed by Anna Vissi and {{esccnty|Cyprus|y=1997|t=in 1997}} with "{{lang|el-latn|Mana mou|i=no}}" performed by Hara and Andreas Constantinou. Cyprus' least successful result was {{esccnty|Cyprus|y=1986|t=in 1986}} when it placed last with the song "{{lang|el-latn|Tora zo|i=no}}" by Elpida, receiving only four points in total.

To be considered for the 2003 contest for Cyprus, artists and composers were able to submit their entries to CyBC from 8 to 20 January 2003. Artists of any nationality were able to submit entries, however all composers were required to have Cypriot nationality.{{Cite web|last=Bakker|first=Sietse|date=8 January 2003|title=Cyprus: Open competition, internal selection|url=http://esctoday.com/1107/cyprus_open_competition_internal_selection/|publisher=ESCToday|access-date=16 May 2021|archive-date=7 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200607170949/http://esctoday.com/1107/cyprus_open_competition_internal_selection/|url-status=live}} At the conclusion of the deadline, over 40 candidate songs were received by CyBC,{{Cite web|last=Vatmanidis|first=Theo|date=1 February 2003|title=Cypriot selection: Jury meets on Sunday|url=http://esctoday.com/1210/cypriot_selection_jury_meets_on_sunday/|publisher=ESCToday|access-date=16 May 2021|archive-date=24 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141024050932/http://esctoday.com/1210/cypriot_selection_jury_meets_on_sunday/|url-status=live}} with some sources reporting as many as 52 songs.{{cite web|url=http://www.hri.org/news/cyprus/cmnews/2003/03-02-13.cmnews.html|title=Feeling Alive for Eurovision|access-date=6 November 2021|date=13 February 2003|newspaper=Cyprus Mail|first=Tania|last=Khadder|archive-date=10 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210024411/http://www.hri.org/news/cyprus/cmnews/2003/03-02-13.cmnews.html|url-status=live}} On 11 February 2003, the broadcaster announced that the three-member selection committee had internally selected the English-language song "Feeling Alive" performed by Stelios Constantas to represent Cyprus in Riga. "Feeling Alive" was written and composed by Constantas and was initially set to be part of an upcoming album before he decided to submit it for consideration for Eurovision. Constantas had previously attempted to represent Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest after taking part in the 1997 and 1999 selection processes.{{Cite web|last=Bakker|first=Sietse|date=11 February 2003|title=Officially: Stelios Konstantas for Cyprus to Riga|url=http://esctoday.com/1260/officially_stelios_konstantas_for_cyprus_to_riga/|publisher=ESCToday|access-date=16 May 2021|archive-date=4 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104080027/http://esctoday.com/1260/officially_stelios_konstantas_for_cyprus_to_riga|url-status=live}} The selection committee consisted of Evi Droutsa (lyricist), Lia Vissi (who represented {{esccnty|Cyprus|y=1985|t=Cyprus in 1985}}) and Marios Skordis (Head of Delegation for Cyprus). In choosing an English-language song, Constantas noted that he thought the judges at the contest would vote more positively if they could understand the song.

File:Stelios Konstantas-Feeling Alive.jpg as part of the Cypriot entry's promotional activities.]]

To promote the entry, a five track CD single was released by V2 Records in Cyprus and Greece on 27 March 2003, and a remixed version of the song was created for release in Italy and Sweden. The song was sent to all major radio stations in the latter two countries and its accompanying music video was put in rotation on Greek music video channel MAD TV.{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Media-IDX/IDX/00s/03/MM-2003-05-24-OCR-Page-0009.pdf|title=Eurovision Spotlight|date=24 May 2003|volume=21|issue=22|access-date=13 May 2021|magazine=Music & Media|archive-date=13 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513130839/https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-UK/Music/Archive-Music-Media-IDX/IDX/00s/03/MM-2003-05-24-OCR-Page-0009.pdf|url-status=live}} Constantas also promoted the song through several live performances, including at {{esccnty|Greece|y=2003|t=Greece's national final}} in late February and on Destino a Eurovision, which documented Spain's Eurovision preparation for the year.{{cite web|url=https://esctoday.com/1338/mando_to_represent_greece_in_riga/|title=Mando to represent Greece in Riga|first=Theo|last=Vatmanidis|date=28 February 2003|access-date=8 November 2021|publisher=ESCToday}}{{cite web|url=http://esctoday.com/1466/eurovision_entrants_in_operacin_trinfo/|title=Eurovision entrants in Operación Triúnfo|date=14 April 2003|publisher=ESCToday|first=Edwin|last=van Gorp|access-date=16 May 2021|archive-date=16 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516135521/http://esctoday.com/1466/eurovision_entrants_in_operacin_trinfo/|url-status=live}} He later performed at the Mediterranean Party held at a night club in Old Riga in May, singing "Feeling Alive" in both Greek and English.{{cite web|url=http://esctoday.com/1614/mediterranean_party_took_place_last_night/|title=Mediterranean party took place last night|date=23 May 2003|publisher=ESCToday|first=Itamar|last=Barak|access-date=13 May 2021|archive-date=13 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513130839/http://esctoday.com/1614/mediterranean_party_took_place_last_night/|url-status=live}} Additional promotional activities took place in Malta and Poland.{{cite web|url=https://www.flash.gr/culture/97928/o-stelios-kwnstantas-sto-flashgr|language=el|title=Ο Στέλιος Κωνσταντάς στο Flash.gr|date=15 April 2003|access-date=7 November 2021|website=Flash.gr|archive-date=7 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107154435/https://www.flash.gr/culture/97928/o-stelios-kwnstantas-sto-flashgr|url-status=live}}

The Eurovision Song Contest 2003 took place at the Skonto Olympic Hall in Riga on 24 May 2003.{{cite web |title=Riga 2003–Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/riga-2003 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU)|access-date=30 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210102233622/https://eurovision.tv/event/riga-2003|archive-date=2 January 2021 |url-status=live}} The draw for running order had previously been held on 29 November 2002 in Riga, with the results being revealed during a delayed broadcast of the proceedings later that day.{{cite web|first=Sietse|last=Bakker|title=Draw to be made public Friday 17:00 CET|url=https://esctoday.com/994/draw_to_be_made_public_friday_1700_cet/|publisher=ESCToday|date=28 November 2002|access-date=7 November 2021|archive-date=7 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107234138/http://esctoday.com/994/draw_to_be_made_public_friday_1700_cet/|url-status=live}} Cyprus was set to perform ninth, following the entry from {{esccnty|Croatia|y=2003}} and preceding the entry from {{esccnty|Germany|y=2003}}.{{cite web |title=Final of Riga 2003 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/riga-2003/final |publisher=European Broadcasting Union |access-date=7 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210407194917/https://eurovision.tv/event/riga-2003/final |archive-date=7 April 2021 |url-status=live}} Dress rehearsals for the participants took place beginning on 19 May. A backing vocalist for Cyprus was slightly injured during the first rehearsal, but they were able to continue on schedule.{{cite web|url=https://esctoday.com/1559/stelios_constantas_is_feeling_alive_in_riga/|title=Stelios Constantas is feeling alive in Riga|date=19 May 2003|publisher=ESCToday|first=Itamar|last=Barak|access-date=8 November 2021|archive-date=13 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513130839/https://esctoday.com/1559/stelios_constantas_is_feeling_alive_in_riga/|url-status=live}} The performance at the contest was introduced by a postcard with Constantas playing football. His stage presence as he sang featured blue tones with the singer and his backing vocalists and dancers wearing all white.{{cite web|url=https://esctoday.com/1616/detailed_report_about_the_first_dress_rehearsal/|title=Detailed report about the first dress rehearsal!|date=23 May 2003|access-date=11 November 2021|publisher=ESCToday|first=Sietse|last=Bakker}} For the broadcast, Evi Papamichail provided commentary on RIK 1 television with Pavlos Pavlou on RIK 2 radio.{{cite web|url=http://infegreece.gr/i-istoria-tis-cyprus-stin-eurovision-foureira/|title=Η ιστορία της Κύπρου στη Γιουροβίζιον: εισαγωγή και μερικά trivia|trans-title=The history of Cyprus in Eurovision: introduction and some trivia|date=15 October 2018|language=Greek|first=Dimitrios|last=Mantzilas|publisher=INFE Greece|access-date=8 November 2021}}

Televoting was an obligatory voting method for all participating countries, which awarded 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 12 points to their ten favourite songs, in ascending order. Countries voted in the same order as they had performed.{{cite web|url=http://www.ebu.ch/news/pdf/ESC2003Rules.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030414040437/http://www.ebu.ch/news/pdf/ESC2003Rules.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 April 2003|title=Rules of the 2003 Eurovision Song Contest|date=20 November 2002|publisher=European Broadcasting Union|access-date=7 November 2021}} At the end of the voting phase, it was determined that Cyprus had been placed 20th in the field of 26 entries, receiving 15 points in total from three nations, including the maximum 12 points from Greece, which they had also given 12 points to through their public televoting.{{cite web |title=Results of the Final of Riga 2003 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/riga-2003/final/results/cyprus |publisher=European Broadcasting Union |access-date=7 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210407200946/https://eurovision.tv/event/riga-2003/final/results/cyprus |archive-date=7 April 2021 |url-status=live}} CyBC appointed Loukas Hamatsos as its spokesperson to present the results of the Cypriot vote.{{cite web|url=https://esctoday.com/2102/cyprus_releases_details_about_2004_selection/|title=Cyprus releases details about 2004 selection|publisher=ESCToday|date=22 January 2004|access-date=7 November 2021|first=Louis|last=Christodoulides|archive-date=7 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107154351/https://esctoday.com/2102/cyprus_releases_details_about_2004_selection/|url-status=live}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book |last=O'Connor |first=John Kennedy |author-link=John Kennedy O'Connor |title=The Eurovision Song Contest: The Official History |date=2010 |publisher=Carlton Books |location=London |isbn=978-1-84732-521-1 |edition=2nd|url=https://archive.org/details/eurovisionsongco0000ocon/page/112/mode/2up}}

{{Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest}}

{{Eurovision Song Contest 2003}}

2003

Category:Countries in the Eurovision Song Contest 2003

Eurovision