Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020

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

Prior to the 2020 contest, the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC) had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest representing Cyprus thirty-six times since its debut in {{esccnty|Cyprus|y=1981|t=1981}}.{{Cite web|url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2017/08/03/cyprus-songwriter-internal-selection/|title=Cyprus: Broadcaster reportedly will internally select songwriter for 2018|last=Gallagher|first=Robyn|date=3 August 2017|publisher=Wiwibloggs|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024120014/https://wiwibloggs.com/2017/08/03/cyprus-songwriter-internal-selection/|archive-date=24 October 2018|url-status=live|access-date=17 April 2020|df=dmy-all}} Its best placing was in {{esccnty|Cyprus|y=2018|t=2018}} with "{{lang|es|Fuego|italics=no}}" by Eleni Foureira placing second. Before that, its best result was fifth, achieved three times: in {{esccnty|Cyprus|y=1982|t=1982}} with the song "{{lang|el-latn|Mono i agapi|italics=no}}" performed by Anna Vissi, in {{esccnty|Cyprus|y=1997|t=1997}} with "{{lang|el-latn|Mana mou|italics=no}}" performed by Hara and Andreas Constantinou, and in {{esccnty|Cyprus|y=2004|t=2004}} with "Stronger Every Minute" performed by Lisa Andreas. Its least successful result was in {{esccnty|Cyprus|y=1986|t=1986}} when it placed last with the song "{{lang|el-latn|Tora zo|italics=no}}" by Elpida, receiving only four points in total. However, its worst finish in terms of points received was when it placed second to last in {{esccnty|Cyprus|y=1999|t=1999}} with "{{lang|el-latn|Tha 'nai erotas|italics=no}}" by Marlain Angelidou, receiving only two points.{{Cite web|url=https://eurovision.tv/country/cyprus|title=Cyprus Country Profile: Eurovision Song Contest|website=Eurovision.tv|publisher=European Broadcasting Union|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180906014453/https://eurovision.tv/country/cyprus|archive-date=6 September 2018|url-status=live|access-date=17 April 2020|df=dmy-all}} After returning to the contest in {{esccnty|Cyprus|y=2015|t=2015}} following their one-year absence from the {{escyr|2014||2014 contest}} due to the 2012–13 Cypriot financial crisis and the broadcaster's budget restrictions,{{Cite news|url=http://cyprus-mail.com/2013/10/03/cybc-pulls-out-of-2014-eurovision-song-contest/|title=CyBC pulls out of 2014 Eurovision song contest|last=Psyllides|first=George|date=3 October 2013|work=Cyprus Mail|access-date=17 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024113158/http://cyprus-mail.com/2013/10/03/cybc-pulls-out-of-2014-eurovision-song-contest/|archive-date=24 October 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} Cyprus has qualified for the final of all the contests in which it has participated.

As part of its duties as participating broadcaster, CyBC organises the selection of its entry in the Eurovision Song Contest and broadcasts the event in the country. The broadcaster has used various methods to select its entry in the past, such as internal selections and televised national finals to choose the performer, song, or both to compete at Eurovision. In 2015, CyBC organised the national final Eurovision Song Project, which featured 54 songs competing in a nine-week-long process resulting in the selection of the Cypriot entry through the combination of public televoting and the votes from an expert jury. Since 2016, however, the broadcaster has opted to select the entry internally without input from the public.{{cite web|url=https://eurovoix.com/2019/09/07/cyprus-cybc-to-begin-discussions-regarding-eurovision-2020-representative-in-mid-september/|title=Cyprus: CyBC to Begin Discussions Regarding Eurovision 2020 Representative in Mid-September|date=7 September 2019|last=Granger|first=Anthony|access-date=17 April 2020|publisher=Eurovoix}} In July 2019, CyBC confirmed its intention to take part in the 2020 contest,{{cite web|url=http://esctoday.com/176807/cyprus-cybc-confirms-participation-in-eurovision-2020/|title=Cyprus: CyBC confirms participation in Eurovision 2020|last=Jiandani|first=Sanjay|publisher=ESCToday|date=15 July 2019|access-date=17 April 2020}} and by September it was known that it would once again pursue an internal selection.

As part of the selection process, CyBC reportedly received over 120 submissions for consideration.{{cite web|url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2019/11/18/cyprus-cybc-receives-120-songs-eurovision-2020/245525/|title=Cyprus: Broadcaster CyBC reportedly receives 120 song submissions for Eurovision 2020|date=18 November 2019|access-date=17 April 2020|last=Gallagher|first=Robyn|publisher=Wiwibloggs}}{{cite web|url=http://www.parikiaki.com/2019/12/sandro-nicolas-to-represent-cyprus-at-eurovision-2020/|title=Sandro Nicolas to represent Cyprus at Eurovision 2020|publisher=Parikiaki|access-date=19 April 2020|date=1 December 2019}} Unlike the previous two years where Greek Swedish producer Alex Papaconstantinou penned a track and helped select a singer to perform it, the broadcaster was open to submissions of both artist and song and would select the entrant based on song choice with input from those in the local music industry. On 29 November, Sandro was confirmed as the Cypriot entrant for the 2020 contest by CyBC.{{cite web|url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2019/11/29/cyprus-sandro-will-represent-cyprus-eurovision-2020/245980/|title=Confirmed at last! Sandro will represent Cyprus at Eurovision 2020|date=29 November 2019|access-date=17 April 2020|last=Gallagher|first=Robyn|publisher=Wiwibloggs}} Born in Germany to a Greek mother and American father, he participated in season 8 of The Voice of Germany (the German version of The Voice).{{Cite web|url=https://www.star.gr/lifestyle/media/481355/eurovision-2020-o-sandro-nicolas-tha-ekproswphsei-thn-kypro|title=Eurovision 2020: Ο Ελληνοαμερικανός που θα εκπροσωπήσει την Κύπρο!|language=el|date=22 December 2019|publisher=Star Channel|access-date=17 April 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://eurovision.tv/participant/sandro|title=Rotterdam 2020 – Participants – Sandro|access-date=17 April 2020|publisher=European Broadcasting Union}} Sandro had also reportedly been in conversations with broadcaster {{lang|de|Norddeutscher Rundfunk|italics=no}} as a potential representative for Germany. Prior to Sandro's selection, it was reported that Ivi Adamou (who represented {{esccnty|Cyprus|y=2012|t=Cyprus in 2012}}) and Ian Stratis (season 5 Your Face Sounds Familiar winner) were also considered.{{cite web|url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2019/11/21/cyprus-cybc-reportedly-selected-sandro-nicolas-eurovision-2020/245657/|title=Cyprus: CyBC has reportedly selected Sandro Nicolas for Eurovision 2020, with three songs shortlisted|date=21 November 2019|access-date=17 April 2020|publisher=Wiwibloggs}}{{cite web|url=http://esctoday.com/178009/cyprus-has-cybc-internally-chosen-sandro-nicolas-for-rotterdam/|title=Cyprus: Has CyBC internally chosen Sandro Nicolas for Rotterdam?|first=Stratos|last=Agadellis|publisher=ESCToday|date=23 November 2019|access-date=17 April 2020}}

"Running" was revealed as the name of the selected song for Sandro on 11 February 2020 through a post on Instagram.{{cite web |title="Running"! Sandro reveals Eurovision 2020 song title and official artwork |url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2020/02/11/running-sandro-reveals-eurovision-2020-song-title-and-official-artwork/249761/|website=wiwibloggs.com |access-date=17 April 2020|date=11 February 2020}} "Running" was written by Sandro and Australian singer, writer, and composer Alfie Arcuri with a team also consisting of Sebastian Rickards, Octavian Rasinariu, and Teo DK.{{cite web|url=http://esctoday.com/179198/cyprus-sandro-releases-his-eurovision-entry-running/|title=Cyprus: Sandro releases his Eurovision entry 'Running'|last=Jiandani|first=Sanjay|date=6 March 2020|access-date=17 April 2020|publisher=ESCToday}} Sandro described the song as "something that comes straight from the heart". The song and its music video premiered on 6 March 2020 during CyBC's show Happy Hour.{{cite web|url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2020/03/06/listen-sandro-releases-cyprus-eurovision-2020-song-running/251499/|title=LISTEN: "I don't wanna fall again" – Sandro releases Cyprus' Eurovision 2020 song "Running"|last=Gallagher|first=Robyn|publisher=Wiwibloggs|access-date=17 April 2020|date=6 March 2020}} Robyn Gallagher of Wiwibloggs described it as a "deep-house style electro-pop song, with solid beats underscoring Sandro's vocals".

To promote the entry, a music video directed by Alexandros Kostelidis was released at the time of the song's premiere, on 6 March 2020. It was shown during CyBC's Happy Hour show and also became available on record label Panik's YouTube channel. Later that day, Sandro performed "Running" live for the first time at Melfest WKND 20, a pre-party in Stockholm that took place the night before {{lang|sv|Melodifestivalen 2020|italics=no}}, the selection process for Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest.{{cite web|url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2020/01/16/cyprus-sandro-confirmed-for-melfest-wknd-2020/247936/|title=Sweden: Melfest WKND returns for 2020…Cyprus' Sandro is the first confirmed act|date=16 January 2020|access-date=17 April 2020|publisher=Wiwibloggs|first=Padraig|last=Muldoon}}

The Eurovision Song Contest 2020 was originally scheduled to take place at Rotterdam Ahoy in Rotterdam, Netherlands, and consist of two semi-finals on 12 and 14 May, followed by a final on 16 May 2020.{{cite news|url=https://eurovision.tv/event/rotterdam-2020|title=Eurovision Song Contest Rotterdam 2020|access-date=17 April 2020|publisher=European Broadcasting Union|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200306165402/https://eurovision.tv/event/rotterdam-2020|archive-date=6 March 2020}} According to Eurovision rules, each country, except the host nation and the "Big Five" (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom), would have been required to qualify from one of two semi-finals to compete for the final; the top ten countries from each semi-final would have progressed to the final.{{cite news|url=https://eurovision.tv/about/rules|title=Rules – Eurovision Song Contest|access-date=17 April 2020|publisher=European Broadcasting Union|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170620160638/https://eurovision.tv/about/rules|archive-date=20 June 2017|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}{{cite news|url=https://eurovision.tv/event/rotterdam-2020/first-semi-final/participants|title=Eurovision Song Contest 2020 – First Semi-Final|publisher=European Broadcasting Union|access-date=17 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128105055/https://eurovision.tv/event/rotterdam-2020/first-semi-final/participants|archive-date=28 January 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://eurovision.tv/event/rotterdam-2020/second-semi-final/participants|title=Eurovision Song Contest 2020 – Second Semi-Final|publisher=European Broadcasting Union|access-date=17 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128105053/https://eurovision.tv/event/rotterdam-2020/second-semi-final/participants|archive-date=28 January 2020|url-status=live}} On 28 January 2020, the allocation draw was held, placing Cyprus into the second half of the first semi-final.{{cite web|last=Groot|first=Evert|title=Which country performs in which Eurovision 2020 Semi-Final|url=https://eurovision.tv/story/host-city-insignia-exchange-semi-final-allocation-draw-2020|website=eurovision.tv|publisher=European Broadcasting Union|access-date=17 April 2020|date=28 January 2020}} Marvin Dietmann was announced as the artistic director for the entry, responsible for Sandro's stage performance.{{cite web|url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2020/02/03/cyprus-marvin-dietmann-stage-sandros-eurovision-2020-entry/249080/|title=Cyprus: Marvin Dietmann – Conchita Wurst's artistic director – will stage Sandro's Eurovision 2020 entry|last=Vautrey|first=Jonathan|date=3 February 2020|access-date=17 April 2020|publisher=Wiwibloggs}} However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe, the contest was cancelled on 18 March 2020.{{cite web|title=Ματαιώθηκε από την EBU η διεξαγωγή της Eurovision 2020|language=el|url=https://press.ert.gr/deltia-typou/mataiothike-apo-tin-ebu-i-diexagogi-tis-eurovision/|website=ert.gr|publisher=Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=17 April 2020|date=10 April 2020}}{{cite news|url=https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-2020-in-rotterdam-is-cancelled|title=Eurovision 2020 in Rotterdam is cancelled|publisher=European Broadcasting Union|date=18 March 2020|access-date=17 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200318140901/https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-2020-in-rotterdam-is-cancelled|archive-date=18 March 2020|url-status=live}} The EBU announced soon after that entries intended for 2020 would not be eligible for the following year, though each broadcaster would be able to send either their 2020 representative or a new one.{{cite news|url=https://eurovision.tv/story/intention-to-honour-eurovision-2020-songs-artists|title=Intention to honour Eurovision 2020 songs and artists|publisher=European Broadcasting Union|date=20 March 2020|access-date=17 April 2020}} On 1 June, CyBC announced through its social media accounts that Sandro would not return for the 2021 contest.{{cite web|url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2020/06/01/sandro-will-not-represent-cyprus-at-eurovision-2021/255037/|title=Eurovision 2021: CyBC confirms that Sandro will not represent Cyprus again|last=Muldoon|first=Padraig|date=1 June 2020|access-date=2 June 2020}}

Some of the broadcasters scheduled to take part in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 organised alternative competitions. Austria's ORF aired {{lang|de|Der kleine Song Contest}} in April 2020, which saw every entry being assigned to one of three semi-finals. A jury consisting of ten singers that had represented {{esccnty|Austria|t=Austria at Eurovision}} before was hired to rank each song; the best-placed in each semi-final advanced to the final round.{{cite web|title=Mr. Song Contest proudly presents – Der kleine Song Contest am 14., 16. und 18. April in ORF 1|url=https://tv.orf.at/highlights/orf1/200414_der_kleine_songcontest100.html|publisher=ORF|access-date=12 April 2020|language=de|archive-date=28 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028143018/https://tv.orf.at/highlights/orf1/200414_der_kleine_songcontest100.html|url-status=dead}} In the first semi-final on 14 April, Cyprus placed tenth in a field of fourteen participants, achieving 50 points.{{cite news|url=https://eurovoix.com/2020/04/14/austria-dadi-og-gagnamagnid-wins-der-kleine-song-contest-semi-final-one/|title=Iceland Wins Der kleine Song Contest Semi-Final One|publisher=Eurovoix|date=14 April 2020|access-date=19 April 2020}} Cyprus' song also participated in Sveriges Television's {{lang|sv|Sveriges 12:a}} in May,{{Cite web|url=https://blogg.svt.se/melodifestivalen-expertbloggen/klart-for-eurovision-vecka-i-svt/|title=Klart för Eurovision-vecka i SVT|last=Dahlander|first=Gustav|date=3 April 2020|publisher=Sveriges Television|language=sv|access-date=4 April 2020|archive-date=19 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819074919/https://blogg.svt.se/melodifestivalen-expertbloggen/klart-for-eurovision-vecka-i-svt/|url-status=dead}} though it was eliminated in the qualifying round.{{cite web|url=https://www.aftonbladet.se/nojesbladet/melodifestivalen/a/GGRJj6/de-rostades-vidare-i-svenska-eurovision-tavlingen|title=De röstades vidare i svenska Eurovision-tävlingen|last=Ek|first=Torbjörn|date=11 May 2020|access-date=2 June 2020|publisher=Aftonbladet|language=sv}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest}}

{{Eurovision Song Contest 2020}}

2020

Category:Countries in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020

Eurovision