Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021

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

Prior to the 2021 contest, Cyprus had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest thirty-six times since the island country made its debut in the 1981 contest.{{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=2017-08-03|publisher=Wiwibloggs|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024120014/https://wiwibloggs.com/2017/08/03/cyprus-songwriter-internal-selection/|archive-date=2018-10-24|url-status=live|access-date=2020-11-25}} Its best placing was at the {{escyr|2018||2018 contest}} where Eleni Foureira placed second with "{{lang|es|Fuego|italics=no}}". Before that, Cyprus's best result was fifth, which it achieved three times: in the 1982 competition with the song "{{lang|el-latn|Mono i agapi|italics=no}}" performed by Anna Vissi, in the 1997 edition with "{{lang|el-latn|Mana mou|italics=no}}" performed by Hara and Andreas Constantinou, and the 2004 contest with "Stronger Every Minute" performed by Lisa Andreas. Cyprus' least successful result was in the 1986 contest 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 the 1999 contest 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|publisher=European Broadcasting Union|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180906014453/https://eurovision.tv/country/cyprus|archive-date=2018-09-06|url-status=live|access-date=2020-11-25}} After returning to the contest in 2015 following their one-year absence from the 2014 edition 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=2013-10-03|work=Cyprus Mail|access-date=2020-11-25|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=2018-10-24|url-status=live}} Cyprus has qualified for the final of all the contests in which it has participated.

The Cypriot national broadcaster, CyBC, broadcasts the contest within Cyprus and organises the selection process for the nation's entry. Cyprus 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, the broadcaster 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=25 November 2020|publisher=Eurovoix}}

On 25 November 2020, CyBC announced that they had internally selected Greek singer Elena Tsagrinou to represent Cyprus in Rotterdam with the song "{{lang|es|El Diablo|italics=no}}".{{Cite web|last=Adams|first=William Lee|date=2020-11-25|title=Cyprus: Elena Tsagrinou will sing 'El Diablo' at Eurovision 2021|url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2020/11/25/cyprus-elena-tsagrinou-will-sing-el-diablo-at-eurovision-2021/258906/|access-date=2020-11-25|publisher=Wiwibloggs}} Tsagrinou previously participated in the second season of {{lang|es|Ellada Eheis Talento}} where she progressed to the semi-final. Signed to Panik Records, she was a former member of the group Otherview. "{{lang|es|El Diablo|italics=no}}" was written by Jimmy "Joker" Thörnfeldt, Laurell Barker, Oxa, and Thomas Stengaard. Barker and Stengaard have written several Eurovision entries for various countries with the latter having written the Danish Eurovision Song Contest 2013 winning song "Only Teardrops".{{Cite web|last=Agadellis|first=Stratos|date=25 November 2020|title=Cyprus: It’s Elena Tsagrinou to Rotterdam!|url=http://esctoday.com/181176/cyprus-its-elena-tsagrinou-to-rotterdam/|access-date=26 November 2020|publisher=ESCToday}} On 25 January 2021, Tsagrinou announced on her Instagram account that the song would be released exactly one month later, on 24 February 2021.{{Cite instagram|user=elenatsagkrinou_official|postid=CKbNROmByJd|date=24 January 2021|title=Getting ready to shoot the video clip and I can't wait for you to listen to El Diablo... #Eurovision #ESC2021 #TeamCy #ElDiablo|access-date=24 January 2021}}

A preview of "{{lang|es|El Diablo|italics=no}}" was presented to the public on 24 February 2021 during the RIK 1 programme Happy Hour, hosted by Andreas Giortsios. The official preview video for the song, directed by George Benioudakis was also available on the Panik Records mobile app and website.{{Cite web|last=Granger|first=Anthony|date=24 February 2021|title=Today: Cyprus Reveals Its Entry For Eurovision 2021|url=https://eurovoix.com/2021/02/24/today-🇨🇾-cyprus-reveals-its-entry-for-eurovision-2021/|access-date=24 February 2021|website=Eurovoix}} The music video was hosted on the website until 27 February; on 28 February, the song and full length music video was officially released to the public.{{cite web|url=https://panikmusic.gr/eldiablo-kikloforia-video/|title=

El Diablo: Δειτε Αποκλειστικα Το Music Video Της Κυπρου Για Την Eurovision|publisher=Panik Records|access-date=24 February 2021}}

Upon release, the song was controversial within Cyprus, with the Church of Cyprus calling for the withdrawal of song. The church stated that the song made an international mockery of country's moral foundations by advocating "our surrender to the devil and promoting his worship".{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/02/cypriot-church-calls-for-countrys-eurovision-song-to-be-scrapped|title=Cypriot church calls for 'devil' Eurovision song to be scrapped|date=2021-03-02|work=The Guardian|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302221409/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/02/cypriot-church-calls-for-countrys-eurovision-song-to-be-scrapped|archive-date=2021-03-02|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2021/03/03/europe/eurovision-cyprus-satanic-scli-intl/index.html|title=Church of Cyprus calls for country's entry to Eurovision to be dropped for promoting devil-worship|last1=Braithwaite|first1=Sharon|last2=Liakos|first2=Chris|last3=Kolirin|first3=Lianne|date=2021-03-03|work=CNN|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303150055/https://edition.cnn.com/2021/03/03/europe/eurovision-cyprus-satanic-scli-intl/index.html|archive-date=2021-03-03|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/music-eurovision-cyprus-int/little-sympathy-for-the-devil-in-cyprus-eurovision-song-row-idUSKBN2AV1RX|title=Little sympathy for the Devil in Cyprus Eurovision song row|date=2021-03-03|publisher=Reuters|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303193700/https://www.reuters.com/article/music-eurovision-cyprus-int/little-sympathy-for-the-devil-in-cyprus-eurovision-song-row-idUSKBN2AV1RX|archive-date=2021-03-03|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/upset-cyprus-satanic-eurovision-song-choice-76164677|title=Some upset in Cyprus over 'satanic' Eurovision song choice|last=Hadjicostis|first=Menelaos|date=2021-02-28|work=ABC News|publisher=Associated Press|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228155124/https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/upset-cyprus-satanic-eurovision-song-choice-76164677|archive-date=2021-02-28|url-status=live}} They felt that the song was offensive, disrespectful and unrepresentative, and demanded that the state broadcaster CyBC withdraw Cyprus' Eurovision entry.{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/03/europe/eurovision-cyprus-satanic-scli-intl|title=Church of Cyprus calls for country's entry to Eurovision to be dropped for promoting devil-worship|publisher=CNN|first1=Sharon|last1=Braithwaite|first2=Chris|last2=Liakos|first3=Lianne|last3=Kolirin |date=3 March 2021|access-date=7 March 2021}} In February 2021, Orthodox Christians in Cyprus launched an online petition to ask the withdrawal from the Eurovision Song Contest.{{cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/cyprus-eurovision-entry-sparks-backlash-over-satanic-lyrics/a-56721474|title=Cyprus Eurovision entry sparks backlash over 'satanic' lyrics|website=Deutsche Welle|date=27 February 2021}} This was followed by a protest held in March outside of CyBC to demand the song's withdrawal,{{Cite web|url=https://www.euronews.com/2021/03/07/eurovision-song-protest-orthodox-christians-demand-withdrawal-of-cyprus-satanic-eurovision|title=Eurovision song protest: Orthodox Christians demand withdrawal of Cyprus' 'satanic' Eurovision entry|last=Dartford|first=Katy|date=2021-03-07|work=Euronews|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307144625/https://www.euronews.com/2021/03/07/eurovision-song-protest-orthodox-christians-demand-withdrawal-of-cyprus-satanic-eurovision|archive-date=2021-03-07|url-status=live}} and a petition signed by just over 20,000 people on Avaaz to urge for the cancellation of the country's Eurovision participation.{{cite web |publisher=Lifo |title=Eurovision: Απειλούν να κάψουν τον σταθμό ΡΙΚ για το τραγούδι 'El Diablo' της Κύπρου |url=https://www.lifo.gr/now/world/eurovision-apeiloyn-na-kapsoyn-ton-stathmo-rik-gia-tragoydi-el-diablo-tis-kyproy |access-date=1 March 2021 |language=Greek |date=26 February 2021|newspaper=Lifo}} The government publicly rejected the reactions from religious and conservative groups, claiming it respects both spiritual rights but also the freedom of artistic expression.{{cite web|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/protesters-say-out-with-cyprus-satanic-eurovision-entry/|title=Protesters say out with Cyprus' 'Satanic' Eurovision entry|first=Menelaos|last=Hadjicostis|date=6 March 2021|access-date=7 March 2021|newspaper=The Seattle Times}}

File:ESC 2021 Rotterdam 1st Semi Jury Show Cyprus.jpg

The Eurovision Song Contest 2021 took place at Rotterdam Ahoy in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, and consisted of two semi-finals held on the respective dates of 18 and 20 May, and the final on 22 May 2021.{{cite web |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU)|title=Eurovision Song Contest–Rotterdam 2021 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/rotterdam-2021 |access-date=17 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200917134721/https://eurovision.tv/event/rotterdam-2021 |archive-date=17 September 2020}} According to Eurovision rules, all nations with the exceptions of the host country and the "Big Five" (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom) are required to qualify from one of two semi-finals in order to compete for the final; the top ten countries from each semi-final progress to the final. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) split up the competing countries into six different pots based on voting patterns from previous contests as determined by the contest's televoting partner Digame.{{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|publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU)|access-date=12 January 2022|date=28 January 2020|archive-date=21 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200421145930/https://eurovision.tv/story/host-city-insignia-exchange-semi-final-allocation-draw-2020|url-status=live}} The semi-final allocation draw held for the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 on 28 January 2020 was used for the 2021 contest; Cyprus was placed into the first semi-final, to be held on 18 May 2021, and was scheduled to perform in the second half of the show.{{Cite web|last=Groot|first=Evert|date=17 November 2020|title=2020 Semi-Final line-up to stay for 2021|url=https://eurovision.tv/story/2020-semi-final-line-up-to-stay-this-year|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118125722/https://eurovision.tv/story/2020-semi-final-line-up-to-stay-this-year|archive-date=18 November 2020|access-date=17 November 2020|publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU)}} Once all the competing songs for the 2021 contest had been released, the running order for the semi-finals was decided by the shows' producers rather than through another draw, so that similar songs were not placed next to each other. Cyprus was set to perform in position 8, following the entry from Ireland and preceding the entry from Norway.{{Cite web|date=2021-03-30|title=Semi-Final running orders revealed|url=https://eurovision.tv/story/semi-final-running-orders|access-date=2021-03-30|publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU)|archive-date=30 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210330110752/https://eurovision.tv/story/semi-final-running-orders|url-status=live}} Louis Patsalides served as the commentator for the broadcasts of the contest within Cyprus.{{Cite web|last=Washak|first=James|date=14 April 2021|title=Cyprus: Louis Patsalides Revealed as Commentator For Eurovision 2021|url=https://eurovoix.com/2021/04/14/louis-patsalides-eurovision-2021/|access-date=15 April 2021|website=Eurovoix|language=en-GB}}

Marvin Dietmann was the artistic director for the entry, responsible for the country's stage performance. Technical rehearsals for the performance took place the week prior to the contest, on 9 and 12 May 2021.{{cite news|url=https://eurovisionworld.com/esc/eurovision-2021-rehearsal-schedule-in-rotterdam|title=Eurovision 2021: Rehearsal Schedule|work=Eurovision World|date=24 April 2021|access-date=12 January 2022|archive-date=12 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512084846/https://eurovisionworld.com/esc/eurovision-2021-rehearsal-schedule-in-rotterdam}}

The first semi-final was held on 18 May and Cyprus was announced as one of the ten countries to have qualified for the final.{{Cite AV media|url=https://eurovision.tv/video/qualifiers-annoucement-first-semi-final-eurovision-2021|title=Qualifiers {{notatypo|Annou|cement [sic]}} - First Semi-Final - Eurovision 2021|date=2021-05-18|publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210520212624/https://eurovision.tv/video/qualifiers-annoucement-second-semi-final-eurovision-2021|archive-date=2021-05-20}} It was later revealed that the entry placed sixth in the semi-final, receiving a total of 170 points. Soon after, the EBU posted the running order for the final, placing Cyprus in the first position, preceding {{Esccnty|Albania|y=2021}}.{{cite web |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU) |title=Grand Final Running Order |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/grand-final-running-order-revealed |access-date=22 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521045941/https://eurovision.tv/story/grand-final-running-order-revealed |archive-date=21 May 2021 |date=21 May 2021 }} At the close of voting for the final, held on 22 May, "El Diablo" placed 16th in the field of 26, receiving 94 points.

{{see also|Voting at the Eurovision Song Contest}}

Voting during the three shows involved each country awarding two sets of points from 1-8, 10 and 12: one from their professional jury and the other from televoting. The judges assessed each entry based on the performances during the second Dress Rehearsal of each show, which took place the night before each live show, against a set of criteria including: vocal capacity; the stage performance; the song's composition and originality; and the overall impression by the act.{{cite web |title=Voting–Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/voting |publisher=European Broadcasting Union |access-date=26 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526162423/https://eurovision.tv/about/voting |archive-date=26 May 2021 |url-status=live}} The exact composition of the professional jury, and the results of each country's jury and televoting were released after the final; the individual results from each jury member were also released in an anonymised form. Cyprus's jury consisted of Andreas, Marilena Charalambidou, Christiana Mitella, Alexandros Taramountas and {{ill|Tasos Tryfonos|el|Τάσος Τρύφωνος}}.{{cite web |title=Juries in the First Semi-Final of Rotterdam 2021 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/rotterdam-2021/first-semi-final/jury |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU)|access-date=26 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526164239/https://eurovision.tv/event/rotterdam-2021/first-semi-final/jury |archive-date=26 May 2021 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Juries in the Grand Final of Rotterdam 2021 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/rotterdam-2021/grand-final/jury |publisher=European Broadcasting Union (EBU)|access-date=26 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526163358/https://eurovision.tv/event/rotterdam-2021/grand-final/jury |archive-date=26 May 2021 |url-status=live}}

Below is a breakdown of points awarded to Cyprus in the first semi-final, as well as by the country in the final. In the first semi-final, Cyprus placed 6th with a total of 170 points, thus qualifying for the final. The performance received 78 televoting points, which included the maximum 12 awarded by Malta. The jury points added to 92, including 12 from Slovenia. In the final, Cyprus placed 16th with 94 points, with two sets of 12 points from Greece (jury and televote) and one set from Russia's televote. Over the course of the contest, Cyprus awarded its 12 points in the first semi-final to Lithuania (televote) and Malta (jury), while in the final, both sets were awarded to Greece. Loukas Hamatsos served as Cyprus's spokesperson for the voting portion of the final, announcing the country's jury vote.{{cite web|url=https://www.alphanews.live/entertainment/eurovision-2021-prosopo-poy-ekleise-gia-na-dosei-tin-bathmologia-tis-kyproy|title=Eurovision 2021: Το πρόσωπο που "έκλεισε" για να δώσει την βαθμολογία της Κύπρου|language=el|date=15 April 2021|publisher=Alpha TV Cyprus|access-date=22 April 2022}}

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The following members comprised the Cypriot jury:

• Andreas
• Marilena Charalambidou
• Christiana Mitella
• Alexandros Taramountas
• {{ill|Tasos Tryfonos|el|Τάσος Τρύφωνος}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest}}

{{Eurovision Song Contest 2021}}

2021

Category:Countries in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021

Eurovision