Eleftheria Eleftheriou Wins Greece’s National Selection with “Aphrodisiac” 9
Singing her Eurovision entry “Aphrodisiac,” Eleftheria Eleftheriou turned on enough voters to win Greece’s national selection. The 22-year old singer carried a whole lot of energy, five back-up dancers, and a super-high set of high heels with her en route to overcoming strong challenges from Dora, Cassiopeia, and Velvet Fire. Her ability to hold her pitch while shakin’ it had shades of Eurovision legend Kalomeira, who managed to place third for Greece at ESC 2008.
Still in free fall amid the euro crisis, Greece had to stage its Eurovision selection inside the atrium of a shopping mall. Thousands of fans crowded the immediate foyer—and also the corridors of every floor with a view of the action in the multi-storey shopping complex. Eleftheria’s upbeat pop number mixed electro-pop with traditional Greek sounds—and got the masses moving. The saucy lyrics (written by Dimitri Stassos, Mikaela Stenström and Dajana Lööf) are incredibly playful and convey Eleftheria’s intentions rather clearly: “You make me dance like a maniac/ you make me want your aphrodisiac…I’m craving for your touch/ I want it too much.”
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Eleftheria, who was born and raised in Cyprus, came to prominence while competing on the second season of Greek X-Factor in 2009. An early favorite, she crashed out during the fifth live episode. Shocked by the turn of events, Greek super star Sakis Rouvas offered to let her join his show at a Greek club that winter. She agreed, thereby boosting her profile in Greece.
Wiwi is thrilled with Eleftheria’s selection for several reasons. First, her song is classic Greek Eurovision. It maintains its Greek identity by setting traditional sounds and rhythms to a euro-pop beat. Second, Eleftheria, like Kalomeira and Helena Paparizou, is sexy but classy, and she’s young but well-seasoned. Third, after three years of male contestants (Sakis Rouvas, Giorgos Alkaios, and then Loucas Yiorkas), it’s about time Greek voters bypassed penis in favor of femininity! She bring some much-needed class and elegance to what is shaping up to be a lackluster year at Eurovision.
Greece: Eleftheria Eleftheriou's First Rehearsal | WiwiBloggs.Com
May 13, 2012 @ 12:27:42
[...] of energy, joie de vivre and plenty of hip-shaking. The choreography remains as strong as it did in the national final, but this time there is more emphasis on the “maniac”: observe the random body shakes [...]
The Wiwi Jury: Greece's Eleftheria Eleftheriou with "Aphrodisiac" | WiwiBloggs.Com
May 08, 2012 @ 07:39:42
[...] like to applaud Greece for staging their national selection inside the food court of the River West shopping mall. You prove that austerity is no excuse to stop the fun. It’s [...]
Eurovision Death Match: Ivi Adamou vs. Eleftheria Eleftheriou | WiwiBloggs.Com
May 04, 2012 @ 15:01:35
[...] Cyprus’ Ivi Adamou and Greece’s Eleftheria Eleftheriou square off in the first semi-final of Eurovision 2012, it’ll be something of a reunion. The [...]
Who Will Win Eurovision 2012? Update #2 (April 24) | WiwiBloggs.Com
Apr 24, 2012 @ 15:00:03
[...] by Cyprus’ Ivi Adamou (“La La Love”) and Greece’s Eleftheria Eleftheriou (“Aphrodisiac”). Both of these ladies competed on Greek X-Factor. And both of these ladies have 731 votes. This is [...]
Mar 15, 2012 @ 01:35:32
@gg I’m not saying only rich countries should win. I’m saying bankrup countries can have a hard time hosting. Even if the cost is covered by sponsors and tourism, on the short term it’s a hard thing to do (otherwise you wouldn’t have some countries declining to host, as they did on early times of the contest) and Greece right now has a lot of things to sort, so hosting next year my be really hard to handle for them.
Of course, if they DO win (which seems like a fair chance now that we know practically all the songs) I’m gonna wish them the best of lucks if they want to host.
Mar 15, 2012 @ 01:03:33
@ Nirgal
So according to your opinion only rich countries should win eurovision? I’m sorry but the cost of the organisation in case Greece wins is covered by sponsors and if Greece win this year it will be more beneficial to the greek economy than catastrophic because of all the people who’ll come over and spend their money to stay in athens while the competition is taking place.
Eurovision Odds: Denmark or San Marino to Win First Semi-Final | WiwiBloggs.Com
Mar 14, 2012 @ 11:36:22
[...] who are already a YouTube hit. And Greece’s Eleftheria Eleftheriou, who stormed to victory in a shopping mall on March [...]
Mar 13, 2012 @ 21:50:20
Ok this is an entry this is seriously catchy and will do reasonably well (even though Loukas was a much more interesting and robust choice, gounded in actual greek music), but class and elegance? I think she needs to work on that. Look at 1:50….
Bottom line, she is no Elena or Kalomira but with a lot of hard work she will be fine.
Mar 13, 2012 @ 02:45:59
Are you sure this isn’t Helena Paparizou performing as an interval act?
I’m not sure about this, she seems like a strong entry, and if she wins Athens 2013 will have to be in the backyard of the OGAE Greece Headquarters.
(Greece should have sent a joke act, now that they can’t afford to win. If Stereo Mike couldn’t ruin their Top 10 landing, nothing can)