Cyprus’s state broadcaster CyBC has officially confirmed that it will return to Eurovision 2015, bringing to an end months of speculation, and bringing smiles to tens of thousands of Eurovision fans on the Mediterranean island. RIK, the Cypriot Broadcasting Corporation, has also revealed details about its national selection—and boy is it exciting!
The Cypriots seem to be taking cues from the Swedes, and will mount a selection show similar to Melodifestivalen. According to an internal document, the Cypriot selection will consist of two semi-finals, one second chance show and one grand final. This is the first time that Cyprus will stage such a big selection show, rather than one live show or an internal selection. The broadcaster plans to hold auditions in the coming months, and will release one-minute videos of each competing entry ahead of the semi-finals.
WHO HAS THE RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE?
Cyprus is keeping things organic, y’all. Any Cypriot—living at home or abroad—can enter. In addition, at least one of the songwriters or composers must come from Cyprus (so you can’t just purchase a song from Sweden). Jury members for the show are not allowed to compete, compose or write lyrics for any of the entries. Artists must be older than 16, and no more than six people can appear on stage.
The deadline for submissions is the 5th of September.
HOW WILL THE RESULTS BE DETERMINED?
The results will be determined by 50% jury vote and 50% televoting. The jury will consist of three to seven experts. All shows (auditions, semi-finals and final) will be aired by RIK. However, only the two semis and the final will be broadcast live. In each semi-final, the best song will proceed to the final. The songs finishing second will perform at the Second Chance show, where the two best songs will proceed to the final. This means that the final will consist of four entries.
Jurors and televoters will award 12, 10, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 points. The combination of these two votes will determine the result.
Very good Cyprus do this!
@Deven, Apparently someone has already sent the idea of a British Melodifestivalen to the BBC last year and it got rejected.
@Deven: Has it occurred to you that this extravaganza is not even possible financially? Austerity is kind of the new black in Europe, especially in Ireland. And even if you want to entertain the idea of it, that this should be on its separate blog or website. You’re not going to gain traction here, and not a lot of people care for large national selections unless they are really part of Eurovision culture (i.e. Melfest)
Ok, now that I think about it, the UK would really benefit from a Melodifestivalen like format. Also, now that I think about it, I think Eirevision would work a hell of alot better in the UK because there are more suitable venues and the BBC have the money. Unlike RTE, who are financially struggling (I hope Hozier is sent in 2015. In fact, I am writing up a petition to get him there.) Here is the UK equivalent to Eirevision: Name: Britvision Song Contest (Get it?) Format: 8 semi finals (6 songs each) and 1 final. (48 songs overall.… Read more »
@Day one (Marcus): Well, I hope Cyprus doesn’t spend so much money on 2015 that 2016 becomes infeasible. Also, this suggests Ireland in particular could afford to expand their national selection. @Deven: Auditions aren’t a bad idea… you can eliminate the entries with lousy vocalists or with songs that are too hard for the chosen vocalists to sing. Even Melodifestivalen doesn’t appear to do this efficiently (see “Aleo” and “Bedroom” from this year – yikes!!), and given that Cyprus is going for a smaller selection, it seems almost imperative that they have this sort of filter before the live show.… Read more »
Haha Deven, it’s funny you accusing Cyprus of plagiarising when your Irish selection “idea” is basically a complete Melfest rip-off too. 😕
Awesome news
@Deven also Israel in 2013. Melodifestivalen is such a big event and just works in the countries which have a great musical industry (such as Sweden or the UK). It is better keep it simple in the countries without that “great musical industry”; in 2014, top two and fourth place picked internally by broadcasters. As I always say, the quality of the winning entry/video clip/staging is so much important that have a great national selection process. But as a Cypriot fan (I really like their flag), a national sounds enjoyable to me. We’ll have Cyprus days and it’s enough to… Read more »
This might be interesting!
Cyprus back, great. Plagiarising Melodifestivalen, BIG MISTAKE. Belgium copied Melodifestivalen this year and despite Axel Hirsoux being hotly tipped to do well, he crashed and burnt in the semi final. Spain also copied MelFest back in 2009 and they came 2nd last behind Waldo’s People (Finland). The ONLY country where a format similar to Melodifestivalen has worked is Norway. But you see, exactly like Sweden, Norway has let the Norsk Melodi Grand Prix build up for years and the Norwegians send the best song, which is usually sung by a well established act or one with experience (With Carl Espen,… Read more »
Wow the country that couldn’t afford to enter this year is entering junior Eurovision and staging a huge elaborate national selection. Take note BBC if Cyprus can afford to do it then so can you. I wouldn’t even mind if the BBC held it online to save cost just give the people who pay their tv licenses a choice.
Yeah! I’m so happy that Cyprus decided to return to Eurovision. And I’m looking forward for a good song from the Land of Aphrodite next year.
In 2019 can be host the Eurovision.
“Cyprus is looking north for inspiration”
Sounds political at all. Reminds me the occupied part of the Island.
Great! I bet and I am sure about it, that Cyprus really wants to host Eurovision now and that they will finish in Top 5 in Austria.