Two months ago Greece’s public broadcaster, ERT decided that the country would once again participate in Eurovision 2017. Since then rumors have swirled that Greece will host a National Final to select their entry for the forthcoming contest. But apparently there’s been a change of plans, and ERT is reportedly going for an internal selection.
Surely you remember what happened the last time Greece went internal?
Last Spring, ERT’s president Mr. Dionisis Tsaknis chose the relatively unknown band Europond as the country’s entry. They rebranded as Argo, but not even that could help them or their song “Utopian Land”. They went to Eurovision and Greece fell out of the final for the first time ever.
This time, ERT hopes to do its bidding in a more systematic and thoughtful way — and it definitely won’t leave it to one person to choose.
ERT hasn’t announced anything official yet, but according to mikrofwno.gr, they are going to send an invitation to interested Greek record labels to submit songs for the internal selection.
Then a jury of professionals will listen to all of the songs and decide who has what it takes to slay in Kyiv.
An internal selection will save the broadcaster a shedload of money, which it can then spend on a glossy music video for the eventual winner and pan-European promotion ahead of ESC.
Last year Argo went directly to Stockholm without attending any promotional events. That may have contributed to their dismal showing.
All this raises a new question: Who?
Eurovision 2008 competitor Kalomira — who finished an impressive third — is finally back in Greece, helping to host the show “Rising Star”. The New York-born beauty recently said in an interview that the only thing that could keep her in Greece following “Rising Star” is Eurovision.
She isn’t willing to compete after 2018 though, as her young twins are entering school then and she doesn’t want to miss a moment of it. ERT have to get in there fast!
The biggest name that fans have been wetting themselves over is Helena Paparizou, who, of course, won Eurovision for Greece in 2005 — and in Kyiv, where the 2017 contest will take place.
Just a few months ago the Swedish-Greek diva said that she would like to do Eurovision again and in October it was rumoured that she was in talks with ERT for the contest. Two months later, though, the fantasy still remains precisely that.
What do you think? Is ERT going to get it right this time? Let us know in the comments box below!
I wouldn’t read too much into this decision to go internal – it’s most likely just to save money.
I actually liked Argo from last year, and I think critics were harsh against them. The song was musically innovative and really stood out – i’d honestly send more of the same type of music for 2017 – Something completely unknown. 🙂
@cheesecake — Kalomira is no longer the adorable, energetic girl that she was back in 2008. She’s still pretty, but she’s gotten older and can no longer compensate for a bad voice. Plus, she’s released very few songs since 2008, and they’ve all been terrible.
@Leaf — I’m with you. Greece needs to send someone fresh.
Please not Helena. I would love Kalomira though.
By the way, just because it didn’t work out at their first attempt doesn’t have to mean that an internal selection is a bad idea. 🙂
These ladies are old news….. They need someone fresh.
Kostas Martakis?? People have wanted him to go for years, but it just never happened. He has a new song now called “Synora.” It’s OK.
Personally, I’d prefer someone new and young … like Stelios Legakis.
For me, they have to send Helena with a Greek-vibe song(Not like MY1, even if she winned the contest with that song, even in Kyiv 2005 it had a very dated sound, so in 2017 it will be even more dated..)but modern, and they will easily win it again.
I hope.
#Athens2018
i second eurofan mexico’s suggestion of sending kostas!
too bad, i kind of wanted to put some greek into my eurovision playlist this year 😛
this means they have someone specific in mind though which is gr8
I think is totally sure they will take Demy, after failing for the first time, they want to go back to the final and with an amazing artist and song, Demy fits perfectly
send kostas martakis directly
In mid-summer, all signs were pointing toward an internal selection, with Demy as the front-runner. Then, recently someone got word that they would hold a competition.
Should I be surprised that they are likely to stick with the internal selection. I think not.
My horse money is still on Demy.
Could it be Eleni Foureira?
Helena said no….