Dolly Parton once said, “The higher the hair the closer to heaven.” And today Cyprus’ Eleni Foureira definitely took us to Paradise. Popping and locking, and frequently throwing her hair down and then into the air, she proved that sometimes the best prop at Eurovision is your own body.
The “Fuego” singer slipped into a stunning cat suit with illusion cutouts that glittered beneath the stage lights as they clung to each of Eleni’s curves. Her four backing dancers cut a similar figure, creating an army of fabulous that enticed and dazzled with every choreographed dip and turn. The moves, while very sensual and sultry, don’t stray into the vulgar. This is eye-catching, fiery and somehow beautiful — no fancy LED needed!
A song about fire should definitely have flames — and Eleni has them in spades. The final run-thru featured plenty of fire shooting into the air on the circular stage. Hip shake. Flame. Hair flip. Flame. Less impressive were the on-screen graphics, which are clearly still being rendered. At times fire was meant to shoot out from her. It did so at hip level, leading to all manner of jokes and bodily expulsions. Another graphic element sees purple-ish smoke clouding the screen on either side of Eleni’s silhouette. She whips it away with her hair.
It’s no longer a question of whether Cyprus will qualify for the final. It’s a question of whether they will win this semi — and how high they will climb in the grand final.
Eleni Foureira — “Fuego”: Reviews and Reactions
Cyprus: First rehearsal at Eurovision 2018
Cyprus: First press conference 2018
Read all of our Eurovision rehearsal reviews
Read all of our Cyprus Eurovision news here
Photo & Footage: EBU (Thomas Hanses)
Don’t forget that at press poll she came first! Why? Because journalists saw the whole performance (3min) of Eleni as she slayed the stage completely!!
Ready to reach top 7
There has been so much criticism about Eleni’s live skills and here she is proving everyone she can dance and sing at the same time like a pro.
It’s exciting, empowering and energetic. The staging suits the song really well. The performance upgrades the song.
She will probably qualify for the final.
Can I just say that Cyprus slayed? I had my doubts about her vocal performance, because it’s hard to sing and dance like crazy at the same time. Looks like she worked hard before going to Lisbon and this has paid off! She sounded great, she looked great and the staging was also great. So proud of our brothers in Cyprus! They did a good job this year! Hope they go as high as they can! I’m impressed how high she went in the betting odds, from 17th or 18th before the rehearsals to 7th or 8th. It’s not a… Read more »
Very good song- I liked video and LIVE perfomace is very good as well. For me TOP 3 definetaly- good job ad good luckto Cypros. Greetings from Estonia 🙂
What does Senneks and Elenis dress have in common? But Eleni goes further – you can see her n…… And there is Netta – with the message that you shouldn’t care about the modern-time preachers that tell you that Elenis perfect body is what you need. William said, her body is her prop. Eurovision has it all. I think perfect bodies and (moder-time preachers) beauty will be the winner – a huge cinderella dress – a perfect body and sexy dance routine – and we should not miss to mention that they do sing. And the opera diva quite impressively… Read more »
Don’t get me wrong – I loved the song from Cyprus from the beginning – it is a very good bop. The only thing I didn’t like was this taste of “The Beauty Myth: How Images of Beauty Are Used Against Women” (it’s the title of a book)
You’re right, but handsome boys also have a better chance at Eurovision, so I guess it’s just the way it is..
there is no mediocre in attractiveness, either you can pull off the sexy outfit or look vulgar trying to be sexy. I think that’s where Belgium and Macedonia are failing and where Cyprus, Finland win. I totally agree with you on the Beauty Myth
Imagine the irony of this winning (as well as Azer, Belarus, Czech, Finldand, etc) & Salvador giving his trophy to fastfood music LOL. His face will be so priceless, I would pay to see that hahahahaha. This is what you get when you pared down the stage, everyone will bring the kitchen sink & everything else. Ironically, who would have thought that Salvador’s comment & Lisbon hosting will setback the contest 10 years back?
The song is still not among my top favourites, but I have to give her credit for her energy.
Eleni:
And she sure did!
Seeing those pathetic comments saying that this song is “dated” (aka one of the most overused word in the fandom this year) is really LOLing me out.
Eleni will qualify with flying colors and will slay the stage next week, mark my words. ??
I see desperation. She knows this is her only chance, after trying to get on Eurovision for over 8 years. Finally, after years of trying to represent a country, Cyprus finally accepted her. This is the only 3 minutes she has to get her name out. So she has to make the most of it. The hype will be short lived, because, at the end of the day the average family viewer will vote for something with more substance. The Jury will score this low.
It has been confirmed that there’s gonna be augmented reality, so greece will prob look amazing, everyone is hyping cyprus too much, wait for the full result.
I don’t give a rat’s ass, if she’s no Whitney Houston. Those 40 some seconds gave me LIFE!
The judges give a rat’s ass haha
Dated and cliche, but it’s a Bop! I just wish there were pelicans on the stage, and ofc, melons and pineapples. It’s a televoting stealer that will cause some trouble.
this gives me a gay boner
The performance was great, no doubt she can sing, dance and move that body! But…. the song hasn’t got enough quality as to get points from the juries…. ,Simple lyrics, and this ayeah ayeah that reminds me too much to the fairlure of that say yeah yeah yeah of a couple of years ago. I have the impression Western Europe will not react in a positive way to it. We’ll see! Good luck anyway Cyprus!
Great energy, she clearly knows how to deliver, and I perfectly understand that some of you can like it and I respect that. But… Please don’t hate me, but honestly for me this entry reaches for heights in vulgarity.
After seen all rehearsels and read about them on sites . I judge only songs, not from where they are from. This is my top 10 for now to Qualify: Cyprus, Bulgaria,Estonia,Israel,Czech Republic,Greece,Finland,Croatia,Lithuania,Belarus
100% out of the game: Iceland,Switzerland,Ireland,Azerbaijan
Still in it with chance if they change something or improve: Macedonia,Armenia,Belgium,Austria,Albania
She is slaying!!!!!! She is going through no doubt!!! I doubt this will win as it’s not a Eurovision winner but a top 10 is now possible
Cyprus could honestly steal the show from Israel
Somehow the song is catchy but this part shaking her legs and twerking like a stripper in Las Vegas is too much for eurovision.
Cyprus are in it to win it.
Netta who? Ahahah… Shashaway…
I’m pleasantly surprised. I agree it’s reminiscent of the early 2000s, but I went from hating the song to liking the performance.
This is going to be controversial but I will say it. Eleni is possibly doing more for migrants and refugees than M&M could have ever possibly done with their EU passports nicely secured at birth. The girl worked hard to get where she is, earned her place under the EU sun and is capitalising on whatever talents she has to the maximum. This is how you fight.
I was not a fan at the original release but started respecting her much more when I got to know her story. No lazy attitude here, go girl!
This was slightly slipping in my ranks… until…
Wow what a 1st rehearsal. I am pumped again. You go girl.
12 points from Greece is certain, but oh so well deserved. The UK and the rest of eurovision-land will be cheering. This needs to get to the final and it will slay!
Eleni is great, and my blood boils when i hear that fans still wanted that mummy Feli from Romania that can’t dance for her life. Romania teams The Humans.
Good luck Cyprus. Kisses and love from Greece 🙂
Interesting…https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iX4qalKRcbs
I’m not a fan of this song at all, but considering the snippet and wiwi’s reaction, I think she was the best performance of the second day and the best uptempo song of the first semifinal (even better than Israel for me). Dancing like that and singing at the same time ( not perfectly, but very good considering the difficulty) is very hard and she can really deliver in a very Beyonce-like fashion. I was impressed!
As usual, we’re on the same page, Lourdes. That was definitely the big grower for me on the first round of rehearsals. It puts a lot of pressure in some other acts.
It definitely does. I’m not a fan of her music, and I was kinda annoyed when she was seen as a certain qualifier, but I’m so happy when I see talent and passion unfold on the stage like that, so now I’m more than happy that she will qualify, ’cause she deserves it.
Wow, that’s a lot of hair! Eleni looks wonderful and the contrast with Ireland’s sweetness will make this stands out even more. SJB is bringing a whole new Iveta to me and I love her for that. Not a fan of the song itself, but when you have an uptempo pop act, you need to be unapologetical about it and that’s what Cyprus is serving. Sex sells, but confidence sells much more.
A lot of extensions. Yes, dancing like a stripper in Las Vegas is a confidence especially for eurovision. 😀
Go back to 1944, Jamala.
That moment when Cyprus eats Greece alive
And Greece says thank you, we love you Eleni! Make us proud!
Make us proud? More like Make Albania proud! You should check her interview lmao
Albania too! It’s not either/or, so don’t be messy! Helena Paparizou and Alexander Rybak will come for you!
Apparently she can make three countries proud: the one she was born in, the one she was raised in and where she has a big fan base and the one she represents. What’s the problem with it? There are a lot of artists in and outside ESC with migrational background. What’s the problem all of a sudden?Some people clearly are backwards.
La la love 2.0
Congrats Cyprus! After today’s rehearsals you seem to be the biggest winner at the bookies, from 17th place to the 9th just over one night and thanks to this stunning performance. Well-deserved. Good luck from Finland!
Both song and staging is to much Melodifestivalen 2006.
It is OK song but contender for what exactly? It sure ain’t for a win..
Here is an update on the algrithm. The winners of the day are Austria, Cyprus and Finland. Losers are Armenia, Greece and Ireland. Belgium is freefalling indeed. After first semi final 1 rehearsals , the qualifiers are Israel, Bulgaria, Austria, Estonia, Czech Rep, Finland, Cyprus, Belgium and Lithuania. However, Azerbaijan is very very close. 1 France 96.63 (+1) 2 Israel 95.81 (-1) 3 Australia 92.09 4 Bulgaria 88.84 5 Sweden 85.00 6 Austria 80.81 (+3) 7 Estonia 79.07 (+1) 8 Czech Rep 78.60 (-2) 9 Finland 74.19 (+2) 10 Cyprus 72.67 (+3) 11 Norway 72.21 (-1) 12 Belgium 71.16 (-5)… Read more »
How did you factor in the rehearsals? Is that based on movement in the betting markets?
yes, betting odds, and like percentage of youtube rehersal videos. Betting 50 %, youtibe likes 10%, total youtube views 10%
Wig SNATCHED. Niqab FLYING. Hijab IN ORBIT.
Now thats how you do a dance number. Take notes Israel, Finland and czech rep.
Seems Sasha Jean Baptiste every year has her own favorite where she goes all out
Exactly! Like Belgium last year
Totally agree. In 2016, the Armenian performer seemed to be her favourite
She’s definitely not a singer, but more of a performer. This should get her to the final, but it would take real vocals to win the whole thing. My prediction she will finish in the final placing somewhere from 6-11. Great performance though!
Did Lena have real vocals? nope. That’s so 2000.
The songs in 2010 were not even strong. Lena’s song was the only standard pop tune among many dated entries, so it worked. This year is totally different.
Oh, come on! No way!! ESC 2010 was an incredible year!! A lot of great songs.
The reaction from wiwi reminds me of the situation of Armenia 2016. They kept saying she’s slaying and went for the crown because of her hotness and the staging. However, she only came 7th in the final, which was far from being a contender to win. Plus, from the reaction of other channels, they don’t seem hyped like these gay bloggers in wiwi.
7th place in the final is actually an incredibly good place for Cyprus, everyone would be grateful.
Winner Alert!
Queen Foureira! #Fuego
Come through, Eleni! Come through!
1 word. SLAYAGE