For the first time in her career, Eleni Foureira — otherwise known as the Greatest Eurovision Queen of All Time — performed in London. The epic performance unfolded on Friday evening in the historic KOKO club in Camden town, a lavish old theatre filled with gold and crimson décor. A fittingly elegant venue for Eurovision royalty such as Eleni.

After an hour of queuing in the summer heat, the darkness of the concert was a welcome relief. Greek music played, giving us a taste of what was to come. The rest of the audience tirelessly belted out song after song, and we swiftly realised we were some of the few non-Greeks in the room. But surprisingly, the audience was a bit sparse, perhaps owing to the £40 ticket price.

On came the first support act — a well dressed young man, Zack, who sang three melancholy songs before giving the stage up to a much livelier act. The second support was much more appropriate for the crowd — as well as a mix of Arabic-inspired original tunes, she played a blend of classic 90s and noughties tunes, including Destiny’s Child. Her bellydance skills were out of this world, too.

We thought Eleni was surely about to arrive, but she likes to make us wait, so there was one more support before the main event. Mixalis Theodosiou, another dapper young man, came on stage to warm us all up. The Greeks in the audience seemed to know a few of his songs, but by this point the rest of us were scratching our heads, so we went to the bar.

Finally, at 8:30, the lights dimmed. The violins started playing. It was time. Eleni’s always been one to make an entrance, and this was no different. The dancers came on first, dressed in spangly gold half-on-half-off costumes. The audience cheered as loudly as they could, before breaking out into a massive chorus of “Fuego”. While there wasn’t a lot of room for Eleni to dance, she certainly made the most of it, giving us the routine we had all been waiting for.

Eleni is a charismatic woman, and she enchanted the room with her stage presence. What stood out particularly was that she recognised one of her superfans, who was at the front dressed as a pineapple — an homage to her sponsors. Eleni graciously thanked him for his “support from day one”, and even met up with him after the show. If that’s how she treats her fans, I totally want to be president of the fan club.

If you only knew her song ‘Fuego’, the show was pretty much over after song one. But for the Greeks and keen British fans, she ran through her repertoire, starting with “Vasilissa” and moving on through “Ti Koitas”, “Tranquila” and – at last – “Sto Theo Me Paei”. Each track had intricately crafted choreography to go with it, and while we tried to keep up with her, Eleni and her hair were miles ahead.

But Eleni is, in her own words, “non-stop”. When she needed a rest, it was her voice that took a break, not her high-heeled feet. At one point near the end of the show, they dropped the bass and played a selection of Latin dance songs, which Eleni whipped her hair back and forth to as the crowd took over the vocals.

Before leaving, she gave the audience a little taste of a night in a Greek Bouzoukia, singing cover versions of famous Greek songs — including one by Pantelis Pantelidis, a Greek superstar who was killed in a car accident a couple of years ago. She welled up a little as she described him as one of her best friends, playing a moving tribute to him as she performed one of his ballads.

If we’d gone in feeling hot, we came out literally on fire. For the last time, half of “Fuego” was blasted out of the speakers, as we watched our queen disappear into the wings. We cried for an encore, but none was forthcoming. Eleni Foureira had officially left the building, just as she had entered it — to the rallying call of “FUE-GOOOO!”

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Alex
Alex
5 years ago

She is amazing and she is visiting many cities with either gigs in clubs or pride performances. She is gaining more fans by being humble and giving it all on stage. She is the true winner of Eurovision even though i liked Netta too.

I hope they give her a strong follow-up to Fuego (english single) and push it abroad. Eleni received much media attention and she is working her ass off to live up to the expectations.

I hope she visits more countries like Israel, Germany , Finland and Norway (Fuego is getting a lot of streams there!).

Anita
Anita
5 years ago

You would be surprised: most watched in June 1. Netta, 2. Miklas Josef, 3. Eleni https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pb_smGXG4O4
The Official Music Video of Toy has been watched uptil today 79.953.062 times. Do you think wiwibloggs is going to write about it when 80 Million will be hit?

Lemon
Lemon
5 years ago
Reply to  Anita

Probably not, as according to this wiwibloger, unlike Eleni, Netta is NOT “known as the Greatest Eurovision Queen of All Time” – Really? Eleni is “known as the Greatest Eurovision Queen of All Time”… Really?
You know what, before wiwiblogers went all GaGa about Eleni, I actually really enjoyed her. But the more they put her on a high pedestal, the more I find her not worthy. They are not doing good by her, they make her look like an overhyped joke! Like spotlighting the fact that most off her songs are covers.

Anita
Anita
5 years ago
Reply to  Lemon

The same with me, Fuego was my guilty pleasure song of Eurovision 2018 before this strange and extreme fandom of the wiwibloggers. I like it still without watching her oversexed performances.

Anita
Anita
5 years ago
Reply to  Anita

80 Mill. views now!

Anita
Anita
5 years ago
Reply to  Anita

Have you read this interview, I just found it https://twitter.com/JewishTelegraph/status/1007609479314231297

Lemon
Lemon
5 years ago
Reply to  Anita

Thanks for sharing – Netta is very sweet and a worthy winner in my book. I myself was a big fan of Belgium. After she didn’t get through to the final, I was soooo disappointed… but went on to supporting Netta in the final… one of the things that shifted me to Netta, was watching wiwiblogs turning their back on Netta… and for what? For some hair flips, a see through leotard and some crouching dance moves? – which totally proved Netta point about choosing different! – wiwiblogs didn’t choose different. They were shallow and went all in for the… Read more »

GiavK
GiavK
5 years ago

Eventually our beloved Eleni will most probably return singing in Greek bouzoukia and making kitch shows there.I hope not but something tells me this is going to happen…

miles
miles
5 years ago

beyonce copycat….

Carlo
Carlo
5 years ago

She was Amazing! and yes I was that superfan dressed as a Fyffes pineapple!!!

As Eleni would say “stand tall like a pineapple and be sweet on the inside”

FUEGO ?
@campcarlo26

michael
michael
5 years ago

If ever she comes to Israel i will definitely come!

Lemon
Lemon
5 years ago
Reply to  michael

Why for? I recently learned here that in Israel you already have all the original artists that sing her songs.

Idan Cohen
Idan Cohen
5 years ago
Reply to  Lemon

LOL

Cyclerun
Cyclerun
5 years ago

Will you WIWI finally get over with blowing Eleni completely SOO out of proportion !?! Especially with ALL the bubblegum superlatives such as “known as the Greatest Eurovision Queen of All Time” (probably to Greek community only – cause for eurovision community I’d rather relate to Celine Dion as the biggest Eurovision queen of all times along with Dana International and Conchita – all with career or at least a major Society message) or “Eurovision royalty” (not even close (!)….when she specializes in covers and shaking bootty (a la Beyonce – nothing that he haven’t seen before) rather than real… Read more »

Matt C
Matt C
5 years ago
Reply to  Cyclerun

Jewish trolls once again.

Cyclerun
Cyclerun
5 years ago
Reply to  Matt C

FYI Matt C I’m not – – but if I was – are you publicly discriminating?? As if you would call somebody: “Gay”, “Nigger”, “Rome” etc. Racism is over in the 21st century Mr. Matt C and ILLEGAL (we are no longer in the 40’s) !! Be aware !!

michael
michael
5 years ago
Reply to  Cyclerun

as a jew, jew is not a bad word, and he says jew because he thinks you are biased because he is Jewish \ Israeli, stop overreacting. also racism is not freaking illegal he can believe what ever he want to.

and Matt c just because he doesn’t like eleni doesn’t make him Jewish maybe you didn’t hear, but musical taste is a thing

Cyclerun
Cyclerun
5 years ago
Reply to  michael

Of course michael jew is not a bad word -but- When one uses a word in a pejorative manner, he risks of racist comments which ARE illegal (!) (The Civil Rights Act of 1964 (US), Crime and Disorder Act 1998 (UK), etc..)

michael
michael
5 years ago
Reply to  Cyclerun

yes but he didn’t do anything except saying his opinion. all the laws you mentioned talks about discrimination in jobs, election etc.. not in thought. at least that is what i understood

Mark Gomez
Mark Gomez
5 years ago
Reply to  Cyclerun

He’s right. She doesn’t really create music, art or produces anything with saying. she just makes covers of other hits. she isn’t Adel , either. her vocals are basic and mediocre. I dislike the fact that every female singer who shakes her ass and shows some sass is automatically “the queen of Eurovision”. I can think of 6 female singers who are much more deserving to this title than her (Dami Im, for example). Also, as for the commenter above who said “Jewish trolls” – It’s funny, because to me the only reason she got all the attention was just… Read more »

Matt C
Matt C
5 years ago
Reply to  Cyclerun

Why should it be called discrimination? It’s what you are no? Are you not proud of being a Jew? If not then it’s you who had the problem…..

Cyclerun
Cyclerun
5 years ago
Reply to  Matt C

No I’m not (as already mentioned)- however you could simply use the word “troll” but NO – YOU chose to add “Jewish troll” (in a pejorative way). This IS (!) (shameful) discrimination Matt C

Karl
Karl
5 years ago
Reply to  Cyclerun

Saying Netta has “real artistry”… The “me too” message of the song was false since it was written NOT by Netta but entirely by a man. The chicken noises are not artful, and she’s not a dynamic performer. She was out of breathe for a lot of her performance yet she was barely moving.

Idan Cohen
Idan Cohen
5 years ago
Reply to  Karl

In case you forgot, ESc is a song contest.

Not a singing contest, The best vocalist isn’t the automatic winner, and if so, Dami Im would have been the winner and not Jamala.

Esc is definitely NOT a dancing competition. nobody cares how she dances. nobody cares about the dances if it lowers your ability to sing.

beccaboo1212
5 years ago

If only I had the money to go to London. 🙁

beccaboo1212
5 years ago

I bet you had fun there! 🙂

Rufio
Rufio
5 years ago

She’s a great performer. I was impressed. Happy to meet Alice and Angus. Her energy and experience added with so many Greek fans made the performance special.

Aris
Aris
5 years ago

One & Only Queen Foureira!!

???
???
5 years ago
Reply to  Aris

Eleni who???

Lemon
Lemon
5 years ago
Reply to  ???

The one that didn’t win Eurovision 2018, but wiwiblogs seem to think she did.