Cyprus’ Elena Tsagrinou has taken to the Rotterdam Ahoy stage for her first rehearsal of Eurovision 2021. Did she set the arena alight? Let’s see…
Cyprus Elena Tsagrinou “El Diablo” — Eurovision 2021 first rehearsal
Oliver: A very professional first rehearsal from Cyprus. It’s nothing mind-blowing, but it feels familiar, and that could work to Elena’s advantage. She’s wearing a bejewelled fringe dance costume similar to the one from the music video, and she’s joined on stage by four dancers wearing red latex. A mirror behind Elena and her dancers helps fill every inch of the stage. The whole thing screams seduction. However, there are a couple of awkward moments that require perfection. At one point, Elena lays on the floor and twists into a one-handed crab pose, and it looks clunky. But overall, solid execution, even if the ideas are somewhat stale.
Padraig: I still don’t worship at the altar of “El Diablo”, but after today’s rehearsal I might just be on the path to conversion. It’s nothing that we haven’t seen before — I’m getting flashbacks to both Eleni Foureira and Tamta, and a lot of Luca Hanni vibes. But it’s very slick and stylish. Elena and her team keep the viewer engaged throughout, she starts off on the floor, before engaging in choreo that would stand up against some of the best Drag Race lip-syncers. The LED is a hellish crimson for the most part, that’s when it doesn’t have “El Diablo” scrawled across it in blood red. For the final act, this falls away to reveal the words as a standalone prop, with actual flames burning behind. And best of all, Elena remains completely at ease throughout. Even an issue with her mic didn’t stop her from slaying the demons.
Reaction to Cyprus’ first rehearsal at Eurovision 2021
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What do you think? Did Elena Tsagrinou live up to your expectations? Let us know in the comments below.
Read more Cyprus Eurovision 2021 news here
Photos: EBU / THOMAS HANSES
Cyprus´s entries are almost the same since 2018 :/
what a cheap copy of Tamta…..
I have always found this entire song a excellent copy of so many things we’ve seen before, but Elena proved she was a woman amongst a lot of girls trying to act older with their female bop stagings in this semi
Wish they had male dancers in red PVC (bulges and all).
They could have presented an interesting story of Elena vs the El Diablo. Kind of like Beat It by MJ.
Still though, amazing vocals, staging and song.
i am not sure if you would be more interested in the performance or the bulges 🙂
Both equally ?
I cant i cant i cant!!!!!!!i cant even bother to reply to your comment!!!!
Definitely Cyprus and Ukraine had the best rehearsals of the day… and I’m not a big a fan of Ukraine… and about Cyprus, even though the song is not the most original or inventive, Elena is real star, she knows how to deliver a great show, and has for example the charisma that others, like Efendi, lacks
I had marked this song down in my personal rankings because it is clearly a Lady Gaga copy. But that staging has elevated the song for me. The lucie jones esque LED mirror – Fabulous. See you in the final Cyprus.
I thought of it as more of a Shady Lady vibes with the mirror behind her
Oh god. Get a life.
What did I just see?????
My bad, bad angel. You put the devil in me.
Come on everybody, this first rehearsal was already very good and she will improve the next rehearsals.. This will sail into the final and ends up in the Top 10!
I’m pretty surprised by her vocals actually, it exceeded my expectations. The song still sounds as ‘heavily inspired’ though.
Anywayzz, Cyprus probably will take it’s position at GF with ease and our bitching about the songs originality will continue for awhile.
lol @ bitching about originality, no offence intended. but when most of these former Eastern block countries entered the contest the idea of originality went out the window and instead we got weirdness and even more political voting, complete garbage can win the contest, good songs can even be eliminated (eg. Cyprus, Comme ci Comme ca , 2007)
Elena looks great and seems to confirm that she has the stage presence to sell a song like this. The staging mirrors (pun intended) what the song does, it’s something we’ve seen before many times, but presented in a very professional and commercial way.
Vocals – impecable
Staging – lackluster
Vocals and staging were amazing the reaction was from the press was amazing for a reason.
Marvin Dietmann really killed the staging!
Haha so hilarious comments. SLAY QUEEN!
Like it or hate it, this looks and sounds like an easy qualifier. And I’m one of those thinking that the originality of the song is questionable, but come on, I’m not going to deny the quality of this performance. Elena is amazing.
Bitchiness won’t help any bitch’s favorites to overshadow or steal Cyprus place in the Grand Final. Just sayin’
I liked the mirror effect. Overall, pretty much what we expected from them…
Sorry but i didn’t like this, it’ too generic and bland for me….Her vocals seemed a bit off too…The choreography was mediocre but i think they made the right decision to not make Elena dance a lot, the mirror was unexpected and was the only thing that made this performance interesting for me.
This is just a rehearsal and please respect my opinion, i just don’t like this song (it’s too generic for me, the same goes for Sweden too)
Her vocals were good
All is good, but without “wow effect”.
Generic performance, don’t like it.. A NQ for me..
I love her dress and the LED screens with EL DIABLO.
I don’t like the red jumpsuits of the dancers, and i believe they should have brought male dancers portraying the el diablo and not female dancers.
In general, this is a very polished performance, the song is catchy and Elena is pulling those vocals. Cyprus will do well and better than 2019.
Cyprus just secured the gf
This is my country and honestly I find all the comments about repetition pathetic. You know Cyprus is participating in this for 40 years during which we have sent ballads, pop, rock, traditional, dance etc. And guess what? Nobody appreciated them. So if now we found ground with pop divas so be it. What is wrong with that? Finland for example sends rock very often (and I am happy they do) I don’t see anyone complain. Anw best of luck to our girl may she rock the stage and score high!
Completely agree with you. Sweden every year send same generic pops and even export their songs now to other countries and people find it hard to understand if a small country is making a big effort because they want to win it for once, always finding to nag about!! These forums are becoming way too toxic and boring. Cyprus was amazing for first rehearsal and will definitely be on top 10 if not top 5. Congrats to the team!!!
Exactly. Some people aren’t commenting with bad intentions, but when they’re using that kind of critics ‘already done/used/seen before’ while we don’t see them complaining on other things exactly in the same case — as examples, Finland sending rock songs to ESC or Albania sending ballads and even Belgium competing once again with a melancholic and dark ballad — I can’t help but think there’s hypocrisy in their comments. Even if it’s not intentional from them.
Unfortunately it is intenional!!!!
Honestly, I was expecting a more uptempo dancing and glorious staging for this song, because it has potential for these elements. Nonetheless Elena’s vocals seem far better than those of Tamta’s, it’s a good sign.
Impressive staging, but the whole thing is very familiar… like Cyprus is sending clones.
it’s not familiar at all. take your pills.
I think Cyprus has the best staging so far of all in semi 1, well done!
Russia is 1st still, Cyprus is 2nd. Just my opinion
It’s the first time that Cyprus has a massive prop on stage and some pathetic creatures call it a replay copycat. In 2019, they called replay a copycat. Do better people, stop being toxic
Elena looks stunning and the staging solid. The biggest suprise for me is how stable those vocals sound!!
Btw I wonder how many years have to pass so a country can send a contemporary modern song without being accused of copying foureira, luca hani, tamta etc.
Love the little “The Exorcist” homage there. This will attract a lot of televote points on the night. The Grand Final night that is.
Cyprus is one of the countries that bring spice and spectacle in the contest but for the average fandom queen they are repeating themselves and deserve NQ. In the meantime, Sweden sends a generic pop song for the 8th time. Hmmmm
Smarty mirror, nice dress, static (?) choreograpgy, unstable vocals….flying microphone.
Borderline qualifier (with these vocals).
Delusion.
To what ?
These vocals were pretty good here, no? And the staging looks devilishly slick. 😉
Now, the *only* way that Cyprus miraculously manages to be a shocking NQ is for Croatia, Israel, and Azerbaijan all to outshine it. Stay tuned…
She has faced a lot of problems with her vocals…and I’m not talking about these 30 secs. Never talked about NQ. With these vocals will be 8-10th. With improved ones in the middle. Always tuned…
Her vocals were very good for dancing and singing at the same time.
Call your doctor.. you are not bored yet talking the same crap again and again?
U2 maybe ? Never talked before about mirrors, dresses or choreography….
ps-make a try not to be offensive in a personal level.
Literally everyone is talking about how her vocals sounded much better than expected, yet you found out that her vocals are unstable. Considering that you constantly make negative comments about specific countries, I would say you really need to stop being so bitter.
Ok. I’ve exactly the opposite feeling and I really don’t care about the talk of the town (who is ”everyone” ?). Is this a problem ? Would be less bitter screams like ”YAS SLAY QUEEN…Nicosia 2021, 2022, 2023…she is the best and f the rest…omg she is so talented….she has a great message…she can walk on the water” ? Never told to anybody what to do or how to feel. I’ve my personal ears and eyes and opinion as you’ve your own. Try to respect different views and opinions and if you want to talk, talk with arguments. It’s impossible… Read more »
When you will drop your Ka(s)ka mouth and negative obsession I will stop pointing it out to you how about that?
Delusional, toxic troll. If the country was different, you would be praising.
Ohh mille merci…
Change your pills dear clearly they don’t work!!!
mille merci too
You really do sound like a Greek/Cypriot trol that bashes the songs just to feel like he is cool and different. It’s sad.
Actually it’s sad to see ‘talibans’ trashing different opinions with doctors, pills, curses etc. Really sad. And becomes worst when you try to make psychological profiles to people you don’t know (I don’t have any problem with you personaly, you’re kind enough). I don’t believe that you’re bad persons, bud take into consideration that fanatism makes people blind. ps-where exactly did I bash (sic) these songs ? My last comment for Gr was that her acoustic version was a very nice surprise. And my comment for Cyp was that she will qualify. Borderline with these vocals and in the middle with… Read more »
Nothing what we haven’t seen before of Cyprus!
It looks better than Replay, but still pretty generic
Name one staging that is identical with El diablo which you havent seen before. If you cant, you are just bitter
Someone has a hard time to accept criticism. Well, than you may explain to me the difference between 2018 and 2019! And besides when Sweden brings each year practical the same thing, there is a lot of criticism, and rightly so, but o dear if you say the same thing about Cyprus!
Where are you from Karen?
Karen??? And where are you from???
Cyprus has competed in ESC 36 times. Before Fuego their best result was a 5th place. Who can blame them for trying again.
Excellence that is!
I’m not sure if the first impression stirked me well about this staging. She delivers vocals, but looks static more like Tamta.
Yes but Tamta in the chorus could have done way more things because Replay’s chorus had a dance break similar to Fuego while Elena has to deliver vocals.
Completely different songs and stagings.
Her vocals are FIRE! I really like it, the dancers kinda remind me Maruv style.
Her live vocals are amazing. Love the staging
Say what you want about the song but there’s no denying that Cyprus know how to present this stuff.
The demos in the choreography must be these wiwi trolls bellow lol. If the choreography was different they would try to slag off the vocals. If the vocals was good they would talk about the dancers. And if that also fail they will say yes but the hair is the same like Tamta.. Can’t stand you seriously..!! Just enjoy the show after two years for gods sake
True.
Personally, I think that Elena is looking gorgeous and sickening. She definitely has great chances to qualify for the final
No hate to Elena, she’s amazing, it’s just the song that is a spinoff of Bad Romance, Fuego and Replay…
But I love it still! (my 17th)
Judging by the picture, the staging here is neither Fuego nor Replay…
IT’S BOTH
But that’s ok, because Elena can sing and Cyprus will be back in the top10
Ok, I saw the snippet, this is top5 material (the performance, not the song)
Predictable staging.
Eventually Europe will get bored of Cyprus sending the same thing every year. I like “el Diablo” by the way, but I think next year Cyprus need to do something different. From they came back in 2015 until 2018, they wher giving us something different every year, but from 2019 onwards, it’s been a replay of 2018
europe has more important things than not voting a country because they send pop songs. Its you who remembers useless staff, apparently
It’s not because they send pop songs.
Sweden gets hate for sending similar songs every year but Cyprus is doing the exact same.
The “Europe has more important things to worry about” remark makes zero sense. People will be watching and voting…duhh
I mean; people voted for She got me, one year after Fuego. If that’s not enough of an answer to you…
Different country, different performance, different sex, different show altogether.
People also barely voted for Tamta in 2019 too, she almost didn’t make it, if that’s not enough of an answer to you.
Tamta was a very bad live singer the staging looked messy.Elena is a very good live singer and the staging looks amazing.
El diablo lit replay(ed) Fuego(s) on the eurofans
this has to stop in some point fr. can’t they get a risk and actually do smth different?
Exactly.
Sweden sends the same song since forever. I didn’t listen you complaining, honey.
oh honey im sure u don’t know that sweden hasn’t ever been in my top20 since 2014..
also someone who thinks sweden is by far the most overrated country in the contest 😀
Yeah, we are tired. How many fuegos??
2020 was different from 2018 and 2019.
Yeah but the song wasn’t even gonna qualify so they decided to return to their safe zone
Arent you tired to constantly do this same comment all the time?
Prediction: This could be a NON qualifier,her voice is bad and i am tired of Cyprus doing copy paste of Foureira’s act,move on guys,that was 2018, we are in 2021.
Cyprus pulling a replay on us every year.
well this type of songs always do well in ESC so there is nothing wrong with that.