Greece confirmed their Eurovision 2016 participation to wiwibloggs on August 31, and since then rumours have swirled that ERT will bypass a national selection and choose internally. While we wait for clarification, let’s ponder these 10 artists who could slay for Greece in 2016.
Kostas Ageris
Kostas succeeded Maria Elena Kyriakou as the winner of the Greek version of “The Voice”. Incredibly talented, he loves traditional music and ethnic sounds — a formula that has worked well for Greece at Eurovision, as seen most recently with Koza Mostra. Bonus: If Greece goes for an internal selection, they can rest assured that the winner of “The Voice” will be a popular choice. He’s already won over the public once before!
Despina Vandi
Despina Vandi is a coach of “The Voice of Greece” and was the woman behind Maria Elena Kyriakou when she won the show. Miss Vandi is a huge personality in Greek music and she actually hosted the Greek National Final for Eurovision in 2013 and 2014. As her co-host and commentator for Eurovision Giorgos Kapoutzidis said during the 2013 National Final, “ERT has participated in Eurovision 32 times. Forty of those times, they asked Vespina Vandi to represent them and she said no.” Maybe it’s about time she says yes…
Thomai Apergi
Thomai Apergi rose to fame in 2013 after participating in Eurosong, the Greek National Final. She competed again last year, but lost out to Maria-Elena. Her style combines Greek tradition with jazz — or, as she says, “Jazz & Sirtaki“.
Eleni Foureira
The hip-shaking diva who covered Nadav Guedj with “Golden Girl“ wouldn’t be a bad choice for Greece. Eleni previously participated in the 2011 National Final and, owing to her strong look and fierce vocals, her name always circulates in the rumour mill. Who knows? Maybe this year the rumors will come true…
Melina Aslanidou
The very talented Melina Aslanidou has earned a huge following as a coach on “The Voice”. She’s the girl next door, but with sexy, smokey vocals that appeal to teens and men alike. Her long career and experience means an audience of 195 million won’t faze her.
Shaya
Shaya brings a lot of flavour. The Danish-Guyanese-Indian-Greek singer finished third at Eurosong 2015 and immediately promised that she would try again. It’s only a matter of time before she brings the “Sunshine” for Greece at ESC. PS: Nice shake!
Kostas Martakis
The singer-actor-TV presenter Kostas Martakis has already tried to represent Greece twice: in 2008 and 2014, competing with a song written by Ilias Kozas, the lead singer of Koza Mostra, the second time around. Third time’s a charm?
Eleonora Zouganeli
Eleonora Zouganeli hes everything ERT is looking for: a great voice, versatility and a decent look. Some have suggested it’s impossible that we will ever she the diva at Eurovision, but “Hope Never Dies”.
Tamta
Tamta, a Greek-Georgian starlet, made a go at Eurovision in 2008, coming up short in the national final. She has also claimed that her record label wanted her to sing at Eurovision instead of Maria-Elena, but she apparently missed the deadline (ya know, hair appointments and stuff). In any case, her song “Unloved” was a more modern, thrusting song than “One Last Breath”.
Helena Paparizou
How could our “Number One” miss this wishlist? She just couldn’t! If anyone can secure Greece a good placing, it’s definately the unflappable Greek goddess that is Miss Helena Paparizou. She is the total package and the fact that she entered Melodifestivalen last year means she is willing to try again.
So what do you think? Who do YOU want to see competing for Greece at Eurovision 2016?
Where is Demy when we most need her?
Since they stumgled in 2012 Greece has almost given up like Azerbaijan. These countries brought energy into the contest and since Turkey left they seem to have stopped trying. Maybe they were both trying to outdo Turkey? The only thing about the list of artist I have to say is do not let Shaya go! ‘Sunshine’ was great and could have got Greece into the top 10 but did you hear her live vocals. From the first note to the last she was dreadful. She must watch it back and know she was awful. Why do terrible singers tend to… Read more »
Why tamta not for georgia?
Tamta, Helena Paparizou or Shaya.
Probably if Helena Paparizou wants to go Eurovision again she’ll try to represent Sweden.
tamta shoud perform at eurovision but not as greek singers ,she must tu perform from georgia!!!!!!
Elana Paparizou,Demy,Tamta. Love!!!!!!!
I want Greece to come back with songs it had in the 00s! Secret Combination, My Number One, Shake It, all those ethnic sounding dance songs were so cool. It might be a bit old fashioned now, but i’d still love it! 🙂 and also Kostas Martakis should represent them this year!
Tamta would be awesome, I would love to see Nikos Ganos as well.
On second thought, I would go with Stelios Legakis.
Stelios is a sexier version of Loic Nottet, but he has just as good a voice and quite a bit of charisma. It would be a big mistake for Greece to send a dance diva (like Eleni Fourera), who would lose points to the girl from Armenia.
Despina Vandi — she does not want to do it.
Kostas Martakis & Elena Paparizou — yesterday’s news. Won’t happen!
Melina Aslanidou & Eleonora Zouganeli — too sophisticated. Not likely.
The rest are all possible contenders. Any of them could represent Greece, as well as one of the following:
–Demy
–Boys and Noise
–Stelios Legakis
Demy is not on the list but Kostas Argeris? FO’REAL???!!?! I still don’t want to believe it that he won the Greek Voice…
I want to see Jopsehine back with a song like “Turn off the lights”.
I would be great! 🙂
@Zac, Ariana: You beat me to it. Demy is my #1 Greek pick.
Either Kostas or Eleni. Tamta is so-so.
Tamta should go but I feel Georgia would utilise her better (they’d give her a better stage show and a better song). That being said, if she’d rather go for Greece than good for her – I feel ‘Unloved’ would’ve placed top 10 this year and its a shame she missed the deadline.
If Athena Manoukian isn’t going for Armenia then why not for Greece? But I agree that Demy or Eleni Foureira are suitable choices for Greece.
If we decide to go back down the ethnic-pop or dance-pop road, then I guess the choice should be between Demy, Eleni Foureira or Tamta. But I don’t think we should be going back to pop starlets or past rejects like Martakis! Greece should look to its very vibrant, mostly anglophone, indie-pop scene to produce something contemporary and relevant to the actual contest. Artists like these: – Monika ( the most commercially succesful but I’m not sure she can pull it off live – check “Shake your hands” or “Over the hill” on YouTube) – Keep Shelly in Athens (check… Read more »
Nobody in this list is as good as Demy…..
ok but
whereisdemywhereisdemywhereisdemy
where is DEMY