Back at Eurovision 2013, Koza Mostra & Agathonas Iakovidis took Greece to sixth place in the grand final.

Singing “Alcohol is Free”, they mixed traditional Greek sounds with ska-infused pop, offering a light-hearted performance that, for a few minutes, let the cash-strapped nation forget its ongoing financial woes.

And last week the band’s lead singer Ilias Kozas was still oozing that feel-good spirit as he caught up with wiwiblogger George at the River Party Festival in Nestorio, Greece.

Koza Mostra Interview

Even after all these years, Ilias still feels the joy from his stage performance — and the love from the people.

“We didn’t really care about the final position we’d get,” he says.

“And if I could go back, I wouldn’t change anything. Everything was perfect. Even the mistakes we did were perfect.”

He spoke frankly about Greece’s poor results in the past few years, including their first-ever elimination in the semi-finals a few months ago in Stockholm.

In order for the country to return to the final, he says, they have to select something different, something that will stand out.

Unfortunately that won’t be Koza Mostra, as Ilias says the band is not planning on returning to the contest.

Thankfully there is plenty of more music from the band on the way, including their new album, which is coming soon and which he says is going to be “complete madness”.

Are you still loving Koza Mostra’s sound? Are you sad they won’t be returning to Eurovision? And what do YOU think Greece needs to do to get back to the Eurovision final? Let us know in the comments box below.

 

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Charles
Charles
7 years ago

@Alexandre: I will explain it to you a) It’s Greece in its usual “we always have to be in the final or something bad is gonna happen”. b) A band of sexy hunks wearing kilts surrounded by a bunch of gays guys from all over Europe dying to sneak peak what’s under those kilts. c) An uptempo silly mockery song that both reflected a criticism towards the crisis in Greece, mingled ska music with traditional sounds and of course it had to be uptempo or the fans would suffocate in a sea of more balladry and serious music that requires… Read more »

Alexandre
Alexandre
7 years ago

I honestly wonder if they really deserved that sixth spot. The song is too repetitive to my taste and they looked on stage as if they wanted to go to pee.
I’m puzzled that France 2014 ended dead last with a similar song when it comes to the spirit (party-minded, weird outfits, silly lyrics hidding a serious topic of society).

Charles
Charles
7 years ago

@Alex: Are you sure you’re talking about the same Greece that with the televoting decade turned itself into one of those countries that must always be in the top 10 or the planet shall face some sort of earthquake? Because honestly you seem to remind me of the Greece that existed during the pre-Dana International days!

Charles
Charles
7 years ago

(J)ESC Fanatic: Genau! 🙂

Alex
Alex
7 years ago

we don’t want them back either! But they managed to bring votes to Greece from countries that traditionally ignore Greek entries (see Austria, Norway, Denmark).

kaya
kaya
7 years ago

They are coming to Turkey for a festival this summer to my city actually. Can’t wait to listen them live again, have my tickets gonna be there 😉

(J)ESC Fanatic
(J)ESC Fanatic
7 years ago

Wiwibloggs, when are you going to ban that despicable misogynist, @Decision?

Decision
Decision
7 years ago

Isaac Visser: ofc solo female singer xDDD You know only this. Thanks God wiwi readers are not choosing Eurovision participants xD Koza Mostra were great but my favourite Greek entry is still Freaky Fortune ft. Riskykidd. Hope not to see more cheap dance solo female singers like Paparizou. The worst winner in 21st century.

(J)ESC Fanatic
(J)ESC Fanatic
7 years ago

@Charles

Do you mean “efharisto poli”? 🙂

Charles
Charles
7 years ago

… and all I can say to these guys is “Thank you” (I wanted to use the greek alphabet for the sake of sarcasm but … anyway at least these guys gave me something to be relieved about …)

Charles
Charles
7 years ago

… and all I can say to these guys is “????????? ????” …

Isaac Visser
Isaac Visser
7 years ago

The best Greek songs were ones that sounded “Greek” with a solo female singer, stick to the script!

Jr esc nl
Jr esc nl
7 years ago

I can live with that… XD i want a modern song for greece dung in the greek language.