Hellas calling! Kyiv was the city of glory where Greece won its first and so far only Eurovision back in 2005. And as tonight’s song final unfolds, Greeks will no doubt be hoping they can repeat their feat by winning it all again this time around. Ahead of the show — which airs tonight at 21:00 CET — you can watch the trailer below and get a sense of what to expect.
Earlier today, during Ant1’s morning programme To proino mu, Greek journalist Themis Georgantas reviewed what’s on the plate. First what you already know: we’ll get to hear Demy’s three potential Eurovision songs and watch their associated video clips, which were filmed in Odessa. The journalist spent a lot of time talking about “This Is Love”, which is apparently the most-discussed of the three entries.
Earlier in the week a video containing the demo version of “This Is Love” leaked online. Georgantas stated that composer Dimitris Kontopoulos was really upset about this, as he felt disrespected by someone leaking the unfinished product. At the same time Kontopoulos was positively surprised when neither the Greek media nor Eurovision websites published the leaked video.
Some of you may have heard the leaked song, so be ready for a second first impression! According to Georgantas the song will feature new elements and has been revamped since the leak. The lyrics in the chorus and even the orchestral arrangements will differ from what we heard before.
“This Is Love” is being described as a ballad which evolves into a dance banger. Naturally we’ve had Valentina Monetta 2013 on our minds since reading this. Will it be another “Crisalide” but better?
The second song, which was co-written by Demy’s sister, has been described as radio-friendly, while the third entry will be an American-style ballad.
Tonight’s selection will focus on Demy, her composer Dimitris Kontopoulos and their stage director Fokas Evangelinos.
But we’ll also see a series of well-known artists sending their best wishes to Demy, including two-time Eurovision participant Sakis Rouvas and singer Despina Vandi.
Sergey Lazarev and Ani Lorak approve
But international artists who have worked with Dimitris in the past are also getting in on the extravaganza. Ani Lorak and Sergey Lazarev will also send their greetings.
It won’t be the first time they’ve expressed their approval. We’ve done a bit of digging on Instagram and they have been showing their love for a while now.
On February 16 the “Shady Lady” singer posted a photo of herself in the recording studio with Dimitris.
“It’s always great to record new songs and it is even better when you do that with good friends like @dimitriskontopoulos,” she wrote in the caption.
“I also had the chance to listen to the three songs that Demy will sing for the Greek Eurovision entry. Three very good songs but one of them I really LOVE!”
On Valentine’s Day Sergey — perhaps our favourite Russian Eurovision act ever — shared a photo of himself enjoying Demy’s three options.
“With my dear friend Dimitris Kontopoulos, famous Greek composer who wrote ‘You Are The Only One’ for Eurovision 2016.”
“This year his song will be performed at Eurovision by amazing and beautiful singer Demy, who will represent Greece! Tonight I had the chance to listen to her three candidate songs. And Dimitris as always amazed me. I will definitely vote for Greece this year.”
Are you excited to find out which song Demy will sing at Eurovision 2017? Do you think she can bring Greece back to the final? Let us know in the comments below.
This is Love is at first the most distinctive one. It’s mixed tempo, something so far only Poland has, and it’s even more evident here. It kind of reminds me of Ireland 2013. It’s not that similar, but I get the similar vibe.
lol @ Greece. Very weak selection.
Sorry, it blocked me from posting link twice, I don’t know why.
Hovig was great in live! If I didn’t see him, I’d thought it was the studio version.
I enjoyed This is Love 🙂 I feel this would be much better live. The other 2 are fine. I won’t lie, I’ll be disappointed if it’s not This is Love though.
@Hsinaps no, its not just you! Those songs were all nothing special imo.
It’s just me or all 3 song are terribly dull? They have no strength, I also feel like they were 100% autotune, like if she didn’t have voice enough to give them life.
can they just show the videoclips? its been going on for almost one hour…
@Colin: That’s what I thought too when I watched the video: she’s gorgeous!
I don’t understand much Greek, so if anyone here could help me find the live stream, I’d appreciate it very much. I tried going to the live stream link from the eurovision calendar, but I don’t see what I’m looking for.
I just hope that this 3 songs competition doesn’t last for 3 hours. Anything above an hour is wasting time for this concept.
Ps. Demi is SO gorgeous, ain’t she? Gonna challenge Poland, UK and Switzerland for top model.
the demo sounded promising.my 10 points from me.
@ct_greece
It doesn’t sound like Cascada at all.
Its a well produced pop song with a catchy melody. Definitely top 3 if it is chosen from Greece.
I hope it will be a pop-song, but without the eternal ethnical Greek flavour. Not that I don’t like Greek music, but we heard the ethnic additions too often in the 10 years of this century. I like either a totally ethnic authentic song or a popsong that lacks ethnic additions. I’m looking forward to the song presentation.
I didn’t like the leaked song, so I hope it has been fixed and the two remaining are better. It seems Greece has the chance to come back to the top 10, at least I hope it is deserved…
@Kris Uhhh, where? Can you send me a link?
This has to be one of the weirdest national selections ever.
NO live performances of the candidate songs, just a music video of each, and no time for people to listen to them for a few days.
They should have just done an internal selection of the song.
@ VladV
Actually every time in the past five years the greek public voted, they always chose the best that was offered. If it was any good, like in 2011 and 2013, it did great in the contest. When we didn’t have much to choose from (like in 2014/2015) the results were mediocre. Last year we didn’t even get to choose. I hope we don’t pick something that sounds like Cascada this year…
looking forward to seeing my beloved Sergey again
@ct_greece judging from the last 5 years Greeks don’t have such a good taste in choosing ESC songs so make us the favor and vote for this is love
I hope they didn’t destroy the song.From the demo it sounded like a top 5 material to me.
Please Greece pick “This is love” and save the year. From the demo the song sounded AWESOME!
Great melody, well produced, catchy, uptempo. This is top 3 material.
I’ll borrow a title from last year: “I’ve been waiting for this night”!
Finally we get to choose our entry!!
Fingers crossed we listen to some really good stuff tonight and make the best choice!
I am totally excited! I can’t wait!
Good luck to Demy! She’s great!
No matter how much you revamp this, I don’t see it turning into anything special. And I don’t believe it will be that different anyway. In the video she is clearly seen singing those lyrics. Did they go back to Odessa to film a new one with new lyrics? I don’t think so. I really hope there’s something good in the other two, otherwise I am afraid Greece is screwed. By the way, if you intend to board the bandwagon of the diversity party anthem like Bulgaria last year or Serbia the year before, you’d better have a good banger… Read more »
Greece has been a Eurovision powerhouse for the last 10 years, and they didn’t qualify last year… Remember what happened last time a Eurovision powerhouse, Sweden, missed the final? That was in 2010, and since then they’ve placed 3rd, 1st, (14th), 3rd, 1st and 5th… If the Greeks fight back like the Swedes do, I think we have a winner! 🙂
Sal the leak isnt the final versions ! greece felt there first eurovision not in the final last year they wont want to repeat !
If the leak of the supposed best song is anything to go by then tonight’s selection will be very disappointing
@Eliran,they have put an instrumental snippet of the song on the ESC YouTube channel
Didn’t listen to the leak — pleased how respectful ESC fans are generally.
Come on Demy! High hopes !! 🙂
What About Czech Republic??
YAY!!!! ~~~~~ first comment!!! <3<3