The finalists competing in Greece‘s upcoming national final haven’t been publicly confirmed, but already there’s drama behind the scenes. Greek media is reporting that broadcaster ERT has disqualified two of the five acts shortlisted for the final.
Last week Greek media revealed the names of the five acts said to have been shortlisted to compete in the Greek national final. But now that list has shrunk to just three names.
Two acts were disqualified because their songs did not meet the entry requirements. This year, broadcaster ERT specifically required that songs must have Greek lyrics and be in a Greek musical style. Among the top five were two songs with Greek lyrics but a decidedly non-Greek musical style.
The two songs were Duo Fina‘s popera song “Idio Tempo” (Same Tempo) and Tony Vlahos‘ jazz number “Baila Jazz”.
While the organising committee reportedly did not want to disqualify these two acts, they felt they had no choice but to follow the competition rules.
Greek news website Newsit.GR notes that as Duo Fina have an existing relationship with ERT, it is a bold step for ERT to disqualify the Finas brothers. It is, Newsit.GR says, evidence that ERT is determined to operate objectively as a public broadcaster.
The disqualification leaves only three songs left in the national final: Areti Ketime with “Min ksehnas ton ilio” (Don’t forget the sun), Chorostalites with “Apo tin Thraki os tin Kriti” (From Thrace to Crete) and Gianna Terzi with “To oneiro mou” (My dream).
The broadcaster will now meet with the respective record labels of the three remaining artists. ERT will ensure that each singer and their record company is in a position to compete at Eurovision 2018. If none of the acts are able to meet these requirements, the broadcaster will look elsewhere for its act for Lisbon.
It is expected that confirmed details of Greece’s national final will be released in early December.
What do you think? Should ERT have disqualified these acts? Should Greece cancel its national final and internally select an act for Lisbon? Share your thoughts below!
As long as one of these 3 entries is a good one for Greece, that’s all that matters.
Ern – Also, why is it “small minded” to try and keep everything traditional? Portugal has been very traditional with its Eurovision entries, yet nobody seems to criticize them. Why you criticizing Greece?
Portugal has never reached top 5 until this year
Greece is a powerhouse in esc
So…Greece can’t complain, it’s just that fans expect more fun from Greece.
Interestingly — when asked about her Eurovision entry, Areti Ketime stated that it would be primarily in Greek, but that there was some English in it as well. I’m pretty sure ERT decided months ago that they wanted Areti to go to Eurovision, and they’re just going through the motions of holding an actual competition. She was the first entry to be announced. Also, note that she did work with Dionisis Tsaknis, the former President of ERT. Regardless, Areti is a good singer with an impressive resume. She’s not like Argo. She’ll actually do a good job for Greece in… Read more »
Why do the competing entries have to have a Greek musical style? 😮
Because they’re stubborn. My Greek husbands family are very small minded and try and keep as much as possible traditional ?
To be fair, 3 of the last 4 Greek entries were NOT in a Greek musical style.
Only “Utopian Land” in 2016 sounded Greek. In 2017, 2015 and 2014 there was nothing Greek sounding about them.
Also, why is it “small minded” to try and keep everything traditional? Portugal has been very traditional with its Eurovision entries, yet nobody seems to criticize them. Why you criticizing Greece?
While the winning song had some Portuguese tradition in it, it wasn’t a condition to compete at this year’s Festival do Cancao. Nova Gloria was an opera, sung in Portuguese, but not of much traditional style. Don’t Walk Away was an English-language pop song influenced by the Swedes. People (televote + jury) decided they like Amar Pelos Dois the best, but not because it was their only option.
It just seems way too biased towards Areti. She has the strongest C.V, and likely the most Greek sound and experience (olympics in athens singer, so she’s more Greek than yogurt)
It’s a common misconception that Greek yogurt is actually Greek. But yes – she is quite the Greek
I don’t like to be negative. But a NF with just 3 songs is almost pointless I think. Especially when they just aim for some mass produced standard stuff anyway.. I am afraid it doesn’t body well for an interesting song from Greece next year. I hope I am wrong
They probably have strong entries, so someone’s daughter would have a tough time.
They can still represent San Marino though.
Have to agree: Isn’t singing in Greek seen as Greek enough?
They want to be stereotypical? Having OPA, bouzouki and all that?
Strange decision. Shouldn’t judge before songs but could be worse than 2016.
This sounds like Greece is going to have a lame entry this year, maybe worse than 2016. Greece has been so good in the past, why are they doing this awful decisions?
This makes no difference. Areti Ketime was always certain to win this.
This is ridiculous. These two acts were the only original and would do well I am sure. ERT made an enormous mistake and we will once more not qualify if this thing continues
such a shame their leave the original songs out!
Something doesn’t smell right. If a song is in Greek sung by Greek singers in the Greek language written by Greek songwriters and produced by a Greek record company–doesn’t it make it Greek? Does it have to be played on a lauoto and have lots of “opa!”s to be considered Greek?!?
And didn’t someone at the broadcaster listen to the songs before selecting?!? There must’ve been a complain from other artists and broadcaster caved. Shameless.
As someone said in another post, we have to wait for the songs before judging. 😉 However, there should be no reasons to be pessimistic. Look to what Hungary brought us last year and the success it was… Greece could pull something similar. It has lot of talent for that.
Mess. They could’ve just gone with an internal selection if they wanted to be so rhadamanthine with the rules.
*THIS!
Greece will fail dramatically, I predict non-qualification in 2018…
I’m sure both these acts knew the rules, but they thought is fine to submit any song as long as is not the definitive song. It’s broadcaster’s mess.
So, between the lines, Greece wants to send a stereotypical song, expected and by the numbers. But… I’m guessing all Hell will break loose if they miss out on the finals. While countries like Latvia and San
*… and San Marino decide to make bold choices and expend the horizons, some countries just want to be seen as stereotypes by others. Meh…
Well said Colin!!!
stereotypical song = fast food music probably. Boring! Obviously not much chance for a Salvador effect
This is a joke. First, the acts must have a greek sound a greek lyrics, so the artists can’t propose sth original, but comply with the rules. Second, you pick 5 acts, and then you disqualify 2 of them, because they don’t meet the requirements. Did they discover now that these songs are not suitable? Third, we end up with 3 songs we haven’t listened to yet. I hope there is a good song among them, otherwise we better internally select someone. Personally, I believe that’s the best solution. Pick an artist internally and thats it. Because I can see… Read more »
Got a feeling this will be the second year Greece doesn’t qualify
ERT proving that right-wing politics and music don’t usually go together in this century. If I were the artists being booted out, I’m not sure whether I would applaud or sue. 😀
How is it right wing politics? If anything, the competition rules are a bit communist/socialist…
I believe is right wing because other cultures are not allowed.
What is the difference with left, right and in between the wings? Aren’t they all the same?
Until the age of 11 I’ve lived in communism in Romania and I can say races and cultures were respected, and in schools they had classes were they could study their own language and culture. I don’t like communism, but you can’t say was racist.
Well, ERT is a public owned broadcaster of a country run by a radical far left government, the only one in Europe… I think it is more an identity politics thing, rather than left versus right thing. But I agree, it is rather conservative in an identitarian sense… However, not entirely unjustified given the last entries, IMO
What right wing politics?? The Greek government is very “left wing” at the moment.
Not exactly… Ever since ERT came back, it has been influenced too much by the left-wing government. Extremities on both sides can be overly-controlling. Look at the shame known as Argo. They were buddy buddy with the guy controlling the selection, who was appointed by Syriza. The way this is going, except for Areti, I expect another non-qualification from us 🙁
Looks like I don’t know my right from my left! 🙂
Okay, how about “draconian” politics? Too broad?