Earlier this week, Cypriot media reported that broadcaster RIK was trying to convince Eurovision star Helena Paparizou to represent Cyprus at Eurovision 2018. But the dream could be over. INFE Greece is reporting that the Greek-Swedish star has said no thanks.
The fan blog reports that Paparizou had been in negotiations with RIK executives. Representatives from the Cypriot broadcaster had flown to Athens earlier this week to meet with the Eurovision 2005 winner.
The proposal would have involved a song written by fellow Greek-Swede, the hitmaker Alex P. His involvement in the Cypriot entry for Eurovision 2018 has been long confirmed, but he also has also previously written for Paparizou.
Paparizou was reported to have loved the song Alex P has prepared for Eurovision 2018, but decided that she wasn’t ready to make a third appearance at Eurovision. At least not this year.
What now for RIK?
Last year the broadcaster confirmed that Cyprus would pick its singer through a national final held in January. It would be run as a talent show, with the contestants performing cover versions to allow their talents to be judged. The winner of the national final would then go on to perform the song written by Alex P.
This now seems to have been put aside and the broadcaster has shifted to internal selection for both the artist and the song.
Rumours have emerged suggesting that RIK is now considering either Eleni Foureira or Tamta. The two Greek pop divas have long been fan favourites to represent Greece at Eurovision. Could one finally get her chance singing for Cyprus?
Foureira competed in the 2010 Greek national final with “Kivotos tou Noe”, which placed second. She recently had a hit with a Greek version of Nadav Guedj’s “Golden Boy”. Foureira has made no secret of her dream to go to Eurovision. Last year she spoke of her sadness at not being selected to represent Greece in Kyiv.
And Tamta also has Eurovision history. She competed in the 2007, where her song “With Love” placed second. She also said that her record company was keen for her to enter the national final in 2015 — in place of eventual winner Maria-Elena Kyriakou. Tamta’s potential entry for the 2015 national final was “Unloved” — co-written and produced by Alex P.
However, it’s important to remember that this all remains speculation. Broadcaster RIK has not made any statements regarding Helen Paparizou, Eleni Foureira, Tamta or the potentially cancelled national final.
What do you think? How should Cyprus select its act for Eurovision 2018? Who would you like to see on stage in Lisbon? Tell us what you think below!
please consider eleftheria eleftheriou (greece 2012) !!!!
I don’t think Helena has stood the test of time very well, and that awful nose ring isn’t helping.
Sure, she will always have a career in Greece & Cyprus, but even there you’ll find bigger and better artists.
Hell, when she announced the Greek vote at Eurovision few years ago, the hosts didn’t even recognize her or acknowledge that she was a former winner.
She passed a bad period in her life (she gained weight,she had health problems and depression), but now believe me she is top again!
There’s never been an offer to start with in my opinion
To be honest, I am dissapointed about Cyprus not holding a national final. It would be so interesting and they have so many talented singers. For me, Helena was right to say no to Cyrpus, because she doesn’t need to go to Eurovision. She’s won already. I also read that Cyprus is holding its presidential election at the end of the month. That’s why RIK won’t be able to organise and hold a national selection this year. About Eleni Foureira and Tamta, either of them will be a good representative, though I’m not a fan of Eleni Foureira. She’s not… Read more »
Why not consider Ivi Adamou again, or bring Sophia Patsalides
Ivi Adamou is pregnant.
So was Ira Losco!
And if Katie price had been successful she’d have been 8 months pregnant!!
Good for her. She already won Eurovision and is therefore above it, going a second time would be too much risk for too little reward.
She’s already tried again since her win, attempting to represent Sweden, so it’s not as if she’s not willing to take that chance.
No Cypriot National Selection? That’s disappointing…
Why can’t they just find a Cypriot singer lol
Cyprus and Greece have a united star/celebrity culture, that’s the plain answer. It doesn’t get simpler than that. Big stars in Cyprus get big in Greece as well and the other way round.
Hovig was a big fan favourite when he was competing in X factor Greece and since we have a shared celeb culture, Demi is big in Cyprus as well. So it was kinda weird to hear all the booing last year.
Smart woman!!!who would go under Cypriot flag!
But other sources say yes 😐
“Now, Media Magazine reports that the deal between CyBC and Helena had been on the table for some time. Nevertheless, both Helena and her record label had some “reservations” about the proposed project. However, it seems that these reservations have been overcome and the deal has been signed.”