In Lisbon, Helena Paparizou‘s loss was Eleni Foureira’s gain.
The Eurovision 2005 winner has finally addressed the rumours surrounding her potential Eurovision participation this year for Cyprus. Back in January, we reported that the Greek-Swedish singer was being lured by Cypriot broadcaster RIK and her friend and previous songwriter Alex P for a stint in Lisbon. She went as far as recording her own version of “Fuego” — which leaked back in April — before eventually declining the offer.
Speaking to DownTown Cyprus, Helena praised the song, but said it wasn’t the right time to return to the song contest:
“Of course, I loved the song from the very beginning — it had been written by my favourite, Alex P. I just felt that it was not what I had to do at this moment in my life. This. So simple.”
Helena had nothing but praise for her eventual replacement. Watching Eurovision in Athens this year, Helena said that Eleni did what she couldn’t – bringing her own fuego to Lisbon.
“It was amazing, I admired it! She could — and should — have come first! I was out of Athens with my husband, we saw Eurovision (and) I woke the tourists with my joy. She had an amazing look! And did you finally see? It’s better that Eleni went and I did not go. It was impeccable!”
And Helena’s not wrong. Eleni has gone from a kindle to a strong burn. She’s since performed all over Europe and was crowned Best Female of the Year at Mad Video Music Awards. She has also released English, Spanish and Greek versions of her new single “Caramela”, written by the songwriter of this year’s winning Eurovision song, Doron Medalie.
Helena too has been making waves, with the release of 2017’s “Haide” and “Αν Με Δεις Να Κλαίω”, both of which topped the charts in Greece and Cyprus. In May, she released the English-language version of her December release “Έτσι Κι Έτσι”, named “Totally Erased”. She also joined Turkish crooner and Sammarinese 2016 representative Serhat in a new version of his song “Total Disguise”.
With such a love-in between the two Greek goddesses, here’s hoping the divas can unite for a Fuego fandango in the future!
Would you like to see Helena Paparizou return to the Eurovision stage? Let us know in the comments below!
Helena Paparizou => One of the greatest Eurovision Winners Ever. 🙂
It could have been amazing to have Helena, yes.
However, Helena is already super popular in Greece and Cyprus and now Eleni enjoys it too (and other countries as well), so I’m happy it was Eleni 🙂
I do wish to see Helena come back one day with another great song but a bit different from her winning song.
One & Only Queen Foureira!
Real Winner! Fuegoooo
Elena is absolutely right! I remember months ago, I would prefer herto go but now I wouldn’t want that. Sometimes, things happen for a reason. If Elena had gone, she would have been amazing, but not outstanding. She had nothing to prove. Instead, this whole situation gave Eleni the chance to make her dream come true and shine. Her Eurovision performance made all Europe talk about her!
I love her version as well, cuz she has a really strong voice. However, I’m happy that Eleni accepted the offer.
“She could — and should — have come first!”
Helena knows what’s good.
Oh yeah Eleni would have been the much better winner. I love toy, but I love Fuego MUCH more!
It would have been one of ther worst winners. No one would remember it after the summer!
“Should’a, Could’a, Would’a’……. Well – it didn’t happen cause the better (and far more impact-full WW) TOY song won. C’est la vie baby 🙂