In recent weeks, rumours have been circulating, suggesting that Cyprus’ Eurovision 2018 star Eleni Foureira could be making an encore performance at Eurovision 2021. But sadly it appears this won’t be happening. The Albanian Greek popstress has turned down the opportunity to represent Cyprus in Rotterdam next year.
The journalist Giannis Poulopoulos broke the news today on the Greek morning television show Eftychite. He revealed that a source at Panik Records — Eleni’s record label — confirmed the “Fuego” singer would not be competing at Eurovision 2021.
The source says Eleni would eventually like to return to Eurovision, but only when things are better in regards to the coronavirus and a regular Eurovision show can be held.
Wiwibloggs’ source in Cyprus tells us the decision did not come down to a lack of will or lack of songs — both were there. It was solely due to concerns related to Covid-19 and the way that this would impact this year’s contest.
Our source goes on to say that the Cypriot team respects and completely understands the decision. The source adds that Eleni’s relationship with the team in Cyprus is not just professional. It is built on genuine love and respect among the two parties and the invitation is always open.
Last week the EBU released the four scenarios it would use for holding Eurovision 2021 under possible pandemic restrictions. Two of the scenarios involve a Eurovision with a reduced, socially distant audience, while one scenario has no live audience.
Given how Eleni’s 2018 entry “Fuego” energised the heaving crowd at Lisbon’s Altice Arena, it’s easy to see that a similar type of song would not have the same impact with a smaller audience or no audience.
If not Eleni Foureira, then who?
There’s no shortage of speculation around other artists who are in the running to represent Cyprus at Eurovision 2021.
Greece’s Eurovision 2008 star Kalomira recently confirmed that Cyprus was a possibility for 2021.
Also said to be under consideration by Cyprus is Ilias Kozas, the lead singer of the Greek rock band Koza Mostra. They previously represented Greece at Eurovision 2013 with the crowd favourite “Alcohol Is Free”.
With Greece having already invited back Eurovision 2020 act Stefania to be their supergirl in Rotterdam, Greek music stars are turning to Cyprus as their best chance to make it to Eurovision in 2021.
So far, interested artists include The Voice Australia‘s Despina Savva, Greek X Factor star Ian Stratis, Kazakh-Greek X Factor star Eirini Papadopoulou, Australia Decides act Leea Nanos, Cyprus’ Eurovision 2012 star Ivi Adamou, reality stars Konnie Metaxa & Tasos Xiarcho, pop-rock group Melisses, pop icon Vangelis Kakouriotis and singer/model/actress Katerina Stikoudi.
But now with Eleni Foureira apparently out of the running for Rotterdam, broadcaster CyBC may be reconsidering its options.
What do you think? Are you sad that Eleni Foureira won’t be in Rotterdam? Who else should Cyprus sent to Eurovision 2021? Tell us your thoughts below!
Each days we heard something different about Cyprus and their potential singers, if it’s their way to create an hype, it’s not a good way cause it’s becoming tiring.
So Mrs Foureira needs absolutely a big audience to perform, this is the reason really? #caprice
A good song will remain a good song with or without an audience, it’s not the audience who have permitted Fuego to have a good placement. Does it mean the other singers who will perform maybe without an audience are stupid? I find their reason really weird and unfounded.
Where in the article did it say that she needed a bigger audience?
Read again, it’s not very explicit in this article like in others I’ve read but it’s mentioned.
The paragraph that starts with “Given…” is a speculation on the part of the writer.
Everything else cited by the sources only indicate that Eleni would only go ahead if the situation is safe enough, which right now, is not possible because of the ongoing pandemic.
Nope it’s not a speculation, I’ve read in a Greek and English articles the same things, Panik records have said Eleni needs a big audience to have an impact. I didn’t know the number of people in the audience determined the level of impact of a song and determined a good result or not.
For Diva Eleni it’s not possible but for others yes……
So why is it bad that an artist wants to experience EUROVISION in its full mode and not in an empty venue with no fans? What’s the point? I totally agree with that!
Plus, Eleni is a performer, not a ballad singer so ofc she LIVES for the energy from fans like she did in Lisbon.
And no, Fuego wouldn’t have been a hit without her energetic performance.
I am 100% sure many artists are considering the scenario of empty venue or doing performances from their own countries. This is totally against the Eurovision spirit of coming together.
You can make an energetic performance with or without an audience.
It’s for the best. For 2021, there have been confirmed powerhouses who ranked high in the betting odds for 2020 (Destiny, Gjon’s Tears, Victoria, Roxen…). Those could be too much even for Eleni, and keep in mind The Roop, Dadi Freyr and Little Big haven’t been confirmed yet.
The wisest choice she and others who want to represent Cyprus (like Vangelis Kakouriotis, Melisses or Despina Savva) can do is to wait for 2022 and forward.
Cyprus pls NQ next year with your precious silly overrated talentless Ivi adamou
I have seen your comments in the other article, constantly bringing negativity for Cyprus and potential candidates. So much jealousy!
they need to leave her alone for a while, same recipe will not work every time, and she has to come back after the impact she made to Eurovision will be bit forgotten.
Can they just let her go for a while and come back wherever she wants? The obsession they have with her is desperate
I would love to see the group “Melisses” representing Greece in 2022!!
Great decision. I would love to see Eleni again but just not in 2021, at least in 2022 when 4 years have passed since her last participation. On the other hand, there is nothing wrong with the Cypriot delegation about being desperate to win. If they want to win they’re going to try and there is nothing wrong with choosing big names from the Greek music industry. These artists come with the Label which helps a lot to a small broadcaster like CyBc. I just don’t understand why now some ESC fans are not happy with Cyprus wanting to win… Read more »
Fans aren’t happy that Cyprus are not engaging with Cypriot talent and just courting Greeks instead. At least Azerbaijan uses local singers. It really defeats the purpose of the contest to participate with a wholly foreign team- if you do it once in a while (like Eleni initially in 2018) it’s fine, but it can’t be how you usually conduct business.
Of course it can because they’re doing it for Cyprus and waving the Cypriot flag.
Besides, you completely forget about the people behind the scenes and the Cypriot team pulling the strings.
Just think guys
I don’t understand why some fans are obsessed with Cyprus (love it or hate). Cyprus has been sending local talent and talent from Greece and abroad (Greece is not considered ábroad’) for decades, some of you are either new fans or not really paying atttention. Greece has also picked Cypriot singers like Anna Vissi and Sarbel and Maria Elena Kyriakou. Estonia has chosen Swedish singers (2019, 2002), freaking Russia has chosen a Ukrainian girl for their home entry in 2009 and the list goes on. Why are you being so obsessed over Cyprus? Picking Greek talent is not a surprise… Read more »
There’s nothing wrong with returning performers. Come back anytime, Eleni!
Does the same feeling against returning performers apply to national selections like Melodifestivalen? That would mean we’d have no Waterloo, no Euphoria.
Not really, Abba and Loreen didn’t go to Eurovision the first time, whereas Eleni has already had a chance to perform on the Eurovision stage.
I know, but they’d already had the chance to perform on the Melodifestivalen stage. Why should that be different? How about Sanremo? That would mean no Fai Rumore. If you really want to confine it to just the actual Eurovision…that would mean no victory for Austria until 2014, no Aprés Toi, no Hold Me Now, no victory for Carola. It would be unfair not to hold songwriters to the same rule – no The Voice, no Nocturne. Again, no Euphoria. I wouldn’t want all of those to be wiped from the history books. Ireland would have three wins, Sweden three.
Carola won the second time, same for Helena, Dima Bilan etc.
Why are some fans so obsessed over Cyprus and Eleni?
I think the “everybody gets a turn” style would be bad for the contest, and for fans. Quality would go down, it would be about amateurs. It’s a song contest, open to everybody. The best is what matters.
I won’t tell you that. I’m sure there are many talented people in all of those countries. In my system, it would be a competition open to everybody each year. The best song should win, even if the songwriter has already won six times or zero. I do definitely agree that giving somebody the job based on reputation alone is wrong.
Or no “Hero”
I think she made a right decision. As much as I and other ESC fans love her, it’s to soon for her to return. Events of 2018 are still fresh and I really don’t think she can repeat her 2018 success, at least not at the moment. I would love her to return in few years but not right now. Let’s not repeat what happened to Dana in 2011.
How desperate do they have to be if they’re not even confident of their own Cypriot artists
I was wondering the same. If you’re so desperate, you normally don’t do very good so the Cypriot team should calm down a little.
Horrors. They might have to pick someone new!
they won’t, they go for their precious princess ivi adamou LMAO
You really are a contrarian. Look, I’d be more convinced of a Foureira comeback if I knew it’d be different and not just a rehash of “Fuego.” The best Eurovision comebacks I can think of, regardless of results, are the ones that show a different side of the artist, and better still a natural evolution in their abilities between their first appearance and their second. Just off the top of my head, artists that succeeded at this include: Helena Paparizou, Carola (at least the first time), Dino Merlin, Linda Martin, Cliff Richard, Izhar Cohen, Elisabeth Andreassen, Johnny Logan, Gigliola Cinquetti,… Read more »
On the subject of Ivi’s year though, a surprising amount of 2012 alumni have made comebacks, and if you think about it, the ones that eventually improved on their 2012 results were the ones who did something different next time around (Valentina and Donny Montell), and the ones who didn’t either stayed too much in the same vein (Kaliopi, although I do love “Dona”) or went too far in another direction (Greta Salome). Heck, 2012 had probably one of the most successful examples of a Eurovision comeback itself, as Zeljko Joksimovic strolled in with a song not staggeringly different from… Read more »
For me Peter, Sue and Marc submitted the same song 4 times; just in a different language!
Seriously disagree. There is a gigantic gap between the first three and Io senza te.
It’s totally understandable. With the changing circumstances and the future of eurovision 2021 that remains uncertain why that a huge superstar will decide to do eurovision and at the end might have to perform in her country without audience, it sounds weird, no? Also, in case that plan C or D gets selected could we potentially see some of the contestants (especially the 2020 ones) deciding to withdraw? (Dadi and Damir said that they preferred eurovision 2020 to be cancelled than being held remotely and maybe some of the other ones think the same as well) Would they like to… Read more »
I would like to see her the same year with Dami, this would be a positive meeting.
It’s nothing against either artist but that would be a bad thing in my opinion. Both artists have very vocal fanbases who sometimes aren’t able to accept that someone else may think differently from then. So anyone who chose to support any of the other acts would get shouted down by them… it would be a very toxic environment…
It would’ve been like if Il Volo had won Sanremo instead of Mahmood last year and then we would’ve had them facing off against Sergey
I understand your point, in fact that would be interesting providing the returning acts have something different to bring from what they presented on their first attempt. For example, I find Dami Im new creation (Paper Dragon) really enjoyable and if Australia would have come with it at Eurovision, I would have been OK because Dami is exploring another genre with this song that has nothing common with Sound of Silence, and that’s totally logical because 4 years have past since, and it shows in some way her evolution, personnaly and musically so that’s a really good thing which contribute… Read more »
But of course I would always been keen on welcome back Eurovision “big names” from previous years in the competition, even if yes it’s probably better to wait maybe at least 4 or 5 years so the artist has time to evolve musically and open up to larger genres and influences.
Dino bats three-for-three: he wrote “Sva bol svijeta” and performed “Putnici” and “Love in Rewind,” and those are three of Bosnia’s very best.
Nooo i think she was so good in 2018 but its too early to come back 🙂 maybe in 2026 or later 🙂
Later? When? When she is 50 and not so high energetic? Not everyone is Jennifer Lopez or Jelena Karleusa 😀
Or Alla Pugacheva
No!! 2023 would be perfect
Surprise ! So maybe in 2022, I hope.