In 2013, he led Greece to a sixth-place finish with the party song “Alcohol is Free”. Now Koza Mostra lead singer Ilias Koza is looking to make a Eurovision comeback. He reportedly has three songs in the running to be Greece’s entry for Eurovision 2022.
Greek culture and lifestyle website Mikrofwno reports that the charismatic Koza Mostra singer has submitted three songs to Greek broadcaster ERT as part of their internal selection process.
The Greek singer-songwriter reportedly has three “strong” songs in the running, which are all said to be “worthy” of representing Greece at Eurovision.
Two of the songs were written by Ilias himself, while the third was co-written with some Swedish hitmakers. While Ilias may be best known as the frontman of Koza Mostra, his songs are submitted as solo works.
Mikrofwno‘s source claims that one of the songs “aspires to arouse European fans” and that the style may surprise some fans used to Ilias’ previous sound.
Greek broadcaster ERT is reported to be in the internal selection process of selecting their act for Eurovision 2022. As well as Ilias Koza, artists such as Good Job Nicky, Kalomira and Amanda Georgiadis are said to have also submitted potential Eurovision songs.
The Greek Eurovision fansite Eurovision Fun reports that next week ERT are due to meet to begin the selection process. The broadcaster will shortlist three or four songs, then meet with the artists to discuss their proposals.
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Ilias Kozas and Koza Mostra at Eurovision 2013
Ilias Kozas first performed at Eurovision 2013 as the frontman of the Greek rock band Koza Mostra. They performed the jaunty party tune “Alcohol is Free”, joined by the legendary Greek folk singer Agathonas Iakovidis.
The song was a hit and placed second in its semi-final, going on to finish sixth overall. “Alcohol Is Free” was especially popular with televoters. The song finished fourth in the grand final televote.
The sixth-place result of “Alcohol is Free” is Greece’s best finish since 2008, a record that remains to this day.
What do you think? Would you like to see Ilias Kozas return to Eurovision? What sort of act should Greece send to Turin? Tell us your thoughts below!
“Alcohol is Free” was a really strong entry from Greece.
Also, I just learned that Agathonas had died. So sad.
Yes please
Well, I for one think these are great news and hope that ERT will bring again something authentic and genuine, which has not be been the case for long now (except 2018). On the other hand, this choice seems a bit chasing after this year’s winner, which is never a good idea
I don’t understand your comment. I don’t see any rock bands mentioned in this list, nor does it look like Greece is trying to find somebody in the mold of måneskin.
ERT finally shows professionalism and after last years result they really wanna do well, GJN will be chosen i think, he is a star
I don’t know who GJN is, but I hope we get another great Greek act.
Here’s some tea: Kalomira didn’t submit last minute because her company claim that ERT wants only young singers which is a total lie cause people older from Kalomira have submitted. However, she recently started following cybc on instagram….
That does seem more likely. Maybe she decided to try her luck with Cyprus instead.
I am sure she did. Cyprus has a partnership with panik records for a national final for 2023, not 2022…
I like Koza Nostra a lot, but Koza Nostra without Agathonas Iakovidis just hits different. If I were part of the group of people internally selecting the Greek entry, I wouldn’t go for Koza Nostra no matter how good they are. Maybe I would go for an other band with a similar genre? Idk.
No Koza Mostra here. Ilias is going it alone this time, and with a different sound.
Oh my bad. I read it wrong.
Iakovidis was a guest, he has never a member of the band.
Oof. Have I always been so terribly misinformed about Koza Nostra? Rip.
Obviously…you dont even write their name correctly. Its Koza Mostra.
Smh. As someone who has Alcohol Is Free in my top 10 favorite Eurovision Songs of all time list, I feel ashamed of myself..
Don’t be – we all make mistakes.
Hopefully !!! Not another young « diva »
Come onnn everybody knows ERT will choose Evangelia and RIK will chose Josephine it’s so clear
I don’t know if i’m the only person who thinks that , i don’t think both Evangelia and Josephine will make it. Because of their styles are so similar ERT and RIK will not send both.
That’s why I can see Good Job Nicky for Greece , and one of those two girls for Cyprus
There is 0% chance ERT will send Evangelia. She is with Panik and ERT and Panik don’t have good relations lately. It’s probably between Amanda Tenfjord and Good Job Nicky for Greece at the moment.
I also doubt Josephine will go for Cyprus.
Amanda Tenfjord is Greek?
Good Job Nicky and Amanda are the best options! It’s a shame their staging (if they’re picked) will be done by Fokas tho… we really don’t need him.
Evangelia is of course amazing but she won’t go for Greece due to the beef between ERT and Panik… Praying that she goes for Cyprus tho!
Kalomira did not submit her song to Greece tho!
Still, both Amanda and Nicky might get Greece into the top 10.
I agree that fokas hasn’t done good job in recent years..
Spain 2019 and Greece 2021 were sooo messy and didn’t fit the song.
So what’s the story with ERT and panik records having a beef? What happened?
Damn hot man
The list of possible artists for Greece this year is just insanely good, even better than the lineup of some national finals in recent years. Good Job Nicky, Kalomira, Evangelia, and now Ilias Kozas.
I understand from the Greek website that probably it is between good job Nicky and amanda.
And that Kalomira didn’t sumbit anything at the end(maybe to cyprus?).
Kalomoira hasn’t submitted.
Is it just me or countries are taking the ESC selection process more seriously and with more effort than before?
It’s a pleasure to see this happening
Unless you’re the UK that’s just gonna phone it in again.
is this from greece 2013
It seems the new trend in the competing countries is too take more seriously the Eurovision contests (Esc and Jesc) and I love that, we can see that from the increasing artists interested, from the broadcasters trying new things or showing more interest and motivation so let’s hope good things will come from this greater involvement… good luck Greece and the others.
Yeah, this is a good sign. I know this article is about Greece (and I hope it makes a great choice), but when you talk about broadcasters having a greater interest and motivation, I think about that article covering Lithuania’s national final submission period a few weeks ago. I think the Lithuanian broadcaster actually offering additional funding/investment to help cultivate a higher quality of songs and performances is definitely a great sign that Lithuania is starting to take Eurovision seriously as a competitor.
Everybody has been improving their processes this recent years: Greece, Spain (Benidorm), France, San Marino (Una voce pSM), Iceland, Lithuania (Pabandom), Switzerland. Take notes UK, Germany, etc.
Exactly 😉
I think it’s too early to say how well the revived Benidorm format will work.
Yeah, let’s wait until the songs are out for Benidorm. It feels like Spain is taking the right steps, but wait and see if it will lift Spain out of the bottom five for the first time.
Yeah Lithuania and some others, but Lithuania has already improved since 2 years.
Lithuania is certainly on the right track, but wait and see what they’ll do for 2022. I hope they can attract a great amount of fantastic songs that if any of them won the national final, could be genuinely competitive for Eurovision. I hope the 2020s is the decade for Lithuania to break through the top five.