Greece will choose its artist and song for Eurovision 2023 using an internal selection process, it has been confirmed.
Greek broadcaster ERT has opened submissions, calling on record labels to submit Eurovision bids on behalf of their artists. The eventual winner will fly the Greek flag at Eurovision 2023 in the UK next May.
The submission deadline is Sunday 9 October.
Greece: ERT opens song submissions for Eurovision 2023
A new rule states song submissions should not have been submitted to any other country’s or broadcaster’s selection process, such as Sweden’s Melodifestivalen or Norway’s Melodi Grand Prix. Elsewhere, artists are permitted to submit up to three songs, along with ideas for the promotion and presentation of the song.
Here’s the full English translation of the submission rules, from ERT:
“In the context of ERT’s participation in the 67th Eurovision Song Contest, which will take place in May 2023 in the United Kingdom, the Hellenic Radio Television invites companies active in the production or distribution of recordings to submit proposals for the country’s participation, with a final deadline of Sunday 9 October 2022.”
“Each proposal must be complete: i.e. include a performer or group with a maximum of six members, according to the regulations, and also one to three songs, which have not been released or performed to date either in Greece or abroad as in any way, in whole or in part. In the choice of participation, any artistic group supporting the performer and ideas (concept) for the promotion and presentation of the song will also be taken into account.”
“The proposals submitted in the context of the above call are addressed exclusively to ERT.”
“Until the completion of their evaluation, they may not have submitted simultaneously to a corresponding procedure of another body participating in the Eurovision Song Contest.”
Names of the artists who have submitted their proposals are yet to be revealed, but the rumour mill is already churning. Greek Eurovision fandom hub Eurovision Fun reports artists such as Vassilis Kourtis, Melissa Mantzoukis and Leon of Athens are considering submitting songs to ERT’s selection. According to reports, Eurovision 2008 bronze medallist and “Secret Combination” songstress Kalomira is also considering a submission.
The Greek selection process remains largely similar to that of 2022, which saw broadcaster ERT select singer-songwriter Amanda Tenfjord with “Die Together” to fly the country’s flag in Turin. Greece eventually placed eighth in the final.
What do you think of the internal selection process? Which artists would you like to see submit an entry? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
There is a huge mistake in your article. This sentence is wrong: ‘Greek broadcaster ERT has opened submissions to the public, calling on local artists and performers to submit their Eurovision bids.’
Unfortunately, and contrary to the spirit of the Contest (inclusivity), the Greek broadcaster ERT has excluded many local artists from taking part in the process. ERT has invited only record labels to submit songs for the Eurovision Song Contest, not all local artists. ERT excludes many local artists that are independent artists.
Even this new rule ERT used in their selection was proposed by eurovisionfun one moth ago. I insist will be one of they names they said during the summer. Vasilis Kourtis, Melissa Mantzoukis or Antonia Kaouri.
Is it just me who would like Marina And The Diamonds to represent Greece in 2023?
Greece needs to send Nana Mouskouri before it’s too late!
Thanks for sharing. Konstantinos Argyros should definitely submit a song this year, in my opinion!
After this year’s great result with perhaps my second favourite Greek entry of the modern ESC era, my hopes for 2023 are high! I hope we send an alternative, creative entry. There’s every year the demand from the community that certain countries send something ethnic: and Greece is among these. Funnily enough, from the ethnic songs we’ve sent I like only a handful: “Alcohol is free” is perhaps my favourite Greek entry ever and I think it fully deserved its placement. “OPA” from 2010 was fun enough and I enjoyed it, while there was also a time when I was… Read more »
This year was their best post-2000 entry and it will be tough to top.
How do you know?
The ones just before Amanda weren’t that interesting and I’m not a fan of Greece post-2000 overall, besides her my other favorites are 1993, 1995 and 1997.
Also, I hope those who want Greece to sound more “authentic” don’t just mean someone who can’t really sing like Sakis shaking it over some ethno beats, that would be pretty bad.
Honestly, downvote me as you want but Last Dance or Die Together could have been sent by any other country and nobody would have noticed it, there was not something Greek in these songs, not even the language, nothing memorable unfortunately for me, Greece was maybe in the top 10 the last 2 years, it’s cool for them but Greece has lost its mojo in the same time imo. Look at the last two esc top 3 songs and you will understand what I mean, flavors of nations are still appreciated. When I think about Greece in Eurovision, the images… Read more »
lost its mojo= doesnt send ethnic entries. Well, cyprus does it and they came last with the juries in the semi. #facts
Lost its mojo doesn’t mean that for me, with or without ethnic sounds you can get a song with personality, a song that sounds greek, use your greek language for that it will help.
The “excuse” of Cyprus not doing well this year is not representative and is not a good example, if this song was performed flawless, she would have done very well.
ert completely lost their eurovision identity sometime in the early 2010s and started throwing anything at the wall waiting for something to stick… greece can do so much better.
Much better than two years in a row in the top 10?
There are still better places than 10th and 8th…
Their 2 top 10 in the snatch won’t help to make them question about that and to change their way sadly.
From which country will come the greek representative for the next year…..we had The Netherlands, Norway….I bet on Portugal or Iceland this time.
What can I say? We are everywhere, deal with it!
Great for you!
From Germany with Greek- Georgian roots… no kidding
Just wishful thinking, but I hope Good Job Nicky gets chosen this time (instead of a diaspora act)! 😀
Could be interesting. He certainly has something interesting to offer.
I think that Konstantinos Argiros would be great to represent Greece. He has great live vocals , lots of experience singing in front of large crowds, makes modern, usually upbeat songs but with a traditional feel and meaningful lyrics to them and sings in Greek (check out his latest song ‘eleftheros’ which has a lot of ESC potential or ‘ximeromata’ a huge hit he made a couple years ago). What Greece is missing their ESC entries is a Greek sound, because the songs from the last few years could’ve literally been from any country. If Greece were to send a… Read more »
only in science fiction Argiros will represent Greece
I really hope Konstantinos argyros submits a song this year!
I must admit I’m confused by this process – do they actually have to be Greek citizens??
It’s not just for the 12 points. Greece feels very proud of the Greek diaspora. We felt extremely happy and proud when Queen Helena won and brought the contest to the homeland. She was so touching she was waving the flag and crying out of love for Greece. Its a moment we will never forget. Similar feelings for Kalomoira, Stefania and all the rest.
I would love to see Marina Satti…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPX43SfFu0A
A real artist with an amazing voice, and studies, and she is very telegenic. With a good song, she could deliver high.
Unfortunately, I don’t think she is interested. ERT has approached her multiple times and she has refused.
So for you a half Greek half Sudanese artist is acceptable, but a half Greek half Norwegian is not. I smell hypocrisy…
Could Greece send a male this year? When did they last do that?
In 2014 (Rise Up)
In 2016 as well, but in a group with women.
This time I think they should send some risky stuff with ethnic flavor that will make more impact in eurovision. The last 2 entries got them top 10 but I don’t think they will be considered as classics in couple of years. ERT should send something memorable and impactful.
My guess:
I don’t care if their song is not composed by the Dream Team of Dimitris Kontopoulos and John Ballard, all I care is that they will bring Greece to the top 10 in the final again after two successful attempts.
They will never win with some English pop sing with zero cultural representation. Not because such song can’t win ESC cause it did, but because it’s Greece or any other Balkan country.
Duncan just left the chat
Read my comment again.
Actually, “Arcade” is a good representation of what we (the Dutch) like. We don’t have much Dutch music that will blow you away at Eurovision and only a few songs sound good in Dutch. Almost all of the songs played on the radio are foreign songs (mostly from the United States) too.
correction, what the dull dutch people with no good taste like
here in brabant (the supernation) we love fun folk stuff more
Nevertheless “De Diepte” is certainly one of the best ESC songs for me. And the Dutch language sounded really nice and added to its charm.
Greeks don’t care for English pop songs with American flavour representimg them.
agreed, greece doesn’t exactly have a global music culture in the way the netherlands and scandinavia do (half of their domestic music product is in english to begin with). certain countries are expected to send something more authentic without trying too hard to appeal the masses. måneskin have the second most streamed eurovision song of all time while singing in italian, for example.
The last two seasons ERT is approaching Eurovision in a very professional way. Looking forward for another great entry that will bring us in the top 10 for the third year in a row.
Good luck, Greece! Hope they find their best representative.
BTW: I am still listening to “My number one”. Was iconic and remains iconic IMHO
Anyway the dream team will decide which act Greece will send. No real competition here.
Next Greek representative will be one of the names eurovisionfun has reported during the summer. The same happened with Stefania and Amanda. Imo Melissa, Antonia Kaouri or Vasilis Kourtis will be the one. All of them work with Dream Team.
the recent greek entries quite haven’t represented the country’s flavor and culture, so i’m hoping for something more unmistakably greek, possibly by someone the greek public cares about.
Stefania became big in Greece after Eurovision and this is much more important than sending an artist that the Greek public cares about before the contest and forgets him after a bad result.
Bulgaria did the same selection process from 2016 to 2018. It gave them good results as well. Did anyone complain about Bulgarians people music taste? Why Greece must always send ethnic songs? And last time they did in 2018, we all know what happened.
For us it is much more important being in the top 10 than sending ethnic songs and staying in the semi final as it happened in 2018 and with Cyprus in 2022.
Well Cyprus supposed to be in the final in 2022 but 6 countries played dirty …
who talked about ethnic? but if your priority is being in the top 10 with songs created in other parts of europe and that could represent any country, then good for you.
Dutch people didn’t care about Duncan also and he won. Since when popularity gives you good results?
Does any other country’s entry represented their country’s flavor and culture? Maybe 1 or 2? Why should always Greece send sth ethnic? Did the UK ever send anything ethnic?
Or Sweden or Switzerland or whoelse?