Photo: Nikos Zikos

Victor Vernicos will sing “What They Say” for Greece at Eurovision 2023.

The 16-year-old singer-songwriter is Greece’s youngest ever Eurovision entry. With his emotional indie-pop track, Victor hopes to give Greece another top ten finish this May. 

Scroll down to read the “What They Say” lyrics. 

Greece at Eurovision 2023: Victor Vernicos with “What They Say”

Victor Vernicos Jorgensen, 16, is a singer-songwriter from Athens. He was born to a Greek mother and a Danish father in October 2006 — months after Greece staged its first and to date only hosting of the Eurovision Song Contest. 

A natural musician, Victor started learning piano when he was 4 years old. He later moved on to singing and guitar, and started writing his own songs at 11 years old. His musical stylings are inspired by Ed Sheeran, John Mayer, and Coldplay.

What do the “What They Say” lyrics mean?

Victor told wiwibloggs: “The lyrics are inspired from basically the first overwhelming experience of anxiety I had in my life. I was 13, in Denmark staying at my grandmother’s house for the holidays when it just hit me. That feeling came from me realising that what I had had as a dream of being a musical artist was possible and actually becoming true due to the hard work I had already been putting in. Managers overseas and local became interested and more and it was that ‘reality hit’ that sent me into momentary anxiety.

He added: “I realised the reality of everything and the fact that ‘as much as you give is as much as you get’ and that solidified as a fact to me in that moment and I got up and continued, carrying that experience with me knowing I wanted to write about it at some point. Six months later, in early 2021, I wrote the song.”

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Victor Vernicos Jorgensen (@victorvernicos)

Victor continued: “The minute I grabbed my guitar, words started to flow out so naturally because it came from an experience so real. I wrote the whole song in its acoustic form in the span of two days but it was probably four to six hours as a whole”.

“What They Say” lyrics — Victor Vernicos (Greece Eurovision 2023)

Songwriters: Victor Vernicos Jorgensen

Late August
Feet start to shake heart starts to ache
Can’t focus
Panic, I lay on the floor and I hate that I’m holding on
My lungs will break can’t stop to make
My mind up
Time starts to rain clouds not afraid

Of the pain they giving
Anxious to where I’m breathing
Can’t say that I am longing for
Another day to break my spirit
Insane and I can’t tell who’s winning
Wish this was something I could just ignore

Well you know what they say
Lost souls make sure no one loses their way
Hurt ones can’t stand seeing others in pain
Oh I am both now I got too much on my plate
And I save all the others cause for me it’s too

Nostalgic mind
I miss the days when my heart wouldn’t ache and
I’m drowning, time
Quicksand of life, we don’t livе to die
Now I’m trying to fight
All of the lights that leavе me so blind
As a writer
But I’m not an actor no I don’t live my own life

And I hate my feelings
I’m overwhelmed and heated
Can’t say that I am longing for
Another day to break my spirit
Insane and I can tell who’s winning
Wish this was something I could just ignore

Well you know what they say
Lost souls make sure no one loses their way
Hurt ones can’t stand seeing others in pain
Oh I am both now I got too much on my plate
And I save all the others cause for me it’s too

Well you know what they say
Lost souls make sure no one loses their way
Hurt ones can’t stand seeing others in pain
Oh I am both now I got too much on my plate
And I save all the others cause for me it’s too

I’ll save all the others ’cause for me it’s too late

Well, you know what they say 
Let’s all make sure no one loses their way
I almost can’t stand seeing others in pain
I am bold, now I got too much on my plate
And I’ll save all the others ’cause for me it’s too

Let’s all make sure no one loses their way
I almost can’t stand seeing others in pain
I am bold, now I got too much on my plate
And I’ll save all the others ’cause for me it’s too late

What do you think of “What They Say”? Will Greece qualify for the Eurovision 2023 final? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

30 Comments
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Young_At_Heart_In_Austin
Young_At_Heart_In_Austin
11 months ago

I really like this song. I have it in my top 10. I can see it taking off post ESC like Rosa Linn’s snap did last year. We’ll done Greece. This is the best song you’ve entered in quite a few years.

Efthymios
Efthymios
11 months ago

Most of the downvoters in here are from our country anyways so positive opinions about the entry unfortunately won’t have a chance to be left unharmed.

Andy
Andy
11 months ago
Reply to  Efthymios

Efthymios, why don’t you just want to accept that song is very unlikeable for most of the people? This is not the Greece Level we have been witnessing since 2018

Efthymios
Efthymios
11 months ago
Reply to  Andy

I aknowledge this fact but you also aknowledge that I said “most of the downvotes”, not “al of them”. I wasn’t being absolute.

Andy
Andy
11 months ago

Worst Greek entry in years

Alsou's Dancer
11 months ago
Reply to  Andy

Even Argo seem a masterpiece!

Dickie
Dickie
11 months ago

This has really grown on me, it’s different to everything else this year and he has an interesting and rich quality to his voice. And all credit to Victor as song writer. With the right staging I believe this will do well.

Ffs
Ffs
11 months ago

Not good , not bad … just boring and bland .

Alex
Alex
11 months ago
Reply to  Ffs

I don’t think it’s boring or bland. It’s just simple and pleasant.
And this year there’s a lot of intensity and loud with most of this entres. Maybe too much. That I appreciate we have a song like the Greek one

ThorBeta
ThorBeta
11 months ago

I haven’t seen such a muted reaction to the Greek entry for the last 30 years I’ve been following the contest. And this is probably the best sign of the interest that this song will get by public in May. Zero. Victor seems to be a nice guy, but unfortunately this is not enough. And what’s with the cursive diction? It’s so hard to understand what’s he’s singing about. Best of luck anyway and hopefully Greece will come back stronger next year.

Zhenia
Zhenia
11 months ago

Not bad, the vocals are nice and lyrics, while not the most original, seem to come from a place of sincerity. Instrumental, unfortunately, is somewhat underwhelming, but with decent staging it can be made into a heartfelt moment. Wish Greece and their young songwriter luck this year!

Im so fab
Im so fab
11 months ago

It’s a question how this entry avoided being placed second …

Ern
Ern
11 months ago
Reply to  Im so fab

I have the answer. The other entries ERT was considering weren’t as good.

Im so fab
Im so fab
11 months ago
Reply to  Ern

I actually meant why didn’t the producers place him 2nd in the running order. Sorry for any misunderstanding.

Marc
Marc
11 months ago
Reply to  Im so fab

Probably because producers started building this RO from Belgium in the middle (they had no other choice) and that meant either Denmark or Cyprus had to open. So they could’t put Greece in 2nd.

Milan
Milan
11 months ago

I like it, it’s definitely on the left part of the scoreboard for me.

Renata
Renata
11 months ago

Beautiful meaningful lyrics,
extremely underrated song,
hopefully dark horse…

Jonas
Jonas
11 months ago

Is Netherlands 2016 the answer to this song?

Jonas
Jonas
11 months ago
Reply to  Jonas

Slow down, downvoters.

Efthymios
Efthymios
11 months ago

Why are some trolls downloading any positive comments avout our entry? Yes, musically it might be weak but it has great pacing, vocally Victor is outstanding and lyrically he’s written better, simple, understandable and relatable to many people, lyrics for his own entry AT 14 YEARS OLD while 5 DIFFERENT PEOPLE COULDN’T HAVE COME UP WITH BETTER LYRICS FOR SWEDEN AND 10 FOR POLAND! At least, if you’re going to spew hate, justify it in a way that won’t just show your bias against the song but will include actual facts on why it is bad. I think many people… Read more »

Efthymios
Efthymios
11 months ago
Reply to  Efthymios

If I’m thinking what you’re thinking, you cannot even imagine how much I agree. 🙁

Ern
Ern
11 months ago
Reply to  Efthymios

There is nothing “weak” about this entry relative to other entries. It’s a perfectly respectable entry. Don’t concede anything to the trolls!

The only fair criticism I can see is that it isn’t as “catchy” as songs that typically do well at Eurovision, but this can be compensated with a strong live performance and staging.

Ffs
Ffs
11 months ago
Reply to  Efthymios

Because this year Greece is bad. Perhaps next year …

Andy
Andy
11 months ago
Reply to  Efthymios

It’s not hate for your country or some ”trolls”. Your song is horribly bad and it didn’t get positive feedback that’s why.
And this is what ERT deserves after they even eliminated Klavdia’s ”Holy Water”

Margarita
Margarita
11 months ago
Reply to  Andy

Sorry but Klavdia’s ”Holy Water” was really boring!!

Rambo Amadeus
Rambo Amadeus
11 months ago

Oh, I miss Amanda… Only thing that comes to mind when listening to this, sorry Greece.

Purple Mask
Purple Mask
11 months ago

There a precious few songs this year that move me; this is one of them. Yes, I acknowledge that there are some grammar and idiom issues in the lyrics, and I know it’s musically not perfect either. However, it’s astonishing how the song echoes my current feelings. I suppose this song just has a deep personal resonance with me.

Dida
Dida
11 months ago

Such a weak entry from Greece. Where are the good days when Greece used to send great entries? Are long gone…

Ern
Ern
11 months ago
Reply to  Dida

Oh, just stop! Greece made top 10 the past two years.

Poul Riisen
Poul Riisen
11 months ago

Good luck to Greece and Victor! The song is decent and if it comes from the heart and it performed (and staged) well, it may qualify! If not, again it’s a good song and let’s give kudos to all artists, composers and lyricists. They deserve our thoughts!