Since Eleni Foureira’s Fuego in 2018, Cyprus can be considered as a real powerhouse at Eurovision. Many Eurovision fans expect their first victory within the next few years. Debuting in 1981, Cyprus is yet to achieve a victory up until this point. Fuego has been close to achieve that with a strong 2nd place finish. Followed by a 13th place in 2019 with Tamta’s Replay and the cancellation of the contest of 2020, Cyprus can be considered as one of hot countries who really want to win the contest. After the decision of NOT to nominate Sandro again internally who should have competed with the song Running, the Cypriot broadcaster RIK had to decide who they want to send to Rotterdam. Before Elena Tsagrinou had been announced, many very famous former Eurovision artits had been asked or at least rumoured for being the Cypriot representative. Some of these names were the already mentioned Eleni Foureria as well as 2012 representative Ivi Adamou (La La Love), Elias Kozas (Greek representative 2013 with Alcohol is Free) and Kalomira (Greece 2008 with Secret Combination).
However, another famous Eurovision artist had been asked to compete for Cyprus: The one and only Helena Paparizou, winner of Eurovision 2005 for Greece with the song My Number One. Paparizou who had already been offered that honour in 2018 with the song Fuego admitted on Alpha’s Tet A Tet that she had declined the offer again. Nevertheless she has said that El Diablo had not been the offered song for her. Rumours say that Colours from Dora 2021 show was the proposed song. In the end, Bernarda competed in Croatian selection and finished 7th.
Eventually, RIK chose the Eurovision newcomer Elena Tsagrinou with the song El Diablo. Considering that she is one of the leading acts in the fan polls and 9th in the betting odds, Cyprus seems to be a serious contender to win in Rotterdam.
Would you like to see Helena Paparizou or another former Eurovision contestant to return to Eurovision someday? Do you like the idea of an Eurovision returner to represent a different country? Let us know down in the comments.
News Source: Alpha Cyprus
