Greece at the Eurovision Song Contest
This article looks at the history of Greece as a participant in the Eurovision Song Contest .
Regularity of participation and successes in competition
Greece took part in the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time in 1974. With 11th place out of 17, only a mediocre result was achieved. The 7 points that Greece achieved represent the country's lowest score in the competition to date. In 1975, when Turkey made its debut, Greece dropped out of the competition, but returned in 1976. With 13th place out of 19, however, only a mediocre result was achieved. From 1977 to 1979, Greece made it into the top ten three times in a row. Fifth place in 1977 with 92 points was Greece's best placement and highest score for a long time. In 1980, with 13th place, only an average placement was achieved. In 1981, however, with 8th place, a place among the top ten was achieved again. In 1982 Greece again decided not to participate: Melina Mercouri , who had recently become Minister of Culture in her home country, forbade the Greek television station to participate; The quality of the competition is not high enough to offer a forum for the Greek music scene. In 1983 Greece returned to the competition, but with 14th place again only achieved an average placement. In 1984 Polina was supposed to represent the country. However, the Greek broadcaster withdrew its participation shortly before the competition because the date of the ESC in 1984 fell on a Greek public holiday. In 1985 Greece took part again. The return in 1985 was just as unsuccessful as in 1983. The country landed in 16th place out of 19 and thus rather in the lower area. In 1986 Greece refrained from participating from the start. In 1987 the country returned.
When he returned in 1987, he was placed in the top ten for the first time in six years, when he was 10th. In 1988, however, Greece only ended up in 17th place. In 1989, with 9th place, a result among the top ten was achieved again. In 1990, with 19th place, only one placement in the lower area was achieved. In 1991 there was only an average placement with 13th place. In 1992 Cleopatra got 5th place, the best result since 1977. With 94 points, she also achieved a new high score for Greece in the competition. In 1993, another good result was achieved with 9th place. From 1994 onwards Greece was not very successful in the competition.
In 1994 and 1996, the country was only able to achieve 14th place, which again only achieved average placements. In 1995 and 1997, 12th place was also just an average placement. In 1998, with 20th place out of 25, the worst result in eight years was achieved. For this reason, the country then had to suspend the competition in 1999. In 2000, for the first time since 1986, the country voluntarily refrained from participating. Then in 2001 the country returned to the competition. The band Antique took 3rd place, Greece's best result in the competition. With 147 points they also got a new high point for the country in the competition. However, the performers from 2002 and 2003 could not build on this success and only took 17th place each. From 2004, however, things went uphill for Greece and the country became one of the most successful countries in the competition.
In 2004 Sakis Rouvas was finally able to get 3rd place for Greece and thus repeat the success of Antique in 2001. With 252 points, he also got a new high for Greece in the competition. To date it is the highest score ever achieved for Greece in the competition. In 2005 Greece achieved its greatest success in the competition to date. Elena Paparizou, who participated as part of the band Antique in 2001 and came in 3rd place, won the competition for Greece with 230 points. In the following year Greece hosted the competition. Anna Vissi, who started for Greece in 1980, was able to achieve a good result for the country with 9th place. In 2007, Sarbel also achieved a place in the top ten with 7th place. In 2008 Greece had to take part in the semi-finals for the first time, which Kalomira was able to win. In the final she reached third place, another successful placement for Greece. In 2009, Sakis Rouvas, who already took third place for Greece in 2004, was able to secure a place in the top ten with seventh place. Giorgos Alkeos, who finished second in the semifinals, also finished 8th, another place for Greece in the top ten in the competition. In 2011 Greece was able to win the semi-finals again and then landed in the final in 7th place and thus achieved its eighth place in a row among the top ten. This represents an unbroken record since the introduction of the semi-finals in the competition in 2004. It was all the worse that Greece only reached 17th place in 2012, the worst result in nine years. After this short low, Koza Mostra & Agathonas Iakovidis were able to reach 6th place in the final for Greece. They also came second in the semifinals. However, this successful period for Greece has been over since 2014.
In 2014 Freaky Fortune feat. Risky Kidd with 20th place in the final Greece's worst placement since 1998. Maria Elena Kyriakou was also unable to bring Greece back to old successes in 2015 and only took 19th place. In 2016, Greece's low point in the competition followed. The band Argo could not qualify for the finals, which is the first time the country did not reach the finals. They lost the record of having qualified for the finals every time they participated since 2004, in the same year as Bosnia & Herzegovina. In 2018, three countries also lost it with Azerbaijan, Romania and Russia. This leaves only Australia and Ukraine, who have reached the final every time they participated. But Argo also got the worst placement for Greece in the competition to date, the band only came third from bottom in the semifinals. The singer Demy made it back into the final in tenth place in the following year, but took another disappointing place with 19th place. In 2018 Greece tried to return to old successes with Greek. However, this attempt backfired and was eliminated for the second time in the semi-finals. In the following year, 2019, they moved back into the finals and placed 21st in the lower half of the table.
In total, 20 of the 40 entries ended up in the left half of the table. In addition, the country has only missed the final twice (2016, 2018) and has never finished last. With one win (2005) and three third places (2001, 2004, 2008), the country is one of the most successful participants in the competition, despite the rather weak phase in recent years.
List of posts
Color legend: - 1st place. - 2nd place. - 3rd place. - Equal points with last place. - Eliminated in the semifinals / in the qualification / in the Eastern European preliminary decision. - no participation / not qualified. - Cancellation of the Eurovision Song Contest.
year | Interpreter | Title Music (M) and Text (T) |
language | translation | final | Semi-final / qualification |
National preliminary decision |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
space | Points | space | Points | ||||||
1974 |
Marinella Μαρινέλλα |
Krasi, thalasa kai t'agori mou Κρασί, θάλασσα και τ 'αγόρι μου M: Giorgos Katsaros; T: Pythagoras |
Greek | The wine, the sea and my friend | 11/17 | 7th | Direct participation | internal selection | |
1975 | No participation | ||||||||
1976 |
Mariza Koch Μαρίζα Κώχ |
Panagia mou, Panagia mou Παναγιά μου, Παναγιά μου M: Mariza Koch; T: Michael Fotiades |
Greek | Mother of God, mother of God | 13/19 | 20th | Direct participation | internal selection | |
1977 |
Pascalis , Marianna , Robert & Bessy Πασχάλης, Μαριάννα, Ρόμπερτ & Μπέσυ |
Mathima solfège Μάθημα σολφέζ M: Giorgos Hatzinasios; T: Sevy Tilliaku |
Greek | Solfège sheet music lessons | 5/18 | 92 | internal selection | ||
1978 |
Tania Tsanaklidou Τάνια Τσανακλίδου |
Charlie Chaplin Τσάρλυ Τσάπλιν M: Sakis Tsilikis; T: Yannis Xanthulis |
Greek | Charlie Chaplin | 8/20 | 66 | internal selection | ||
1979 |
Elpida Ελπίδα |
Sokrati Σωκράτη M: Doros Georgiadis; T: Sotia Tsotu |
Greek | Socrates | 8/19 | 69 | Ellinikós Telikós 1979 | ||
1980 |
Anna Vissi & The Epikouri Άννα Βίσση & Οι Επίκουροι |
Autostop Ωτοστοπ M: Jick Nacassian; T: Rony Sofu |
Greek | Hitchhiking | 13/19 | 30th | Ellinikós Telikós 1980 | ||
1981 |
Yiannis Dimitras Γιάννης Δημητράς |
Feggari kalokerino Φεγγάρι καλοκαιρινό M: Giorgos Niarchos; T: Yiannis Dimitras |
Greek | Summer moon | 8/20 | 55 | internal selection | ||
1982 | Themis Adamantidis Θέμης Αδαμαντίδης |
Sarantapénte Kopeliés Σαρανταπέντε Κοπελιές M: George Katsaros; T: Dimitris Iatropoulos |
Greek | Forty-five girls |
Participation withdrawn song illegal |
internal selection | |||
1983 |
Christie Stasinopoulou Κρίστυ Στασινοπούλου |
Mou les Μου λες M: Antonis Plessas; T: Sofia Fildisi |
Greek | You tell me | 14/20 | 32 | Direct participation | Ellinikós Telikós 1983 | |
1984 |
Polina Πωλίνα Μισαηλίδου |
Wagon-lit Βαγκόν-Λί |
Greek | Sleeping car |
Participation withdrawn public holiday in Greece |
Ellinikós Telikós 1984 | |||
1985 |
Takis Biniaris Τάκης Μπινιάρης |
Miazoume Μοιάζουμε M: Takis Biniaris; T: Maro Bizani |
Greek | We are similar | 16/19 | 15th | Direct participation | internal selection | |
1986 | No participation | ||||||||
1987 | Bang |
Stop Στοπ M / T: Thanos Kalliris, Vassilis Dertillis |
Greek | stop | 10/22 | 64 | Direct participation | Ellinikós Telikós 1987 | |
1988 |
Afroditi Fryda Αφροδίτη Φρυδά |
Kloun Κλόουν M / T: Dimitris Sakislis |
Greek | clown | 17/21 | 10 | Ellinikós Telikós 1988 | ||
1989 |
Mariana Μαριάννα |
To thiko sou asteri Το δικό σου αστέρι M: Yannis Kyris, Mariana Efstratiou; T: Villy Sanianu |
Greek | Your own star | 9/22 | 56 | Ellinikós Telikós 1989 | ||
1990 |
Christos Callou & Wave Χρίστος Καλλόου & Wave |
Horis skopo Χωρίς σκοπό M: Yiorgos Palaiokastritis; T: Yiorgos Papayanakis |
Greek | For no reason | 19/22 | 11 | Ellinikós Telikós 1990 | ||
1991 |
Sophia Vossou Σοφία Βόσσου |
I anixi Η άνοιξη M / T: Andreas Mikroutsikos |
Greek | spring | 13/22 | 36 | Ellinikós Telikós 1991 | ||
1992 |
Cleopatra Κλεοπάτρα |
Olou tou kosmou i Elpida Ολου του κόσμου η Ελπίδα M / T: Hristos Lagos |
Greek | The hope of the whole world | 5/23 | 94 | internal selection | ||
1993 |
Keti Garbi Καίτη Γαρμπή |
Ellada, hora tou photos Ελλάδα, χώρα του φωτός M / T: Dimosthenis Stringlis |
Greek | Greece, land of light | 9/25 | 64 | internal selection | ||
1994 |
Costas Bigalis & The Sea Lovers Κώστας Μπίγαλης & The Sea Lovers |
To trehandiri Το τρεχαντήρι M / T: Costas Bigalis |
Greek | The Trehandiri | 14/25 | 44 | Qualified directly for the final | internal selection | |
1995 |
Elina Konstantopoulou Ελίνα Κωνσταντοπούλου |
Pia prosefhi Ποια προσευχή M: Nikos Terzis; T: Antonis Pappas |
Greek 1 | What prayer | 12/23 | 68 | internal selection | ||
1996 |
Mariana Efstratiou Μαριάννα Ευστρατίου |
Emis forame to heimona anoixiatika Εμείς φοράμε το χειμώνα ανοιξιάτικα M: Costas Bigalis; T: Iro Trigoni |
Greek | We wear spring clothes in winter | 14/23 | 36 | 12/29 | 45 | internal selection |
1997 |
Marianna Zorba Μαριάννα Ζορμπά |
Horepse Χόρεψε M / T: Manolis Manusselis |
Greek | dance | 12/25 | 39 | Qualified directly for the final | internal selection | |
1998 |
Thalassa Θάλασσα |
Mia krifi evesthisia Μια κρυφή ευαισθησία M: Yiannis Valvis; T: Yiannis Malachias |
Greek | A secret sensitivity | 20/25 | 12 | Ellinikós Telikós 1998 | ||
1999 | Not qualified | ||||||||
2000 | No participation | ||||||||
2001 | Antique |
(I Would) Die for You M: Nikos Terzis; T: Antonis Pappas |
English , Greek | (I would die for you | 3/23 | 147 | Qualified directly for the final | Ellinikós Telikós 2001 | |
2002 |
Michalis Rakintzis Μιχάλης Ρακιντζής |
SAGAPO M / T: Michalis Rakintzis |
English b. | I LOVE YOU | 17/24 | 27 | Ellinikós Telikós 2002 | ||
2003 |
Mando Μαντώ |
Never Let You Go M: Mando; T: Teri Siganos |
English | Never let you go | 17/26 | 25th | Ellinikós Telikós 2003 | ||
2004 |
Sakis Rouvas Σάκης Ρουβάς |
Shake It M: Nikos Terzis; T: Nektarios Tirakis |
English | Erbebe | 3/24 | 252 | 3/22 | 238 | internal selection |
2005 |
Elena Paparizou Έλενα Παπαρίζου |
My Number One M: Christos Dantis ; T: Natalia Germanou, C. Dantis |
English | My number one | 1 / 24th | 230 | Qualified directly for the final | Ellinikós Telikós 2005 | |
2006 |
Anna Vissi Άννα Βίσση |
Everything M: Nikos Karvelas ; T: Anna Vissi |
English | Everything | 9/24 | 128 | Ellinikós Telikós 2006 | ||
2007 |
Sarbel Σαρμπέλ |
Yassou Maria M: Alex Papakonstantinou, Marcus Englöf; T: Mack |
English | Hello Maria | 7/24 | 139 | Ellinikós Telikós 2007 | ||
2008 |
Kalomoira Καλομοίρα |
Secret Combination M: Konstantinos Pantzis; T: Poseidon Yannopoulos |
English | Secret combination | 3/25 | 218 | 1/19 | 156 | Ellinikós Telikós 2008 |
2009 |
Sakis Rouvas Σάκης Ρουβάς |
This Is Our Night M: Dimitris Kontopoulos; T: Craig Porteils, Cameron Giles-Webb |
English | This is our night | 7/25 | 120 | 4/19 | 110 | Ellinikós Telikós 2009 |
2010 |
Giorgos Alkeos Γιώργος Αλκαίος |
OPA ΟΠΑ M: Giorgos Alkeos; T: Giannis Antioniou & Friends |
Greek | Grandpa! (Greek exclamation) | 8/25 | 140 | 2/17 | 133 | Ellinikós Telikós 2010 |
2011 |
Loukas Viorkas feat. Stereo Mike Λούκας Γιώρκας feat. Stereo Mike |
Watch My Dance M / T: Giannis Christodoulopoulos, Eleana Vrahali |
Greek, English | See my dance! | 7/25 | 120 | 1/19 | 133 | Ellinikós Telikós 2011 |
2012 |
Eleftheria Eleftheriou Ελευθερία Ελευθερίου |
Aphrodisiac M / T: Dimítris Stássos, Mikaela Stenström, Dajana Lööf |
English | aphrodisiac | 17/26 | 64 | 4/18 | 116 | Ellinikós Telikós 2012 |
2013 |
Koza Mostra & Agathonas Iakovidis Κόζα Μόστρα & Αγάθωνας Ιακωβίδης |
Alcohol Is Free M: Elias Kozas; T: Stahis Pahidis |
Greek | Alcohol is free | 6/26 | 152 | 2/17 | 121 | Eurosong 2013 |
2014 | Freaky Fortune feat. Risky Kidd |
Rise Up M / T: Freaky Fortune, Risky Kidd |
English | Stand up | 20/26 | 35 | 7/15 | 74 | Eurosong 2014 |
2015 |
Maria Elena Kyriakou Μαρία Έλενα Κυριάκου |
One Last Breath M / T: Efthivoulos Theocharous, Maria Elena Kyriakou, Vaggelis Konstantinidis, Evelina Tziora |
English | One last breath | 19/27 | 23 | 6/16 | 81 | Eurosong 2015 |
2016 |
Argo Αργώ |
Utopian Land M / T: Vladimiros Sofianides |
Pontic , Greek, English |
Utopian land | Eliminated | 16/18 | 44 | internal selection | |
2017 | Demy |
This Is Love M: Dimitris Kontopoulos; T: John Ballard, Romy Papadea |
English | This is love | 19/26 | 77 | 10/18 | 115 | Ellinikós Telikós 2017 |
2018 |
Gianna Terzi Γιάννα Τερζή |
Oneiro Mou Όνειρο Mου M / T: Aris Kalimeris, Dimitris Stamatiou, Gianna Terzi, Mihalis Papathanasiou |
Greek | my dream | Eliminated | 14/19 | 81 | Ellinikós Telikós 2018 | |
2019 |
Katerine Duska Κατερίνα Ντούσκα |
Better Love M: Katerine Duska , Leon of Athens, David Sneddon; T: Katerine Duska , David Sneddon |
English | Better love | 21/26 | 74 | 5/17 | 185 | internal selection |
|
Stefania Στεφανία Λυμπεράκηn |
SUPERG! RL M: Dimitris Kontopoulos, Arcade; T: Dimitris Kontopoulos, Arcade, Sharon Vaughn |
English | - |
Cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic by the EBU |
internal selection | |||
2021 |
Stefania Στεφανία Λυμπεράκη |
internal selection |
National preliminary decisions
The majority of the Greek entries were determined through a national preliminary decision, mostly under the name Ellinikós Telikós . Only in the years 1974 to 1978, 1981, 1985, 1992 to 1997, 2004, 2016 and since 2018 were the contributions selected by broadcasters without preliminary selection. The selection process from 2004 is interesting in that an elaborate casting show first took place, the winner of which was Apostolos Psichramis. ERT then selected Sakis Rouvas internally; Psichramis took part in the Eurovision Song Contest as a background singer. A preliminary decision was planned for 2018, but it never took place because four out of five participants were disqualified.
1979, 1980, 1983, 1987, 1988, 2010 and 2011
In each of these years a "classic" preliminary decision took place: between six and ten candidates each presented a song. The winner was determined by a jury (mostly a mixture of laypeople and experts).
1989 to 1991
In 1989 and 1990 six, in 1991 ten singers took part in the preliminary round. The difference to previous preliminary decisions was that the songs were no longer presented live, but in the form of previously recorded video clips. A jury continued to vote.
1998
In 1998, the preliminary decision was particularly complex: In a total of eight preliminary rounds, three titles were presented, with the best qualifying for the final. For the first and only time, voting was carried out exclusively by televoting .
2001 to 2003
In 2001 nine, 2002 and 2003 ten artists each took part in the preliminary round and each presented one title. First, a jury selected a selection of titles for the final round, in which the winner was determined by televoting.
2005, 2006 and 2009
In 2005, 2006 and 2009 the Greek representatives were selected internally by the TV broadcaster ERT and then presented three or four titles in the preliminary round before a jury and televoting determined the winning song. The preliminary round was embedded in a large gala broadcast in which former Greek representatives appeared at the competition as well as representatives from other countries who had already voted.
2007
In 2007, too, the preliminary decision was embedded in a large gala broadcast; this time, however, three different artists each presented a title. The jury and televoting again voted.
2008
The Greek singer Kalomoira from the USA prevailed against Kostas Martakis and Chryspa during the Greek preliminary decision and took 3rd place in Belgrade.
2010
The Greek preliminary decision 2010 took place on March 12th and of the original nine participants, only seven finally took part. The winner was Giorgos Alkeos & Friends with OPA , which reached 8th place at the ESC.
2011
The preliminary decision in 2011 came under criticism mainly due to the poor production: poor lighting, lack of moderation skills on the part of the hostess and the lack of an audience were criticized. Loukas Viorkas and Stereo Mike won with Watch My Dance ahead of Nikki Ponte and four other competitors and came seventh in the international competition.
2012
Due to further budget cuts, the preliminary decision took place on March 12, 2012 on a small stage in the River West shopping center in Athens. Of the four participants, Eleftheria Eleftheriou was able to prevail and represented the country in Baku with the song Aphrodisiac , where she was 17th.
2013
The Greek preliminary round took place in Athens on February 18th. Koza Mostra feat. Agathonas prevailed against three Greek competitors with the song Alcohol Is Free .
2014 and 2015
In 2014 and 2015, the Greek preliminary decision took place, as in 2013, in cooperation with the private broadcaster and sponsor MAD TV. In 2014, not international ESC stars, but on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of Greece's first participation, former Greek representatives were to appear as guest artists. The show took place in Athens on March 11, 2014. For the anniversary of the first Greek ESC victory ten years earlier, Helena Paparizou appeared in the Greek preliminary decision in 2015 on March 4th.
2017
In 2017 the singer Demy was selected internally by ERT. However, your song was selected in a small preliminary decision. To this end, three titles were presented, all of which were composed by Dimitris Kontopoulos. Ultimately, the Greek audience chose the title This Is Love .
2018
In 2018 a classic preliminary round with five artists should take place. However, after four of the five participants were disqualified, Yianna Terzi automatically won the preliminary round. This means that the 2018 qualification never took place.
languages
In the first two years of free choice of language in which Greece participated, the contributions were presented entirely in Greek. In later years a tendency towards the international was evident; the titles of many contributions were understandable in almost all languages: Charlie Chaplin , Socrates , Autostop , Stop and Clown . The 1995 contribution was sung in ancient Greek . After the fall of the language rule, all songs were presented predominantly in English; In 2001 the text also contained the stanzas in Greek. In 2002 and 2007 there was a Greek word in the title line. In 2010, as in 2013, the songs were sung entirely in Greek, with the chorus consisting of the English title line in 2013. In 2011 a mix of English rap by Stereo Mike and Greek Rebetiko singing by Loukas Viorkas was used. Most of the contributions presented in Greek were also included in English; English-Greek versions of the 2003 and 2007 contributions were included. In 2010, Greek was sung again for the first time since 2002. In 2013, Greece put the title Alcohol Is Free in English, but the text is based solely on Greek except for the refrain. The 2016 contribution was sung in Greek and the Pontic dialect .
Competitions held
year | city | venue | Moderation |
---|---|---|---|
2006 | Athens | OAKA Olympic Indoor Hall | Maria Menounos & Sakis Rouvas |
Scoring
The following countries received the most points from or awarded the most points to Greece (as of 2019):
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Award of the highest rating
Since 1976, Greece has awarded the highest number of points to 19 different countries, including 18 times to the Republic of Cyprus. In the semifinals, on the other hand, Greece awarded the maximum number of points to seven different countries, ten of them to the Republic of Cyprus.
|
|
various
- In 2016, Greece failed to qualify for the final for the first time since the introduction of the qualification or the semi-finals.
- In 2013 the neighboring countries of Greece left or canceled their participation. Including Albania, Turkey and Cyprus, with which Greece ultimately gave the 12 points to favorite Azerbaijan, who finished in second place. Italy gave 7 points to Greece, the Greeks gave 6 points back to the Italians. Like last year, the Greeks were the first country to get the first 12 points: last year from Albania, this year from San Marino. At the same time they got the 12 points from Cyprus again in the last vote, when the winner Denmark was already determined.
- The singers Elpida and Anna Vissi competed for both Cyprus and Greece. Alexandros Panayi had already represented Cyprus three times before he volunteered as a background singer for the Greek representative in 2005.
- In 2014 Helena Paparizou, who won the Eurovision Song Contest for Greece in 2005, took part in the Swedish preliminary round and made it to the final. In the end, however, it was decided in favor of Sanna Nielsen with her song Undo.
- In 2015 Helena Paparizou announced the points from Greece. She won the Eurovision Song Contest for Greece in 2005.
- In 2007, 2009 and 2011, Greece achieved its only three 7th places, the latter two of which both had the same number of points.
- In 2014, for the first time since the introduction of the semi-finals, there were no points for Greece from Cyprus, as Cyprus canceled the Eurovision Song Contest for financial reasons. Five months later, Cyprus announced that they would be participating again in 2015.
- In 2015, for the first time since the introduction of the semi-finals, Greece did not award Cyprus the maximum number of 12 points, but only 10 points. Again Greece only got 8 points from Cyprus. In 2015, Greece awarded the highest number of points to Italy, which achieved 3rd place with 292 points. Greece finished 19th out of 27 countries with 23 points.
Impressions
Sound carrier
In 2006 Sony Music - BMG (Greece) released the double CD Eurosongs , which contains all 26 Greek contributions to the Song Contest from 1974 to 2005 in their original version.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Jan Feddersen: A song can be a bridge . Hoffmann and Campe, 2002, p. 196
- ↑ Edwin Van Gorp: Sakis Rouvas will represent Greece ( English ) In: Esctoday.com . March 15, 2004. Retrieved December 28, 2011.
- ↑ eurofire.blog.de ( Memento of the original from February 27, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ diggiloo.net