Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest

This article deals with the history of Greece as participants in the Euro Vision Song Contest.

Regularity of participation

Greece took in 1974 for the first time at the Euro Vision Song Contest, but continued in 1975, when Turkey made ​​its debut, and did not return until the following year for competition. 1982 renounced Greece again to participate: Melina Mercouri, who had recently become Minister of Culture in their home country, forbade the Greek TV station participation; competition is not high quality enough that it would act as a forum for the Greek music scene. Despite the return in 1983, the country took in 1984 and in 1986 again. 1999 Greece fell for the first and only time the relegation victim and could not submit a contribution; a year later was voluntarily waived participation.

Success in competition

In the first two participations Greece had little success, but was able to get 1977 to 1979 three placings in the top ten. In subsequent years, the country was swaying and had successfully from 1994, a rather weak phase, which was broken in 2001 by the group Antique, with the third place went to the hitherto best score ( I would ) Die for you. Since the introduction of the semi-finals in 2004 Greece was very successful and was next to Malta ( 1991-1998 ) eight times in a row are the only country in the top ten. History's only victory scored Elena Paparizou My number one 2005 in Kiev, but only got 230 of 456 possible points, with 39 participating nations, with Greece was not allowed to vote for themselves.

List of posts

Color legend: - Victories. - A tie to the last place. - Contributions finals.

National preliminary decisions

In many years, the Greek contributions without preliminaries were selected from broadcasting: 1974, 1976-1978, 1981, 1982, 1992-1997 and 2004, the latter case is interesting because initially held an elaborate talent show whose winner Apostolos Psichramis was. . But ERT chose Sakis Rouvas from then internally; Psichramis participated as a background singer at the Euro Vision Song Contest.

1979, 1980, 1983, 1987, 1988, 2010 and 2011

In these years each, a " classical " preliminary round took place: Between six and ten candidates each had a song before. The winner was determined (usually mixed from laymen and experts) by a jury.

1989-1991

1989 and 1990 took six, in 1991 ten singers in the preliminary part. The difference to earlier preliminary rounds was that the songs were not presented live but in the form of pre-recorded video clips. Matched continues to have a jury.

1998

1998, the preliminary decision was particularly complex: In a total of eight preliminary rounds three titles were ever imagined, with each of the best qualified for the final. Was voted for the first and only time exclusively by televoting.

2001-2003

2001, nine in 2002 and 2003, ten artists participate in the preliminary round and each had a title before. First, a jury chose a selection of songs in the final round, in which the winner was determined by televoting.

2005, 2006 and 2009

2005, 2006 and 2009, the Greek representatives was selected internally by the broadcaster ERT and then presented in the preliminary round three or four titles before before a jury and televoting determined the winning song. The preliminary round was each embedded in a grand gala show in which former Greek representative at the competition occurred as well as the representatives of other countries that had already been selected.

2007

In 2007, the preliminary decision was embedded in a grand gala show; This time, however, three different artists each had a title before. Was retuned by jury and televoting.

2008

Originally from the U.S. Greek singer Kalomoira prevailed during the Greek Kostas Martakis and preliminary decision against Chryspa and took 3rd place in Belgrade.

2010

The Greek decider in 2010 took place on 12 March and from original nine participants were only seven at the end. Winners were Alkeos Giorgos & Friends OPA, which reached number 8 on the ESC.

2011

The preliminary decision in 2011 was mainly due to the poor production in the criticism: poor illumination, lack of facilitation skills at the hostess and the lack of an audience were criticized. Giorkas Loukas and Stereo Mike Watch My Dance won with before Nikki Ponte and four other competitors in the international competition and were seventh.

2012

Due to further budget cuts in the preliminary round took place on a small stage in the River West shopping center in Athens on 12 March 2012. Of the four participants, Eleftheria Eleftheriou was able to prevail and represented the country in Baku with the song Aphrodisiac, where she was 17.

2013

The Greek preliminary round was held in Athens on 18 February. Koza Mostra feat. Agathonas sat down with the song Alcohol is Free through against three Greek competitors.

2014

2014 finds the Greek preliminary decision as already back in 2013 in collaboration with the private station and sponsor MAD TV. This year should not international ESC stars but former Greek representatives occur on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of Greece's first participation as a guest artist, including the first representative from 1974, Marinella. The show is expected to take place in Athens on March 4.

Languages

In the first two years of free voice dialing, in which Greece participated, the contributions were presented entirely in Greek. In later years a slope to the International was recognized; the title of many contributions were evident in almost all languages: Charlie Chaplin, Socrates, car stop, stop and clown. After the fall of the voice control all the songs were presented mainly in English; 2001, the text also contained the verses in Greek. 2002 and 2007, a Greek word was included in the title bar of each. In 2010, as in 2013 completely sung in Greek, with 2013, the chorus from the English title was. 2011 was a mix of English Rap by Stereo Mike and Greek rebetiko song Loukas Giorkas application. Furthermore, English versions have been recorded by most featured on Greek contributions; of the contributions in 2003 and 2007 English - Greek versions were recorded. 2010, the first time was sung again in Greek since 2002. 2013 is Greece, entitled " Alcohol is Free " in English, the text based but only in Greek except for the chorus.

Miscellaneous

• Since the widespread introduction of televoting in 1998, Greece and Cyprus, where the two countries came together, always given the twelve points each. 1998, for example, got Greece from Cyprus 12 points - the only of the evening.
• 2013 resigned from the neighboring countries of Greece or have canceled their participation. Including Albania, Turkey and Cyprus, which ultimately Greece 12 points to Azerbaijan was a favorite, who finished 2nd place at the end. 7 points gave Italy to Greece, the Greeks gave 6 points back to the Italians. The Greeks were like last year, the first country that got the first 12 points: In the last year of Albania, this year in San Marino. At the same time they were also given at the last vote, as the winner of Denmark already chosen, again the 12 points from Cyprus.
• The singers Elpida and Anna Vissi appeared to both Cyprus and Greece. Alexandros Panayi had already represented Cyprus three times before he turned in 2005 ready for the Greek representative as a background singer.