It’s Official: “Crystal Waters” tops Spotify’s Viral Top 50 in Greece!

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Maria Pissarides and her song Crystal Waters, which represented Cyprus in Junior Eurovision 2024, have achieved an unprecedented viral success. The song has climbed to the top of Spotify’s Viral Top 50 in Greece, surpassing renowned artists like Sicario and The Weeknd!

Despite not securing a high placement in the competition as initially expected, Crystal Waters has become a sensation in recent days. Hundreds of social media users are singing its catchy refrain: Ti na sou protopo? (What should I tell you first?).

The song reached the second spot on November 19 and, as of today, November 20, sits proudly at number one. It’s safe to say that this is the most significant achievement for a Junior Eurovision song in Greece. What makes Maria Pissarides’s accomplishment even more remarkable is that Greece neither participates in nor broadcasts the contest.

The song’s infectious melody and lyrics have captivated Greek listeners, who are humming it everywhere, often unaware that it’s Cyprus’s entry in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest!

Let’s not forget that 11-year-old Maria Pissarides and Crystal Waters placed 13th out of 17 entries in Junior Eurovision 2024, held in Madrid on Saturday, November 16.

Could the massive success of this song prompt CyBC to continue participating in the competition? Could it even encourage ERT to reconsider its stance and return to Junior Eurovision? Only time will tell. Until then, keep singing about the crystal waters of Cyprus!

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Marina Satti on the yawn incident: “The answer given regarding safety did not satisfy me”

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Marina Satti gave her first television interview following Eurovision 2024, where she achieved 11th place for Greece with her song ZARI. She appeared on MEGA’s The Big Picture with Niki Lymberaki. As expected, Marina was asked about the infamous yawn during the press conference after the Second Semi-Final, which occurred while Israel’s representative, Eden Golan, was speaking.

Addressing the Incident

Marina Satti reflected on the controversial moment, admitting she never anticipated that it would gain such widespread attention, something she only realized the following day.

Without offering a definitive explanation, Satti clarified once again that her yawn was unrelated to the ongoing events in Gaza or her personal views on the matter. She elaborated that, at the moment of her yawn, a response was being given (presumably by Eden, though she did not name her) regarding the safety of artists in the competition. According to Satti, this response did not satisfy her.

“I could have been smarter and more cautious… A very specific question was posed at that time by a journalist. It was about safety. The response given did not satisfy me. Backstage, there was military presence and security personnel. I can’t know all the details, but the atmosphere was tense. I would not have addressed the issue (regarding Gaza) in that way. I don’t want my words or actions to be misinterpreted. I should have been more cautious.”

Does She Regret It?

When asked by Niki Lymberaki whether she regrets the incident, Satti appeared to have mixed feelings:

“I can’t say whether I regret it. It was a very honest reaction on my part. I regret and feel sorry for all those around me whom I may have inconvenienced, people who supported and trusted me.”

Her Position on the Middle East Crisis

Finally, when asked about her stance on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Marina Satti expressed a universal sentiment:

“My opinion is that I don’t want people to die, to be kidnapped, or for blood to be shed. That’s the view of any human being. Who wants people, especially children, to die?”

What do you think of Marina Satti’s comments on one of the most talked-about incidents of this year’s Eurovision? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the latest updates!

ERT National Final for Eurovision 2025: The Big Night on Wednesday January 29!

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ERT has officially announced that the national final to select Greece’s entry for Eurovision 2025 will take place on WednesdayJanuary 29 2025. This highly anticipated event is set to be one of the most significant music happenings of the year, capturing the attention of both local and international fans. For the first time in 22 years, Greece will choose its Eurovision entry through an open national final!

Twelve Songs, One Mission

Twelve songs will compete in the national final, selected by a special ERT committee from a record-breaking 187 submissions by artists from various musical genres. The finalists will be announced soon, building excitement and anticipation for the big night.

Public Vote, International, and Greek Jury

For the first time, the voting process will include contributions from the public as well as an international jury, creating a more balanced and representative outcome. Fans will have the chance to support their favorite songs, while experts will offer their insights to help determine the best choice. Additionally, a Greek jury of professionals will also contribute to the decision. Each jury will hold 25% of the final result, with the public vote accounting for the remaining 50%.

A National Final to Set New Standards

The production of the national final promises a spectacular stage and outstanding performances, blending Greek identity with international standards. ERT aims to deliver an entry that will stand out on the Eurovision stage in Basel, Switzerland, in May 2025, bringing Greece as high as possible on the scoreboard.

Stay Tuned

The official announcement of the finalists, along with more details about the voting process and the event’s hosts, is expected in the coming weeks.

Mark the date: Wednesday January 29 2025. Greece is ready to choose the song that will represent the country at Eurovision 2025, with high hopes and big dreams.

Stay connected with Eurovisionfun for all the latest updates!

Source: ERT

BREAKING NEWS: ERT announces record-breaking 187 song submissions for Greece’s Eurovision 2025 national final

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Earlier today, ERT announced that a total of 187 songs were submitted by an equal number of artists for Greece’s national selection for Eurovision 2025, marking a record number for the country. The strong participation from Greek artists and creators reflects the growing popularity of the contest and the high level of interest from both emerging and established artists who are eager to represent Greece on the Eurovision stage.

The submitted songs cover a wide range of musical genres and styles, from traditional and folk sounds to modern pop, rock, and dance tracks, showcasing the diversity of both the contemporary Greek and international music scenes. Greece’s Eurovision representative will be chosen through a national final, featuring the top 12 selected songs. The final participants will be announced at a later date by a designated committee formed by ERT specifically for this purpose.

ERT’s goal for Eurovision 2025 is to deliver an outstanding artistic performance that combines Greek identity with international appeal. The selection process will involve a jury panel made up of music industry experts, as well as the public, which will also play an important role in the final decision. For the first time in ERT’s history of national selections, the jury will consist of both Greek and international members, aiming to bring greater representation and impartiality to the final result.

The Candidates for Greece’s National | Who Will Represent Greece at Eurovision 2025?

Greece aims to build on past successes and achieve a high ranking in Eurovision 2025. ERT’s announcement confirms that Eurovision remains one of the most beloved music events for Greek audiences and that Greek artists are ready to showcase original creations with global potential.

The official date of the national final and details about the contestants are expected to be released soon by ERT, as the public eagerly awaits the reveal of the songs competing for Greece’s spot in Eurovision 2025.

In the meantime, you can watch a video featuring some of the known contestants so far:

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Source: ERT

The Candidates for Greece’s National | Who Will Represent Greece at Eurovision 2025?

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The submission period for entries to Greece’s national selection for Eurovision 2025 has officially closed. This year’s candidates span a mix of well-known and emerging artists, including performers from abroad, bands, duos, and solo acts, representing a wide range of musical genres.

Under the direction of Katerina Kaskanioti, ERT has decided to hold an open national selection for the first time in 22 years, giving a wide range of artists the chance to vie for the opportunity to represent Greece in Basel. Although the exact number of submissions is still unknown, estimates suggest between 150 and 200 entries—a big number, particularly given ERT’s rigorous submission criteria (each artist may submit only one song, and each songwriter or team of songwriters is limited to a maximum of two entries).

Eurovisionfun has covered many of the participating artists in detail, with an extensive list of confirmed names that have officially submitted their entries.

Here is the list of the names of the artists we know have submitted entries:

  1. Maree Mamalis
  2. Ariadne
  3. Desi G
  4. Daphne Kritharas
  5. Horostalites
  6. Nafsica
  7. Dorothea Papadaki 
  8. Dinamiss
  9. Vasilis Kourtis 
  10. Angelos Archaniotakis 
  11. Vassy
  12. Evangelia
  13. Andry Lagiou
  14. Giannis Hatzigeorgiou /Substance
  15. Tasos Xiarcho 
  16. Leonidas Pantelakis 
  17. Antigoni 
  18. Dollessi
  19. Kara Marni
  20. Thanos Lampou 
  21. Onemanshow
  22. Tales of June
  23. Eva Som
  24. Artemis Kyriakopoulou 
  25. Nassauce
  26. Hristiana Sioka 
  27. Anna Katsouli 
  28. Pantelis Kastanidis 
  29. Konstantina Iosifidou 
  30. Kalli Georgeli
  31. Barbara Argyrou (BARBZ)
  32. Leea Nanos
  33. Daphne Lawrence
  34. Danai Nielsen
  35. Nikos Ganos
  36. Klavdia
  37. Irini Perikleous
  38. Karafotis/ Christoforou 
  39. Agiaz 
  40. Dionysis Kostis
  41. Melissa Kyriakou 
  42. Nick dino
  43. Drew melano
  44. Anis/ Kapetanakis
  45. Nassauce
  46. Artemis Matafia 
  47. Kalais/Vlaseros
  48. BLΛCKBIRD
  49. Diana saakian
  50. Giannis Moraitis 
  51. Marilena
  52. Emmanouela Houli 
  53. Othon Metaxas 
  54. Lenia Razi 
  55. SOUL
  56. Stylianos Thomadakis
  57. Panagiotis Tsakalakos
  58. Salina Gavala ft Tsiak
  59. Konstantinos Frantzis 
  60. Stavros Salabasopoulos

What comes next?

A committee appointed by ERT will review the submitted entries and select up to 12 songs to compete in the national final. To ensure fairness and prevent any external influence, the identities of the jury members will remain confidential until after the national final.

ERT will soon announce the venue and date for the national final, where the winning act will be chosen through a combined vote by the public and two juries—one domestic and one international—each contributing 50% to the final outcome.

Eurovisionfun: The Heart of Greece’s Eurovision Community

As Greece’s hub for Eurovision news, Eurovisionfun is grateful to the many artists who trusted us to announce their participation. This outpouring of support highlights the music community’s appreciation of our commitment to Eurovision in Greece. We are honored by the messages flooding in from both familiar and new artists over the past few days.

This dedication from artists and fans alike drives us to keep delivering prompt, reliable updates on every part of Greece’s Eurovision journey. Eurovisionfun is honored to be the go-to platform for Greek Eurovision enthusiasts, offering a space to share news, insights, and excitement. We wish all participants the best of luck and look forward to hearing the songs that will compete for the chance to represent Greece in Basel.

For all the updates, follow us on Instagram.

Stay with Eurovisionfun for all the latest news and developments!

Any reproduction of this article, in whole or in part, is not allowed without proper attribution and a direct link to the original source.

 

Greece: Rules Guide | The Selection Process for the Greek Participation in Eurovision 2025!

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The selection process of the song that will represent Greece at the 69th Eurovision Song Contest was announced and consists of two evaluation phases. ERT, the national broadcaster of the country, determined certain rules in favour of the trasparency and impartiality of the procedure. Below we present you the most pivotal elements of the rules contained in 13 pages as they were publiced by ERT.

Evaluation Phase A’

  1. Submission and initial evaluation of the songs: The songs that will be submitted in due time and meet the appropriate specifications will be evaluated by the Committee of Phase A’. This committee will be composed at least of five members with proven experience and status at the music and show industry. The committe will not be aware of the names of composers and the artists during the evaluation, and will choose up to 12 songs that will be advanced to the National  Final, based on criteria such as the lyrics, the music and the performance. Furthermore, three back-up songs will be chosen.
  2. Qualifiers announcment: ERT, at its own discretion, will announce the songs and the composers that will participate in the National Final. The evaluation order of the songs is not going to be revealed. Changes in the mixing and the production of the qualified songs are allowed, but will be limited, until the date set by ERT. The release of any promotional content (video-clips) prior to the Final is forbidden, and there will be disqualification in case of breaching.

Evaluation Phase B’ (National Final)

  1. Conduct of the National Final: The National Final will take place on a date to be announced by ERT and will be broadcast live on its media. Up to twelve (12) songs will participate in the Final, which will be performed live with a background phonogram (music playback). The running order of the songs will be determined by draw.
  2. Song Selection Voting: The song that will represent Greece at Eurovision will be chosen by a combination of the public vote and two Jury Committees (one Greek and one international), as per below:
    • Public vote (50% of final score):  The public will be able to vote for their favorite song either by phone calls or by sending text messages (SMS). The distribution of points will be as per below:
      • The song with the most votes will receive 24 points.
      • The second will receive 20 points, the third 16 points, and the remaining points are distributed as follows: 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4 and 2 points for the following positions (up to tenth).
      • The last two songs will receive no points.
    • Voting of the two Jury Committees (50% of the final score): Each committee will consist of at least five (5) members with recognized experience in the music field, who may come from Greece or abroad. Each committee will score the songs as follows:
      • The first song will receive 12 points.
      • The second 10 points, the third 8 points, and the scoring will continue with 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 point for the following places (up to tenth).
      • The last two songs will receive no points.
  3. Tie: In case of a tie in the overall score, the winner will be the song that received the most points from the audience. If televoting is deemed invalid for any reason, the song will be selected based on the vote of the two Judging Panels. In case of a tie between the committees, the song that received the most votes from the Greek committee will be declared the winner.
  4. Limitations on Public Appearences: For the sake of equal visibility, the artists and creators of the songs participating in the National Final are not allowed to appear in media other than ERT media until the Final is held. In case of violation of this rule, ERT reserves the right to disqualify them.

To complete the selection process of the Greek Eurovision entry, ERT ensures that all evaluation and voting stages are carried out impartially and transparently. The strict rules that determine the procedures, from the initial selection of the songs to the final vote of the public and the committees, ensure the equal treatment of all candidates and the objective selection of the song that will represent Greece in the international competition. In this way, ERT seeks a fair and reliable process that will bring out the best possible participation for the country.

ERT Kicks Off Eurovision 2025: National Final Regulations and Key Dates Revealed

Source: ΕΡΤ

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ERT Kicks Off Eurovision 2025: National Final Regulations and Key Dates Revealed

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ERT has just published the detailed regulations for the organization of the Eurovision 2025 national final, through which the artist and the song that will represent our country in the competition will be selected. The regulations describe the entire process in detail, while the submission of entries has also begun and will continue until on Sunday, November 11th.

The national final will take place in a single competitive night, on a date to be announced soon. The result will be decided equally by the television audience and the jury, with a 50-50 ratio. Up to 12 artists will compete in the final, while three reserve entries will also be selected in case one of the finalists withdraws or is disqualified. Both a Greek and an international jury will participate in the final.

Submission Details

Eligible to submit entries are performers who are Greek citizens, those who reside permanently in the country, or those who have at least one parent of Greek origin. There are no restrictions for songwriters, as they can come from any country.

Submission of entries will last until 10/11. In order to submit their proposals, ERT has created a platform where artists must upload, together with their song, a photo of themselves, a short biography, the details of the creators of their songs, as well as the translation of the lyrics, if they are not in Greek . The songs can be in Greek or English.

The songs must be original, not commercially released, and must not have been submitted to any other country for Eurovision 2025.

Participants agree to abide by the contest rules as posted on the official EBU website. Naturally, the same rules that apply to the Eurovision contest apply here as well (maximum song duration of 3 minutes, up to 6 people on stage, etc.).

Each performer may submit only one song, while each songwriter or songwriting team may submit up to two.

National Final Timeline

  • Until 10/11: Submission of entries
  • Immediately after: A jury appointed by ERT will select up to 12 songs to compete in the national final
  • By the end of 2024: The 12 finalists will be presented to the public in a special broadcast
  • The songs will be presented to public via special tv shows.
  • The national final will take place live, with both the public and the jury (Greek and international) selecting the winner with a 50-50 ratio.

Interested parties can submit their entries, along with all the required supporting materials, to ERT’s platform HERE

The detailed invitation with the regulations is available HERE.

As always, Eurovisionfun will closely follow the process and keep you informed of any updates. Stay tuned here!

Greece: Sakis Rouvas will be the host of the national final

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According to a recent report by journalist Alexis Michas on the ANT1 show Weekenders, Sakis Rouvas will be the host of the Greek national final for Eurovision 2025, organized by ERT. This exciting news has thrilled Eurovision fans, as Rouvas has a longstanding connection to the contest, both as an artist and as a presenter.

Sakis Rouvas’ Eurovision Experience

Sakis Rouvas is no stranger to the Eurovision stage. He represented Greece twice, in 2004 with the song “Shake It”, securing 3rd place, and again in 2009 with “This Is Our Night”, where he finished 7th. Additionally, he co-hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in Athens in 2006, following Greece’s victory with “My Number One”. Given his extensive background with the event, Rouvas’ selection as host of the 2025 national final has heightened expectations for an impressive show.

National Final and Open Call for Artists

In parallel, the official decision by ERT’s Board of Directors regarding the national selection process has already been published on the public transparency platform Diavgeia. According to this decision, Greece’s artist and song for Eurovision 2025 will be chosen through an open national final, inviting artists and composers from all over the country to submit their proposals. This transparent and inclusive process is expected to attract a wide range of talented candidates from the Greek music industry.

Official Contest Details Coming Soon

The detailed announcement regarding the competition and submission guidelines is expected to be made in the coming days. This upcoming reveal has sparked considerable interest and excitement within the Greek music community and among Eurovision fans, who are eagerly awaiting the names of the contestants and the format of the national final.

Looking Ahead to Eurovision 2025

With Sakis Rouvas returning as host, the organization of ERT’s national final for Eurovision 2025 is set to be ambitious and spectacular. Greece’s entry will be decided through a transparent and open process, and the audience is in for one of the most highly anticipated television events of the year, with Rouvas bringing his experience and charisma to the stage.

As the countdown to Eurovision 2025 begins, and with the national final just around the corner, expectations are high for yet another successful participation by Greece in the contest.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Breaking News: ERT has started the process for the national final!

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A few minutes ago, the decision of the ERT Board of Directors regarding the organization of a national final to select the artist and song that will represent the country in Eurovision 2025 was posted on “Diavgeia.” The decision was unanimous and follows the announcements made by the company’s CEO about holding an open national final with an invitation to all interested parties, after 22 whole years!

The ERT Board of Directors has officially decided that Greece’s representative for the 69th Eurovision Song Contest will be selected through a national final. The company’s Board unanimously decided to proceed with the national final, authorizing the CEO to sign the contract, presumably with a production company, for this purpose.

We now expect, within hours or by Monday at the latest, details about the national final, including the rules and the beginning of song submissions.

You can view the relevant document on Diavgeia HERE.

Eurovisionfun will, of course, monitor the developments and keep you informed with the latest updates.

Stay consistently tuned to Eurovisionfun!

Eden Golan’s Best Wishes to Marina Satti and Bambie Thug

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Shortly after her appearance at the United Nations headquarters and Central Park in New York, marking one year since the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, Eden Golan gave an interesting interview to Hollywood Reporter. The Israeli singer spoke about her Eurovision experience, the overwhelming support she received during the televote, and shared her feelings about Marina Satti and Bambie Thug, who both showed hostility toward her in their own way during the competition.

As you will see in her response regarding Marina Satti and Bambie Thug, Eden Golan holds no grudges and wishes them the best. She expressed her desire to completely leave behind everything she experienced in Malmö.

“Good luck. I hope all their dreams come true. I pray. I pray for them. I pray for them to have a good life and be happy.”

Following the release of her new song and her performance of October Rain at the UN and Central Park, Eden remains in the U.S., where she is planning her next professional steps.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Source: Hollywoodreporter