Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest 2019

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Eurovision Song Contest 2019
CountryFlag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus
National selection
Selection processInternal selection
Selection date(s)21 December 2018
Selected entrant Tamta
Selected song"Replay"
Selected songwriter(s)
Finals performance
Semi-final resultQualified (9th, 149 points)
Final result13th, 109 points
Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest
◄201820192020►

Cyprus participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 with the song "Replay" written by Alex Papaconstantinou, Teddy Sky, Viktor Svensson, Albin Nedler, and Kristoffer Fogelmark. The song was performed by Georgian-Greek singer Tamta.

Contents

Background

Prior to the 2019 contest, Cyprus had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest thirty-five times since the island country made their debut in the 1981 contest. [1] Their best placing to this point was second, in the previous year's contest with the song " Fuego " performed by Eleni Foureira. [1] Cyprus' least successful result was in 1986 when it placed last with the song "Tora zo" by Elpida, receiving only four points in total. [1] However, its worst finish in terms of points received was when it placed second to last in the 1999 contest with "Tha'nai erotas" by Marlain Angelidou, receiving only two points. [1] After returning to the contest in 2015 following their one-year absence from the 2014 edition due to the 2012–13 Cypriot financial crisis and the broadcaster's budget restrictions, [2] Cyprus has managed to qualify for the grand final in all of the contests in which they have participated. [1]

The Cypriot national broadcaster, Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC), broadcasts the event within Cyprus and organises the selection process for the nation's entry. CyBC confirmed their intentions to participate at the Eurovision Song Contest 2018 on 22 August 2017. [3] Cyprus has used various methods to select the Cypriot entry in the past, such as internal selections and televised national finals to choose the performer, song or both to compete at Eurovision. In 2015, the broadcaster organised the national final Eurovision Song Project, which featured 54 songs competing in a nine-week-long process resulting in the selection of the Cypriot entry through the combination of public televoting and the votes from an expert jury. However, since 2016, CyBC has opted to select the artist and song internally. [4]

Before Eurovision

Internal selection

On 21 December 2018, it was announced by CyBC that Greek-Georgian singer Tamta would represent the country with the song "Replay", which would be presented in February 2019. [5] Tamta had attempted to enter Eurovision in 2007 with the song "With Love" but placed third in the Greek national final. She also approached Greek broadcaster ERT to represent Greece since 2010, but ERT declined the offer. [5] She was also rumored to be the Cypriot representative for 2018, but later declined because of prior commitments. CyBC, in collaboration with label Minos-EMI/Universal, initially planned to host the show Eurovision Cocktail Party on 5 March for the presentation of the Cypriot entry, however, it was instead presented during a newscast on CyBC on 5 March. [6] Nevertheless, Eurovision Cocktail Party was still aired, but later on 2 April 2019.

At Eurovision

The Eurovision Song Contest 2019 took place at Expo Tel Aviv in Tel Aviv, Israel. It consisted of two semi-finals held on 14 and 16 May, respectively, and the grand final on 18 May 2019. [7] According to Eurovision rules, all nations with the exceptions of the host country and the "Big Five", consisting of France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom, are required to qualify from one of two semi-finals in order to compete for the final; the top ten countries from each semi-final progress to the final. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) split up the competing countries into six different pots based on voting patterns from previous contests, with countries with favourable voting histories put into the same pot. On 28 January 2019, a special allocation draw was held which placed each country into one of the two semi-finals, as well as which half of the show they would perform in. Cyprus was placed into the first semi-final, to be held on 14 May 2019, and was scheduled to perform in the first half of the show. [8]

Once all the competing songs for the 2019 contest had been released, the running order for the semi-finals was decided by the shows' producers rather than through another draw, so that similar songs were not placed next to each other. Cyprus was set to perform in position 1, preceding the entry from Montenegro. [9]

Semi-final

Tamta performing "Replay" in the semi-final on 14 May 2019. Tamta at the Eurovision 2019 - Cyprus 05.jpg
Tamta performing "Replay" in the semi-final on 14 May 2019.

Cyprus opened the first semi-final, preceding Montenegro. At the end of the show, they were announced as one of the ten countries who qualified for the final. It was later revealed that Cyprus placed ninth in the semi-final, receiving a total of 149 points: 54 points from the televoting and 95 points from the juries.

Voting

Voting during the three shows involved each country awarding two sets of points from 1-8, 10 and 12: one from their professional jury and the other from televoting. Each nation's jury consisted of five music industry professionals who are citizens of the country they represent, with their names published before the contest to ensure transparency. This jury judged each entry based on: vocal capacity; the stage performance; the song's composition and originality; and the overall impression by the act. In addition, no member of a national jury was permitted to be related in any way to any of the competing acts in such a way that they cannot vote impartially and independently. The individual rankings of each jury member as well as the nation's televoting results will be released shortly after the grand final. [10]

The audience audibly booed Cyprus awarding Greece the maximum twelve points. [11]

Points awarded to Cyprus

Points awarded by Cyprus

Detailed voting results

The following members composed the Cypriot jury: [10]

  • Despo Karpi (jury chairperson) senior officeer CyBC
  • Christos Panayioti Pieri (DJ Chris P) radio producer, DJ
  • Lisa Tsangaridou ballet teacher, choreographer
  • Stefanos Andreas Arestis musician
  • Andrie Michael Daniel journalist, editor in chief
Detailed voting results from Cyprus (Semi-final 1) [12]
DrawCountryJuryTelevote
DJ Chris PD. KarpiL. TsangaridouS.A. ArestisA.M. DanielRankPointsRankPoints
01Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus
02Flag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro 46111257416
03Flag of Finland.svg  Finland 613148141315
04Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 5141615131512
05Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 311310126513
06Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 1131071010192
07Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 151271691414
08Flag of Belarus.svg  Belarus 1316155161656
09Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia 1275645665
10Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 28134321083
11Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia 14493747210
12Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 921211151174
13Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland 161562238101
14Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia 81049111247
15Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 10921388311
16Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 11111112112
17Flag of San Marino.svg  San Marino 7581469238
Detailed voting results from Cyprus (Final) [13]
DrawCountryJuryTelevote
DJ Chris PD. KarpiL. TsangaridouS.A. ArestisA.M. DanielRankPointsRankPoints
01Flag of Malta.svg  Malta 84810158314
02Flag of Albania.svg  Albania 141461639223
03Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 16192519162116
04Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 21241524222525
05Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 12412210210
06Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 22231420212220
07Flag of San Marino.svg  San Marino 751025141222
08Flag of North Macedonia.svg  North Macedonia 961115131321
09Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 31031194711
10Flag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 24212017172319
11Flag of Cyprus.svg  Cyprus
12Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 101112456556
13Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 21221112112
14Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 2582322251965
15Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 18172162417101
16Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 20251318232024
17Flag of Iceland.svg  Iceland 132018371112
18Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia 17182423192413
19Flag of Belarus.svg  Belarus 1922228201815
20Flag of Azerbaijan.svg  Azerbaijan 675965617
21Flag of France.svg  France 23395187483
22Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 49114123838
23Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia 1215191281618
24Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland 1116713410147
25Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 1513167101592
26Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 5121721111474

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