Cyprus Join the Party

Cyprus have today confirmed their participation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2017 bringing the total number of participating countries, and countries to express provisional interest, up to twenty-two so far. The announcement comes a matter of days after Cyprus’ national broadcasters CyBC also confirmed their presence in the 14th edition of the Junior contest taking place this November following a one year absence.

In Stockholm earlier this year Cyprus finished in 21st place with the song ‘Alter Ego’ performed by Minus One. The song was penned by Sweden’s Thomas G:Son, the man behind seventy-five Eurovision national final entries (forty three of which were for Sweden) and the 2012 winning song ‘Euphoria’. In an interview with SAS earlier this year G:Son advised “the trick is not to think, or to try not to think about not thinking” when discussing his tips on how to write an international hit.

Although this was G:Son’s first time behind the Cypriot entry, the south European island have appeared in thirty-three contests and twenty-seven finals; their best results in 1982, 1997, and 2004 when the country finished fifth place. Cyprus first participated in 1981 with the group Island performing ‘Monika’.