We received the sad news that today, Greek musician Agathonas Iakovidis passed away. In 2013, Iakovidis represented Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest as a member of the group Koza Mostra. They sang the song “Alcohol is free” and reached the 6th place.
Agathonas Iakovidis was born in Evangelismos, in the northern part of Greece. He began a musical carreer in 1973, after he learned to play a lot of instruments, especially some traditional Greek instruments like the oud and the bouzouki. In 1977 he started playing in a the Rebetiko Band of Thessaloniki and recorded two albums with them. He lived in Athens for years and worked with a lot of folk music artists there. Since 1987 his musical base is Thessaloniki.
Agathanos Iakovidis died in his sleep tonight after a heart attack. He was 65 years old.
🇫🇷 artist: Monroe will represent France with “Regarde!”
Monroe will represent France at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026. France Télévisions announced on Friday 6 March that the 17-year-old singer has been selected for Vienna with the song Regarde !. The title translates as “Look!” and is presented as a song with a universal message about love. According to the official announcement, France wants to highlight the richness of its musical culture through this entry, combining elements of opera, musicals and contemporary pop. Regarde ! was composed by Fred Savio, Fredie Marche and Violin Phonix. Eurovision’s official website describes Violin Phonix as the most popular French violin duo of their generation. The song was written as a heartfelt plea and a hymn to love, built on the idea that love remains a shared language despite differences and struggles. That message appears to be central to the French concept for Vienna. Monroe may be only 17, but she already has a solid musical background. She came to wider public attention in 2025 when she won Prodiges. That is the flagship talent show of France Télévisions. Her victory there brought her national recognition and confirmed her status as one of the country’s emerging young performers. Monroe grew up between France and the United States in a family where music played an important role. She started with singing and piano at an early age. Monroe further developed her skills through choir work, musicals and classical training. Her influences range from Cecilia Bartoli to Céline Dion, showing a broad musical taste. After a debut album that was praised for its elegance and musical richness, Monroe now takes the next step in her career. With Regarde !, France has chosen a young artist with a clear artistic identity and an entry meant to underline both emotion and diversity on the Eurovision stage in Vienna this May.
