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.
Vienna 12 points: Jonas Lovv Asked To Tone Down Performance
đź“· EBU/Alma Bengtsson According to Norwegian broadcaster NRK, the concern was not about the song itself, but about parts of the performance being considered too suggestive for a family audience. VG reports that the feedback focused on repeated crotch-grabbing and thrusting-style movements, some of which were improvised rather than part of the planned choreography. Jonas Lovv will represent Norway in the second semi-final on Thursday 14 May. He is set to close the show as the 15th act in the running order. Therefore, the Norwegian team still has time to adjust the staging before viewers see it on television. The warning has not led to panic in the Norwegian camp. Lovv has reacted with humour, while also making clear that he takes the EBU’s message seriously. Head of delegation Mads Tørklep said Norway will follow the rules and make the number more family friendly. Lovv earned his Eurovision ticket by winning Melodi Grand Prix earlier this year. His entry “YA YA YA” brings rock energy, strong vocals and a highly physical stage presence to the Wiener Stadthalle. As a result, the performance has already become a talking point during rehearsals. For now, the changes appear to be small adjustments rather than a complete overhaul. Eurovision viewers should still expect an intense and confident Norwegian performance. However, with slightly less emphasis on the movements that sparked the warning. If Norway qualifies, Lovv will return for the Grand Final on Saturday 16 May. The situation adds another storyline to Eurovision week, as artists balance personal expression with the contest’s broadcast guidelines for viewers across Europe. source: NRK
