Female Artists

🇦🇱 Road to Malmö: Albania

We can not wait for the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö. Therefore, we have a closer look at one of the contestants every day. Today: Albania. Besa Besa Kokëdhima, known as Besa, is a famous singer from Albania. She was born on May 29, 1986, in Fier, Albania. When she was 15, she moved to the UK to study. Her music career started in 2003 with her first song, “Më Beso,” which won an award. She released her first album in 2006 with songs made with famous Albanian musicians. Besa has done really well in music contests. She won an R&B award for her song “Lëshoje Hapin.” She tried to get into Eurovision with “Nothin’ Gonna Change” and won an award for Best Female Singer in 2010 with “Kalorësi i Natës.” She’s also known for songs like “Fishekzjarre” and “Burning.” Besides singing, Besa judged on The Voice of Albania and released albums that got great reviews. In 2022, she sang “En Equilibre” in French. Recently, she was chosen to represent Albania in Eurovision 2024 with “Zemrën n’dorë” after winning the televote. Festivali i Këngës Festivali i Këngës is a prestigious music competition held annually in Albania, beginning in 1962. It’s famous for showcasing new talents and original songs across various genres, becoming a cornerstone of Albanian culture. Over the years, it has evolved but always remains true to celebrating Albanian music and creativity. This festival also serves as Albania’s method for selecting its Eurovision Song Contest entry since 2004, adding an international dimension to its significance. Winners gain not only national fame but also the chance to represent Albania on the Eurovision stage, making it a highly anticipated event in the country’s musical calendar. Since last year, a jury decides the winner, televote decides who will represent Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest. Besa won the televote this year with the song “Zemrën n’dorë”, which is now translated into English, titled “Titan”. Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest The first ever Albanian eurovision song was “The image of you” by Anjeza Shahini in 2004. “Titan” will be the 20th Albanian Eurovision song. Over the years, Albania has reached the Grand Final in many occasions. However, only one time the Albanians managed to reach the top-5: that was in 2012 with Rona Nishliu and her song “Suus”; she reached the 5th place. The Bookmakers Currently, Albania is 32nd in the betting odds to win the contest. However, the experience is that Albania reaches the final quite easily, so there is serious hope for Besa. The song And this is the song:

🇲🇹 Road to Malmö: Malta

We can not wait for the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö. Therefore, we have a closer look at one of the contestants every day. Today: Malta. Sarah Bonnici Sarah Bonnici is a singer from Malta, born in Gozo on May 30, 1998. Her dad, Marcel Bonnici, is a big deal, being the CEO of Mercury Towers and a football club. Sarah is super smart too, with a master’s in accountancy. When she was younger, Miriam Christine taught her about music. In 2009, she did really well in a song contest in Malta, getting third place. The next year, she won a singing festival with a song Miriam Christine wrote and was even named the best singer there. She also danced in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest that year. As a teenager, Sarah sang in song contests all over, like in Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary. She even won a festival in Romania with her song. In 2018, she was on X Factor Malta and kept making music. In 2022, she sang “Heaven” in another big Malta song contest. Then, in 2023, she sang “Loop” and won, making her Malta’s choice for the Eurovision Song Contest in 2024. Malta Eurovision Song Contest The national preselection in Malta is called Malta Eurovision Song Contest. This year, four semifinals were held with 9 songs each. Kurt Calleja (eurovision 2012) was one of the participants, but didn’t make it to the final. Twelve other songs did. Sarah Bonnici’s “Loop” was the clear favourite of the jury, while the televoter prefered Matt Blxck’s “Banana”. However, it was not enough for “Banana” to win the contest. Malta in the Eurovision Song Contest The first ever Maltese entry came in 1971. Joe Grech sang in Maltese “Marija L-Maltija” end ended up at the bottom of the scoreboard. After participation in 1972 and 1975, Malta quit. They returned in 1991 to never quit again. “Loop” will be the 36th Maltese Eurovision song. Malta never won the contest, but in 2002 (Ira Losco with “7th wonder”) and 2005 (Chiara with “Angel”) they were the runner up. The last few years it is quite hard for Malta to do well in the contest. Destiny did well with a 7th place in 2021, but last year The Busker didn’t make it to the final. Chiara The Bookmakers At this moment, Malta doesn’t do very well in the betting odds, with a 30th place to win the final. But staging and performance in Malmö might change all that as we all know. The song And this is the song:

🇱🇺 Road to Malmö: Luxembourg

photo: RTL We can not wait for the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö. Therefore, we have a closer look at one of the contestants every day. Today: Luxembourg. Tali Tali Golergant is a singer, songwriter, film actor, and musical theater performer from Israel, who now lives in Luxembourg. She’s becoming very popular in New York City’s music and art world. Tali loves music by Lizzy McAlpine, Sara Bareilles, and Lady Gaga. She mixes pop, indie, and R&B to make her own special sound. Her first song, made when she was just 16, got played over 70,000 times on Spotify. In 2021, she put out her first collection of songs called “lose you” with help from another artist, Francis of Delirium. After COVID-19, Tali started doing live shows in New York with her band. She’s performed at famous places like RockWood Music Hall and Mercury Lounge. People love her singing and her songs. Tali is also doing great in movies and theater. She acted in a short movie called “Agua” and played big roles in plays like “Fiddler on the Roof” and “Les Miserables.” On January 27, 2024, Tali was picked to sing for Luxembourg in the Eurovision Song Contest with her song “Fighter.” She’s really talented in many ways and is getting noticed for her work in music and acting. Luxembourg Song Contest The Luxembourgish national final for the Eurovision Song Contest was called Luxembourg Song Contest. After a lot of auditions, eight artists took part in the Luxembourgish final. De show was hosted by, among others, Désirée Nosbusch. She’s a familiar face to the Eurovision crowd, as she hosted the 1984 Eurovision Song Contest. Three artists, Joel Marques Luna, Krick and Tali, headed to a superfinal. Tali won as she was the choice of the jury. Krick won the televote but it was a close call, so Tali ended up with the highest amount of point in total. Luxembourg in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 is a unique year for Luxembourg: they return to the contest after a long break. Their previous entry was in 1993. Luxembourg has often been a succesful country, with no less than five victories. Jean-Claude Pascal (1961, “Nous les amoureux”), France Gall (1965, “Poupée de cire, poupée de son”), Vicky Leandros (1972, “Après toi”), Anne Marie David (1973, “Tu te reconnaitras”) and Corinne Hermes (1983, “Si la vie est cadeau”) brought the trophy to Luxembourg. The Bookmakers In the odds, Luxembourg doesn’t do well with a 35th place. However, we don’t know yet what kind of show we can expect. Luxembourg can easily bring us a surprise in Malmö. The song And this is the song:

🇵🇹 Road to Malmö: Portugal

We can not wait for the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö. Therefore, we have a closer look at one of the contestants every day. Today: Portugal. Iolanda Iolanda Costa, or just Iolanda, is a singer and songwriter from Portugal. She was born on November 4, 1994, in São Pedro, Figueira da Foz, but later moved to Pombal. That’s where she fell in love with music, thanks to her parents who helped her start learning music. She first studied at a local school and then at a conservatory. When she was 14, she tried out for a singing contest on TV but didn’t get far. She tried again on a different show when she was 17 but also didn’t make it to the big stages. After high school, Iolanda went to Lisbon for college, where she studied Communication Sciences. While there, she sang in bars and entered talent contests to get noticed. Later, she moved to London to learn more about songwriting. In 2014, she was on The Voice Portugal but didn’t get picked by the judges. Iolanda’s big break came in 2022 when she helped write a song for a festival. In 2023, she released her own music about her time during the COVID-19 pandemic. By 2024, she won the national contest with her song “Grito,” meaning she’ll represent Portugal in the Eurovision Song Contest. Festival RTP Da Canção Already since Portugal’s first participation in 1964, the song is selected via Festival RTP Da Canção. This year, there have been two semifinals with 10 songs each. Six songs per semifinal headed to the final. Jury and televoter did not agree. While the jury voted for Iolanda, the televoter prefered João Borsch. In the end, Iolanda gained the most votes. Portugal in the Eurovision Song Contest As said, Portugal debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1964. Unfortunately, António Calvário ended up with zero points. Very often, Portugal submitted unique, typical Portuguese, entries. And very often, Portugal ended up at the bottom of the scoreboard. For many years, Portugal did not enter the top-5 of the contest. Everything changed in 2017, when Salvador Sobral represented Portugal. With the song “Amar pelos dos”, penned by his sister, Sobral brought the trophy back home to Portugal. Last year, it was Mimicat who represented Portugal and reached the final with her song “Ai coração”. Salvador Sobral, photo: EBU/Andres Putting The Bookmakers The betting odds currently predict a 34th place for Portugal in the Eurovision Song Contest. However, as soon as we know more about the staging and the live performance, that might completely change. The song And this is the song:

🇲🇩 Road to Malmö: Moldova

We can not wait for the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö. Therefore, we have a closer look at one of the contestants every day. Today: Moldova. Natalia Barbu Natalia Barbu, born on August 22, 1979, in Bălți, then part of the Moldavian SSR, USSR, has firmly established herself as a versatile artist in the Moldovan music scene. Daughter of esteemed musician Ana Barbu, Natalia has blended rock and pop genres with her heritage of folk and stage music. Her early collaborations with Trigon on jazz-folk projects set a creative foundation, which evolved as she penned the lyrics for most of her songs. A pivotal moment came in 2006 with a contract from Cat Music Records (Sony Music) in Romania, marking her entry into a wider European market. Her single “Îngerul meu” soared to No. 1 in the Romanian Top 100, cementing her popularity. In 2007, her Eurovision entry “Fight” achieved a commendable 10th place finish. Embracing change, her 2012 single “I Said It’s Sad” showcased a major style evolution, topping Moldova’s Airplay charts. Esquire’s “sexiest woman alive” title in 2015 further celebrated her appeal. Returning to Eurovision in 2024 with “In the Middle,” Natalia Barbu continues to be a prominent figure in Moldova’s cultural tapestry. Etapa națională The national final in Moldova is called Etapa națională. Usually, the contest starts with an audition round, broadcast live on Moldovan television. 32 songs were submitted this year. However, two (a.o. Aliona Moon) withdrew before the contest and one was disqualified. Eleven songs headed to the final, which was won by Natalia Barbu. It was not an easy match: Natalia received the most votes of the jury, while Valeria Pasha won the televote. The rule in Etapa națională is that, in case of a tie, the jury winner goes to Eurovision. Moldova in the Eurovision Song Contest The first Moldovan entry for the Eurovision Song Contest was “Boonika bate doba” by Zdob şi Zdub in 2005. It was the first of 3 entries by this band in total, and reached a 6th place. The best scoring entry so far for the country was “Hey mamma” by Sunstroke Project in 2017. They were 3rd. Also Sunstroke Project took part before, in 2010. With “Run away” they became famous: the sax player and his solo became the ‘epic sax guy’. The Bookmakers Currently the betting odds for Moldova are not too positive: a 36th place for Natalia Barbu. But we all know that everything still can change until the very moment of the voting. The song And this is the song:

🇸🇮 Road to Malmö: Slovenia

We can not wait for the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö. Therefore, we have a closer look at one of the contestants every day. Today: Slovenia. Raiven Sara Briški Cirman, famously known as Raiven, is a distinguished Slovenian mezzo-soprano, pop artist, and harpist. Born on April 26, 1996, in Brežice, Slovenia, Raiven has excelled in intertwining the realms of classical and pop music. Her musical journey saw a significant leap when she nearly clinched the ticket to represent Slovenia at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2016 with “Črno bel,” securing second place at the national final Evrovizijska Melodija (EMA). Her continued efforts at EMA, including a third-place finish in 2017 with “Zažarim” and a second-place in 2019 with “Kaos,” culminated in her being selected to represent Slovenia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 with “Veronika.” Raiven’s debut album, “Magenta,” released in 2017, won record of the year from Zlata piščal, highlighting her innovative musical approach. Her collaboration with London’s Metropolis Studios for the EP “REM” further showcased her versatility and garnered widespread acclaim. Raiven has also performed at significant events and with prestigious orchestras, demonstrating her dynamic stage presence and performance skills. In 2021, her song “Vokovi” won the Grand Audience Award at Popevka 21, reinforcing her stature in the music industry. Educated in classical music from a young age, Raiven has amassed several awards in music competitions and holds a master’s degree in opera solo singing. She has explored various roles in opera and theater, showcasing her broad talent spectrum. In 2023, Raiven was announced as Slovenia’s Eurovision representative with “Veronika,” a testament to her enduring appeal and artistic evolution. Veronika Veronika of Desenice, whose tragic tale intertwines with the history of the Counts of Celje, remains a poignant figure in Slovenian cultural memory. Originating from the village of Desinić, her marriage to Frederick II, Count of Celje, sparked controversy due to her lesser social standing, leading to vehement opposition from Frederick’s father, Hermann II. This union set the stage for a harrowing narrative of love, persecution, and eventual murder. Despite being acquitted of witchcraft charges by the court, Veronika’s fate was sealed; she was imprisoned and drowned on the orders of Hermann II in 1425. Her story did not end with her death; Frederick later moved her remains to the Carthusian monastery at Jurklošter, making an endowment in her memory. Veronika, Wikimedia Commons Veronika’s life and untimely demise have inspired numerous literary and artistic works, reflecting on themes of innocence, power, and the enduring nature of love amidst adversity. Her legacy continues to influence Slovenian literature, theater, and music, serving as a muse for creations spanning from the 19th to the 20th century. Additionally, her name graces the Veronika Poetry Award and the Veronika Festival, ensuring her memory lives on in Slovenian culture and beyond. Slovenia in the Eurovision Song Contest On 6 occasions, RTV Ljubljana submitted the Yugoslav entry for the Eurovision Song Contest. In 1962, Lola Novaković even reached a 4th place with “Ne pali svetlo u sumrak”. As an independent country, Slovenia started to participate in 1993. Best scoring songs were “Prisluhni mi” by Darja Švajger in 1995 and “Engergy” by Nuša Derenda in 2001. The last few years, high scores were not meant for Slovenia. However, Joker Out, who reached the final last year, managed to do some very succesful tours throughout Europe. The Bookmakers Slovenia currently has a 21st place at the bookmakers, which makes Raiven a serious contender to reach the final. And as everything changes as soon as the final is there, a good score might be very well possible for the country. The song And this is “Veronika”.

🇮🇸 Road to Malmö: Iceland

We can not wait for the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö. Therefore, we have a closer look at one of the contestants every day. Today: Iceland. Hera Björk Hera Björk Þórhallsdóttir, an Icelandic powerhouse vocalist born on March 29, 1972. With a career kickstarting in childhood, Hera was already a familiar face in commercials and had recorded songs before turning twelve. Her musical journey gained momentum when she clinched a victory in a singing competition at sixteen. Hera’s debut in 1999 showcased her versatile talent, which spans across various albums that include traditional Icelandic tunes and international hits. Noteworthy albums from her early years include “Litla Hryllingsbúðin,” “Ilmur af Jólum / The Scent of Christmas,” and “Disneylögin.” Hera’s knack for collaboration and her solo ventures underscored her growing artistic maturity, evident in her prolific period from 2003 to 2009 with albums like “Í faðmi þínum” and “Við gefum von.” Her 2010 Eurovision entry, “Je ne sais quoi,” catapulted her to European fame, while her victory at the 2013 Viña del Mar International Song Festival in Chile with “Because You Can” solidified her international acclaim. Hera continued to engage her fans with releases such as “Ilmur af jólum 2” and made a notable return to Söngvakeppnin in 2019, securing fourth place with “Moving on.” Beyond her international exploits, Hera Björk remains a stalwart in Iceland’s music scene, admired for her dynamic range and ability to traverse genres effortlessly. In 2024, Hera Björk was chosen to represent Iceland at the Eurovision Song Contest for a second time with the song “Scared of Heights”. Söngvakeppnin Söngvakeppnin is the Icelandic national final ever since Iceland first took part in the Eurovision Song Contest, back in 1986. The past few years, it contains two semifinals with 5 songs each. Two songs from each semifinal, ánd a wildcard, go through to the final. The favourite to win the contest this year was Palestinian Bashar Murad, who lives in East Jerusalem. Murad and Björk were the two contestants reaching the superfinal. Hera Björk won. However, there was some controversy as the voting app RÚV Stjörnur experienced a glitch during the superfinal. Icelandic broadcaster RÚV recognized this but stated that Björk’s victory was beyond doubt. Bashar Murad Iceland in the Eurovision Song Contest In 1986, Iceland debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest, reaching the 16th place with Icy and their “Gledibankinn”. “Scared of Heights” will be the 36th Icelandic entry. Iceland never won the contest yet. However, there was a 2nd place for the island twice: in 1999 with Selma and het “All out of luck”, ten years later with Yohanna’s “Is it true?”. The Bookmakers Currently, the bookmakers give a 20th place for Hera Björk. That means, she would reach the final just like she did when she first participated in 2010. The Song This is the song:

🇵🇱 Road to Malmö: Poland

We can not wait for the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö. Therefore, we have a closer look at one of the contestants every day. Today: Poland. Luna Luna, the stage persona of Aleksandra Katarzyna Wielgomas, born August 28, 1999, in Warsaw, is a distinguished Polish singer, songwriter, and composer. Beginning her musical journey with violin lessons, she later attended a high school focused on law and political sciences before pursuing artes liberales at the University of Warsaw. Luna’s early career was marked by her participation in the Artos children’s choir and performances at the Grand Theatre, laying the foundation for her artistic path. Her collaboration with the Kayax record label in 2018 through the “My Name is New” project led to her debut single “Na wzgórzach niepokoju,” propelling her into the spotlight at significant events like the Night of Museums and Pol’n’Rock Festival. 2020 saw Luna adopting her stage name and venturing into a new musical direction with Michał “Fox” Król, exploring cosmic sounds in her work, as highlighted in singles like “Serca przemokną” and “Mniej,” incorporating space sounds from NASA. Luna’s “Zgaś” further established her presence in the Polish music scene, embodying her “cosmic pop” style influenced by the cosmos, nature, and poetry, drawing inspiration from icons like Nick Cave and Björk. In 2024, Luna was chosen to represent Poland at the Eurovision Song Contest with “The Tower,” bringing her unique sound to an international audience. Beyond her music, Luna engages in theatre and promotes music equality, notably as an ambassador for the Equal Spotify campaign, becoming the first Polish woman to be featured on Times Square for this initiative. Her career reflects a blend of cosmic fascination, poetic expression, and advocacy for equality in the music industry. Polish language It is already 5 years ago that a song, partially in Polish, participated in the Eurovision Song Contest. The Polish language, a Slavic tongue, serves as Poland’s linguistic core. It intertwines with the nation’s rich history and culture. Known for its complex sounds and unique diacritical marks like ł (łaciaty), ś (śliski), and ń (koń), it challenges non-native speakers. Its pronunciation and consonant clusters are notably difficult. Its vocabulary is a tapestry of Slavic roots with layers of Latin, German, and English influences. It reflects centuries of cultural interactions. Beyond Poland’s borders, vibrant Polish-speaking communities flourish worldwide, preserving and enriching this beautiful language. Polish not only connects millions to their heritage but also to a deeply storied past and a dynamic present. Poland in the Eurovision Song Contest Poland debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1994. With a second place for Edyta Górniak’s “To nie ja”, they secured a record. The song is still the best scoring song ever for Poland. Only two times after that, the Polish entry reached the top-10. In 2003 with Ich Troje’s “Keine Grenzen – Żadnych granic” (7th) and in 2016 with Michał Szpak’s “Color of my life” (8th). Last year, Blanka reached the final easily, but in the final itself reached a 19th place. Luna hopes to be the 4th artist reaching the top-10. The Bookmakers Poland is currently no. 32 in the betting odds. That means it’s gonna be a tough job for Luna to reach the final. However, things such as staging and live performance can change everything and make Poland one of the more succesful contenders. The song This is the song:

🇷🇸 Road to Malmö: Serbia

We can not wait for the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö. Therefore, we have a closer look at one of the contestants every day. Today: Serbia. Teya Dora Teodora Pavlovska, known professionally as Teya Dora, was born on May 1, 1992, in Bor, Serbia. Balancing her academic endeavors in Belgrade with a musical education specializing in piano at the “Dr. Vojislav Vučković” Music School, she furthered her studies at Berklee College of Music. There, she focused on vocal studies alongside Charlie Puth and contributed backing vocals for American Grammy winners like Patti Austin and Valerie Simpson. After Berklee, she moved to New York, engaging in English songwriting for ARKTKT Publishing. Her Serbian music industry debut came with “Nema limita” for Nikolija in 2018, leading to numerous songwriting contributions for artists like Nataša Bekvalac. As a solo artist, her release “Da na meni je” in July 2019 marked the start of her vocal career, followed by her notable work “Džanum” for the “South Wind” series sequel, which achieved viral success on TikTok and significant streaming numbers on Spotify. By 2024, Teya Dora’s innovative musical contributions and unique blend of genres propelled her to represent Serbia at the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Ramonda”, highlighting her as a significant figure in the Serbian music scene. Pesma Za Evroviziju The Serbian national final for the Eurovision Song Contest is called Pesma Za Evroviziju. The name exists since 2022. Before that, the national final was named Beovizija. This year the contest contained two semifinals with 14 songs each. The final consisted of 16 songs. A familiar name in the contest was the one of Konstrakta, who had a song and act being a close follow up of the 2022 song “In corpore sana”. Konstrakta reached a 4th place. Teya Dora was the no. 1 in both televote and jury vote. Serbia in the Eurovision Song Contest Serbian artists have taken part in the Eurovision Song Contest in the past when Serbia was a part of Yugoslavia, and later Serbia and Montenegro. Serbia’s debut as an independent country was in 2007, when Maria Šerifović sang “Molitva” and won the contest. It was the only time Serbia won so far, but Željko Joksimović reached a 3rd place in 2012. Konstrakta was 5th in 2022. Last year, Luke Black reached the final but ended up in 24th place. photo: Indrek Galetin, Wikimedia Commons The bookmakers Currently, Serbia is in 18th place in the odds to win the Eurovision Song Contest. Although the odds for semifinal 1 are not ready, we can safely say that Serbia might reach the final. What they will do there depends on a lot of things. The song And this is the song:

🇨🇾 Road to Malmö: Cyprus

photo: EBU/CyBC We can not wait for the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö. Therefore, we have a closer look at one of the contestants every day. Today: Cyprus. Silia Kapsis Silia Kapsis is a dynamic and talented Cypriot-Australian singer, dancer, and actress, chosen to represent Cyprus at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 with her song “Liar”. Born on December 5, 2006, in Sydney, Australia, Kapsis has been making waves in the entertainment industry from a young age. Before her Eurovision selection, she was known for being the lead singer for the Australian Youth Performing Arts Company (AYPAC) and for performing at numerous high-profile events around the world. Her journey into music saw her releasing singles like “Who Am I?”, which she wrote and composed at the age of 12, followed by “No Boys Allowed” and “Disco Dancer” in 2023, showcasing her evolving musical style. Kapsis’s artistic talents extend beyond singing. She was selected for the ImmaBeast Dance Company in Los Angeles, has appeared on “The Jennifer Hudson Show”, and was featured in a dance documentary produced by Taboo from the Black-Eyed Peas. Her acting skills were highlighted in her role as Zoe in the short film “Pearly Gates”, and she has worked on various projects for Nickelodeon, including being a regular host on “Nick News”. Australians for Cyprus? Silia Kapsis is internally selected for the Eurovision Song Contest. Although born in Australia, she has Cypriot roots. That brings us to last year’s Cypriot participant: Andrew Lambrou. Andrew was also born and raced in Australia, but has Cypriot roots. For Cyprus, he reached a 12th place in the 2023 contest with the song “Break a broken heart”. Does that mean we have to look at Australia to know the 2025 Cypriot participant? photo: EBU/Sarah Louise Bennett Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest The first Cypriot song in the Eurovision Song Contest was “Monica”, from the group Island in 1981. Anna Vissi (1982), Chara & Andreas Constantinou (1997) and Lisa Andreas (2004) reached a 5th place. The best score ever came, however, from Eleni Foureira, whose “Fuego” reached a 2nd place in the 2018 contest and was even one of the hot favourites to win the competition. Eleni is still one of the more popular Eurovision participants. photo: EBU/Andres Putting The bookmakers Currently, Cyprus has a 24th place in the betting odds. Although the odds for the semifinals are not published yet, we can say from the winners’ list that Cyprus would get through as a 10th finalist. But who knows what will happen on the night of the 1st semifinal itself. The song And this is the song: