Cyprus National Selection Review - Alan Wilson

Cyprus ran as fast as they could from Sandro and internally selected Elena Tsagrinou to represent them at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2021.

The Cypriot broadcaster (CyBC/RIK) announced Elena and the title of her song “El Diablo” on 25 November 2020 and we had to wait until 24 February 2021 for the debut of the song and music video.

 Elena is 26 and was born in Athens, Greece.  She is well known in the Greek music scene from her early days as lead singer for the band OtherView through to a very successful solo career.  Look out for songs like “Paradeisos”, “Amore” and “San Lava”.

 Elena has also had some success in television being involved with several reality music TV shows.  Her latest venture is a show called “K-POP Stars”, which is shown on MAD TV, a leading music channel in both Cyprus and Greece. 

 Onto “El Diablo”, a song produced by her record label Panik Records (think Eleni Foureira) and written by Jimmy “Joker” Thornfeldt, Laurell Barker, Oxa, and Thomas Stengaard.

 So we have a banger which is heavily influenced by Lady Gaga and Rita Ora. Very current, very catchy. The lyrics refer to the conflicts of good and evil and falling in love with someone that is as bad as the devil.

 The music video released on Panik Records website is a visual feast with high production values albeit with the odd shampoo commercial thrown in.  True to form for Cyprus.

 Cyprus has confirmed that Elena’s Eurovision staging will be overseen by Marvin Dietmann who was the stage director for Conchita’s winning performance in 2014.

 “El Diablo” has been well received amongst the fans and features high in the betting odds and community scoreboard. Although some “good Christians” back in Cyprus have expressed some grumblings about the theme and content of the song with various protests and petitions.  Which is GREAT for publicity!