It's official: Greece sends Yianna Terzi to Eurovision 2018
The Greek national selection is canceled. Yianna Terzi will represent Greece at Eurovision Song Contest 2018 with the song "Oneiro Mou". Listen to her song here
The Greek selection drama has come to an end. The public broadcaster of Greece, ERT, has just announced, that Yianna Terzi (Γιάννα Τερζή) will represent Greece at Eurovision Song Contest 2018 in Lisbon.
Her song is titled "Oneiro Mou" (English: My Dream). It is written by herself along with Aris Kalimeris, Michalis Papathanasiou and Dimitris Stamatiou.
Greek drama
The Greek selection process for Eurovision Song Contest 2018 turned into a true Greek drama, that just ended with four songs disqualified, and only one song left in the competition. The writer of this drama was the public broadcaster of Greece, ERT.
In October 2017 the Greek broadcaster announced, that the Greek Eurovision entry should be chosen through a national final, after two consecutive years of internal selection. Later ERT stated, that the songs had to be with Greek lyrics and with a "Greek sound". An 8-person artistic committee was appointed.
20 artists confirmed their intention to participate in the Greek final, and the artistic committee had selected five contestants. The date of the Greek national final was announced: 16 February 2018.
- Areti Ketime – "Min ksehnas ton ilio" (Do not forget the sun)
- Chorostalites – "Apo tin Thraki eos tin Kriti" (From Thrace to Crete)
- Duo Fina – "Idio tempo" (Same tempo)
- Tony Vlahos – "Baila jazz" (Dance jazz)
- Yianna Terzi – "Oneiro Mou" (My dream)
In November 2017 ERT decided to disqualify two of the five songs for the national final, because the they didn't have a "Greek Sound". Now only three songs were left in the competition.
The three contestants' record companies had to assure ERT that in case their song will be chosen for Eurovision 2018 in Lisbon, the record company will exclusively finance the Greek entry (staging in Lisbon, promotion and music video).
The date for the Greek national final was now changed to 22 February 2018.
ERT demanded a signed contract and a letter of guarantee, that an amount of € 90,000 had been deposited in a back account (later changed to € 20,000), with a deadline of 12 February 2018, later extended to 15 February 2018.
Only Panik Records was able to fulfill all the demands from ERT, and their artist and song was then chosen as the Greek representative at Eurovision 2018 – without competition, meaning the scheduled Greek final is cancelled.
Yianna Terzi
Yianna Terzi (Greek: Γιάννα Τερζή) was born in 1980 in Thessaloniki, Greece. She is the daughter of acclaimed Greek singer Paschalis Terzis.
She launched her solo career in 2005 when she released her first self-titled CD single, consisting of 3 songs.
She has been living in the United States pursuing an international musical career. After ten years in USA she decided to move back to Greece, and continue her singing career here.
Greece in Eurovision Song Contest
Greece started its Eurovision adventure back in 1974, and has been participating in the contest 38 times until now. They won Eurovision Song Contest in 2005 with the song "My Number One" performed by Helena Paparizou. Since the victory they have been very successful in Eurovision.
Greece has qualified for the Grand Final 13 out of 14 times (only missed the Grand Final in 2016). Well done Greece! Since 2004 they have finished in top-10 nine out of 14 times. They never finished last in the contest.
