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[originalsmiler]

The 10 finalists were short-listed for the final phase of the Cypriot selection into the Eurovision Song Contest, to be held, on May 2008 (Serbia, Belgrade).

Source: http://www.lgr.co.uk

Preliminary stage
The seven-strong panel of judges had congregated at the studios of the Cypriot broadcaster, on Saturday 1 December, to whittle down the 66 entries in order to disseminate the best 10 acts.

Cyprus decides - January 12 2008
The final heat stages are on Saturday 12 January, and in a fiercely contested field, with the artists vying to carry off the prestigious title.

RIK 3 studios, is to hold the public heat, viewers representing 60 per cent of the vote, and a 10-strong member jury, the other 40 per cent will ultimately decide on the outright winner. The televised show will be broadcast on the Cybc, with a simultaneous live feed on LGR 103.3 FM.

The full list of participants:

1. THIS CAN'T BE LOVE - Sofia Strati, Composer/lyricist: Giorgos Pellapashiotis
2. TURNING TO YOU - Miria Pampori & Alex Manison, Composer/lyrcist: Minas Pamporis
3. SUGAR MOUNTAIN - Elizabeth Anastasiou, Composer: Michael Neophytou, lyricist: Sotira Hadjipanagi
4. MOMENTS OF MADNESS - Eleni Skarpari, Composer/lyricist: Mike Connaris
5. REJECTION - Marlain Angelidou, Composer/lyricist: Marlain Angelidou
6. FEMME FATALE - Evdokia Kadi, Composer/lyricist: Nikos Evaggelou
7. I CAN'T BE - Nikolas Metaxas, Compser/lyricist: Nikolas Metaxas
8. BUTTERFLY - Nikolas Metaxas, Composer/lyricist: Nikolas Metaxas
9. RESCUE ME - Mirto Meletiou, Composer/lyricist: Christodoulos Haralampides, Andreas Ikonomidi
10. CALLING YOU - Constantinos Andronikou, Composer/lyricist: Constantinos Andronikou

Sofia Strati (This can't be love) had a massive hit with Mia Petalouda; she performed to a crowd of 80,000 at the Champions League final between Liverpool and Milan, hosted in Athens in May 2007.

Her new album will be called Mia Agapi Fotia by Song Emporium. The video of the song was filmed in New York, created by artists who have worked with Madonna, Massive Attack, Donna Karran, Moby, Spike Lee, Sex and the City, Jodie Foster.

Elizabeth Anastasiou (Sugar Mountain) is a 25-year artist, who hails from London. The entry is a British Cypriot effort in every single way. Michael Neophytou, is a music producer, song-writer and broadcaster on London Greek Radio. The lyricist Sotira Hadjipanagi also resides in London.

Mike Connaris (Moments of Madness) write the successful Cyprus entry in 2004, Lisa Andreas's Stronger Every Minute, which culminated in a brilliant fifth placing in Constantinople. Mike works at Mcasso in Great Marlborough Street in London. Eleni Skarpari had took part in the heat stages in 2006.

Marlain Angelidou (Rejection) a former contestant in Eurovision in 1999, she represented Cyprus with the entry Tha'nai Erotas. She came twenty second. Marlain was the opening act for Michalis Hatzigiannis on his summer tour in Greece.

She formed the girl-band HI-5, the winners to the Popstars series in Greece in 2003, producing hits such as Xero Ti Zitao, To Tyhero Asteri, M' Ena Fili, and Gennithika Xana. They split in 2005.

Marlain was born Maria Eleni Madalena on September 6, 1978 in Cyprus to a Scottish mother and a father of Greek and Cypriot descent.

Nikolas Metaxas (I Can't Be, Butterfly), is a talented 19 year old musician and composer, who lives in Limassol. The promising young artist saw both of his compositions soaring into the final 10. In 2006 he provided the backing vocals to the pre-selection song Funky which finished in the top 10.

Evdokia Kadi (Femme Fatale) is the only entry ion Greek, except the French title, by song-writer Nikos Evaggelou, who took part in the Cypriot contest in 2004, Analyse your love, came second.

Constantinos Andronikou (Calling you) took part in the local heat stages in 2006 with Every time I close my eyes.

LGR.CO.UK

[oranos64]

DOES ANYONE GIVE A CRAP FOR THIS ANYMORE ...BLOCK VOTING ,POLITICS ,HOMOS ,LESBIENS ,WEIRDOS ...FADING STARS ....ABBA FOR FUCK SAKE ,....

BRING BACK ITS A KNOCKOUT ...

[Bill]

....ABBA FOR FUCK SAKE ,....

...

I thought Abba were great ~~ much better than any others since.

Bill

[webbo]

DOES ANYONE GIVE A CRAP FOR THIS ANYMORE ...BLOCK VOTING ,POLITICS ,HOMOS ,LESBIENS ,WEIRDOS ...FADING STARS ....ABBA FOR FUCK SAKE ,....

BRING BACK ITS A KNOCKOUT ...

I love it, if only to see and hear Terry Wogan get very drunk and somewhat rude as the contest goes on!! He is classic, he is Eurovision Long live King Terry!!

Bubbles x

[zan]

Can we have a moments silence for the TC contingent that will not be there

[phoenix]

Can we have a moments silence for the TC contingent that will not be there

Don't worry . . . Turkey does all your singing for you

(Dumb Turk-TCs )

[Leon]

Marlain should've won - what a travesty!

[RebelWithoutAPause]

Can we have a moments silence for the TC contingent that will not be there

LOL - Whats the point, its not as if any TC would want to sing for Cyprus! They would say the RoC doesnt represent them! Same with sports and other international competitions.

Im with Oranos - the ESC is a pile of crap music. The last half decent effort i remember was young English Cypriot girl who sang for Cyprus and got booed by the fascist Turks in the crowd when it was held in Turkey a couple of years back.

[Sotos]

Marlain should've won - what a travesty!

The travesty was her song! Did you seriously like it?

[DT.]

Marlain should've won - what a travesty!

The travesty was her song! Did you seriously like it?

it was a brave attempt