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Cyprus 2010 entry
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10 acts are in contention to win Cyprus’s entry into the Eurovision Song Contest.

The mother-of-all battles is to pitch Eurovision pop star veteran Constantinos Christoforou and UK Cypriot song-writer, Mike Connaris, to perhaps give Cyprus their best result in a while.

75 entries had responded to an open call for potential acts, sent to RIK in Nicosia. The best 10 studio versions were whittled down from a seven-member judging panel on December 12. The national heat stages will be aired on February 7 Sunday 2010, at Cybc 3 Studio.

Constantinos is vying to win his record fourth gambit at the Eurovision. His tune is called 'Angel' widely tipped to perform his composition although may yet give it to another artist. According to one source, Vera Mpoufi or Hovig X Factor contestant are suggestions.

His former efforts in (Mono Gia Mas, 1996), (Ela Ela, 2005) and (Gimme Gimme, 2002), the Limassol artist knows the script inside out.

Constantinos, also notched up a summer hit 'Allios' still fresh in people’s memory. His decade-long pop fame status, plus a raw instinct to return to Oslo, his debut in 1996, reinforced his tag as the front-runner favourite. All of the advantages pushed aside, the result is hard to predict. The public will judge each potential entry on its merit. The nation's vote could be decided on the best song-wise live performance.

Mike Connaris is in search of reigniting the Cypriot’s fondness for Eurovision, with a song, penned for a sensational newcomer. The man responsible for an excellent fifth in 2004 with Lisa Andreas ‘Stronger Every Minute’ aims to consolidate his master-strokes with a new talent. Mike’s reward after a long audition process in London, and Cyprus was to unearth a diamond.

“I’ve found my new Lisa Andreas!” Mike had explained when I spoke to him.

The artist, is 18-year-old, Nicole Paparistodemou, who hails from Paphos, hoping to enchant the audience with an entry, called, ‘Like a woman’. Nicole is a brilliant vocalist, cute, oozes stage charm, a good sign for Team Connaris!

Constantinos Kontozis, is a first-time finalist, his innovative ethnic-pop-rock jam is a three-minute “crazy concoction” in metal, hip-hop, pop, electro dance and paradosiako (folk). The artist says it took “eight months to write, the musical skeleton around 4!” To quote the Limassol newcomer: “To pio trello unique tragoudi graftike pote stin istoria tis Eurovision!” Nice one.

Cypriot rules will impose a stringent broadcast ban on hearing the songs. None of the 10 will be allowed in the public domain till voting night. This, LGR reviewer might implode with oodles of anticipation for a great result. Honest, can’t wait.

The list is only partially confirmed with artists named soon.

Like a woman Nicole Paparistodemou
Music & Lyrics: Mike Connaris
Angel Constantinos Christoforou (Music/Singer)
Lyrics: Zinon Zompilis
Island of love Constantinos Kontozis (Singer, Music & Lyrics)
I'm gonna be Evagoras Evagorou
Music: Marios Melekis & Christos Filippou Lyrics: Anthi Pashi
Nothing is real
Music: Nasos Lambrianidis & Melis Konstantinou Lyrics: Nasos Lambrianidis
Play Music & Lyrics: Milena Staneva
You gotta go Music & Lyrics: Anthi Pashi
Goodbye Music & Lyrics: Valeria Partali
Rhapsody
Music: Leanna Varnavidou Lyrics: Leanna Varnavidou & Helena Antoniou
Life looks better in spring
Music: Nasos Lambrianidis & Melis Konstantinou Lyrics: Nasos Lambrianidis

Evi Papamichail, the Cypriot Head of Delegation, said the quality threshold had risen in this year's hopefuls, in production-wise terms.

"The change noted by the judges was the higher production values partnered with fresh strides in professionalism. Whether the voting public actually like the choices, it's their decision. They'll select the winner."

The winner is chosen via a 50-50 division with public to account for 50%, a five-piece jury, the other 50%.

Cyprus had disappointed in recent years with the country locked in the semi-finals. Christina Metaxa 'Firefly' attained fourteenth in Moscow, a single place higher than Evdokia Kadi in 2008.

Cypriot fans (like me) can only genuinely hope for a strong, credible entry, liked by the public to reverse the fortunes for the good.

Fingers’ crossed, that somewhere in this batch, is a winner with Eurovision hit potential. Roll on 2010.

Tony Neophytou LGR