Helena Paparizou, Eurovision 2005 winner, expresses willingness to return to the contest with the right song. Will the singer represent greece at Eurovision after 20 Years?
Helena Paparizou, the Eurovision 2005 winner, revealed yesterday (Saturday) in a television interview that she would be willing to compete in Eurovision again if she had the right song. This statement from the singer, who brought Greece its first and only victory so far, is not the first of its kind. Paparizou received an offer to represent Cyprus in Eurovision 2021, expressed willingness to represent Greece in Eurovision 2022, but declined to represent Greece in Eurovision 2024. In yesterday’s interview, the singer declared that she hasn’t closed the door on another Eurovision participation and that if she finds the right song in her eyes – she would participate in a selection process for the competition and try to compete for a spot in Eurovision.
From Past Glories to Future Possibilities
Among the things Helena Paparizou was asked about and shared in the interview:
The Greek OGAE club greatly honored Helena Paparizou when she appeared at the annual party, where she recounted the moment she was offered to represent Greece in Eurovision 2005:
“I remember I was at a good friend’s house, and the suggestion came up that I should go to Eurovision and everyone told me ‘Don’t go!’ Then I stood up, banged on the table and said ‘I’m going to Eurovision, I’m already there!'”
In the interview, she added on the question of her return to the competition:
“The victory was Greece’s, not mine […] If I had the right song, I would go!”
When asked about Marina Satti’s participation in Eurovision 2024 held in Malmö, Sweden, she replied:
“She (Marina) is excellent, I love and respect her.”
Who is Helena Paparizou?
Helena Paparizou first represented Greece at Eurovision in 2001 as part of the duo Antique. Their competition entry, “Die For You“, reached third place at Eurovision with 147 points, bringing Greece its first entry into the top three and the country’s best result in the contest up to that point. The song was a great success in Greece and also in Sweden, the singer’s homeland. In 2005, Paparizou returned to Eurovision for the second time, this time as a solo artist, and brought Greece its first and only victory in the competition with the song “My Number One“.
Over the years, Paparizou has become one of the most successful singers in Greece, and since then her name has been mentioned in connection with Eurovision many times. In 2014, the singer participated in the Swedish national selection for Eurovision with the song “Survivor” and reached fourth place in the final. In 2018, she was among the leading candidates to represent Cyprus at Eurovision, and even recorded a demo version of the song “Fuego”, but ultimately declined the offer and the song went to Eleni Foureira, who led Cyprus to second place and their best result in the history of the competition.
In recent years, the singer’s name comes up as a candidate for Eurovision every year, but so far the plan has not materialized. Will she return to represent Greece in 2025, 20 years after the victory, and breathe new life into the country’s achievements that have been fluctuating between highs and lows? We’ll make sure to update with all the details when we receive them…
Greece in Eurovision 2024
“Zari” is the title of the song performed by singer Marina Satti, who was selected through an internal selection process by the Greek national broadcaster. Greece qualified for the final after placing fifth in the second semi-final with 86 points, and in the grand final, they finished in 11th place with 126 points.
Source: ieidiseis.gr
Eurovision 2025: This will mark Greece’s 45th participation in Eurovision. Greece joined the competition in 1974 and achieved its best result in Eurovision 2005 when singer Helena Paparizou won first place with the song “My Number One”.
