Shock in Cyprus: Cyprus’ Eurovision 2025 representative, Theo Evan, reveals new details about the figure behind his song. What is the connection to San Marino, and could it be the world’s most famous figure?
As the countdown to Eurovision 2025 intensifies, Cyprus adds an intriguing layer to the competition – and leading the wave of curiosity is singer Theo Evan. This year, the island nation will be represented by the song “Shh”, a track enveloped in mystery, with hints pointing toward the world’s most recognizable figure.
Back to Athens After a Health Scare
After a health scare that has now been fully resolved, Theo Evan returned to Athens directly from the farewell party hosted for him by Cyprus’ national broadcaster in Nicosia. The event, held on April 24, became another major milestone in his journey towards the grand stage in Basel.
During the event, the singer seized the opportunity to drop another major hint regarding the mysterious figure his song references. When asked by journalists, he stated unequivocally that the mysterious figure is “global, famous, and instantly recognizable”. This declaration fueled speculation regarding the identity of the legendary figure at the heart of his song.
Could It Be the World’s Most Famous Artwork?
Among the notable details at the Nicosia event was one particularly intriguing element: a painting placed next to the national broadcaster’s banner. The painting was none other than the “Mona Lisa,” one of the most iconic masterpieces in art history. This detail did not escape the guests’ attention, reigniting theories that Leonardo da Vinci’s famous work could be directly linked to “Shh”.
The theory gained even more strength when Theo Evan posted on his Instagram account, thanking everyone who attended the farewell party and humorously noting: “P.S. Mona Lisa in the back is winking at you”.
This further fueled speculation that the Mona Lisa — and the enigma surrounding it — is indeed the inspiration behind his song.
The Secret Will Be Revealed on the Basel Stage
Throughout his recent interviews, Theo Evan emphasized that the full details surrounding the mysterious figure will be unveiled live on stage in Basel, during his semi-final performance. According to him, the staging will include clear hints that will decipher the story behind the song, tightly woven with the choreography performed by his dancers.
Clearly, the emotional connection to the farewell event, coupled with the symbolic nod to the Mona Lisa, indicates that a deep artistic thought process underpins the concept behind “Shh,” weaving a story that is both deeply personal and universally resonant.
The Mona Lisa: Not the First Time at Eurovision 2025
Even before the Cypriot representative’s hints, the Mona Lisa had already made an appearance in another song competing at Eurovision this year. The song “Tutta L’Italia,” performed by Gabry Ponte and representing San Marino at Eurovision 2025, also references the iconic painting. The lyrics at the beginning of the song state:
“Mamma stasera non ritorno (Mom, tonight I won’t return)
Ma sicuro finisco in qualche letto, poi dormo (But surely I’ll end up in some bed, then sleep)
Siamo tutti dei bravi ragazzi, a posto (We’re all good guys, really)
Spaghetti, vino e padre nostro (Spaghetti, wine and our Father)
E la Gioconda ride (And the Mona Lisa smiles)
Va bene, ma lei sta a Parigi (That’s fine, but she’s in Paris)”
Why Italians Feel a Deep Connection to the Mona Lisa
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Origin of the Artwork: The Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo da Vinci, one of the most revered and celebrated Italian artists. Da Vinci is considered a symbol of the Italian Renaissance and of Italian cultural genius. The fact that the artist himself was Italian fosters a strong sense of national pride.
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Origins of the Subject: Many believe that the woman portrayed in the painting is Lisa Gherardini, the wife of a Florentine merchant named Francesco del Giocondo. This means that the Mona Lisa herself was a resident of Florence, the very cradle of the Renaissance, making Italians feel a personal and cultural connection to her.
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A National Symbol That Emigrated: Despite the painting being housed today in the Louvre Museum in Paris, Italians often feel that the Mona Lisa was “taken” from them. Leonardo himself brought the painting to France, and after his death, it remained there, eventually becoming state property. Over the years, this has created a sense of longing and the feeling of losing a precious cultural treasure.
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The Famous Theft of 1911: The Mona Lisa was famously stolen from the Louvre by Vincenzo Peruggia, an Italian worker who claimed he wanted to “bring it back home” to Italy. This event added a dramatic dimension to the national emotional attachment to the artwork and strengthened public sentiment around its Italian heritage.
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Representation of Italian Ideals: The enigmatic smile, the gentle demeanor, and the blend of nature and spirit encapsulated in the painting are seen as expressions of aesthetic values that were central to Renaissance Italy. Culturally, Italians recognize in the Mona Lisa the spirit of their most glorious era.
Cyprus in Eurovision 2025
“Shh” is the title of the song that will be performed by Theo Evan, representing Cyprus in the first semi-final of Eurovision 2025, set to take place on May 13 in Basel, Switzerland. The song was composed by the Greek composer Dimitris Kontopoulos, who has written, produced, and composed 18 Eurovision songs to date. The song was written by Linda Dale and Lasse Nymann who co-wrote and produced the winning Eurovision 2024 song “The Code” alongside the Norwegian singer-songwriter Elsie Bay. The song is sung in English.
The song describes the mysterious identity who is known for its beauty and external traits. It seems to be caught in a cycle of excessive self-assurance, which could lead to its downfall. The lyrics reflect the internal struggles, with emotions such as love, desire, and jealousy pulling in different directions. It’s caught between the extremes of heaven and hell, representing her internal conflict. The song portrays this character as someone torn between the highs of life and the lows, deeply affected by her emotional journey.
Cyprus is currently in 14th place in the betting odds for Eurovision 2025.
Theo Evan – Who Are You?
Evangelos Theodorou, known by his stage name Theo Evan, was born to a Cypriot family in the capital Nicosia. At age 7, Evan began studying dance professionally. He won numerous dance competitions, created many of his own choreographies, and performed as a dancer alongside various musical artists. Later, Evan joined his school choir and began performing in musicals, where he realized he wanted a musical career and to create his own songs. He went on to graduate with honors from Berklee College of Music in Boston, the world’s leading school for jazz and modern pop music.
In 2021, he released his first self-written and composed song “The Wall,” and the following year he released 4 additional songs. His newest song “Fading Dreams” was released at the end of August 2024.
Evan says his biggest musical inspiration is pop star Michael Jackson, from whom he took the rhythm in his songs and the love for dance. Evan mentions that he has been watching the Eurovision contest since he was a child. He believes his artistic stamp is perfectly suited for the competition and claims that representing Cyprus is a great honor for him.
Source: Eurovisionfun
Eurovision 2025: This will be Cyprus’s 41st participation in Eurovision. Cyprus joined the competition in 1981 and achieved its best result in Eurovision 2018 when singer Eleni Foureira finished in second place with the song “Fuego”.
