Drama in Basel: Cyprus’s Eurovision 2025 representative, Theo Evan, has unveiled the figure at the heart of his song for the contest. What’s the link to San Marino, and who is this familiar figure?
Complete shock: Theo Evan, Cyprus’s representative for Eurovision 2025, is shaking up the Eurovision community with an extraordinary post on his official Instagram page. In the surprising announcement, he revealed for the first time the identity of the mysterious figure at the center of his song, “Shh”, which he will perform in the first Semi-Final of Eurovision 2025. The song is set as number 15 in the running order for the semi-final, which will take place in Basel, Switzerland.
Until now, many speculations surrounded the song’s meaning, and various interpretations were offered by fans and commentators. However, the big secret has now been exposed in the artist’s own words. All the details about the famous figure continue below!
Dramatic Announcement and Intriguing Reveal
In a post written in English, Theo Evan clarified the song’s meaning in a way that left no room for doubt:
“Today, for the very first time, I set foot on the Eurovision stage. And with that first step, a promise becomes reality. It’s time to break the silence”.
Later in his message, the artist revealed the true focus of the song: the Vitruvian Man, the iconic drawing by Leonardo da Vinci. But Theo Evan explained that it’s about more than just a famous sketch:
“‘Shh’ is about the Vitruvian Man. Not just the drawing, not just the ideal, but what he represents: the balance between chaos and order, beauty and imperfection, the eternal search for identity within symmetry”.
According to him, the main goal of the artistic team working with him was to bring this symbol to life and give it a modern and theatrical interpretation. In his post, he described how the artistic vision aimed to show that even the most ideal figure hides secrets behind a perfect facade:
“We wanted to give life to this symbol. To show that even the ‘ideal man’ hides secrets. That perfection is a mask, and behind it, there’s someone who’s never truly seen”.
הצגת פוסט זה באינסטגרם
Not Just a Song – A Full-Scale Stage Experience
Theo Evan added that every detail in “Shh” was meticulously planned to convey this complexity. In his words:
“Every lyric is a clue. Every breath a contradiction. And when I stand on the Eurovision stage, I won’t just be singing a song. I’ll be embodying an idea. A mystery that’s lived in plain sight for over 500 years”.
This statement hints that the Cypriot performance is not expected to be just a standard competitive song entry, but rather a complete creation connecting music, visuals, and philosophy.
A Request to Keep the Secret – For Now
The post concluded with words that remind everyone of the song’s title, while simultaneously building further suspense ahead of the performance:
“Now that you know… Shh. Let’s keep the secret together until you see it on stage”.
This promise from Theo Evan leaves viewers and fans on the edge of their seats, ensuring an unexpected performance that will spark much interest across Europe and beyond.
What Is the Vitruvian Man?
The Vitruvian Man is one of the world’s most famous drawings, created by Leonardo da Vinci in 1490. The sketch depicts a naked male figure positioned within two perfect geometric shapes—a circle and a square—with his arms and legs outstretched at different angles. The figure represents the quest for physical perfection and harmony between the human body and the laws of nature and is based on the writings of Roman architect Vitruvius, who described the ideal proportions of the human body as a model of beauty and balance.
The symbolic meaning of the Vitruvian Man extends far beyond art itself. It is considered the essence of the Renaissance: a fusion of science, art, and philosophy. Through the drawing, da Vinci sought to prove that the human body is a microcosm reflecting the order of the entire universe. In the modern era, the Vitruvian Man has become a universal symbol of perfection, proportion, and idealism—but at the same time, it raises questions about the limitations of the human body and the pursuit of perfection that is not always attainable.
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
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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 13th 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 11th 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: Instagram.
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”.
