Fotis’ wishful list for Lisbon

EDITORIAL – The Eurovision Song Contest 2018 season officially kicked off and it’s that time of the year when I ask my editors to submit their wishful list for the next representative of their country for the event. It doesn’t have to be a list you like, it’s our personal taste and of course always open to discussion in the comments below (watch out haters). So let me be the first to start this with my wishful list of five artists for Lisbon’s Eurovision edition. Remember you can vote for them (the poll is strictly for the Wishlist that’s why it doesn’t include other names and you can choose three of them)

TAMTA
There are many true and false gossip about Tamta and Eurovision. She participated in the 2007 national final and withdrew the very last minute for the 2015 selection but in 2009 Cyprus and Greece also rumoured to have approached her. Some sick journalists claimed she cannot represent Greece because she’s Georgian. Well, the only thing I care is that Tamta is quite a successful pop artist with huge appealing to the Greek audience especially the youth and no one will be annoyed if she is chosen (by public or internal selection). Somehow Tamta is out of the line when it comes to styling, stage presentation. Many claim she has the Lady GaGa syndrome. Her latest Eurovision attempt was Unloved and her live presentation of the song made me wishing her for Eurovision as my number one (check the video at 08:50).

ELENI FOUREIRA
We met her in the 2010 Greek national final and afterwards she is the talk of the town every summer at the MAD Video Music Awards with her extreme and sexy live performances. Another case where seriously disturbed journalists talked about her eligibility to participate for Greece due to her Albanian origin. Some say that she cannot deliver great vocals live. I am not so sure about that but what I am sure for is that when you see Eleni Foureira slaying the stage you simply fall in love with her. Besides that she is amazingly communicative and can easily play the role of the Diva and the next door sweetheart. She and her record label knocked the door of ERT many times for Eurovision and always rejected. (How insane). She covered the 2015 Israeli entry and she made a summer hit with her 2016 single Ti Koitas which is also composed by the Israeli 2015 author and also rejected by ERT for Eurovision. Can yu simply imagine her on the Eurovision stage?

MARINA SATTI
She is only 21 years old and she recently made her debut in the Greek music scene. This summer, her song “Mantissa” broke almost all records of YouTube views with a million views within the first 24 hours (almost impossible for any artist in the country to achieve it). Now has 23 million views. Her father is from Sudan and her mother Greek. She combines the ethnic urban style which is the trend in the artistic society of Greece. A great delivery of passion and music with ethnic elements combined with modern sounds. She is definitely an asset which ERT should consider as she can compromise the commercial and quality demands of the Eurofans and the Greek audience in general.

MELISSES
You met them in the 2011 national final. Since then Melisses have become one of the most successful bands in the country and they are absolutely adorable. Christos Mastoras descanting also from South Ipirus in Albania is a great composer himself and most of the songs he performs are his. No one can doubt his vocal skills although many say that bands and groups are not doing well in Eurovision (well let them look the Moldovan guys this year). Everytime you see them you definitely sing a long and if you join their live show appearances you will cry out loud with their comedian acts all night. Their live shows are almost sold out every night.

DROULIAS BROTHERS
Can you imagine how traditional Cretan music can be combined with international hosts such us “Get Low” (check the video at 10:30). Well watch the result below. Droulias Brothers emerged recently in the Greek music scene and they are true party animals (plus they are absolute hunks, both of them almost 2 meters high). They can easily combine the need for ethnic sound and the modern, popular, commercial demands of the Eurovision audience. When you see them in live performances you simply dance and get ecstatic. They could definitely make history in the contest and you will all love to interview them!