74 songs were submitted to the Cypriot broadcaster and ten of them were selected to compete in the country's national final by a seven member jury. Many familiar names return to try their luck once more to represent Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest.
A few minutes ago, the Cypriot broadcaster announced the ten songs who will compete in the country’s preselection for the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest. Many familiar names return to try their luck once more, among them two Eurostars, Alex Panayi and Marlain Angelides as well as two members of the 2008 Cypriot team.The finalist songs are:
Βleed for you (Music and lyrics Pieros Kezou)
I wanna thank you (Gore Melian)
I believe (Music and lyrics Katerina Neokleous)
Moving on (Music Yiorgos Sinos, lyrics Christina Georgiou)
Heartbeat (Dionysis Stamatopoulos, Androula Michail)
Firefly (Music and lyrics Nikolas Metaxas)
Mr Uptight One night stand( Music and lyrics Marlain Angelidou)
There is love (Music and lyrics Alexandros Panayi)
I’m gonna break up with you (Nikos Evangelou, Tefkros Neokleous)
Mary (Tefkros Neokleous)
Nikolas Metaxas, who participated in the 2008 Cypriot national final with two songs, is back once more as a composer this time. As he is currently taking part in the Greek edition of the X Factor, it is unlikely he will be able to perform the song himself. It is widely tipped that the song will be performed by his sister instead.
Marlain Angelides will give it another try for 2009 with Mr Uptight One night stand. Marlain represented Cyprus once already in 1999 and she also took part in the 2008 preselection with Rejection.
Alex Panayi, is also returning but as a composer this time. Alex competed twice for Cyprus with a top ten placing in 1995 (9th with Sti fotia) and 2000. He was also the backing vocalist for Helena Paparizou when she won the contest for Greece in 2005. As Alex is also currently working in the Greek edition of the X Factor as a vocal coach, it is doubtful he will be performing his song himself.
Tefkros Neokleous was on stage together with Evdokia Kadi in the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest in Belgrade and Nikos Evangelou also composed Femme fatale, the Cypriot 2008 entry.
None of the songs will be made available before the night of the final as dictated by the RIK rules. The exact date of the final will be announced soon.
