All entries in the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest are known, but the actual contest is still almost two months away. As a warm-up, we introduce one of the entries every day in random order. Part six is dedicated to the entry from the Cyprus.
Basic information
| Performer: | Christina Metaxa(Χριστίνα Μεταξά) |
| Song: | Firefly |
| Language: | English |
| Music: | Nikolas Metaxas (ΝικÏ�λας Μεταξάς) |
| Lyrics: | Nikolas Metaxas(ΝικÏ�λας Μεταξάς) |
| Draw: | 7th in the second semi final |
The song
Firefly is a fragile and quiet pop ballad with some minor rock elements in the arrangement. The lyrics are about finding one's way and place in life. The image of a firefly, who seems to be scared not knowing where she is going but loses her fear when she flies away, is used to illustrate the quest for a light-hearted life:
The firefly, spreading her wings open wide
Thinks the sky will come crashing down, fall to her side
She is afraid, but her fear slowly fades
So fly with the firefly, fly side by side
Escaping the chains that held you from life
Don't look down, you're over the edge
The singer
Along with Kejsi Tola from Albania, 16-year-old Christina is the youngest singer in the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest. She is the second of four children and still attends school. She entered the Cypriot national final 2009 with the song Firefly written by her brother Nikolas, who became famous through the TV show The X Factor.
During an interview with esctoday.com, she said: "Given this great opportunity to represent my country at such a young age is honestly a tremendous honour for me. It is a huge responsibility I agree, yet I cannot stop thinking that in the three minutes I will be singing it won’t just be me. The whole of Cyprus will be by my side and thus it’s my duty to work hard and do by best for every single person who shows faith in me. Cyprus, I promise not to let you down!!"
Christina is now signed with Sony Records, and the company will undertake the promotion of her Eurovision Song Contest entry in Europe. She already performed her song in the Greek national final.
National selection
Cyprus decided to go for a very classic national final again. Ten acts performed one song each in a show on a Saturday evening and the winner was chosen by televoting. Christina Metaxa was the runaway winner of the selection getting almost twice as many votes as the runner-up Pieros Kezos. Among others, two former Cypriot entrants in the contest also took part: Marlain Angelidou (1999) and Alexandros Panayi (1995, 2000).
Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest
Cyprus debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1981 and had a very good start finishing sixth and fifth in its first two participations. Some lower results followed, but the country managed to equal the fifth place in 1997 and 2004, which also marked the last top ten placing to date. The last appearance in the final was in 2005.
ΕυχÏ�μαστε στην ΚÏ�προ και στην Χριστίνα Μεταξά καλή επιτυχία και καλά αποτελÎσματα στην ΜÏ�σχα!
Kıbrıs ve Cristina Metaxa'ya Moskova'da iyi Å�anslar ve iyi bir sonuç dileriz!
Videos
Christina Metaxa talking to esctoday.com:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzirT7oe0Fo&ap=%2526fmt%3D18&rel=0
Christina Metaxa in the national final:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQOvbAEM4fg&ap=%2526fmt%3D18&rel=0
The preview video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSAFQC37CnU&ap=%2526fmt%3D18&rel=0
Performing Fly me to the moon:
Other parts of this series
Tomorrow, we will take a look at the Latvian entry.
