GREECE and the EUROVISION SONG CONTEST

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Greece has been participating in Eurovision since 1974, with the exception of 1975, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1999 and 2000. In 2005, Greece won their first victory in the contest with Elena Paparizou singing the song My Number One. Before that, the highest achieved score was 3rd place which Antique (Duo with Elena Paparizou) got in 2001 with the song "Die for you (I would)" and again in 2004 Sakis Rouvas got it with the song "Shake It". Their worse result was 20th place in 1998 with the song "Mia Krifi Evaisthisia" by Thalassa. This year the contest is being held in Athens, Greece thanks to Elena Paparizou's victory, and the hosts will be Sakis Rouvas and Maria Menounos. The singer representing Greece will be Anna Vissi.

Elena Paparizou - 2005

The songs that represented Greece are as follows:

Elena Paparizou (Έλενα Παπαρίζου in Greek characters; born 31 January 1982 in Örgryte, Gothenburg, Sweden), is a popular singer, best known in Europe for winning the Eurovision Song Contest 2005 for Greece with the song, My Number One.

Biography

Early Life

Elena Paparizou was born in Gothenburg, Sweden, to Greek immigrant parents. Elena's artistic talents and eagerness to excel became apparent very early, and she was soon involved in singing, dancing and acting, training in combination with her academic studies at school.

Elena Paparizou - winning the Eurovision for Greece 2005

Because of her popularity in Greece, where she ended up spending more and more time, she was approached to represent the country for a second time in the Eurovision Song Contest 2005. Elena performed My Number One, Let's Get Wild, and OK on the Greek national final, with My Number One winning the televote. There was also a song called "The Light In Our Soul", but it was later disqualifed due to it being released prior to the contest breaking the rules. The song went onto win the final contest (with backing vocals provided by Cypriot former Eurovision-participant Alexandros Panayi), and brought the contest to Greece for 2006 for the first time in the contest's history.

Elena re-released her first album Protereotita in Greece, with a second CD containing her Eurovision entrants, and English translations, such as I Don't Want You Here Anymore, Andithessis, and If You Believe Me as well as a ballad version of Louloudia . The 10 track CD was also available separately for those who already owned her debut album. A 16-track compilation of the Eurovision entrants and songs from her debut album was also released in Sweden under the title, My Number One.

In the summer and fall of 2005, Elena toured in Australia and North America with Greek artist Nikos Kourkoulis, selling out many venues. She was also named the official ambassador of the Greek Ministry of Tourism, and My Number One was used as backing music to their international television advert.

On 14 July 2005 the King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden caused controversy by placing his hand on Helena's back, lower than what is socially acceptable. It happened after she had performed at his daughter's birthday celebrations; according to the Royal Court, "his hand slipped." [1]

In the fall of 2005 Elena went to studios and recorded a new CD single called "Mambo!". The single included "Mambo" as a Greek and English version, "Panta Se Perimena", and "Asteria". The CD single stayed on the Greek charts for 10 weekss, including Christmas week, and reached platinum status. The track was also released in Sweden in April 2006, following a succession of hit singles there taken from the album, My Number One. Elena's debut album was re-issued for a third time in Greece to contain a third CD (in addition to the actual album and the Eurovision disc), containing both English and Greek versions of Mambo! and 3 other new Greek songs.

EUROVISION SONG CONTEST 2005: GREECE: 

HELENA PAPARIZOU - MY NUMBER ONE (lyrics)

You're my lover, undercover
You're my sacred passion and I have no other
You're delicious, so capricious
If I find out you don't want me I'll be vicious

Say you love me and you'll have me
In your arms forever and I won't forget it
Say you miss me, come and kiss me
Take me up to heaven and you won't regret it

You are the one
You're my number one
The only treasure I'll ever have
You are the one
You're my number one
Anything for you 'cause you're the one I love

You're my lover, undercover
You're my sacred passion and I have no other

You're a fire and desire
When I kiss your lips, you know, you take me higher
You're addiction, my conviction
You're my passion, my relief, my crucifixion

Never leave me and believe me
You will be the sun into my raining season
Never leave me and believe me
In my empty life you'll be the only reason

You are the one
You're my number one
The only treasure I'll ever have
You are the one
You're my number one
Anything for you 'cause you're the one I love

You're my lover, undercover
You're my sacred passion and I have no other

You are the one
You're my number one
The only treasure I'll ever have
You are the one
You're my number one
Anything for you 'cause you're the one I love

You're my lover, undercover
You're my sacred passion and I have no other

Mando - Has a new album for 2006

EUROVISION SONG CONTEST 2003 : GREECE: 

MANDO - NEVER LET YOU GO (lyrics)

I don't know what I'm going through
Close my eyes still see you in sight
Everything reminds of you
I could never let you go

I can't hide my feelings at all
I give you love sometimes it's so hard
Without you I know I would fall
'Cause I'd never let you go

I would cry for you
And I'd lie for you
I would lay my life on the line
I can't hide from you
That I'd die for you
But I'd never let you go

What we share keeps me alive
For you there's nothing I would deny
All I know is I want you so
'Cause I'd never let you go

I would cry for you
And I'd lie for you
I would lay my life on the line
I can't hide from you
I'd reach the sky for you
But I'd never let you go

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