Cyprus turns up the heat with 'El Diablo'

The video for the Cypriot Eurovision Song Contest entry is available to watch on the Panik Records website now, and will be made available on YouTube and other streaming platforms at a later date.

The song has been written by Thomas Stengaard, Jimmy ‘Joker’ Thornfeldt, Laurell Barker and OXA, and will be performed by Elena during the 2nd half of the first Semi-Final on 18 May.

Who is Elena Tsagrinou?

Born in Athens in 1994, Elena Tsagrinou is already an incredibly accomplished performer on the Greek pop scene. By the time she was 14-years-old she had taken part in the talent show Greece Got Talent where she made it all the way to the semi-final. In 2013 she joined the band OtherView before embarking on a solo career after five successful years with the group.

She released her debut single with the symbolic title Pame Ap’ Tin Arxi, meaning ‘Let’s go from the start’ which was written by Dimitris Kontopoulos and Nikos Moraitis in 2020.

Her YouTube counter has notched up millions of views, making Elena one of the most sought after stars in her region, with tens of thousands of followers across her social media platforms too. The singer's popularity has led to a successful career in television, taking on coach duties during Just The 2 Of Us, and co-presenting The Voice of Greece in 2016 and 2017.

Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest

Cyprus entered the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time in 1981. In legend, the island is the birthplace of the ancient Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite, which could explain their penchant for a passionate uptempo Eurovision entry.

As of 2021, Cyprus holds the unenviable record for the most times participating in the Eurovision Song Contest without winning. The best placing for the country came in 2018 when Eleni Foureira finished second with her iconic banger Fuego.