Why Greece is trying to ‘commit suicide’ in Eurovision when it has these songs?

EDITORIAL – Somehow some thoughts about the selection of Argo came to my mind tonight and wanted to share them with you. It all started with a phone call tonight and my brainstorming kicked off. Sometimes I feel furious with the amateur way Greek national broadcaster as well as some artists handle the issue of Eurovision.

It all started with Tamta’s “Unloved” which was withdrawn from the Greek national final a day before the participants list announced. No one will ever understand why Tamta left such an opportunity to fly away especially when the song already made some hit in regional charts like Israel. Was she scared? Whom? the Eurovision stage or the national final competition? Weird

Then 2016 comes and the new radical left ruling party in Greece wants to make the difference. The new ERT President (personal choice of Greek PM) is selecting on his own an unknown group, first time internally selecting artist and song since 2004 in which year no one could argue that Sakis Rouvas wasn’t a deserved selection. Some argue that an unknown group might do well. Sure, I can agree and I hope their song is smart, funny and well structured to be appealing to the European audience.

These people, favouring the newcomer artists argue that in 2001 no one knew Antique and Helena Paparizou, no one new Luka Yorka or Koza Mostra. But the truth is that all these examples were selected by an audience through the procedure of a national selection. Even Sakis Rouvas, the last internal selection of ERT offered the audience a song selection in order for them to have a say. Not to mention that there would be no one arguing that Sakis deserved an internal selection.

It is 2016, most of us have low expectations from Argo band, a band the Facebook page of which launched without a profile photo! At the same time we see new songs like those presented in this post, from Annet Artani and Shaya Hansen which can combine international appealing and ethnic touch.

For me it’s 2016 A.D. and Eurovision is no longer the European Sanremo to send cheap ethnic songs – although I danced myself off with Koza Mostra in Malmoe. Shouldn’t Greece become a part of the international music industry instead of trying to find a way to promote ethnic sentiments and appease the people from Pontus. International, European events is no more about remembering our history it’s about creating something, especially in a competition, worth of attention and worth of international appeal.

Well that’s my thoughts!