Cyprus takes the Eurovision stage tonight when Antigoni Buxton performs “Jalla” in the second semi-final at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna, with bookmakers tipping her to qualify for Saturday’s grand final.
Eighteen countries compete in tonight’s semi-final for a place in the final. Bookmakers have placed Cyprus consistently between 12th and 13th in the overall rankings, and qualification from the semi-final is considered likely.
Antigoni completed her jury rehearsal to applause, though there were some vocal inaccuracies during the performance. Rehearsals by the Cypriot delegation in Vienna were otherwise described as impressive and full of energy.
The staging opens with Antigoni lying on a large table. During the first verse, dancers remain beneath it with only their hands visible. In the first chorus they climb on top, holding white handkerchiefs, with camera angles from both sides of the stage.
The choreography draws on the viral “Jalla” choreography but is rendered differently. A chair — seen in a clip released publicly a few days earlier — appears in the second chorus.
During the bridge, Antigoni lies back on the table as an overhead shot is used. She then crosses the table alone with a spotlight behind her before joining the dancers on the catwalk in the final chorus, which is lit by flames.
Eurovision semi-final 1 results: Greece, Finland, Belgium, Sweden, Moldova, Israel, Serbia, Croatia, Lithuania and Poland qualified, while Portugal, San Marino, Georgia, Estonia and Montenegro were eliminated.
CyBC Eurovision coverage — Thursday May 14
CyBC will broadcast all stages of the contest live from the Wiener Stadthalle.
- 21:00 — “United by Music” pre-show, CyBC1, CyBC HD and rik.cy. Presented by Andreas Anastasiou, with guests Melina Karageorgiou, Dimitra Georgiou, Pan Dragomir and Theo Blue
- 22:00 — Eurovision second semi-final, live
Saturday May 16
- Post-news bulletin — pre-final show, CyBC1 and RIKSAT, presented by Loukas Hamatsos
- 22:00 — Eurovision grand final, live. Hamatsos will announce the Cyprus jury’s 12 points during the broadcast
Commentary across all three nights: Melina Karageorgiou.
