Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009

ESC National Year
Year = 2009
Country = GRE
Preselection = Artist: Internal Selection
Song: National Selection
Preselection date = Artist: July 2008
Song: TBA
Entrant = Sakis Rouvas
Song = TBD
SF result =
Final result =

Greece and Ellinikí Radiofonía Tileórasi (ERT) announced that they internally selected Sakis Rouvas to represent Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 on 15 July 2008. [cite web |url=http://news.ert.gr/en/c/7/406752.asp|title=Ο Σάκης Ρουβάς και πάλι στη EUROVISION|publisher="ERT" |date=2008-07-16 |accessdate=2008-07-16|author=ERT Staff|language=Greek] [cite web |url=http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/12153|title=Greece: Sakis Rouvas to Moscow!|publisher="ESCToday" |date=2008-07-15 |accessdate=2008-07-15|author=Kalimeris, Aris] cite web |url=http://www.oikotimes.com/v2/index.php?file=articles&id=3818|title=Greece decided, Sakis for Moscow|publisher="Oikotimes" |date=2008-07-15 |accessdate=2008-07-15|author=Jones, John] A press conference will take place in September 2008. Greece is the first country to pick an artist for the 2009 edition.cite web |url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=1199|title=2009: Sakis Rouvas to represent Greece!|publisher="EBU (Eurovision.tv)" |date=2008-07-18 |accessdate=2008-07-20|author=Bakker, Sietse] Rouvas will be singing a song by Dimitris Kontopoulos.

This will be Rouvas' second appearance at Eurovision as a performer, and third overall. In 2004, he represented Greece with "Shake It", placing third. In 2006, he hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in Athens along with Maria Menounos. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/5001448.stm|title=In pictures: Eurovision 2006 |date=2006-05-21|publisher="BBC News"|accessdate=2008-08-09]

It is rumored that Fokas Evagelinos will be the choreographer of the song and that the song will most likely be a dance song.

National final

A song selection show will be held to pick the candidate song.cite web |url=http://www.oikotimes.com/v2/index.php?file=articles&id=3835|title=ERT to proclaim song selection; hosts announced|publisher="Oikotimes" |date=2008-07-19 |accessdate=2008-07-19|author=Konstantopoulos, Fotis] As in 2005 and 2006 where ERT picked the artist internally, Rouvas will sing three candidate songs in playback in a selection show, where the public will vote via televoting/SMS along with a jury for the song. Unlike previous years, Dimitris Kontopoulos will be the only composer to submit songs. Betty & Mathildi Maggira will return as hosts of the show, as well as commentators for Greece. [cite web|url=http://beta.mad.tv/news/new.php?id=31714&c=news|title=Με τις Μαγγίρες ο Σάκης το χειμώνα|date=2008-07-22|publisher="MAD TV"|language=Greek|accessdate=2008-07-23] ERT has announced that it is considering one of Athens' Olympic venues to hold the national final in. [cite web|url=http://www.oikotimes.com/v2/index.php?file=articles&id=3938|title= Is ERT planning an Olympic song selection for Sakis?|last=Konstantopoulos|first=Fotis|date=2008-08-16|publisher="Oikotimes"|accessdate=2008-08-16] Usually, the national final is held in one of of Athens' many music halls/clubs. More details will be announced in a press conference scheduled October 14 2008. [cite web|url=http://www.oikotimes.com/v2/index.php?file=articles&id=4151|title=ERT press conference on October 14|last=Konstantopoulos|first=Fotis|date=2008-10-07|publisher="Oikotimes"|accessdate=2008-10-07]

At Eurovision

Although Greece placed third in the 2008 contest, it is still required to compete in one of two semi-finals under current rules, as it is not one of the "Big Four" and is not the host of the 2009 contest. It is unknown whether a new format will be introduced which would lead to Greece becoming pre-qualified to the final.

See also

* Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest
* Eurovision Song Contest 2009

References

External links

* [http://www.ert.gr/en ERT]