Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest

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**Greece**

Member station	ERT
National selection event(s)	{{{National selection event}}}
Appearances	27
First appearance	1974
Best result	1st, 2005
Worst result	20th (1998)

[edit] History

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 the 20th place in 1998 with the song "Mia Krifi Evaisthisia" (A hidden sensibility) by Thalassa. Greece received 12 points from Cyprus, but nothing from anyone else. Eurovision 2006 was held in Athens, Greece thanks to Elena Paparizou's victory, and the hosts were Sakis Rouvas and Maria Menounos. The singer representing Greece was Anna Vissi.

[edit] Voting

Greece is famous for, especially in recent years, always giving twelve points to Cyprus. This is one of many examples of the political voting seen in Eurovision. In the case of Greece and Cyprus, the exchange of twelve points harkens back to linguistical ties, their shared music industry, and to an extent a minority of people that seek the unification of the two countries.

Despite an ongoing debate with regards to Cyprus, and tension over several island territories claimed by both countries, Greece enjoys a friendly relationship with Turkey in the ESC. However, in 2004, when the Contest was being hosted in Turkey, controversy arose when the hosts purposely delayed announcing Greece and Cyprus as having made it to the final. Some argue that it was a joke, while others see it as outright disrespect. Cyprus and Greece were announced last by the host, who had earlier been seen reshuffling the envelopes, and placing two at the back of the pile.

[edit] Greek Entries

The songs that represented Greece are as follows:

Year	Artist	Song Title	Translation	Points	Result
1974	Marinella	Krasi, Thalasa Ke T' Agori Mu	Wine, Sea and My Boyfriend	7	11th
1976	Mariza Koch	Panayia Mu, Panayia Mu	Virgin Mary - Virgin Mary	20	13th
1977	Paschalis, Marianna Toli, Robert Williams, Bessy Argyraki	Mathima Solfege	Solfez Lesson	92	5th
1978	Tania Tsanaklidou	Charlie Chaplin	Charlie Chaplin	66	8th
1979	Elpida	Sokrati	Socrates	69	8th
1980	Anna Vissi	Autostop	Hitch Hike	30	13th
1981	Yiannis Dimitras	Fegari Kalokerino	Summer Moon	55	8th
1983	Kristie Stassinopoulou	Mu Les	You tell me	32	14th
1985	Takis Mpiniaris	Miazume	We are alike	15	16th
1987	Bang	Stop	Stop	64	10th
1988	Afroditi Frida	Clown	Clown	10	17th
1989	Mariana	To Dhiko Su Asteri	Your star	56	9th
1990	Christos Callow & Wave	Horis Skopo	Without intention	11	19th
1991	Sophia Vossou	I Anixi	Spring	36	13th
1992	Kleopatra	Olu Tu Kosmu I Elpidha	The Hope Of The Whole World	94	5th
1993	Kaiti Garbi	Eladha, Hora Tu Fotos	Greece land of the Light	64	9th
1994	Kostas Bigalis	To Trehandiri	The Trehandiri	44	14th
1995	Elina Konstantopoulou	Pia Prosefhi	What prayer	68	12th
1996	Mariana Efstratiou	Emis Forame To Himona Anixiatika	We wear Spring clothes during the Winter	36	14th
1997	Marianna Zorba	Horepse	Dance	39	12th
1998	Thalassa	Mia Krifi Evesthisia	A hidden Sensibility	12	20th
2001	Antique	(I Would) Die For You	Die for you (I would)	147	3rd
2002	Michalis Rakintzis	S.A.G.A.P.O.	I love you	27	17th
2003	Mando	Never Let You Go	Never let you go	25	17th
2004	Sakis Rouvas	Shake It	Shake It	252	3rd
2005	Elena Paparizou	My Number One	My Number One	230	1st
2006	Anna Vissi	Everything	Everything	128	9th
2007	Sarbel	Yassou Maria	Hello Maria	-	-