Eurovision 2013: Cyprus Must Win!

Cyprus must win because when you close your eyes, if you don’t get goose bumps when you hear her, you don’t have a soul. Cyprus must win.

Cyprus must win, because the gods from Olympus came to Earth to put a beautiful woman in front of you, a woman who sings like a siren to seduce you to live and love. And, if you do not die a little bit on hearing her, your heart is made of stone…

Cyprus must win, because even though you may not understand the language of the song, in your heart of hearts, you get it. Cyprus must win. Cyprus needs it. And Eastern Europe needs it, but beyond Cyprus, no other country in this part of the world “bleeds” so much love. Yet you probably do not even know where Cyprus is on a world map.

Cypriots are not Greeks, did you know that? As Moldavians are not Romanians, as Ukrainians are not Russians either. You’ve never seen more passion, more love, a better definition of hospitality, than each of these countries has to offer.

Despina Olympiou, the voice of Cyprus, sings for all these places, and for all these people. But Cyprus must win.

I am a Romanian, and I did not cry when Romania’s choice performed. I did when Despina made me miss my home. And my home is not Cyprus: my home is Bucharest, the Danube Delta, the Carpathians, Transylvania, the Black Sea. My home is that holy place where my mother says she’s proud of me, that place where my father weeps when he sees his grandson.

Eurovision is, should be, about the soul of the people in Europe. Despina sings better than Thamyris, I am sure Orpheus would say, because she sings from the heart. Greece does not, Romania does not, few other countries actually do. Would you really believe this to come from the heart?

Romania’s choice is brilliant technically, on the edge and new, but our song voices nothing of the soul of my country, my countrymen.

As much as Russia’s song is beautiful  and moving, it is in my opinion a political statement – the most beautiful I’ve ever heard. I hope I can make you understand: Russia is singing with Dina Garipova – the Russia you don’t want to hear in the West – the one you CHOOSE to fear – the whole of Russia’s souls sing as one in this song. By gosh, even Vladimir Putin is singing with Dina.

Where I live, people think that I am Russian: on the phone, in person… all because of my Romanian accent.  I am not Russian. I’m different, but I understand. I understand because no one else grasps really, that diversity, the richness, the passion, and why Russians are who they are. Why being first in space matters, why a lake of swans, why Crime and Punishment, why Anna Karenina leaped in front of a train, and sorry to say it, but, if a Faberge egg hits you in the head,  you would  not know where it came from.

I sing with Dina, but Dina sings with  Despina Olympiou: Russia’s song begs Europe that “Cyprus Must Win” because “what if we all opened our arms, what if we came together as one?” Cyprus must win, because Russia says so. Russia says; “reach out to those who need it most.”

My friends out there, you reading this, you must know I am a vain woman. I know I am beautiful, maybe you identify with me  or hate me for saying, but even I must bow to a goddess. As people we all must acknowledge, yes even worship, love, feeling, home, beauty, the essence of things all of us understand – all of us embrace – Cyprus must win. We need Cyprus to win Eurovision 2013.

And if you don’t think so, Croatia say so too. The magnificent heart of this country, Klapa s mora, no Eurovision material by your account, so much so by mine, would share the last piece of bread with you… faith and religion too.

Europe, Cyprus must win, just because Cyprus has no other chance to win but us. For so many years the Eurovision was about politics. This is the time to show that music is all about the spirit that inspired it. When the contest is on, close your eyes, and listen with your heart and soul. If Cyprus wins there, take it all the way. Give Cyprus the chance to host Eurovision 2014. If nothing else, just because Aphrodite was born in Cyprus. And what about it? She is now singing for you, in her human form.