Greece’s representative at the 70th Eurovision Song Contest, Akylas, pulled off something genuinely singular in Vienna this weekend: blending syrtaki, The Little Prince and full-blown Eurovision extravagance into one theatrical appearance.
The Greek delegation took part on Sunday evening in the contest’s official opening ceremony — the now-famous “turquoise carpet,” Eurovision’s own answer to the Met Gala.
Dressed in an outfit inspired by The Little Prince, the iconic hero of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Akylas arrived in the Austrian capital to the sound of Zorba’s Dance, performed live by an orchestra.
Incidentally, it was one of the very few traces of live instrumentation heard at this year’s contest, alongside Finland’s much-discussed violin entry, which has already divided Eurovision fans.
Holding a rose — much like Saint-Exupéry’s beloved character — rather than leaning into more predictable Greek clichés of moussaka, souvlaki or a rustic Greek salad, Akylas and the Greek delegation strolled down the only nominally “red” carpet just hours before Greece prepares to fight for a place in the grand final of the anniversary 70th edition of Eurovision.
In a post on Instagram, the singer explained the symbolism behind the look:
“Today’s appearance is inspired by The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, one of the most important works of modern literature. It is a story about trying not to lose your soul and innocence while growing up in a harsh world. I wanted to remind people that the most important things in life are invisible to the eye.
‘It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.’
There is something deeply poetic about protecting the things you love, just like the rose in the story.
Everything truly precious can only be achieved through love. Never stop trying. Never stop feeling.”
Greece will compete in Tuesday’s first Eurovision semi-final, performing fourth out of the 15 participating countries. Following the release of the 30-second rehearsal clip, Akylas remains firmly in second place with bookmakers, behind Finland and ahead of Denmark, France and Australia, which complete this year’s bookmakers’ top five.
