We did the hard part so you don’t have to.
We listened, on repeat, to all 14 songs competing to represent Greece at Eurovision’s 70th anniversary edition. Some surprised us. Some confused us. A few genuinely impressed us. And just hours before tonight’s live national final, here’s what you need to know.
The show, titled Sing for Greece, airs at 9 p.m. local time on Greece’s public broadcaster ERT and online platforms. Below, in running order, is what to expect when the lights go up.
- “YOU & I” – STYLIANOS
If you can tear your eyes away from Stylianos’ unapologetically Salvador Dalí–inspired fringe, you might notice the song’s old-school, almost Slavic Eurovision DNA.
A safe, sweeping epic ballad, delivered with solid vocals and a chest-thumping climax. It’s as classic Eurovision as avocado toast is to Sunday brunch.
- “Mad About It” – D3lta
How much eyeliner does it take for the Balkans to produce their own Damiano David, the Eurovision icon and frontman of Måneskin? If you weren’t busy solving that riddle, you probably noticed that D3lta’s stage presence elevated what is, at heart, a fairly forgettable track.
Expect votes from boomers thinking: “Put a jacket on, darling, you’ll catch a cold.”
- “Labyrinth” – Mikay
Sailor Moon meets Legolas from Lord of the Rings meets K-pop demon slayer aesthetics. Mikay understood the costume assignment.
The track is glossy pop with a slightly anxious edge, primed for choreography and staging tricks. But it feels destined to open a mid-tier Athenian nightclub rather than conquer Europe.
- “Daughters of the Sun (A, E, I, O, U)” – Marika
Greek light. Myth. A whiff of mysticism.
For context: Greece has a long Eurovision history of leaning into its sun-drenched, myth-infused identity — from Katy Garbi’s 1993 ode to national pride to Elina Konstantopoulou’s dramatic 1995 ballad. Marika taps into that lineage.
You can bet modern pagans and Olympus romantics already love her. From Mount Olympus to the Norwegian fjords, she’s a vibe.
- “Χάνομαι (I’m Losing Myself)” – Marseaux
If D3lta is channeling Måneskin, Marseaux is reaching for Loreen-level transcendence.
But during the semi-final, her vocals wandered — nearly vanishing into the Russian steppe. Still, it’s an honest, aesthetically polished performance.
- “Dark Side of the Moon” – good job Nicky
Let’s be clear: originality matters. But the internet’s brutal nickname — “bad job Nicky” — didn’t appear out of nowhere.
The song has potential and good job Nicky has that elusive “X factor” reality shows used to chase. Unfortunately, his live vocals in the semi-final felt akin to a three-day bachelor party hangover in Los Angeles. In other words: he handed the win to Akylas on a silver platter.
- “Bulletproof” – KOZA MOSTRA
An even more ambitious attempt to relive Italy’s 2021 Eurovision rock glory.
There’s an interesting marriage here between electric rock and subtle Greek folk undertones, and frontman Ilias Kozas delivers one of the strongest vocal performances of the competition.
But here’s the thing: KOZA MOSTRA has been to Eurovision before (they placed sixth in 2013). Maybe it’s time to let the new kids have a go.
- “Europa” – STEFI
An ode to the myth of Europa — the Phoenician princess abducted by Zeus in bull form, whose name the continent carries. There’s even a faint bouzouki lurking in the chorus.
But musically? it feels somewhat retro, like we have returned to 1995. Respectfully.
Credit where it’s due: flawless lilac dress, perfectly blended pink eyeshadow. Details matter.
- “Άλμα (Leap)” – Rosanna Mailan
We’re deep in carnival season in Greece, and this track feels like it was engineered to soundtrack parades from Xanthi to Moschato.
Maybe we save it for a hypothetical Latin American Eurovision spin-off — with a surprise cameo from Nicolás Maduro. (Too soon? Is Vladimir Putin’s Intervision reboot any better?)
- “Paréa” – Evangelia
The concept throws nearly every musical genre into the mix. It’s like those well-intentioned nights when you vow to eliminate food waste, toss every leftover in your fridge into one pan — including that sad, wilted lettuce leaf — and hope for magic. The ambition is admirable. The end result? Much harder to swallow. Next.
- “ASTEIO” – ZAF
Apologies to the Akylas faithful and the good job Nicky die-hards, but ZAF delivered the most complete performance in the Greek semi-finals, both vocally and choreographically.
At its core, a classic Greek love-lament disguised as modern pop (it is carnival season, after all). It’s likely to outperform expectations, and might be the only act capable of challenging frontrunner Akylas.
As Greeks say: you can take the Greek out of the bouzoukia (nightclubs), but you can’t take the bouzoukia out of the Greek.
- Yes, Akylas has momentum.
Yes, “Ferto” is the most inventive entry in this year’s national final and Akylas has all the momentum,
Yes, you either love it or love to hate it.
And yes, it’s probably heading to Vienna.
But dear Akylas: let’s work on those vocals.
Imagine the chaos if the public votes overwhelmingly for “Ferto” and the juries disagree. That would be high art.
- “SABOTAGE!” – leroybroughtflowers
One of the most distinctive entries of the season. At the very least, it taught us a new way to wear gloves — different from the one good job Nicky demonstrated.
Vocally? Let’s just say someone may have taken the title a little too literally.
- “The Other Side” – Alexandra Sieti
A straightforward, well-constructed song. A powerful voice. A genuinely strong vocal performance.
In another world, a normal world, Alexandra Sieti would be the frontrunner to represent Greece at Eurovision.
But as Akylas might say: whatever.
How the Voting Works
This year, Greece is giving viewers more influence than ever.
- 50% of the final result comes from public voting.
- 25% from a Greek jury.
- 25% from an international jury representing France, Germany, Georgia, Moldova and Serbia.
For the first time, online voting is available globally, allowing the Greek diaspora and international fans to participate directly. Viewers in Greece can also vote by SMS. To cast a vote via text message, send an SMS to 54222 with the code number corresponding to your chosen song and artist. Each mobile phone number can send up to 10 SMS votes to 54222.
