View source for Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest 1986

{{Short description|none}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox song contest national year
| Year = 1986
| Broadcaster = [[Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation]] (CyBC)
| Country = Cyprus
| Flag variant = 1960
| Preselection = '''Song:''' National final<br>'''Artist:''' Internal selection
| Entrant = [[Elpida (singer)|Elpida]]
| Song = {{lang|el-latn|Tora zo|i=no}}
| Writer = {{unbulleted list|Phivos Gavris|Peter Yiannaki}}
| Final result = 20th (last), 4 points
| Preselection date = '''Song:''' 19 February 1986<br />'''Artist:''' 19 March 1986
}}
Cyprus was represented at the [[Eurovision Song Contest 1986]] with the song "{{lang|el-latn|Tora zo|i=no}}" {{small|({{lang|el|Τώρα ζω}})}}, written by Phivos Gavris and Peter Yiannaki, and performed by [[Elpida (singer)|Elpida]]. The Cypriot participating broadcaster, the [[Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation]] (CyBC), selected its entry through a national final and, subsequently, the performer internally once the national final was over.
==Before Eurovision==
=== National Final ===
==== Competing entries ====
The [[Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation]] (CyBC) confirmed its participation in the 1986 contest on 19 November 1985 and opened a submission period for entries until 11 January 1986 that was later extended until 20 January 1986.<ref>{{Cite news |date=20 November 1985 |title=Η Κύπρος και στο νέο διαγωνισμό Γιουροβίζιον |trans-title=Cyprus also in the new Eurovision contest |url=https://pressarchive.cy/s/en/item/601990?q=%22%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%B1%CE%B3%CF%89%CE%BD%CE%B9%CF%83%CE%BC%CF%8C%CF%82%20%CF%84%CF%81%CE%B1%CE%B3%CE%BF%CF%85%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%BF%CF%8D%22#?c=&m=&s=&cv=15&xywh=1894%2C1953%2C2617%2C1805 |access-date=17 August 2024 |work=ΣΗΜΕΡΙΝΗ |pages=16}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=21 November 1985 |title=Δεν θα μεταδοθεί «ζωντανός» ο Διαγωνισμός της Γιουροβίζιον το '86 |trans-title=The '86 Eurovision Song Contest will not be broadcast "live" |url=https://pressarchive.cy/s/en/item/1129572?q=%22%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%B1%CE%B3%CF%89%CE%BD%CE%B9%CF%83%CE%BC%CF%8C%CF%82%20%CF%84%CF%81%CE%B1%CE%B3%CE%BF%CF%85%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%BF%CF%8D%22#?c=&m=&s=&cv=1&xywh=2367%2C755%2C2773%2C1912 |access-date=17 August 2024 |work=ΜΕΣΗΜΒΡΙΝΗ |pages=2}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=10 January 1986 |title=Το ΡΙΚ θα μετάσχει στο Γιουροβίζιον |trans-title=RIK will participate in Eurovision |url=https://pressarchive.cy/s/en/item/578759?q=%22%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%B1%CE%B3%CF%89%CE%BD%CE%B9%CF%83%CE%BC%CF%8C%CF%82%20%CF%84%CF%81%CE%B1%CE%B3%CE%BF%CF%85%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%BF%CF%8D%22#?c=&m=&s=&cv=&xywh=398%2C3439%2C2158%2C1488 |access-date=17 August 2024 |work=ΦΙΛΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΟΣ |pages=1}}</ref> By the end of the submission period, CyBC had received 64 entries.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=5 February 1986 |title=Τον κίνδυνο απολύσεων προβάλλει πάλι το ΡΙΚ |trans-title=RIK raises the risk of layoffs again |url=https://pressarchive.cy/s/en/item/579025?q=%22%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%B1%CE%B3%CF%89%CE%BD%CE%B9%CF%83%CE%BC%CF%8C%CF%82%20%CF%84%CF%81%CE%B1%CE%B3%CE%BF%CF%85%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%BF%CF%8D%22#?c=&m=&s=&cv=&xywh=1891%2C3695%2C3748%2C2585 |access-date=17 August 2024 |work=ΦΙΛΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΟΣ |pages=1}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=20 February 1986 |title=Με το «Τώρα ζω» πάμε στη Γιουροβίζιον |trans-title=With "Tora zo" we are going to Eurovision |url=https://pressarchive.cy/s/en/item/579040?q=%22%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%B1%CE%B3%CF%89%CE%BD%CE%B9%CF%83%CE%BC%CF%8C%CF%82%20%CF%84%CF%81%CE%B1%CE%B3%CE%BF%CF%85%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%BF%CF%8D%22#?c=&m=&s=&cv=15&xywh=66%2C4505%2C2613%2C1802 |access-date=17 August 2024 |work=ΦΙΛΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΟΣ |pages=16}}</ref> However, three of the entries were disqualified during the initial presentation of the songs when they were found to break the rules of the preselection.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=20 February 1986 |title=Με ρυθμό σάμπας πάμε στη Γιουροβίζιον |trans-title=We are going to Eurovision with a samba rhythm |url=https://pressarchive.cy/s/en/item/602077?q=%22%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%B1%CE%B3%CF%89%CE%BD%CE%B9%CF%83%CE%BC%CF%8C%CF%82%20%CF%84%CF%81%CE%B1%CE%B3%CE%BF%CF%85%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%BF%CF%8D%22#?c=&m=&s=&cv=13&xywh=1306%2C1908%2C2143%2C1478 |access-date=17 August 2024 |work=ΣΗΜΕΡΙΝΗ |pages=14}}</ref>
==== Format ====
On 6 February 1986, after the song submission period, CyBC held a meeting to discuss the selection procedure of its entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 1986.<ref name=":0" /> It was decided to hold a national final with a similar format to their {{esccnty|Cyprus|y=1984|t=1984}} and {{esccnty|Cyprus|y=1985|t=1985}} selections, but without a public jury.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=8 February 1986 |title=50μελής η Επιτροπή για τη Γιουροβίζιον |trans-title=The Eurovision Commission has 50 members |url=https://pressarchive.cy/s/en/item/579028?q=%22%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%B1%CE%B3%CF%89%CE%BD%CE%B9%CF%83%CE%BC%CF%8C%CF%82%20%CF%84%CF%81%CE%B1%CE%B3%CE%BF%CF%85%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%BF%CF%8D%22#?c=&m=&s=&cv=&xywh=831%2C4176%2C3113%2C2147 |access-date=17 August 2024 |work=ΦΙΛΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΟΣ |pages=1}}</ref> The national final was held on 19 February 1986 in the Hall of Nations in the Filoxenia hotel in [[Nicosia]].<ref name=":2" /> The results were decided by a 44-member jury consisting of: 17 musicians, 13 journalists, 9 CyBC employees, and 5 representatives of the municipalities of Cyprus.<ref name=":1" />
The competition consisted of five stages and lasted the entire day, from around 10:00 [[Eastern European Time|EET]] until 22:00 EET.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite news |date=19 February 1986 |title=ΤΗΛΕ ΣΗΜΕΡΙΝΗ |trans-title=TODAY TELEVISION |url=https://pressarchive.cy/s/en/item/602076?q=%22%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%B1%CE%B3%CF%89%CE%BD%CE%B9%CF%83%CE%BC%CF%8C%CF%82%20%CF%84%CF%81%CE%B1%CE%B3%CE%BF%CF%85%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%BF%CF%8D%22#?c=&m=&s=&cv=3&xywh=2282%2C-48%2C3099%2C2137 |access-date=17 August 2024 |work=ΣΗΜΕΡΙΝΗ |pages=4}}</ref> In the first stage, the submitted recordings of all 64 songs were presented, the invalid entries were removed from the competition, and each jury member chose their sixteen favourite songs, after which the votes were collected and the sixteen songs with the highest number of votes progressed to the second stage. In the second stage, the sixteen songs were presented again and were then whittled down to eight songs, which were then whittled down to four and then two songs. The winner was chosen out of the final two songs, where each jury gave one vote to their favourite song.<ref name=":1" /> The last part of the competition, with the final four songs, was broadcast live at 21:05 [[Eastern European Time|EET]] on television in a program called {{lang|el-latn|Diagonismós Tragoudioú Giourovízion}} ({{small|''{{lang|el|Διαγωνισμός Τραγουδιού Γιουροβίζιον}}''}}).<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Michailidos-Andreos |first=Persefonis |date=16 February 1986 |title=Ζωντανή από την T.V. η τελική διαδικασία επιλογής τραγουδιού για τη Γιουροβίζιον |trans-title=Live from T.V. the final song selection process for Eurovision |url=https://pressarchive.cy/s/en/item/602073?q=%22%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%B1%CE%B3%CF%89%CE%BD%CE%B9%CF%83%CE%BC%CF%8C%CF%82%20%CF%84%CF%81%CE%B1%CE%B3%CE%BF%CF%85%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%BF%CF%8D%22#?c=&m=&s=&cv=&xywh=1504%2C97%2C4421%2C3049 |access-date=17 August 2024 |work=ΣΗΜΕΡΙΝΗ |pages=1}}</ref>
{| class="sortable wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto; text-align:center"
|+Fourth stage - 19 February 1986<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mantzilas |first=Dimitrios |date=2018-11-07 |title=Κύπρος 1986: Φρούδες ελπίδες για την Ελπίδα. Η Κύπρος έρχεται τελευταία. |trans-title=Cyprus 1986: High hopes for Elpida. Cyprus comes last. |url=https://infegreece.com/%CE%BA%CF%8D%CF%80%CF%81%CE%BF%CF%82-1986-cyprus-elpida-tora-zo-%CE%B5%CE%BB%CF%80%CE%AF%CE%B4%CE%B1/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819132617/https://infegreece.com/%CE%BA%CF%8D%CF%80%CF%81%CE%BF%CF%82-1986-cyprus-elpida-tora-zo-%CE%B5%CE%BB%CF%80%CE%AF%CE%B4%CE%B1/ |archive-date=19 August 2022 |access-date=2024-08-17 |website=INFE GREECE |language=el}}</ref>
!Draw
!Artist
!Song
!Songwriter(s)
!Result
|- style="font-weight:bold; background:navajowhite;"
|12
| align="left" |Anna Vissi
| align="left" |"Thelo na gino star" (<small>{{lang|el|Θέλω να γίνω στάρ}}</small>)
| align="left" |Andreas Giorgallis, Stavros Sideras
|Advanced
|- style="font-weight:bold; background:navajowhite;"
|26
| align="left" |Panikos Charalambous
| align="left" |"Tora zo" (<small>{{lang|el|Τώρα ζω}}</small>)
| align="left" |Peter Yiannaki, Phivos Gavris
|Advanced
|-
| {{N/a|}}
| align="left" |Alexia & Andros Papapavlou
| align="left" |"Tragoudo" (<small>{{lang|el|Τραγουδώ}}</small>)
| align="left" |Andros Papapavlou
|Eliminated
|-
| {{N/a|}}
| {{N/a|}}
| align="left" |"Mechri chtes" (<small>{{lang|el|Μέχρι χτες}}</small>)
| {{N/a|}}
|Eliminated
|}
{| class="sortable wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto; text-align:center"
|+Fifth and final stage - 19 February 1986<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=21 February 1986 |title=Γιουροβίζιον: Μέτριο το επίπεδο των περισσότερων τραγουδιών |trans-title=Eurovision: The level of most songs is average |url=https://pressarchive.cy/s/en/item/602078?q=%22%CE%A4%CF%8E%CF%81%CE%B1%20%CE%B6%CF%89%22#?c=&m=&s=&cv=9&xywh=2763%2C238%2C2164%2C1492 |access-date=17 August 2024 |work=ΣΗΜΕΡΙΝΗ |pages=10}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite news |date=24 February 1986 |title=Μετά τα χειροκροτήματα και τους πανηγυρισμούς: Σοβαρά τα προβλήματα τώρα με τη Γιουροβίζιον... Αναζητείται επειγόντως χορευτικό συγκρότημα |trans-title=After the applause and celebrations: Serious problems now with Eurovision... Dance group urgently wanted |url=https://pressarchive.cy/s/en/item/579044?q=%22%CE%A4%CF%8E%CF%81%CE%B1%20%CE%B6%CF%89%22#?c=&m=&s=&cv=3&xywh=260%2C702%2C3791%2C2615 |access-date=17 August 2024 |work=ΦΙΛΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΟΣ |pages=4}}</ref>
!Draw
!Artist
!Song
!Result
!Place
|-
|12
| align="left" |Anna Vissi
| align="left" |"Thelo na gino star" (<small>{{lang|el|Θέλω να γίνω στάρ}}</small>)
|15
|2
|- style="font-weight:bold; background:gold;"
|26
| align="left" |Panikos Charalambous
| align="left" |"Tora zo" (<small>{{lang|el|Τώρα ζω}}</small>)
|29
|1
|}
=== Artist change ===
Shortly after the national final, Peter Yianniki entered discussions on how to stage and perform "{{lang|el-latn|Tora zo|i=no}}" at the Eurovision Song Contest with CyBC.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chatzinikolaous |first=Stavros |date=25 February 1986 |title=Με Το Τραγούδι «Τώρα ζω» Φέτος Στην Γιουροβίζιον |trans-title=With The Song "Now I Live" This Year At Eurovision |url=https://pressarchive.cy/s/en/item/1129730?q=%CE%93%CE%B9%CE%BF%CF%85%CF%81%CE%BF%CE%B2%CE%AF%CE%B6%CE%B9%CE%BF%CE%BD#?c=&m=&s=&cv=&xywh=-2112%2C0%2C9822%2C6774 |access-date=17 August 2024 |work=ΜΕΣΗΜΒΡΙΝΗ |pages=3}}</ref> Peter Yianniki proposed for the song to be performed by a group of three boys and three girls, with Panikos Charalambous being the main singer.<ref>{{Cite news |date=21 February 1986 |title=Με συγκρότημα θα πάμε στη Γιουροβίζιον |trans-title=We are going to Eurovision with a group |url=https://pressarchive.cy/s/en/item/579041?q=%22%CE%A4%CF%81%CE%B1%CE%B3%CE%BF%CF%85%CE%B4%CF%8E%22#?c=&m=&s=&cv=11&xywh=227%2C4609%2C2685%2C1852 |access-date=17 August 2024 |work=ΦΙΛΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΟΣ |pages=12}}</ref> However, CyBC believed that the entry should be sung by a different singer, as they believed Panikos Charalambous' voice was more suited to folk songs, and started looking for famous Greek singers to represent Cyprus.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dometios |first=Agios |date=13 March 1986 |title=ΡΙΚ και «Γιουροβίζιον» |trans-title=RIK and "Eurovision" |url=https://pressarchive.cy/s/en/item/920020?q=%CE%93%CE%B9%CE%BF%CF%85%CF%81%CE%BF%CE%B2%CE%AF%CE%B6%CE%B9%CE%BF%CE%BD#?c=&m=&s=&cv=3&xywh=-173%2C1497%2C2042%2C1408 |access-date=17 August 2024 |work=ΧΑΡΑΥΓΗ |pages=4}}</ref> On 19 March 1986, CyBC announced that Elpida had been chosen by a 3-member group to replace Panikos Charalambous as the singer of "{{lang|el-latn|Tora zo|i=no}}" at the Eurovision Song Contest in Bergen.<ref>{{Cite news |date=20 March 1986 |title=Η Ελπίδα θα τραγουδήσει το «Τώρα ζω» |trans-title=Elpida will sing "Tora zo" |url=https://pressarchive.cy/s/en/item/920025?q=%CE%93%CE%B9%CE%BF%CF%85%CF%81%CE%BF%CE%B2%CE%AF%CE%B6%CE%B9%CE%BF%CE%BD#?c=&m=&s=&cv=9&xywh=2422%2C3029%2C1390%2C958 |access-date=17 August 2024 |work=ΧΑΡΑΥΓΗ |pages=10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=21 March 1986 |title=Ελπίδες με την ελπίδα στη «Γιουροβίζιον» |trans-title=Elpida with hope in "Eurovision" |url=https://pressarchive.cy/s/en/item/602103?q=%22%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%B1%CE%B3%CF%89%CE%BD%CE%B9%CF%83%CE%BC%CF%8C%CF%82%20%CF%84%CF%81%CE%B1%CE%B3%CE%BF%CF%85%CE%B4%CE%B9%CE%BF%CF%8D%22#?c=&m=&s=&cv=9&xywh=1268%2C42%2C3726%2C2570 |access-date=17 August 2024 |work=ΣΗΜΕΡΙΝΗ |pages=10}}</ref>
== At Eurovision ==
On the night of the final Elpida performed fiftenth in the running order, following {{esccnty|Germany|y=1986}} and preceding {{esccnty|Austria|y=1986}}. At the close of voting "{{lang|el-latn|Tora zo|i=no}}" had received 4 points, placing Cyprus in last place out of 20 countries. The Cypriot jury awarded its 12 points to {{esccnty|Yugoslavia|y=1986}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=Final of Bergen 1986 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/bergen-1986/final |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004060852/https://eurovision.tv/event/bergen-1986/final |archive-date=4 October 2023 |access-date=17 August 2024 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union}}</ref>
 
=== Voting ===
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|+ Points awarded to Cyprus<ref name="1986detailed">{{cite web |title=Results of the Final of Bergen 1986 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/bergen-1986/final/results/cyprus |publisher=European Broadcasting Union |access-date=17 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416154358/https://eurovision.tv/event/bergen-1986/final/results/cyprus |archive-date=16 April 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
! scope="col" width="20%" | Score
! scope="col" | Country
|-
! scope="row" | 12 points
|
|-
! scope="row" | 10 points
|
|-
! scope="row" | 8 points
|
|-
! scope="row" | 7 points
|
|-
! scope="row" | 6 points
|
|-
! scope="row" | 5 points
|
|-
! scope="row" | 4 points
|
|-
! scope="row" | 3 points
| {{Esc|Yugoslavia|y=1986}}
|-
! scope="row" | 2 points
|
|-
! scope="row" | 1 point
| {{Esc|Ireland|y=1986}}
|}
{{col-2}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|+ Points awarded by Cyprus<ref name="1986detailed" />
|-
! scope="col" width="20%" | Score
! scope="col" | Country
|-
! scope="row" style="background:gold" | 12 points
| {{Esc|Yugoslavia|y=1986}}
|-
! scope="row" style="background:silver" | 10 points
| {{Esc|Belgium|y=1986}}
|-
! scope="row" style="background:#CC9966" | 8 points
| {{Esc|Luxembourg|y=1986}}
|-
! scope="row" | 7 points
| {{Esc|Denmark|y=1986}}
|-
! scope="row" | 6 points
| {{Esc|Norway|y=1986}}
|-
! scope="row" | 5 points
| {{Esc|Switzerland|y=1986}}
|-
! scope="row" | 4 points
| {{Esc|Iceland|y=1986}}
|-
! scope="row" | 3 points
| {{Esc|Finland|y=1986}}
|-
! scope="row" | 2 points
| {{Esc|United Kingdom|y=1986}}
|-
! scope="row" | 1 point
| {{Esc|Netherlands|y=1986}}
|}
{{col-end}}
== References ==
{{reflist}}
 
{{Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest}}
{{Eurovision Song Contest 1986}}
 
[[Category:Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest|1986]]
[[Category:Countries in the Eurovision Song Contest 1986]]
[[Category:1986 in Cyprus|Eurovision]]