Newsroom
Cyprus' Eurovision hopes were dashed on Tuesday night in Basel, Switzerland, as Theo Evan's electric performance of "Shhh" couldn’t quite crack the top ten in a fiercely competitive semi-final.
The Limassol-born singer gave it everything: futuristic visuals, sleek choreography, and a stage presence full of attitude. Drawing inspiration from da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man, Evan closed the night’s first semi-final with a dramatic, high-concept act that stood out, but sadly, not quite enough.
Despite the hype, Cyprus was among the five countries eliminated, along with Belgium, Croatia, Slovenia, and Azerbaijan. Making it through to Saturday's grand final were favorites like Ukraine, Sweden, and Norway, as well as surprise qualifiers like San Marino and Portugal.
Evan, who was selected internally by state broadcaster CyBC, had been considered a strong contender by Eurovision fans. His song, penned by seasoned Eurovision songwriters Dimitris Kontopoulos and Elsie Bay, had the pulse of a modern radio hit and the confidence of a seasoned performer. But in a night where only ten of fifteen acts could advance, Cyprus simply didn’t make the cut.
This marks a letdown for the island, which had high hopes after last year’s final appearance by Silia Kapsis. The result also stings a little more given the strong build-up and production value of this year’s entry.
Still, Eurovision is as unpredictable as ever, a mix of musical merit, politics, fan momentum, and a touch of luck.
The Grand Final of Eurovision 2025 takes place this Saturday, with the ten qualifiers joining the "Big Five" (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK) and host country Switzerland. Cyprus, meanwhile, will be watching from the sidelines.
