greece song contest greece entered song contest song secret combination written lyrics song performed american singer greek descent previously won greek talent february selection process organized greek national broadcaster competing artists performed prospective entries live televised broadcast watched nearly million viewers secret combination selected represent greece song contest combination public panel judges following promotional tour european cities secret combination came semi finals belgrade seen possible competition winner greece ninth appearance secret combination initially led voting marks countries song ultimately finished russia ukraine greece previously won competition song went chart european countries reaching number greece cyprus citing differences record label briefly moved united_states returning greece january regards performance pivotal moment career stated interview desire people greece proud performance regardless competition outcome background prior contest greece participated song contest times entry winning song number performed placed twice song die performed duo antique shake performed following introduction semi finals contest greece placing year greece successful result placed twentieth song receiving points total cyprus greek national broadcaster broadcasts event greece year selection process entry selected high profile artists internally set national finals choose song held televised national final choose song performer song contest decided hold televised national final failing secure big artist year participation contest asked represent greece accept officials approached represent greece declined offer pregnant selection procedure december officially announced participants greek national final young performers mainly new greek music scene greek singers young fairly new album releases time contest emerged reality talent dream releasing album reversal reached greek chart started musical career released studio albums born united_states greek descent gained popularity greece winning greek talent fame story appearance released studio albums certified gold participants songs submitted january order accepted february songs national final leaked internet days set release date press conference february february press conference athens hotel officially revealed songs media public details national final national final place february arena winner chosen internal jury songs chance love record label chose song composed lyrics previously written lyrics represented greece provisional title song love later changed chance love song ethnic style described dance oriental lyrics greek english forever record label sony greece chose forever song lyrics known dance pop songs previously submitted songs past national finals including welcome party song originally presented press conference original form pop song rock feel national final sang dance version secret combination record company heaven music submissions chose secret combination upbeat song composed lyrics song american production style contain greek musical elements use greek hand drum western rhythm wrote lyrics cyprus song written songs featured platinum gold certified albums result national final took place february arena stage slightly bigger previous year sang chosen song live winner selected internal jury president jury included executive representatives radio divisions singer hosted sisters known actresses comedy singers greece previous year additional entertainment participants countries song contest featured international participants included romania cyprus greece performed entry previously single national final streamed live net official websites song contest las_vegas girl theme despite small faults program production ran smoothly lasted half hours broadcast topped programs aired february according estimated million viewers watched overall winner coming second jury vote promotion promote secret combination music video officially released march shown exclusively net available internationally director directed video winning entry appearance contest went promotional tour singing secret combination countries stop march guest appearances major television radio programs staying march march arrived romania day stay appeared television gave interviews brief break traveled turkey arriving april posed pictures gave interviews local media went shopping grand turkish media met patriarch constantinople wished success presented april reached addition hosting pink appeared television shows gave interviews met sister bosnia contest went belgrade serbia guest star morning television performed secret combination live interview spent day belgrade returned greece conclude tour greece granted spot final seventh place finish song contest compete semi final time new rules effect previous years countries received placing automatically granted spot year final having compete semi final changed automatic qualification regulations countries big france germany spain united_kingdom host country pass semi finals split countries friendly voting history separate semi finals better chance countries win greece cyprus accused favoring awarding maximum number points previous contest january held special draw determined greece semi final held belgrade serbia cyprus subsequently placed second semi final sisters commentators semi final final greek jury spokesperson semi final presented secret combination nineteenth semi final march composer announced song appearance changes included new beat introduction changes chorus announced new version presented official version song stage included new choreography backing vocalists started sitting diamond bench held dancers got started dance routine complex choreography large purple book stage opened heart shaped pop book stepped sang lyrics open book time book opening removed pink dress revealing pink silver mini dress underneath middle song break cameras cut provocative dance shaking body end song slightly lifted dancers background image stage skyline buildings moved glowing lights wore clothes exclusively managed finish place nineteen countries receiving points final performed repeat semi final performance final act countries spain having led initially voting greece finished place russia ukraine receiving points greece received points maximum number points country country countries broadcast received ratings watched million people greece secret combination successful hit europe peaking number greece cyprus charting number countries press conference athens final said honor represent greece contest thanked greece supported moment said compete reported later returned united_states felt record label paid arrangements heaven stay belgrade pay things interview father stated treated like dirt continue singing career response new ceo claimed surprised remarks couldn offer explanation contract honored choose sing returned greece january interview said participation biggest thing career personal events life remembered good memories asked expected competition stated wanted wanted greek people proud performance regardless interview host stated including viewed defining point career date mature professional performance distanced innocent little girl image associated participation greece
Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008