Eurovision 2019 spotlight: Greece's Katerina Duska with "Better Love"...

As we continue to go through the first semi-finals in my spotlight on the countries and artists participating in the annual Eurovision Song Contest being held in Tel Aviv, Israel this year, you can catch up with the series so far by clicking here. And on we go...

We now catch up to Greece, who had been sadly left behind in the semis with the stellar Enya-esque new age track "Oniru Mou" ("My Dream") from Yianna Terzi. It honestly was the most striking and culturally true song they've sent to the competition in years, and I had heard there was an issue with the staging that caused a bit of drama in Lisbon last year, but honestly it was a surprise that it stayed behind the pack. But as opposed to Portugal, who had also had a poor result with a song that was true to them, Greece went back to what works, and in this case, the pop radio friendly fare that brought Demy's fun but bland "This Is Love" to the finals.

Greece - "Better Love" by Katerine Duska

Duska, who was born in Montreal, Canada, but now calls Athens her home, has a gruff but pleasant voice very much like the blue-eyed soul of Jess Glynne. She had released an album in 2015, Embodiment, that is quite a good listen. She was chosen internally to go to Eurovision by the broadcaster. And the song she'll be performing in Eurovision, "Better Love", is really like Glynne's pop-dance fare as well. Co-written by two British singers, David Sneddon and Leon From Athens along with Duska, this is a mainstream radio-style success, and her delivery sets her above the usual.

The studio version of the song is a great listen, both with the production as well as Duska's delivery. But whether this will translate on stage is another question. So far her live takes have been a little uneven (she has been has tackling voice troubles due to illness, a common temporary occurance that goes with traveling all over creation promoting the song), and in Tel Aviv, you're only able to have six people at most onstage, which obviously means the music video image that features scores of women will have to be revamped, but I believe they learned from mistakes last year. There already is a groundswell of love for the song, and as long as she can be true to the studio version and give the audience a little bit more, then Katerine not only should make the finals, but is a good shot for the top ten. (Rating 8/10)

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Greece has been taking part in Eurovision since 1974, and have made the top ten in many years. Their best showing came in 2005 when Helena Paparizou won the whole thing with "My Number One", which not only succeeded at the event but became a bona fide international hit, even going to #8 on Billboard magazine's Dance Club Play chart and #25 on Dance Singles Sales chart in America... 

As for a personal favorite, there are quite a few from this country, but one that stands out is "Never Let You Go" from Mando, which came in 17th in 2003...

And for kicks, one of the most fun and well-done songs from the "comic" category of songs that always ends up here came in 2013 when the band Koza Mostra featuring folk singer Agathonas Iakovidis took sixth place with the slyly political "Alcohol Is Free"...