Limassol, Cyprus. Antigoni says she has been met with strong support in Cyprus after her Eurovision appearance, days after the grand final in which she placed 19th. She said the reaction to Jalla made her feel better about the result.
Support after the final
Antigoni said she had felt “overwhelmed with love” since returning, adding that she had not expected to be welcomed so warmly by Cypriot audiences after the song’s release.
She said the response had helped her put the final result in perspective. She took part in the second semi-final on May 14 and qualified for the grand final.
A Cypriot phrase on the Eurovision stage
For months, people in Cyprus have been using “jalla, jalla” in everyday conversation, turning the phrase into a catchword associated with the song.
Antigoni said she had long wanted to use the Cypriot dialect in Eurovision and that she was the first artist to include Cypriot words in a Eurovision song.
She said Jalla reflected a Cypriot habit of always wanting more, describing the word as part of the culture. She pointed to Cypriot meals, saying that even when people are full, there is still room for more food, dessert and shots.
Rehearsals and performances in Vienna
Antigoni said she was surprised by how familiar the arena in Vienna felt after repeated rehearsals.
She said contestants performed in four major events during the week: the televised semi-final, the jury semi-final, the jury final and the live final.
Antigoni added that the atmosphere among contestants was supportive rather than competitive. She said she became friends with Dara from Bulgaria, Sarah from Germany, Jonas from Norway and Akylas from Greece.
