Wed., May 19, 2021
Protest against the song "El Diablo", outside the offices of the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation in Nicosia
NICOSIA (Reuters) - It may have won audiences in Europe, but Cyprus's entry for the Eurovision song contest has raised hackles at home, scandalising the faithful for paying homage to the devil.
"El Diablo" (The Devil), a dance mix performed by Greek singer Elena Tsagrinou, sailed through the first semi final of the contest held in Rotterdam on Tuesday night, securing a place in the May 22 finals.
A small group of people with a powerful loudspeaker system blaring Orthodox hymns protested peacefully outside Cyprus's state broadcaster on Wednesday, saying the song promoted devil worship.
Cyprus's influential Orthodox Church had waded into the fray when the song was unveiled in February, calling for the tune to be withdrawn. Thousands signed an online petition to that effect.
"We must get rid of this blasphemy," said a Greek Orthodox priest who declined to be identified. "It is an affront to Cyprus, and a danger to our children."
Amid the Orthodox chants, the sound of El Diablo was blasting from a nearby Cypriot household.
"This just promotes devil worship," said protester Eleni Ioannou, 62. "The old Eurovision used to be so good. Its all satanic now."
The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation says the song is about the battle between good and evil.
El Diablo is not the only entry to the annual contest with a nod to satan. Norway have their song "Fallen Angel" by the performer TIX, in chains and wearing white wings.
The Netherlands is hosting the 65th edition of the event, which draws a television audience of about 200 million, after Dutch singer-songwriter Duncan Laurence won the 2019 contest with the song 'Arcade'.
The contest was not held in 2020 because of the COVID pandemic. Die-hard fans had to make do instead with the Netflix hit: "Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga" featuring a bumbling duo of soulmates, a giant hamster wheel, cult favourite Jaja Ding Dong and murdering elves.
(Reporting by Michele Kambas; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)
Eurovision: Why Cyprus’s entry ‘El Diablo’ has caused religious controversy
Adam White
Adam White
THE INDEPENDENT
Wed., May 19, 2021
Elena Tsagrinou’s “El Diablo”, which has been accused of glorifying Satan (Panik Records)
The Cypriot entry for this year’s Eurovision Song Contest has been accused of glorifying Satanism.
Elena Tsagrinou’s “El Diablo” will represent Cyprus at the annual event, which will be held on 18 May, but has faced a backlash from Christian groups in the country.
The track finds Tsagrinou singing about falling in love with a villainous man who she compares to Satan.
“I gave my heart to el diablo,” she sings. “Because he tells me I’m his angel.”
The Orthodox Church of Cyprus led protests against the song, and attempted to convince television bosses in the country to withdraw the track from Eurovision.
In a statement, the church’s highest decision-making body claimed that the track “praises the fatalistic submission of humans to the devil’s authority”. They also claim that it “promotes his worship”.
Andreas Frangos, the chairman of Cypriot television channel CyBC, defended the song and said that it will not be withdrawn from the competition.
CyBC have described the track as reflecting “an age-old battle between good and evil”, and specifically a woman trapped in an abusive relationship with a man. They denied that it encouraged devil worship.
Singer-songwriter James Newman will represent the UK at the 18 May event. He had previously been announced as the UK’s representative for 2020’s Eurovision Song Contest, which was cancelled due to the pandemic.
Eurovision rules stipulate that Newman cannot sing the track he was due to perform in 2020, so he will perform a new song at this year’s event, one that he wrote during lockdown.
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Wed., May 19, 2021
Elena Tsagrinou’s “El Diablo”, which has been accused of glorifying Satan (Panik Records)
The Cypriot entry for this year’s Eurovision Song Contest has been accused of glorifying Satanism.
Elena Tsagrinou’s “El Diablo” will represent Cyprus at the annual event, which will be held on 18 May, but has faced a backlash from Christian groups in the country.
The track finds Tsagrinou singing about falling in love with a villainous man who she compares to Satan.
“I gave my heart to el diablo,” she sings. “Because he tells me I’m his angel.”
The Orthodox Church of Cyprus led protests against the song, and attempted to convince television bosses in the country to withdraw the track from Eurovision.
In a statement, the church’s highest decision-making body claimed that the track “praises the fatalistic submission of humans to the devil’s authority”. They also claim that it “promotes his worship”.
Andreas Frangos, the chairman of Cypriot television channel CyBC, defended the song and said that it will not be withdrawn from the competition.
CyBC have described the track as reflecting “an age-old battle between good and evil”, and specifically a woman trapped in an abusive relationship with a man. They denied that it encouraged devil worship.
Singer-songwriter James Newman will represent the UK at the 18 May event. He had previously been announced as the UK’s representative for 2020’s Eurovision Song Contest, which was cancelled due to the pandemic.
Eurovision rules stipulate that Newman cannot sing the track he was due to perform in 2020, so he will perform a new song at this year’s event, one that he wrote during lockdown.
Read More
Italy rehearse for Eurovision 2021
Eurovision Song Contest: Every winner ranked from worst to best
Here’s how to watch Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in the US
Cyprus' devout want no part of Eurovision entry 'El Diablo'
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Cyprus Church Eurovision
A female protestor holds a cross as an Orthodox priest passes during a protest against the Cyprus' song in Eurovision, outside Cyprus' national broadcasting building in capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Wednesday, May 19, 2021. Several dozen Orthodox Christian faithful including clergymen held up wooden crucifixes, icons of saints and a banner declaring Cyprus’ love for Christ in a renewed protest over Cyprus’ controversial entry for the Eurovision song contest that they contend promotes worship of Satan. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
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Netherlands Eurovision Song Contest Semi Final
Elena Tsagrinou from Cyprus performs at the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest at Ahoy arena in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Tuesday, May 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
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Cyprus Church Eurovision
A female protestor holds a cross during a protest against the Cyprus' song in Eurovision, outside Cyprus' national broadcasting building in capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Wednesday, May 19, 2021. Several dozen Orthodox Christian faithful including clergymen held up wooden crucifixes, icons of saints and a banner declaring Cyprus’ love for Christ in a renewed protest over Cyprus’ controversial entry for the Eurovision song contest that they contend promotes worship of Satan. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
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Netherlands Eurovision Song Contest Semi Final
Elena Tsagrinou from Cyprus performs at the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest at Ahoy arena in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Tuesday, May 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
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Cyprus Church Eurovision
Protestor hold a cross and icons during a protest against the Cyprus' song in Eurovision, outside Cyprus' national broadcasting building in capital Nicosia, Cyprus, Wednesday, May 19, 2021. Several dozen Orthodox Christian faithful including clergymen held up wooden crucifixes, icons of saints and a banner declaring Cyprus’ love for Christ in a renewed protest over Cyprus’ controversial entry for the Eurovision song contest that they contend promotes worship of Satan. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
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Netherlands Eurovision Song Contest Semi Final
Elena Tsagrinou from Cyprus performs at the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest at Ahoy arena in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Tuesday, May 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
MENELAOS HADJICOSTIS
Wed., May 19, 2021
NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — Several dozen Orthodox Christian faithful and clergy members held up wooden crucifixes, icons of saints and a banner declaring Cyprus’ love for Christ in a renewed protest Wednesday over the island nation's entry in the Eurovision Song Contest, which they contend promotes Satan worship.
The protest, held opposite the gates of the offices of state broadcaster RIK, was the second against the song “El Diablo” staged by Christians who argue the number has no place as the national song of Cyprus in the contest because of what they say is its brazen invitation to embrace the devil.
Both RIK and singer Elena Tsagrinou, who represents Cyprus in the contest underway this week in the Netherlands, say critics have misinterpreted the lyrics of “El Diablo” and that it’s actually about an abusive relationship between two lovers.
The song passed its first competition hurdle during a Tuesday semifinal and made it into the contest's final round, set for Saturday in Rotterdam.
The people protesting Wednesday saw that as no cause for celebration, insisting that “El Diablo” is an affront to Cypriots’ Orthodox faith.
“This song doesn’t represent Cyprus. It doesn’t honor it. It insults Cyprus, it desecrates Cyprus and is dangerous, my good Orthodox Christians,” an unnamed clergyman said into a microphone while addressing the demonstrators. “It’s dangerous to our children, to our families. There is no chance that the devil can do any good to anyone.”
The Cypriot government has said that while dissent is respected, freedom of expression cannot be quashed.
The powerful Orthodox Church of Cyprus called for the withdrawal of the song in March, saying it mocked the Mediterranean island nation's moral foundations by advocating “our surrender to the devil and promoting his worship.”
The Church’s highest decision-making body, the Holy Synod, urged the state broadcaster to replace it with one that “expresses our history, culture, traditions and our claims.”
Police also charged a man with uttering threats and causing a disturbance when he barged onto the grounds of the public broadcaster to protest what he condemned as a “blasphemous” song.
Tsagrinou played down the controversy. She said “El Diablo,” which she performs flanked by four dancers in skin-tight red costumes, is about an abusive relationship and has nothing to do with devil worship.
She said dealing with COVID-19 restrictions was tough while preparing for the contest, “but that’s not going to keep us back, and we’re going to feel the vibe that we want to feel and the smile on our face.”
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