Totton calling! Town boasts links to Moldova's Eurovision entry
THE song which will be Moldova’s 2019 Eurovision entry has been penned by a former resident of Totton.
Composer Georgios Kalpakidis began his song writing career while living in the town years ago, and even posted demo recordings around the globe from the Water Lane post office.
He then returned to his native Thessaloniki in Greece where he enjoyed a successful television presenting career, and continued to compose music for singers from across Europe.
Just over a year ago Georgios was approached to co-write a song for the Moldovan Eurovision final and, although it was not ultimately chosen for the 2018 contest, this year Georgios’ co-written song Stay has been picked to be performed in Tel Aviv by Anna Odobescu.
Georgios’ longstanding friend Gordon Lewis, former editor of the UK’s Eurovision magazine Vision, recalls the pair first meet at the 2001 Eurovision final in Copenhagen.
Gordon said: “At that time Geogios was working as a presenter for Cypriot TV but he told me about his ambition to work in the UK because he thought it was the place to come to further his music career.”
Georgios subsequently made contact to say he had secured a contract in London working in PR management, and Gordon and his wife offered to put him up at their home in Totton whilst he looked for accommodation.
Gordon said: “Georgios lived with us for few weeks but then ended up living in Totton and commuting to London because the cost of accommodation was so much cheaper.”
After 18 months living in the UK, Georgios was unable to get his big break in the music industry and so returned to Greece, but maintained contact with Gordon and his family.
Gordon said: “Georgios has remained a close friend and we will all be supporting his entry for Moldova when the competition gets underway.”
Unlike the UK, which has automatic entry to the Eurovision final, Stay has to qualify from the second semi-final which will be televised in the UK on Thursday 16th May.
Gordon continued: “I hoping that anyone living in Totton and the New Forest will vote for Moldova so that Georgios’ song can go through to the grand final on Saturday 18th May. I will be voting five times – the maximum I allowed to.
“I am so pleased that 18 years after starting his song writing career in Totton, his song will be performed to millions of people across Europe.”
Georgios’ entry is not first time Totton has been linked to Eurovision - choreographer, Chrissy Wickham, who grew up in the town, was behind the dance routine that helped secure the UK’s 1981 winning entry Making Your Mind Up by Bucks Fizz.