Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009

The Cypriot national final developed by CyBC in order to select Cyprus' entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 took place on 31 January 2009 at the CyBC Studio 3 in Nicosia.[4][5] The show was hosted by Charis Kkolos and Maria Michail and broadcast on RIK 1, RIK Sat, Trito Programma, London Greek Radio as well as online via the broadcaster's website cybc.cy.[6]

Artists and composers were able to submit their entries to the broadcaster between 10 October 2008 and 28 November 2008. All artists and songwriters were required to have Cypriot nationality, origin or residency as of 2007.[7][8] At the conclusion of the deadline, 74 entries were received by CyBC.[9] A seven-member selection committee which included two CyBC representatives shortlisted 20 entries from the received submissions, and the 10 selected entries were announced on 16 December 2008.[10] Among the competing artists were 1995 and 2000 Cypriot Eurovision entrant Alex Panayi and 1999 Cypriot Eurovision entrant Marlain Angelidou.[11]

The final took place on 7 February 2009.[12] Ten entries competed and the winner, "Firefly" performed by Christina Metaxa, was selected exclusively by a public televote.[13] In addition to the performances of the competing entries, the show featured a guest performance by 2007 Greek Eurovision entrant Sarbel.[14]

Christina Metaxa made several appearances across Europe to specifically promote "Firefly" as the Cypriot Eurovision entry. On 12 March, Metaxa performed "Firefly" during the Greek Eurovision national final Ellinikós Telikós 2009.[15] On 18 April, Metaxa performed during the Eurovision in Concert event which was held at the Amsterdam Marcanti venue in Amsterdam, Netherlands and hosted by Marga Bult and Maggie MacNeal.[16] On 17 April, Metaxa performed during the UK Eurovision Preview Party, which was held in London, United Kingdom and hosted by Nicki French and Paddy O'Connell.[17] Christina Metaxa also took part in promotional activities in Ukraine between 21 and 24 April which included several television and radio appearances.[18][19]

Christina Metaxa took part in technical rehearsals on 5 and 8 May, followed by dress rehearsals on 13 and 14 May. The Cypriot performance featured Christina Metaxa wearing a white dress and joined by five backing vocalists, two of them in the front of the stage and dressed in white with the remaining three at the back of the stage and dressed in black. The performance featured Metaxa and the two backing vocalists on shining white rotating boxes that were stapled at the end of the song. The stage and LED screens predominantly displayed sea blue colours and a dark forest background with falling leaves and fireflies.[24][25] The artistic director of the performance was Fotis Nikolaou.[18] The backing vocalists that joined Christina Metaxa were Anna-Karin Eliades, Chris Charalambides, the composer of "Firefly" Nikolas Metaxas, Riana Athanasiou and Richard Hall.[26]

At the end of the show, Cyprus was not announced among the top 10 entries in the second semi-final and therefore failed to qualify to compete in the final. It was later revealed that Cyprus placed fourteenth in the semi-final, receiving a total of 32 points.[27]

Below is a breakdown of points awarded to Cyprus and awarded by Cyprus in the second semi-final and grand final of the contest. The nation awarded its 12 points to Greece in the semi-final and to the final of the contest.