"Gimme" is a song recorded by Cypriot boy band One, written by Giorgos Theofanous. It represented Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest 2002, held in Tallinn.
| "Gimme" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Single by One | |
| from the album Έχω Τόσα Να Σου Πω | |
| Released | 2002 |
| Length | 3:03 |
| Label | Minos EMI |
| Songwriter(s) | Giorgos Theofanous |
| Eurovision Song Contest 2002 entry | |
| Country | |
| Artist(s) |
|
| As | |
| Language | English |
| Composer(s) | |
| Lyricist(s) | Giorgos Theofanous |
| Finals performance | |
| Final result | 6th |
| Final points | 85 |
| Entry chronology | |
| ◄ "Nomiza" (2000) | |
| "Feeling Alive" (2003) ► | |
Background
editConception
edit"Gimme" was written by Giorgos Theofanous. It is a boy band number, with a girl being asked to give a sign that she loves the singer.[1]
Eurovision
editIn late 2001, the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC) internally selected the boy band One as its performer for the 47th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. CyBC commissioned Theofanous to write a song especially for the occasion. He wrote "Gimme" and the band recorded it in English, Greek –as "Δεν μπορώ"–,[2] and Spanish –as "Dame"–.[3]
On 25 May 2002, the Eurovision Song Contest was held at the Saku Suurhall in Tallinn hosted by Eesti Televisioon (ETV), and broadcast live throughout the continent. One performed the song first on the night –accompanied by Christina Argyri as backing singer–, followed by the United Kingdom's "Come Back" by Jessica Garlick.[4] It was the first time in the contest that the Cypriot entry did not feature any Greek lyrics as it was performed fully in English. A few seconds after the lead singer Constantinos Christoforou began singing, a technical hitch led to show a caption bearing the words 'the ugly duckling' –it was the postcard meant to be shown before the United Kingdom's performance–. The live signal from the stage was quickly brought back.
At the close of voting, it had received 85 points, placing sixth in a field of twenty-four.[5] The song was succeeded as Cypriot entry at the 2003 contest by "Feeling Alive" by Stelios Constantas.[6]
Aftermath
edit"Gimme" was included in the band's third studio album Έχω Τόσα Να Σου Πω released in May 2002. The album was certified platinum in both Greece (+50,000 copies) and Cyprus (+6,000 copies).[7]
Christoforou had already participated for Cyprus at the Eurovision Song Contest 1996 with the song "Mono Yia Mas". He would later make a further solo appearance at the 2005 contest with "Ela Ela (Come Baby)" after the band formally disbanded. Therefore, "Gimme" represents the middle leg in a rare sequence of a Eurovision contestant performing solo, then as a member of a vocal group, before a second solo performance.[8]
On 4 March 2015, the group reunited to perform "Gimme" as guests performers at the Greek national final for the Eurovision Song Contest 2015.[9]
Chart history
edit| Singles chart (2002) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Greece (Top 50 Singles Charts)[10] | 2 |
Legacy
editImpersonations
edit- In the third episode of the fourth season of Your Face Sounds Familiar aired on 7 May 2017 on ANT1, Aris Makris impersonated Constantinos Christoforou singing "Gimme" replicating One's performance at Eurovision.[11]
References
edit- ^ "Cyprus 2002". The Diggiloo Thrush.
- ^ "Draft of One – Gimme (2002, CD)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
- ^ "One – Dame (2002, CD)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
- ^ "Eurovision Song Contest 2002". Eurovision Song Contest. 25 May 2002. ETV / EBU.
- ^ "Official Eurovision Song Contest 2002 scoreboard". Eurovision Song Contest. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
- ^ ""Feeling Alive" at the official Eurovision Song Contest site". Eurovision Song Contest. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
- ^ "Έχω Τόσα Να Σου Πω by ONE [GRE] sales and awards". bestsellingalbums.org.
- ^ "One - Gimme (CYPRUS)". Retrieved 24 December 2021 – via YouTube.
- ^ Vranis, Michalis (4 March 2015). "Watch now: Greece selects their Eurovision entry". esctoday.com. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
- ^ "Greek Singles Charts Top 50 Singles". Archived from the original on 2002-06-02. Retrieved 2002-06-02.
- ^ "YFSF 4: Εντυπωσίασε ο Άρης Μακρής ως Κωνσταντίνος Χριστοφόρου". gossip-tv.gr (in Greek). 7 May 2017.