Lisa Andreas

Lisa Andreas
Lisa Andreas during a rehearsal at the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 in Istanbul
Lisa Andreas during a rehearsal at the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 in Istanbul
Born
Lisa Large

(1987-12-22) 22 December 1987 (age 36)
England
OccupationSinger
Musical career
OriginKent, England
InstrumentVocals

Lisa Jayne Porter (née Large; 22 December 1987), better known by the stage name Lisa Andreas (Greek: Λίζα Αντρέας), is an English-Cypriot singer, dancer and artist, best known for representing Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 with the song "Stronger Every Minute".

Early life

Andreas was born in England to a British father and Greek Cypriot mother. She was christened in Cyprus, where she lived for two-and-a-half years, before moving with her family to Gillingham.[1][2]

She attended Chatham Grammar School for Girls.[3] She graduated from the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance with a bachelor's degree in Voice and Musical Theatre.[4][5]

Career

At the age of 13, Andreas began performing as a solo artist, singing mainly in pubs and karaoke competitions; winning one held at The Strand in Gillingham, Kent.[3][6]

On 26 January 2004 it was announced that Andreas had been selected to compete in the Cypriot national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 with the song "Stronger Every Minute".[7] She later went on to win the competition with 96 points, earning her the right to represent the country at the contest.[8] Following her selection, the song, which featured one line in Greek, was reworked to be performed entirely in the English language.[9] In Istanbul, she performed 14th during the semi-final and qualified for the grand final, where she later placed 5th overall with a total of 170 points.[10][11]

Following her participation, Andreas joined a female hip-hop dance troupe, performing at the London Palladium and Her Majesty's Theatre. She later worked as a teacher at a dance school.[12]

In 2007, she participated in the fourth series of The X Factor, where she advanced to the second round.[13]

Personal life

In 2014, she moved to Tucson, Arizona, where she currently resides with her family.[4][5]

References

  1. ^ Bakker, Sietse (5 April 2004). "An interview with Lisa Andreas!". ESCToday. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  2. ^ "Kent girl is Cyprus Eurovision star". BBC News. 22 February 2004. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Top five for Kent Eurovision girl". BBC News. 16 May 2004. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  4. ^ a b Argyriou, Giannis (29 June 2021). "Lisa Andreas: "Never Say Never" to a Eurovision comeback for Cyprus!". Eurovisionfun. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Meet Lisa Jayne Porter | Artist, Singer, Dancer, Actor, Writer". Shoutout Arizona. 28 November 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  6. ^ Delaney, Sean (16 May 2020). "Eurovision 2020: Kent's winners, flops and other odd entries at Europe's greatest song contest including Bucks Fizz and Blue". Kent Online. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  7. ^ Christodoulides, Louis (26 January 2004). "Cyprus announces national final candidates". ESCToday. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  8. ^ Barak, Itamar (17 February 2004). "Lisa Andreas will represent Cyprus in Turkey". ESCToday. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  9. ^ Roxburgh, Gordon (6 May 2004). "Lisa: "Politics shouldn't be involved"". ESCToday. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  10. ^ "Semi-Final of Istanbul 2004". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  11. ^ "Grand Final of Istanbul 2004". European Broadcasting Union. Archived from the original on 4 October 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  12. ^ "Lisa Andreas (Cyprus 2004) speaks to ogaespain.com". OGAE Spain (in Spanish). 13 July 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  13. ^ Yazıcıtunc, Gunec Gulun (6 January 2021). "Eurovision 2004: Cyprus' Lisa Andreas in focus". EuroVisionary. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
Preceded by Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest
2004 		Succeeded by