Autostop
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| Autostop | ||
|---|---|---|
| Eurovision Song Contest 1980 entry | ||
| Country | Greece | |
| Artist(s) | Anna Vissi | |
| With | The Epikouri | |
| Language | Greek | |
| Composer(s) | Jick Nacassian | |
| Lyricist(s) | Rony Sofu | |
| Place | 13th | |
| Points | 30 | |
| Lyrics | from the Diggiloo Thrush | |
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Autostop (Greek script: Ωτοστόπ, English translation: "Hitch-Hiking") was the Greek entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1980, performed in Greek by Anna Vissi and The Epikouri.
The song was the third performed that night (following Turkey's Ajda Pekkan with Pet'r Oil and preceding Luxembourg's Sophie & Magaly with Papa Pingouin). At the close of voting, it had received 30 points, placing 13th in a field of 19.
With music by Jick Nacassian and lyrics by Rony Sofu, the song is an up-tempo number in praise of the tradition of hitch-hiking throughout Europe, the only Contest song to date to mention this activity. Vissi suggests that it is the best way of seeing the world, and sings that one can even go as far as China. Indeed, the lyrics consist of a catalogue of locations - as far-flung as Cairo and Vladivostok - that can be visited in this manner. The song is also memorable for the frequent repetition of the title, with the word being sung 37 times.
Also of note is the fact that Lia Vissi, Anna's older sister, made an appearance as one of the backing singers, having done the same one year before. Both sisters would go on (at the 1982 Contest in Anna's case and the 1985 Contest in Lia's) to represent their country of birth, Cyprus.
It was succeeded as Greek representative at the 1981 Contest by Yiannis Dimitras with Fegari Kalokerino.
