Sylvia sings for Cyprus!

 –The songwriter Nasos Lambrianides has done a good job. It’s a sing-along song with appeal to all generations, but Cypriots are patriotic, and the fact that we got an unprecedented full house of points from both jury and judges was really a vote of confidence.

Along with husband Jon Gregory, Sylvia Strand runs Gold Disc Productions from their home . Photo: Nathan Bevan

Fun while playing
In addition to playing the piano and singing, Sylvia Strand also co-produced and arranged the song "Life looks better in spring". Together with her husband Jon Gregory she runs a small production studio in Wales. When Nasos Lambrianides called the couple in December to tell that the song had been nominated to the Eurovision song contest in Cyprus, their first thought was: –Great, we’ve never been to Cyprus, let’s go. Free vacation.

–While performing in Cyprus we were not nervous at all, she recalls, because we didn’t know any of the other contestants. We were having fun while playing.

The band Jon Lilygreen and the Islanders is a band with musicians from Ireland, Cyprus, Wales, Norway and Scotland. The charm on the stage stems among others from the frank appeal and energy the participating musicians bring. Sylvia and Jon handpicked a group of fine musicians, among others Sylvia’s student Jon Lilygreen.

Eurovision is a great song writing contest
When asked what she thinks of Eurovision as a concept, Sylvia Strand responded: –Eurovision is a great song writing contest. What I feel is a bit sad, is that there is no orchestra anymore. I would have been so proud to hear “Kringkastingsorkesteret” the Norwegian national braodcasting orchestra  play my string arrangement.  The vocals are live, but isn’t it kind of sad that the whole competition is reduced to a kind of karaoke?

Most Norwegians probably know her music already from “Der ingen skulle tru at nokon kunne bu”, a beloved TV-show in Norway. Sylvia graduated from the Royal Welsh College of Music of Drama in 2003, and she is currently writing her PhD on Olivier Messien’s cycle of songs.

–I liked what VG posted on their website about the song: “guitar pop” with sunshine and soul in the chorus, she says. We play music to make people happy.

Eurovision 2010 in Oslo is a chance to expand their music to a much bigger audience. Considered the ultimate musical event of the year, it is a great chance.
 
Good luck in Oslo!

Life looks better in spring 
Music:  Nasos Lambrianides, Melis Constantinou 
Lyrics:   Nasos Lambrianides 
Performance: Jon Lilygreen & the Islanders