Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Carlo Conti has announced today the Big artists taking part in the 76th Sanremo festival della canzone italiana or simply Sanremo 2026. As widely speculated in the past few weeks the cast may not be as "big" as usually and eyeing it as  the Eurovision in mind it looks rather slim. But then again, let's hear the songs before judging more! Among the artists we have previous winners Arisa (2014), Ermal Meta (2018), Marco Masini (2004) and Francesco Renga (2005) among Big. The previous Newcomers winners among them are Leo Gassman (2020) and previously listed Arisa (2009) and Marco Masini (1990). Eurovision veterans are Ermal Meta (2018), Raf (1987) and again Marco Masini as backing singer (1987).  For this blogger the list includes some names I have no idea of: Bambole di pezza, Eddie Brock, Colombre, Nayt and Samurai Jay among with other names I know the name of but have no idea of their music like Luchè, Sayf and Tredici Pietro. Thus I guess I can consider myself able to jo...

  He's done it again. A real fun banger.  He did Amsterdam's Het grote songfestivalfeest again this year opening the whole show this time

  Another dose of #Finpop 2025. With already familiar names with their latest. Enjoy! Pihlaja - BMW Aatulove - Onnenkyynelii Mikael Gabriel / Senni - Sotilas Ellimei - Susta löysin kodin

  This week's dose includes UMK veteran Goldielocks teaming up with Eurovision veteran TEYA, another Eurovision veteran Joel Hokka, ex-Blind Channel debuting with his new band simply calle HOKKA, another big name collaboration between Tippa-T and Robin Packalen and a new fresh name Helmi Marleena. Enjoy! Goldielocks / TEYA - My religion Helmi Marleena - Sydän sydän sydän Tippa-T / Robin Packalen - Et ollut se HOKKA - In the darkness

  Here comes another dose of #Finpop 2025 with already more or less established  names with their latest efforts. Enjoy! Vahtera - Seitsemäs kerta Lage / Lauri Haav - Yksin tääl Jaakko Kulta - Älä pyydä mua päättää ABREU / Ahti - 7 syntiä 

Käärijä has cha cha chad already almost three years and Finns - and not only - love him as much as ever. Since Eurovision he has released an album, a string of singles with various collaborations at home and abroad, toured Finland and Europe a few times to sold out venues, performed in Eurovision song contest as guest star two years in a row, making him do Eurovision three years in a row,  and this fall he has starred in ever so popular Vain elämää series doing covers of other singers songs on weekly basis. And now.... finally! He has announced an arena concert in Veikkaus Arena, the new names very arena that hosted the Eurovision 2007 in Helsinki.  He has teased many guests, most likely at least everyone he has collaborated (see videos below) and that's not all for sure.  Slovenian Joker Out will be the opening act prior Käärijä stars in their show in Slovenia in June 20,  2026. For this bromance he skips the very generous midsummer gigs in Finland that he could hav...

After Pippo Baudo another Sanremo legend leaves us. Bebbe Vessicchio is dead. He has conducted maybe more Sanremo entries than anyone else (or so it seems as it was always a pleasure to see him appear!) and each time he appeared in front of the orchestra it was a good sign, his sole appearance made you in a good mood.  Giuseppe, or Bebbe as everyone knew him, was born in Naples in 1956. He started his musical career with singers like Nino Buonocore. Edoardo Bennato, Peppino di Capri, Peppino Gagliardi and Gino Paoli with him he wrote hits like Ti lascio una canzone . Soon he was working in television and most notably in festival of Sanremo since 1990 conducting dozens of entries, apparently over 120! His arrangement won the best arrangement award in 1994 , 1997 , 1998 and 2000 , and he conducted the winning entries in 2000 (Avion Travel - Sentimento ), 2003 (Alexia - Per dire di no ), 2010 (Valerio Scanu - Per tutte le volte che ) and 2011 (Roberto Vecchioni - Chiamami amcora amo...

Another dose of #Finpop 2025 and.... #UMK2026 rejects? As Berta and Tina among others have already publicly told they submitted an entry (that you can sneak peak in TikTok) most every other around 3 minute song released is under suspicion these weeks.   Lauri Mikkola is no stranger to national selection and is house singer for Yle's Elämäni biisi shows while the others here are new fresh names who could try to enter UMK to boost their careers. Right? Lauri Mikkola - Jos kukaan ei näkis Sofia Voltti - Suru ei oo sairaus Heidi Beth - Miehii sataa Jamie - Kokonaan ilman sua

Here comes the season's first confirmed artist. Cyprys and CyBc has internally chosen Antigoni Buxton for Eurovision song contest 2026. She lives in London, has Cypriot parents and is best known for her participation in Love Island UK in 2022. She's also doing radio show Crazy roommates.  She signed her first publishing deal at the age of 14 and has since been developing her style mixing hip hop, pop and bouzuki waiting for her big break through that might just happen next spring as her dream of Eurovision becomes reality.  Her entry for Vienna 2026 will be released later. meanwhile you can enjoy some of her previous songs below:

Today's hot news is Canadian CBC/Radio Canada might enter Eurovision song contest. This blogger isn't surprised at all and after initial confusion I can't quite see why not? After all Australia is in already for ten years and even if Australians might be more keen viewers of the contest already for decades the Canadian singers in the Eurovision pout number the Australians pre-participation 9-4 with a quick count. Everybody is aware Celine Dion did Eurovision and won for Switzerland in 1988 but not so many don't remember also Lara Fabian did it for Belgium. For the other internationally known names we have Natasha St-Pier and La Zarra doing ti for France but they are not alone. Read more below. As for the Australians I only remember Olivia Newton-John, double winner Johnny Logan, Gina G and Jane Comerford of Texas Lightning. check them also below. CANADIANS (of birth fully or partly or some other way): Sherisse Laurence - L'amour de ma vie - Luxemburg (3rd) Celine D...

  Another dose of #Finpop 2025, already the 40th this year. That's 40 x 4 new Finnish songs and artists already! This time real newcomers, some of these even with their debut release! Aleksi & Eemeli - Miten sä et vois haluta mua Raama - Tuntemattomii TOIVONEN - Ikuisuus on liian pitkä aika olla yksin SCHAR, Scharliina - Needed

 Yum yum, another Eurovision collaboration is here: Australia's Go-Jo and Finland's Erika Vikman met in Paris for some Appetite. Enjoy!

  Another dose of #Finpop. Are these #UMK2026 drop outs or not? We will find out in a few months! Senni - Tuu mun kaa Joe L - Pisamat ja naarmut emma & matilda - Ei kulu päivääkään Henna Uoti - Hoivatuuli

  Here we go again for another dose of #Finpop with songs and names that may or may not have been submitted to #UMK2026 as fandom speculates about most every song released from now on around 3 minutes mark as possible #UMK drop out.... Ellimei - Mun ihminen Benjamin - Bensaa tulipaloon Minttu - Tyttöystävä ( dance video ) Karim B -  Otan kii

  Another dose of #Finpop 2025 . This time a foursome of songs that have been waiting for weeks or months to be included but always left out the last minute for a reason or another. So here they come: Eini's yet another insanely catchy banger, Bee's smash hit and James-J's and Raappana's catchy tunes. Enjoy! Eini - Yön selkään James-J - Parempaa Raappana - Konkurssi Bee - Ei me kuolla kuitenjaan

The Sanremo 2026 had launched the selection for the artists and the very first phase of Sanremo Giovani has got the 524 submissions to 34 who will now have a live audition in front of the jury who will pick up the 24 for the live five shows on Rai2 hosted by Gianluca Gazzoli from November 11, 2025. After three shows on December 9 there will be a semi-final where from only six will reach the final Sarà Sanremo on December 14, 2025. They will be joined by two lucky ones selected through Area Sanremo who will be selected in early December. Those two from Area Sanremo have already their ticket to Teatro Ariston in February at that point along with two selected in that final so in total the Newcomers section in Sanremo 2026 will have four artists. All clear and simple? Among the names many familiar names from various talents shows like X Factor, Amici and even previous Sanremo selections   Here are the 34: Agèlo - Io distruggo  Alunno - Bonnie & Clyde Amsi - Pizza Americ...

  After a tiny little break another dose of #Finpop 2025 in between all Vain elämää covers dropping. This time with already #Finpop regulars Aliisa Syrjä, Jemina, Costee and Atti Ketonen with AI artist Sofia Noir. Yes, AI. I discovered that a bit too late as I am against AI stuff but let this be a good reminder and warning that you cannot trust your ears and eyes anymore...... Aliisa Syrjä - Meit ei löydä kukaan Jemina / costee - Epäreilu maailma Antti Ketonen - Ohimenevät päivät Sofia Noir -  Oot mun seikkailu

If some thought beforehand this season's Vain elämää wuld be all about Käärijä it has all been proven wrong. He's still going strong but the real revelation is Lauri Haav. If he was most known for common people outside his fan bubble for taking the people's choice Emma award in 2023 when everyone thought it would go to Käärijä no doubt he's now experiencing the same that happened to Cheek back in 2012 when Vain elämää made him a household name and the biggest artist of the decade and he conquered not only his fans but kids and grannies alike. (Cheek retired on top in 2018) Lauri Haav (or Haavisto, 27) released his first EP in 2019. Three albums to date, the last #1. He has five #1 singles to his credit so far, two of them from Vain elämää and two of them with Mirella. As the genre is he has often collaborated in vocals with others artists in his songs including before mentioned Mirella, Emma & Matilda, pehmoaino, MD$, Etta, Gettomasa, Sonia, Costi, JVG, Shrty and Pa...

The Sanremo 2026 rules have been revealed and there are no major changes to previous year. The festival takes place in Sanremo's Teatro Ariston as usual between February 24-28, 2026, after a long battle ( read more here ) a couple of weeks later than usual due to Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics earlier in February.  Carlo Conti might invite comedians Leonardo Pieraccioni and Giorgio Panariello as his co-hosts to this festival he says wil be his last, and there's a rumor Giorgia will be the main host next to Conti.  Carlo Conti is accepting and listening the entries until November 17, 2025 and the 26 Big will be revealed in due course, probably on  The songs must be in Italian (with minor bits in dialect or foreign language accepted) and max length is 3:30 (instead of 4:00 as previosuly), and for the Newcomers 3:00. The first night all 26 Big will perform their songs and are voted by Press center. The second night 13 Big will perform their song and are voted by Radio jury...

The 16th season of Vain elämää is on and every Friday we get new versions of artists songs by other artists. Here comes the first dose of the best ones so far excluding Käärijä's songs and covers that are covered in a different post here . Here comes two effort by UMK veterans Viivi and Kohannes Brothers of Kuumaa fame. Viivi - Olen kaunis (syntynyt voittamaan ) (Pelle Miljoona cover) Johannes Brotherus - USA (Viivi cover) Viivi - Tikapuut (Jonna Tervomaa cover) Johannes Brothers / Kuumaa - Minä toivon (Jonna Tervomaa cover) 

  Here comes some more #Finpop 2025. We have Sofia Zida, Olli Halonen, newcomer Kaukua (as an artist as he has co-written and produced already many hits for Hugo for example) with up and coming AHTI and Finnish schlager pop scene icon Meiju Suvas with her retro banger that has taken a new life Could all these acts be heading for UMK in form or another? Meiju has expressed her wish and has applied before (already in early 1980's btw). We'll see.  Sofia Zida - Rakkauden taa Olli Halonen - Rakastaa ja tulla rakastetuksi Kaukua / AHTI - Jos viel tänään  Meiju Suvas - Pyjamas päälle mä paan