ALICE AND BATTIATO TOGETHER AGAIN!

They never have stopped collaborating, every now and then in a way or other over the years but this is the first time they will be giving a joint concert! This miracle happens this July 30, 2013 in Latina. Three hours of music, started by Alice, followed by Battiato and finally both of them together for the past part of the concert. Alice has recorded albums with Battiato's music, songs he wrote and produced for her, or she made covers of his other songs. They have also dueted in various times, including Chanson egocentrique, Come un sigillo and of course I treni di Tozeur. For Alice's latest album Samsara that came out last year, Battiato wrote Eri con me, that he also recorded for his new album Apriti, Sesamo that was released only weeks after.... How I wish I was there!

Here are some of their latest songs: Nata ieri, Cambio casa, Orientamento, Quand'ero giovane, Testamento, Passacaglia

KRISTA SIEGFRIDS - AMEN, THE VIDEO!

Here it is, Krista's follow up to Marry me, Amen! The story continues....

MARCO MENGONI HITS IT WORLDWIDE

Eurovision has been good to Marco Mengoni. Already for the second day in a row he has been the most downloaded Italian artist in the world - after Andrea Bocelli. Considering he was pretty unknown outside Italy just weeks ago this is a great result and maybe a start of something big. He has recorded already songs in both English and in Spanish and will most likely follow other big Italian names to the Latin market... Meanwhile in Italy he is continuing his L'Essenziale tour that was interrupted by the Eurovision circus in Malmö 2013. Tonight he's in Florence.... The tour continues until October so the rest of the wolr dhas to wait....

L’ESSENZIALE ANTEPRIMA TOUR 2013

8 May MILAN – Teatro degli Arcimboldi
20 May TURIN – Teatro Colosseo
21 May GENOA – Teatro Carlo Felice
23 May FLORENCE – Teatro Verdi
24 May PADUA – Gran Teatro Geox
26 May NAPLES – Teatro Augusteo
27 May ANCONA – Teatro Delle Muse
29 May ROME – Auditorium Parco della Musica
30 May BOLOGNA – Europauditorium
1 June TRIESTE – Teatro Rossetti

L’ESSENZIALE TOUR 2013

04 July TRENTO – Piazza Fiera
06 July PIAZZOLA SUL BRENTA (PD) - Anfiteatro Camerini
08 July BRESCIA – Piazza della Loggia
10 July SIENA – Piazza Duomo
20 July GOVONE (CN) – La Collina degli Elfi
27 July CERVIA (RA) - Piazza Garibaldi
04 August PAESTUM (SA) – Teatro Dei Templi
06 August CAGLIARI – Arena Sant’Elia
10 August VILLAPIANA (CS) – Anfiteatro
13 August BOLGHERI (LI) – Arena della Rocchetta
18 August MACERATA – Sferisterio
19 August PESCARA – Teatro D'Annunzio
26 August TAORMINA (ME) - Teatro Antico
27 August PALERMO – Teatro di Verdura
31 Auhust VERONA – Teatro Romano
25 September MILAN – Teatro degli Arcimboldi
26 September MILAN – Teatro degli Arcimboldi
28 September ROME – Gran Teatro
1 October BOLOGNA – Europauditorium
9 October NAPLES – Teatro Augusteo
11 October FLORENCE – Teatro Verdi
12 October TURIN – Teatro Colosseo

EUROVISION 2014 IN A PRISON? SPONSORED BY NOKIA?

That's what the town of Horsens intend to do in case they get it. Welcome city number 5 to bid for it. Most likely one of those "what the heck, let's go for it and get some free publicity!" campaigns and indeed it works: I'm writing about it, too, and moment ago I didn't even know a town like this exists :-) But if the name rings a bell, it may be because they already hosted the national final back in 2005, 2007 and 2008. And an open air affair with 10.000 people standing in local prison is their offer. Not a chance I'd say but the idea is rather amusing, isn't it? And Horsens is also Nokia's twin town in Finland. Would Nokia sponsor it then?

END OF ESMA-GATE. SHE SUPPORTS ALL MINORITIES

Esma never gave the interview to the Serbian paper, and the homophobic comments were their invention. Today an official statement was given that you can read below. This blogger feels relieved and loves Esma again as before! The news were hard to believe anyways....

Dear Editors,
I have been asked to write on behalf of Esma regarding the false media stories that are circulating in a number of Eurovision Song Contest fan website alleging that Esma is homophobic. The story published in the Serbian tabloid newspaper ‘Kurir’ is a complete fabrication. On behalf of Esma, her management and the Macedonian Delegation for Eurovision, we strongly repudiate these falsehoods. Apart from an interview that will be published on escxtra.com this weekend, Esma has not given any other interviews to media since her return to Macedonia.

Esma does not follow any of the Eurovision fan sites, Facebook, twitter, etc. and was most distressed when she was told this morning of this false story. As a Romany she is particularly sensitive to the percussion of all minorities. She 100% supports the gay community, and has a strong believe that everyone may live their lives as they choose. Esma has a many gay friends, whom she respects and supports. Her own personal principles are that all people should be free to make their own choices so they can live free happy and fulfilled lives.

Esma’s management team are concerned about the damage this false story may cause to Esma’s personal and professional reputation. With this in mind we ask that all stories published on your respective websites relating to these falsehoods should be immediately amended and include this rebuttal.

As far as Lozano is concerned, I can personally confirm that he enjoyed many evenings in both Eruoclub and Eurocafe during his time in Malmo. He particularly enjoyed the Balkan Music Night and the Closing Party. Again the comments written about him in the ‘Kurir’ newspaper are utter nonsense!

Regards

Russell Davies
Assistant HoD - Macedonia

AALBORG AND FREDERICIA JOIN THE RACE FOR ESC 2014

Aalborg that already entered and wihdraw in favor of Herning has now joined the race after all it seems. The chosen venue would be Gigantium, already the venue for the national final in 2012. Today also Fredericia, a town of some 50.000 souls enters with its fair centre The Messe C that can have up to 8.000 people has showed interest.

ESMA & LOZANO BLAME GAY LOBBY: INSTANT ASS-GROBBING

This news made me very sad. Wiwibloggs reports both Esma and Lozano, representing Macedonia and failing to make the final have blamed gays for their unfailure. Esma stated Eurovision is "hijacked by faggots who organize gay parades worldwide". Oh well, I'm very disappointed in Esma, she seemed such an open and nice person in our interview here. She also said Lozano, who I think was one of the best singers in the contest, “couldn’t even leave the hotel or go to the Euroclub. There would be instant ass-grabbing.”..*). But on the other hand, when I saw photos from Malmö 2013 from any event or party - who were there? Esma and Lozano! So I guess Lozano's ass may have liked the grabbing bit after all... at least a little!

UPDATE*) this statement was first referred to have been said by Lozano himself, but apparently it was Esma who said it after all.  

UPDATE2: Esma and Lozano have responded before the dawn in their Facebook that all this isn't true and Esma never said those things. Good. I was rather upset they'd say such things. It just didn't quite fit in the picture, I'd say. 

FINLAND: VIEWING FIGURES DOUBLE AND UMK 2014 IS HERE ALREADY

It was a good Eurovision season for YLE in Finland. Not only the national selection show UMK made it a household name and found it's audience (unlike in 2012 when it passed totally unnoticed). In 2013 the high expectations and media attention to Krista Siegfrids gained already 286.000 viewers for the marathon preview videos show, 554.000 watching the semifinal and 1.128.000 for the final compared to last year's 558.000 for the final. This is a good foundation for 2014 season, that has already started. UMK will be back and the song submission has started and go on until September. In December YLE will announce the ucky 12 entries that will be cut down to 8 for the Febaruary 2014 final. Just like this yar. Hopefully a few bigger names would participate again to keep up wth the good flow!

WILL VALENTINA MONETTA DO A UDO JüRGENS?

Here we go folks - the first rumor of the Eurovision 2014 season! Valentina Monetta is hardly back home in San Marino and hasn't propably even emptied her luggage yet and she is suggested to do it again next year! She's got the TV's blessing, after all she has done 14th and 11th in semifinal, the tiny country's two best placings to date. But who's she rather have represent the country? Read here.

Should she do also 2014 she would follow Austrian Udo Jürgens. He did 1964 with Warum nur warum? (6th), 1965 with Sag ihr, ich lass sie grüßen (4th) and finally 1966 with Mercie, chérie and won the whole thing. Note that also he did better every year. 

But also Lys Assia did three years in a row, let's not forget that: 1956 with Refrain and Das alte Karussell (winner and who knows?), 1957 with L'enfant que j'étais (8th) and finally 1958 with Giorgio (2nd)

ESC 2014 IS IN FULL SWING ALREADY!

Ok, it's Tuesday after Eurovision final on the night between Saturday and Sunday aka Day 3 post-ESC and most fans are still suppering from PED but DR and Danish are in full swing already. Today Pernille Gaardbo was appointed as the executive producer of Eurovision song contest 2014 in Denmark. She's more than ready for the job and says it's an ultimate dream come true for someone with her CV including national finals and X Factor, and in all 17 years in DR already. She will have in her team the Head of Entertainment Jan Lagermand Lundme and the Head of DR Event, Søren Therkelsen. The premiliminary dates for the next year's Eurovision are May 13-17, 2014. The venue will de decided later, but it's going to be either Herning or Copenhagen.

And more coutries have today confirmed their participation also next year and we have already Denmark, Norway, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Hungary and one can understand by some statements that both San Marino and Italy will be in as well.