Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

  Another week, another set of possible #UMK2025 wannabes with their resent #finpop 2024 releases. First we have already established artists Elias Kaskinen and Nelli Matula who are in fact married! They are yet to release something together in duet but I would say these two songs are a kind of distant duet. Then we have Janna, from my eternal wish list for Eurovision, and finally a new name and face, Edvin. Enjoy!  ELIAS KASKINEN - MEIST EI TUU FRENDEI NELLI MATULA - SÄ VOITIT JO JANNA - SYLI EDVIN - UUDESTAAN 

Montenegro is making a welcome return to Eurovision song contest in 2025 in Basel, Switzerland after two years absence. To do so they have reinstalled Montesong contest to pick up the entry. A total of 32 valid submissions were received and they were announced on October 10, and published on November 10, 2024. The Montesong 2025 is set for November 27, 2024 becoming thus the very first national final of the season. Among the artists season's first Eurovision returnee aiming for another go: Nina Žižić of 2013 with Who See and fabulously original Igranka that sadly and undeservedly missed the final placing only 12th in the semi-final.  Below are the entries with my first time hearing generous ranking from * to ***** If in hurry here's a recap Anastasija Koprolčec - Kraj  **** Bend "9" - Stop War  * Boban Rajović - Suze Dolce Hera - Repeat  ** Đurđa - To Ljubav Je  ** Glumci Bend - San  ** Isak Šabanović - Ljeto, Ljeto, Ljeto  *** Kejt - Obala Raja  *** Baryak  - Dva Sr

  Here comes another dose of #Finpop 2024 and yes, here's the first officially UMK2025 song as declared by the artist herself, aka a song that didn't make the cut: Sussu's Fake roses. The other artists could easily be also ones that may or may not have submitted a song: Jemina and Kielletty Ruusu newbies waiting for the spotlight and already a seasoned hit maker Suvi Teräsniska who's also employed by Yle in its very popular Elämäni biisi show as one of its house singers. Enjoy! JEMINA - YLPEE SUVI TERÄSNISKA - KAIKKI MUSSA TAHTOO KIELLETTY RUUSU - HULLUKS BAE SUSSU - FAKE ROSES 

Sanremo giovani will be a multi evening affair again and on top of that the separate Sanremo Giovani or newcomers final will be held in Sanremo 2025 festival giving us two winners again in 2025 rather than only one - as it should be if you ask me. Just think about some names that have won the newcomers before making it to the Big category: Eros Ramazzotti, Laura Pausini, Andrea Bocelli and Francesco Gabbani. Just to name a few. There will be four heats on November 12, 19, 26 and December 3 presented by Eurovision host Alessandro Cattelan each with six participants, three making it further. The semi-final takes place on December 10 and the 12 will become six.  The final takes place on December 18. The six will become three, and also the two selected by AreaSanremo selection will battle out between them for the last spot. That makes four who will travel to Teatro Ariston in Sanremo in February and have the grand final with new songs.  The Sanremo Giovani selection had 564 submissions and

Another week, another dose of #Finpop 2024. This week mostly rather not household names. Costee is the biggest name and is also heavily tipped for possible UMK 2025 participation. NOTO is none other than Italian born Sebastian Noto and the others are talents to be yet discovered by most. Enjoy! GABRI - STARTTAA ÖVERI / NOTO - KAUNIIMPAA COSTEE - SANO VAAN N.E.O. - VÄRITETYS SADUT 

It's finally here. People's champion, Käärijä's second album including a string of hits already released as singles ( Huhhahhei , Kot kot , Sex = Money ) and new songs and the new fantastic single Autiomaa. The album has streamed already triple platinum at its release. The Joost Klein duet TRAFIK! , Antti Tuisku's Auto jää didn't make the cut, nor Toiset samanlaiset with Elastinen.  And before people without sense of humor get upset about the title it simply refers to word play of Finnish champignon/champion as the lyrics go: "When I was little my mom said I would become a champignon, people's champion. I won't get defeated, I stand tall as a mushroom" And indeed he WAS the people's champion in Eurovision 2023 winning the televote. There. And since then has done two sold out European tours with added gigs due high demand, as well as upgraded larger venues. And in Finland he has done probably hundreds of gigs already and all major festivals.  

Eurovision song contest winners Måneskin has been a center or split rumors - promptly denied by all members - after Damiano David and Victoria De Angelis both have released solo material and done their own thing.  The most attention is of course on lead man Damiano. He first released Silverlines , a moody ballad and out of the blue right after comes this wonderfully pastel colored Born with a broken heart where he really can showcase his showman and entertainer skills in true Hollywood musical style. Enjoy!

This week we have those Harju brothers again each with their latest offering with added two up and coming female names both tipped for UMK 2025 as well, especially Kiki. I wouldn't mind seeing all of them in UMK if not in 2025 then very soon anyways! FRANS HARJU - MUISTAN KAIKEN  RUNO - POLTAN KAIKEN MIKKO HARJU - ALL IN  KIKI - FOBIA

  Another week, another dose of #Finpop2024. This week only Big names from the Finnihs music industry, all of them numerous hits and sold out arenas with their latest efforts. Could someone of them return or debut to UMK in 2025? Enjoy! (Such a shame the music videos seem to be very rare these days...) BESS - SAANKO MÄ LUVAN ROBIN PACKALEN / TUPE - HÄITÄ PIDELLY SANNI / GETTOMASA - PAPERIHAAVOJA  JENNI VARTIAINEN - VILLIT VEDET

After a break let's relaunch the weekly #Finpop series. And here comes the latest from Eurovision fan favorites Erika Vikman and Käärijä, separate this time but pretty much dealing with the same topic: Sex sells. And what a banger chorus once again from Käärijä! We follow with another Eurovision veteran and another fan favorite, namely Laura Voutilainen (could she be doing a comeback to UMK in 2025?) feeling like a teenager again  and Sara Siipola urging you to love, love, love her. ERIKA VIKMAN - MYYNNISSÄ KÄÄRIJÄ - SEX = MONEY LAURA VOUTILAINEN - TEINI TAAS SARA SIIPOLA - RAKASTA MUA, RAKASTA MUA, RAKASTA

Now that I have finally read Alice's L'Unica via d'uscita é dentro biography, or rather her professional biography as it is very much based on her career and albums rather than her personal life, I can also reveal to those who haven't read it what she thinks about her and Franco Battiato's joint Eurovision song contest adventure in 1984. It's no secret she's not a fan of competitions and festivals. She writes (freely translated): "The year 1984 had been so far very satisfying professionally and marked by two duets. First with German songwriter Stefan Waggershausen and Zu nah am Feur that sold in Germany and other countries over 1,5 million copies and the adorable I treni di Tozeur with Franco Battiato that EMI, our label wanted to send us to Eurofestival with, the poppiest festival in Europe or maybe in the world.  Neither of us was very convinced but decided to play the game. We took it very lightly, as a trip or a little holiday. Zero anxiety, expect

The Eurovision host city wannabe and UMK 2024 host city Tampere and its Arena are back at it: The UMK 2025 final will be held there again with its pre- and after parties on February 8, 2025 in front of some 20.000 people and yes, the tickets sold out within hours, as did the tickets for the final dress rehearsal earlier on that day. Last year the show was watched on tv by some 1,9 million viewers As before there will be seven entries that will be revealed in January one per day starting on January 9, and the final will have an international jury with 25%  sat in the final results the remaining 75% depending on Finnish televoters.  A total of 485 songs were sent in and in addition to the usual Yle jury of music professionals also five special juries have participated in selecting the seven finalists. Tapio Hakanen, the chairman of the jury says: "This season at UMK, we will see a fine continuation of the Finnish-language pop tradition and a star of the future, who is waiting to ris

I treni di Tozeur, the Italian Eurovision song contest entry in 1984 placed 5th and made both Alice and Franco Battiato even more popular abroad but also home in Italy where it was one the Top-20 most sold hits of the year peaking at #3.  The song originally wasn't included in any original studio album of either artist but it was added to the Dutch print of Alice's 1983 album Falsi allarmi, and it was released on CD only in 2005 in Alice's compilation album. Both artists have made their own solo versions of the song: First Battiato with the original arrangement in 1985 Mondi lontanissimi in   Italian , and  Spanish  and English versions in albums Ecos de danzas Sufi and Echoes of Sufi dances, and again in 1986 in Battiato's compilation with a slightly different mix in the end. In 1994 he recorded a symphonic version for Unprotected album.  Alice has recorded the song twice with different arrangements, in both Elisir in 1987 and Personal Jukebox in 2000. They recorded

 Eri con me

  La cura . A song written by Franco Battiato and Manlio Sgalambro and released in 1996. For him it sold double platinum, was awarded The Song of the Year and later was voted the Best love song of all time by the Italian public. He also recorded it in Spanish and later in 2010 recorded a charity version with many other artists. It has also been covered by artists like Massimo Ranieri , Adriano Celentano , Fiorella Mannoia , Noemi , Greg Castiglioni (in English), Loredana Errore and of course her muse and Alter Ego Alice. She first sung it live and it was included in her Lungo la strada live album, and then her homage album Eri con me. Her performance of the song in the Battiato tributo concert after his death was one of the most touching moments of the night.  The lyrics are just too beautiful to just cite a little bit so here's a longer bit of them... Ti proteggerò dalle paure delle ipocondrie Dai turbamenti che da oggi incontrerai per la tua via Dalle ingiustizie e dagli ingan

Chan-son egocentrique was the first Alice and Franco Battiato duet, first appearing in her 1982 Azimut album being its third single and major hit written by Battiato with Francesco Messina and Tommaso Tramonti. Battiato himself later recorded it as a solo effort in his 1985 album Mondi lontanissimi . Alice herself re-recorded the song with Bluvertigo for her Personal Jukebox in 2000. And again for Eri con me hommage to late Battiato in 2022. There's also a 1994 remix around. One of those Alice wasn't fond of and left EMI after a court case that she won making all copies disappear from shops.  Chi sono, dove sono quando sono assente di me? Da dove vengo, dove vado? Who am I, where am I when I am absent from myself? Where do I come from, where am I going?

Another song from the fantastick Park Hotel album, Volo di notte. Also published as B-side of Conoscerci single. It's a bit complicated with her singles as some were issued in Italy, some in Germany and other countries with different songs and B-sides. Written by Alice herself with Francesco Messina, produced by Messina, arranged by Alice and Messina,  played by Jerry Marotta, Tony Levin, Phil Manzanera and Michele Fedrigotti. When music plays at perfection! Ogni volta che vai in paesi lontani,, ogni volta che torni sai qualcosa di più Every time you go to far away countries, every time you come back you know something more

  After Eurovision song contest 1984 with Franco Battiato and songs co-written and produced by him Alice decided to cover an album full of his songs but this time Battiato himself wan't involved in production at all. The songs in Gioielli rubati aka Stolen jewels are from 1979-1983 from Battiato's million selling hit era and very well known in Italy but Alice managed to make most of them her own and these days some songs are better known as her versions, like Prospettiva Nevski, a song he released in his 1980 album Patriots . Her version became her biggest hit since Sanremo 1981 winner Per Elisa and further cemented her success in Northern and German speaking Europe. The album features strings throughout my Milan's world famous La Scala opera house.  In their joint tour and live album in 2016 they sung the song in duet. And again on her 2022 Eri con me hommage to late Battiato.  E il mio maestro mi insegnò com'è difficile trovare l'alba Dentro l'imbrunire E il m

In 1988 Alice released a very special album, based on her live performances at the time in churches and other places far from the pop world. I fondly cherish the concert I attended in Rome's Basilica di Santa Maria in Ara Coeli. In Mélodie passagère she sung songs by Eric Satie, Gabriel Fauré and Maurice Ravel. She's accompanied by Michele Fedrigotti on piano. I have always loved Fauré's Pie Jesus (Messe de Requiem op.48) that Alice gives a majestic performance singing in Latin of course. The song reappears on her God is my Dj album in 1999.  Pie Jesu Domine Dona eis Dona eis sempiternam requiem Sempiternam requiem Lord Jesus Give it to them Give them eternal rest Eternal rest

Another song from 1982 Azimut album, actually Messaggio single's B-side. A very atmospheric song written by Alice herself. The song would reappear in a new version in 1987's Elisir album. This has always been a favorite of mine that I tend to sing to myself quite often. And as often it switches at some point to Arisa's Sanremo 2012  runner La notte .... Così la notte mi prende per mano Mi fa compagnia la notte Con un sorriso, un'idea Una bianca follia Con anima È una necessità So the night takes me by the hand The night keeps me company With a smile, an idea A white madness With soul It's a necessity Käännöstulokset Käännöstulos

Messaggio was the first single of her 1982 album Azimut and post-Per Elisa success. Written by Alice herself with Giusto Pio and Albert Kui (who is none other than Franco Battiato) it was another success. Like Per Elisa this was a song she didn't perform live for many many years until it has returned to her repertoire in the 2000's.  Oh quante parole sul tema l'infedeltà. Ho voglia di andare a dormire, da sola sognarmi sdraiata con creme su spiagge infuocate dal sole d'Oriente. Oh how many words on the subject of infidelity. I want to go to sleep, alone dreaming of myself lying with creams on beaches burnt by the Eastern sun.

Dimmi di si is the opening track of her Exit album in 1998, and it's third single. Written by Alice alone it has always been a favorite of mine. It's also included in the 2000 compilation album Personal jukebox. Dimmi di sì Amore abbracciami toglimi dall'oblio. E sei nell'aria che respiro Tell me yes Love hug me take me from oblivion. And you are in the air I breathe

To honor and remember Giuni Russo who passed away 20 years ago today's pick is Alice's cover of a song in Napoletan Giuni Russo and Maria Antonietta Sisini composed to a poem by Totò. The song first appeared recorded on Giuni's album Napoli che canta in 2004, five months before her passing. Alice later took it to her repertoire and it appears first on her 2009 live album Lungo la strada, and then in her 2012 studio album Samsara.  Tu si 'a cchiù bella cosa Ca tene stu paese Tu si comm' a na rosa Rosa rosa maggese You are the most beautiful thing that has this country You are like a rose Rose fallow rose