Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Last but not least Cambodia staged its national selection for Eurovision song contest Asia 2026. Seven songs participated and there was the already familiar voting system of 40% jury, 40% local vote and 20% international vote. Only the Top-3 was announced. Monetrey won followed by Koserrr and Nov Dana. Monetrey Ek is an up and coming Cambodian singer-songwriter. He has some ten songs published on Spotify and 50.000+ monthly listeners. Results: 1. Monetrey - I let you go Kesorrr - Goddess Nov Dana - Smoke on the Mekong Goofy - Fly MC Pich - Nor na ke nor (Who's that) Sam Rocker - Angels Satiya - Motherland You can watch the show as usual on eurovision.com's Youtube  Below are some more Monetrey songs:

 #Finpop 2026 with girl power! Four new names to add to this endless #finpop list.  Will they become familiar names from UMK 2027 or after that? Time will tell! ANNIEEVA - MÄ EN HALUU KUOLLA KEIJU - VAIKKA SE VEIS MULTA HENGEN IDA - VÄÄRÄ NAINEN IRA - RAI RAI RAI

Nepal was also chosen for the very first Eurovision song contest Asia. The national final - post boned due to terrible Tibet flood from the origal September 19 to October 7. A total of 11 songs competed and after the already familiar 40% jury, 40% national viewers and 20% international viewers the top was revealed. Pratik Himal Rai won ahead of Allam Aadesh and Bullet Flo with Preeti Kaur. Pratik Himal Rai is a Nepali singer, songwriter and performance and has been around already a decade with experience of television shows including The Voice of Nepal and has impressed the audiences with his blend os different musical genres. Now he's off to his biggest challenge so far: Bangkok 2026.  1. Pratik Himal Rai - Ananta Maya (नन्त माया)  Allam Aadesh - Byakta (व्यक्त)  Bullet Flo and Preeti Kaur - Golden Danfe Amit Baral - Sundar Sansar (सुन्दर संसार)  Amrita Limbu - Madhos Raat (मधोस रात) Beyond - Control Meghna Gewali - Kanchi Nani (कान्छी नानी)  Nirmala Ghale...

       Another dose of #Finpop 2026. This time with UMK veteran Viivi who's new album went straight to #1 with a cover that was waiting for a permission a good four years, do you recognize the song? Then we have another UMK veteran Sara Siipola eityh already familiar Noto and newer names Kielletty Ruusu and Jamie. Enjoy! VIIVI / ELASTINEN - SYDÄN KIELLETTY RUUSU - MISSÄ EI AURINKO LASKE NOTO / SARA SIIPOLA - MITÄ JÄÄ JAMIE - TAKAS SUN LUO

Bangladesh had its national final for Eurovision song contest Asia 2026 on September 30, 2026. After the already usual ESCA voting system of 40% jury, 40% national and 20% international viewers vote accapella and beatbox group Beathomsphere won before Pulak Adhikary who placed second and Vintage Theory third.  Beatmosphere was formed in 2009. Normally a nine-member ensemble, for Voice of Bangladesh they will perform as a six-member group. On stage you'll see Ishtiyak Zobayer (Zardo) and Sayed Ahnaf Tahmid (Glizmo) on lead vocals and harmony, along with Sidratul Mursalin Bhasha (Bhasha) and Mahi Bin Ashraful (Sykoverse) on harmony. Further harmonies will come from Moktadir Dewan (BeatBaksho), also on vocal bass and baritone, while Mahi Hossain Khan (Invalíd) will be providing beatbox and vocal percussion. They have released one single Shob kichu bhalo lage prior to their winning entry Tumi ele.  Voice of Bangladesh results: Beatmopshere - Tumi ele (winner) Pulak Adhikary ...

Mongolia has internally chosen Beck as  their debut at Eurovision song contest Asia. He will perform several songs on the national final show on October 10, 2026 and once again people at home and abroad along with the jury will pick up the song he will perform in Bangkok in November. Beck Munkhbayar is a seasoned entertainer, presenter, actor, model, podcaster and singer in Mongolia having made his singing debut some 20 years ago, and he's been dreaming of doing Euroviison since 2000. Who could have believed just a couple of years ago his dream would become reality and especially for his native country?! Isn't he lucky? Considering his long career it's incredible how little life he has online anywhere, at least in western platforms. Basicly nothing. So let's all be surprised what he's going to offer..... Update: The Mongolian national final took place on October 10, 2026 and it was very 1990's Eurovision national final show type pof a show what came to staging, ...

Also Thailand have staged their national final Thailand's chosen one. Ten songs took part Sunday night voted by professional jury (40%), televote (40%) and international vote (20%). Only top-3 was announced and Mang & Daou won with Aroma. Gam Wichayanee (my favorite) and D Gerrard completed the Top-3.  Piyatida Lekklang aka Mang (26) is a Thai singer who started in a girlband Bamm five years ago before going solo two years ago. She has released one single, Stay strong, before this duet. Pittaya Saechua aka Daou (28) is a Thai singer and actor. His music career started in boyband LAZ1 after winning a talent show in 2022. The year after he released his debut solo single Would you mind. He has starred in two movies and four tv-series so far.  Wonderframe - Girlslikegirls Retrospect - Suriyuprakhon (Eclipse) (สุริยุปราคน) Monica - Kongkruanko i (คงครวญคอย) JMNK - Nonchalant Jetset'er - Oh Yeah Tigger and Tara Viis - Faded Ink Mang & Daou - Glinratree (Aroma)...

  September is nearing the end but #Finpop 2026 keeps coming. The latest interesting releases from 2026. How many UMK 2027 entrants have I featured this season? ELIAS KASKINEN - RAKASTUMISEN OIREET KARIN B - TEATTERII LAGE / ANI - OK RUNO - MURU

Another week, another dose of #Finpop 2026. This time with UMK veteran Kiki, Erika's sister Jennika and already familiar names Ani, Hugo and Alina Burnet - will any of them aim for UMK 2027?  KIKI - KUOLEMANTANSSI HUGO / ALINA BURNET - ENTISEEN ELÄMÄÄM ANI - LIMEE JA SUOLAA' JENNIKA VIKMAN - TAKAS ANJOSIIN

Vietnamese broadcaster  will send Tóc Tién for Eurovision song contest Asia 2026. She was internally chosen but the audience will have a chance to pick up the song at The Sound of Vietnam national final on October 3, 2026 when she presents her five songs by five different production teams. Nguyễn Khoa Tóc Tiên, or simply Tóc Tién (37) is a Vietnamese child star turned into teen idol turned into superstar in her home country. She's besides artist an actress, tv-host, judge at the Voice of Vietnam and Vietnam Idol, multi awarded performer. She has by far the longest Wikipedia page out of artists chosen so far for ESCA. Six albums so far and nearly 30 singles under her belt she's more than ready for Bangkok 2026. Enjoy below some of her previous hits while we wait for the ESCA 2026 entries: Update: She had her final with five songs and the voting was again what seems to become the Eurovision Asia standard: 40% jury, 40% national vote and 20% international vote. In a sleak show she...

Eurovision Asia is using all sort of familiar Eurovision song contest selection methods from internal to national final or like Laos that has opted for selecting the singer and having a song selection final for her where the public will choose one song out of three. All this will happen between September 23 and 24. Thinla, formerly known as Thinlamphone Mahavong, has been around since 2021 and has released some twenty songs already on digital platforms. she mixes in her music traditional music with various genres and has had gigs besides home in Laos also in all around Asia and also Northern America. Eurovision Asia won't be her first time representing her country as she did already so in Busan festival in South Korea, and she has performed in ASEAN summits and  ceremonies. While waiting for her entries enjoy some of her previous songs below, looks like we got yet another interesting talented one for Bangkok: Update: Her winning entry is Bae Her three entries have been revealed:

  Another week, another dose of #Finpop2026.   New names and familiar names including UMK veteran Antti Paalanen collaboration. Enjoy! TYSON BLUE - VIBE AATULOVE - IHMISENPUOLIKAS EGE ZULU - KARISMA DJ OKU LUUKKAINEN / ANTTI PAALANEN - VIELÄ YKSI TANSSI

  Here we go again. This time with Big Names Mikael Gabriel, Sanni and Kaija Koo with slightly smaller up and coming Niilo with Juno. Enjoy! MIKAEL GABRIEL - 4LIFE SANNI - HÄVISIN ERON KAIJA KOO - KANARIANLINTU NIILO / JUNO - VIIMEISEEN TANSSIIN

Another Eurovision song contest Asia 2026 national final has taken place and we have a winner: Junhee has won Korea's Next wave with Deep dive and thus will represent Korea in Nagkok in November.  Park Junhee or박준희 (32) is a singer, songwriter actor and no stranger to entertainment business. He debuted as a member of boy band A.C.E. in 2017 and stayed until 2025 when he started his solo career. He has released two solo  Eps and three singles before Deep dive including La la la lune , Supernova  and Umbrella .  The voting in the final was 40% professional jury, 40% Korean viewers votes and 20% international votes. Only the top-3 was announced: 1 Junhee - Deep dive 2. Sojeong Shim - Eheradiya  3. Angel Noise - Nan Naya! KIK - F1 HuiAe - If I knew love Younghoon Ji - Tiny signal 9278 - MakeItLoud (She barks) Plzy - Toc

Carmelle has won the very first Philippines national final for Eurovision song contest Asia 2026 with Sobra-sobra. And yes it was by far the best entry of the night when mostly it was about big vocals, male make up and drag queen host. And all in all very Eurovision, all cliches added and reminding mostly those 80's and 90's festival songs with big vocals just with a bit more modern touch. Better production than Bhutan but I guess that surprised no one but honestly Bhutan was more interesting and authentic musically to say the least. Carmelle Collado (19) comes from a family of singers and shot to the fame last year winning a talent show Tawag ng Thanghalan. But her career started already at the age of 12 at the World championships  of perfroming arts and lates finishing 2nd in the The Voice Kids and last year she even participated in the Big Brother Celebrity..  Philippine Selection Night final 1. Carmelle - Sobra-spbra (Too much) 2. Saga - Broken beyond repair 3. JM Dela Cer...

  Another dose of #Finpop 2026. This time with an actual UMK 2026 dropout: Minttu's Everest. She treid but didn't make the cut. Followed by already familiar names like UMk veterans Kuumaa with emma & Mathilda. pihlaja  and Eurovision veteran Laura Voutilainen. Enjoy! MINTTU - EVEREST KUUMAA / EMMA & MATHILDA - IHAN KOHTA OHI PIHLAJA - VELI NOJAA SISKOON LAURA VOUTILAINEN - TOINEN SINÄ

Here's another foursome of #Finpop 2026 for your enjoyment including Olga and Mirella, on many Eurofans wishlist for UMK 2027, as well as Ani and Sara Bee, same goes for them. Then we have real Eurovision veterans Catcat who have released a new song and finally Erika Vikman's latest because why not?  OLGA / MIRELLA - KANSALLISAARRE ANI / SARA BEE - TUHLAAJAPOIKA CATCAT - TUHAT MERKITYSTÄ ERIKA VIKMAN - ADAM & STEVE

  Another week, another dose of #Finpop 2026. Meet new or rather new names Lage, Blondi, Helmi Marleena with already seasoned Elias Kaskinen. As always, who knows if they will show up in UMK 2027? My bet is on Elias Kaskinen following his wife Nelli Matula.  LAGE - MIS NYT OLLAAN BLONDI - ÄLÄ RAKASTA MUA HELMI MARLEENA - JUHANNUSVALSSI ELIAS KASKINEN - KAUAN

Malaysia has internally selected Aina Abdul as their debutante in the Eurovision song contest Asia. Born Nurul Aina Abdul Ghani (32) she's already established  singer-songwriter and actress in her home country and has been in public eye since 2010 and participated in various talent shows usually finishing in top-2. She has written herself most of her songs. She was been nominated and won countless awards, including World Championships of performing arts in Los Angeles 2014, Best telenovela soundtrack in 2018, awards for best vocalist, composition, lyricist, most popular singer, best Diva.... you name it! Her entry for Eurovision Asia will be revealed later, Meanwhile enjoy some of her previous songs below. Another very interesting and talented artist for sure.  Her entry Bluest sjy is out:

So, Burgas it is. Ebu and BNT won over the power of Sofia who insisted on hosting the show in the capital due some political stuff if I understood right, and that caused the delay in declaring the chosen city by almost two weeks or so. We will have a beach Eurovision again by the Black Sea and one of the most southern ones. The legendary Sunny beach is there nearby and Greece and Turkey's Istanbul are only a day trip away. The Arena Burgas will host the semi-finals on May 11 and 13, and the grand final on May 15, 2027, just before it celebrates its fourth birthday being opened on May 18, 2023. It's maximum capacity is 15.000 for the concerts but obviously an Eurovision song contest like show will have less seating space due to the big stage etc. Maybe next May will change its image to that of a triumph instead of its current status as a symbol of corruption in Bulgaria due to its delays and failed budgets during its construction that took over eight years..... At the day of ann...

So it has happened: Eurovision song contest Asia has kicked off with its first national final and its first winner. And so it happened that I happened to be at home and accidentally noticed the show is about to start and ended up actually watching it.  To be fair the live stream was crap at times and the sound quality not the best. I hadn't heard the songs beforehand but it seems by favorites finished last and second to last while the winner seeemed to be clear from the beginning judging the screams in the apparently tiny tv-studio where the over enthusiastic hosts Keizang Dolkar and Phub Tshering run the show with four stern looking judges and the five entries with a string of interval acts that were all... well, dancing or singing in national costumes. Yes, the national costumes! To be honest I knew nothing about Bhutan before this afternoon but the past couple of hours I learned it is required by law to wear national costumes (gho for men and kira for ladies) in every day in pub...

  Another week, another dose of #Finpop 2026. With the Big guns this time. Lauri Haav, Nelli Matula, Jenni Vartiainen and Robin Packalen - all familiar established names. Enjoy! LAURI HAAV- PERHONEN NELLI MATULA - MUN VUORO LUOVUTTAA JENNI VARTIAINEN - JOKU JOHON NOJATA ROBIN PACKALEN - 1001 TAPAA  

After American song contest (a total flop, one edition)), attempts to create Eurovision like contests to Latin America, Africa, Canada (and who remembers where else?) and the Eurovision dance contest (another flop, two editions) and those on going Eurovision Young musicians, Eurovision Young Dancers, Eurovision Choir that are very marginal, as is Junior Eurovision song contest, it looks like the Eurovision Asia is really happening finally in November 2026 with national selections starting next month across Asia.  But how did we get this far?  It all started already back in September 2008 when Ebu announced that Asian-Pacific Eurovision would take place in 2009 . Under title Our sound - the Asia Pacific Song Contest was to feature 16 broadcasters taking part from Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Macao, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. It was due to happen in Singapore in late 2009 before it was pos...

  This week familiar names already with their latest including UMK veteran Viivi and Hugo, Kaikua, Runo, Bizi and Pehmoaino, all names I'd welcome to UMK 2027! HUGO / KAUKUA - VESIPISAROIDEN VALSSI RUNO - PURI VIIVI - KAIKKI PÄÄTTYY MEIHIN BIZI / PEHMOAINO - SE MITÄ EI OLLUT KOSKAAN