Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

The name Renata Mauro propably won't say you much but she was the hostess of the Eurovision song contest 1965 in Naples. Renata, real name Renata Maraolo (Milan, May 17, 1934 - Biella, March 28, 2009) was a TV presenter, actress, singer and show girl. In Italy she is maybe most remembered for being the one who announced the death (by suicide during the festival) of Luigi Tenco in Sanremo festival 1967.

The 24th Eurovision song contest took place in Jerusalem on March 31, 1979. For the first time outside European continent and against the will of rabbis. Turkey was supposed to participate but the other Arab countries did such a pressure on them they withdraw in the end so there were only 19 countries. Israel provided a great show: the stage was good and many Eurovision classics were born that night. Dschingis Kahn , Disco Tango , Sokrates anyone? The winner was however Israel and Hallelujah by Gali Atari & Milk and Honey, another classic. Spain was close to winning - and brought kids to the stage! - but the last jury, Spain itself, awarded the victory to Israel. It is the only time such thing has happened in the Eurovision colorful history. http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWLG7-GOBcc

Krisse, the princess of the republic who almost stole the show in Eurovision 2007 in Helsinki made a comeback to the Finnish TV screens tonight with a new show Me Salmiset - a new kind of talk show masked as a home party she hosts with her brother Eppu. There were their real friends, celebs, talk, jokes and music, all in real crazy Krisse style! http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HT009zSebs

Quite interestingly the first semifinal of Eurovision 2009 features two in a way similar acts on paper: opera singer with a pop dance song: Sweden's La voix by Malena Ernman and Bulgaria's Illusion by Krassimir. While Krassimir has been accused of not being able to sing live no such thing has ever said about Malena even if her vocals were far from flawless in Melodifestivalen. However, one must remember Malena had pre-recorded vocals on her backing tape that are not allowed in Moscow and her rather spectacular stage featured too many people on stage as well. I guess we have to wait til Moscow to see if Krassimir can handle it live, and how Malena will look and sound with stripped show and vocals.... http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxN_06nRH3A http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=Peau3NHctFY

Emanuele Lombardini has a great blog Dove c'é Musica http://euromusica.wordpress.com/ where the online voting for this year's Eurovision by the Italian voters is going on right now for the second semifinal. Meanwhile we have the votes for the first semifinal. The votes are devided by the jury (made of Emanuele and various bloggers, journalists and OGAE members and fans amogst others) and the general vote by the readers. And the results are quite suprising: 01. Switzerland (jury 67 + readers 111) 178 02. Finland (63 + 90) 153 03. Sweden (57 + 75) 132 04. Israel (48 + 83) 131 05. Iceland (49 + 82) 131 06. Montenegro (50 + 74) 124 07. Armenia (41 + 80) 121 08. Bosnia-Herzegovina (44 + 77) 121 09. Andorra (49 + 53) 102 10. Portugal (36 + 65) 101 11. Malta (18 + 77) 95 12. Turkey (14 + 70) 84 13. Belarus (17 + 47) 64 14. Bulgaria (19 + 37) 56 15. FYROM (39 + 9) 48 16. Romania (15 + 27) 42 17. Belgium (10 + 15) 25 18. Czech Republic (5 + 17) 22 So, for the Italian voters Switzerland...

Who reads this blog knows I usually love the Croatian entries and 2009 is no exception! This year they offer a very melancholy Slavic sounding ballad full of Mediterranean - a great mix and very suitable for Moscow I think - by two great vocalists and beautiful guitar. Igor Cukrov is a 24-year old theology student who wanted to become a priest at some point but his desire to sing was stronger. He was a finalist in Croatian Operacija Trijumf last year. In 2007 he took part in Split music festival where he won the best debutant award. Besides singing first tenor in the Dalmatian vocal ensemble Combi he is also a multi instrumentalist. He plays guitar, piano, trumpet and clarinet. The composer Tonci Huljic is no stranger to Eurovision or fame and success. He's the most succesful composer in ex-Yugoslavia in the 90's and this is already his 4th Eurovision entry after Nostalgija (1995/6th), Maria Magdalena (1999/4th) and Strings of my hear t (2001/10th). Lyricist Vjekoslava Hulji...

Russian TV is really dragging on with the presenters announcements. Apparently there will be different ones for the semifinals and the final. Many names have been circulating for both but the latest and most insisted one is that model Milla Jovovic would present the final along with actor Ivan Urgant. Alsou will continue the traditions of previous entrants hosting a future show, She's not going Solo this time but with Andrey Malahov. Watch her bringing Russian to #2 back in 2000 here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JuSnJe_Jqc

Patricia Kaas has opened a new website to promote her and the French entry in Moscow 2009. Meanwhile I am waiting for her coming concert in exactly 3 weeks in Helsinki's Finlandiatalo, the venue for the Welcome Party in Helsinki 2007. She is also to release a new version of her latest album Kabaret with a bonus CD of the current tour live. Here's the revamped 3 minute version of Et s'il faillait le faire : www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeiM2hdIjU8 Check the website out here: http://www.patriciakaas.net/eurovision2009/

My favorite sister Lili & Susie are back with a greatest hits album Nu och då - det bästa med Lili & Susie , or rather Then and now - the best of Lili & Susie . It includes all their big hits from the 80's and early 90's including of course both their Melodifestivalen songs Okey! Okey! from 1989 and Show me heaven from this year. You can hear the songs here http://www.klicktrack.com/klicktrack/releases/lili-and-susie/nu-och-da-det-basta-med-lili-and-susie/17 and here are some of their videos: http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=BR1ZJrTgw2I , http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_FMZaD2Kms , http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADijndh3ZJI , http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpM5a-xXiYc ,

Also on March 29 the most confusing Eurovision night was held, in 1969 in Teatro Real in Madrid. France, Spain, the Netherlands and United Kingdom all ended up with 18 points and as there were no rules for the situation they were all winners, to the disbelief of the presenters and audience present. Later this caused a lot of talk and discontent and in 1970 many countries stayed home as a protest and the rules were changed that there could never again be joint winners. Eurovision was in serious trouble and crisis. http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7iD7K2lQZU , http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sifsSxlPuc, www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFrpVKZ683M , http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=vG57O5kFkv8

On March 29, 1960 London's Royal Festival Hall with its 2.000 people was the biggest venue by then. 13 countries took part when Norway debuted. Luxembourg tried the own language instead of French and came last. Jacqueline Boyer (18) with Tom Pillibi was the winner in the end. And the daughter of Jacques Pills who came last the year before.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hjP98w1UMA

As usual, Sweden's Melodifestivalen is the one national selection with the most releases, a bit like Sanremo in the goodf old days: each song is released on a single and most artists are having new albums coming out, or re-releases of their previous ones with added song(s), or at least greatest hits albums. Here are some of them pictured.... The offering in Finland has been extremely poor this year on the other hand.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anWPbe4PlhU , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxF3J4cGV3c , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtR3T46h1kM, , http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGPwuKs0AQQ , http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=2D4x3y6iIZg

Igor Cukrov ft. Andrea - Lijepa Tena http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_tLQGjQOw0 Susanna Georgi - La teva decisió http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBCjOHaHs7w Elena Gheorghe - The Balcan girls http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t507EP4dwlI Kamil Mikulcik & Nela Pociskova - Let' Tmou http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3AzJzA2TT8

The Finnish department store Stockmann once again has a link to Eurovision. After hosting an Eurovision shop during Helsinki 2007 and having the Eurovision winners Lordi and Dima Bilan performing in its flagship store in Helsinki previosuly, this year the Latvian preview video is mainly shot in the brandnew Riga store using both video footage from Intars Busulis performances and photos take by the fans in February. Intars and his band Sweatwaters were practising in the store and got a lot of help by the clients who were able to suggest them steps and movements to be used in the Moscow 2009 performance. As reported before the song will be sung in Russian in Moscow: http://youtube.com/watch?v=tWRk11JzfVQ

Chiara from Malta has released a dance version of her entry What if we , and it works really well! Actually I think I like it more than the original! :-) Time will tell if it will help her to better her previous placements in the Eurovision... and in her case that means victory. She already came 3rd in 1998 with I think I'm in love and 2nd in 2005 with Angel . Meanwhile watch the video for the original version here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=wheh-VmxfeQ

AySel & Arash - Always http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmA82DlI-Pc Chiara - What if we http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wheh-VmxfeQ Noa & Mira Awad - There must be another way http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mXWYHdBoUU Kejsi Tola - Carry me in your dreams http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1mQR1TgAbo

Waldo's People is nearly ready for Moscow. Finland also got a good place in the running order, starting at #15 in the first semifinal and is doing fairly well in the various polls and betting odds promising Finland 4th place in the final in a row. Besides Waldo himself and Karoliina Kallio and the other female backing singers also the fire acrobats Niko Virtanen and Kasmir Jolma will be on stage in Moscow. "The show will be different from the Finnish final. There will be a lot of fire in the rusty visual atmosphere. The performance will be co oridnated and under control even if we want to appear relaxed and spontaneous" tells Waldo. "There will be more movement as the stage is so much bigger" comments YLE's director Rami Lindholm. Beforehand YLE's HoD Terhi Norvasto was hoping a late starting number. "Number 16 has been very lucky for Finland. Both Lordi and Teräsbetoni qualified to the final with that number. This year the show will be a bit...

Mikko Leppilampi, the host of the Eurovision 2007 in Helsinki is back in town and performing with a 8-member band in Vantaa's Flamingo Club these days in a big show featuring all from swing to today's dancemusic. " It's not a typical musical journey through time and styles but more of a stage sgow that moves from one style to another. It's a big Las Vegas style show where every detail has been taken care of. I will be not only singing but performing the songs with my all body as well " Mikko told beforehand. Soon he will be acting again in a movie, Pihalla , before returning to Los Angeles and his studies. Next performances Friday 27.3, Saturday 28.3 and Friday 3.4. In September-October 2009 he will be touring Finland with another swing show. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjIgE9PiK90 , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZUOaioYroE ,

March 25, 1972 BBC hosted the Eurovision in Edinbourg after the French TV refused to collaborate with Monaco that didn't have a suitable venue or technics to host the show. One third of the entries were sung by male-female duets (all ending in the bottom of the list). Ireland tried for the first - and last - time Irish as the language. Familiar names Mary Roos, Sandra Reemer and Greek born Vicky Leandros (Luxembourg) who already came 4th in 1967 with a worldhit L'amour est bleu . Now she took revenge with a classic Aprés toi. Malta made a record: it came last with its debut and the second time round it happened again. Also Portugal, Austria, Monaco and Lithuania have started their Eurovision history with a last place but Malta did it twice in a row! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0Ar-YiiPFs , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nD4ib9-laGY

The Hungarian entrant in Moscow 2009 will be Ádok Zoltan alias Ádokzoli, a junior figure skating champion turned into ballet dancer turned into musical star and now also a pop singer defending the colors of Hungary in Moscow. The debut album Tánclépés includes besides the title track also the English version Dance with me and a Markanera remix of the Hungarian version and ten other tracks of easy pop tunes, all in Hungarian. I would point out Manolita, Egyszer nézett rám, Legfázósabb nyár and Velem a fény as other top tracks from it. Joseph and the amazing technicolor dreamcoat, Mamma mia, Fiddler on the roof, Miss Saigon, Cats, Funny girl, The sound of music, Fame, Some like it hot, Chicago, My fair lady, Romeo and Juliet... just a few musicals, shows and ballets Àdokzoli has been involved in. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQCMlG676a0 , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wmzq1vOTGSQ , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BM89Eo00Ek , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_Ml7ITKMmw , http://w...

Brinck - Believe again http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqw8rHBzTgc Gipsy.cz - Ave Romale http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjgHUITPPW8 Christina Metaxa - Firefly http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSc9ftJ-_TA De Toppers - Shine http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=te1w81E8L5A

I'm back! I will be catching up slowly what's been going on in Eurovision universe the past 10 days and let's start with these very familiar faces spotted on the streets of Budapest and Vienna.... Nightwish and Lordi touring Hungary and Hadise doing PR in Vienna! (Lordi is taken at night as T hey only come out at night ....)

The 8th Eurovision was held on March 23, 1963 in London - in two different studios: in one were the presenter, scoreboard and the audience, in the other the artists and the orchestra. It is rumoured some of the material was recorded beforehand and/or even playback. Also the voting was rather suspicious. Switzerland's Israeli born Ester Ofarim was leading when the presenter recontacted Norway to give its votes again - after there had been too much confusion in their vote giving the first time - and they gave rather different votes than understood beforehand and Denmark's Dansevise by Grethe & Jørgen Ingmann took lead and won. All the other Nordic countries were left with flat zero points. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRFDYbb3vek

March 22, 1975 Sweden hosted its first Eurovision, 20th in all with a new record number of participants: 19. It was also Turkey's first time. The Netherlands opened the show and also ended it by winning for the 4th (and so far last) time. Teach-In's Ding dinge dong still didn't set the international charts on fire... It was also the first time the current voting system with 1 to 8, 10 and 12 points were used, created by a Finn. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REHS12tsj7c

15th Eurovision took place in Amsterdam on March 21, 1970 and won its biggest crisis ever. Only 12 countries took part when Finland, Sweden, Norway, Portugal and Austria stayed home to protest the voting the year before. Changes were made and there was never going to be joint winner again (the rule has been needed only once since: 1991). The night was rather revolutionary in many ways: for the first time there was a real moving elements on stage, the lightshow was something never seen before and there was an opening sequence that by now is already traditional. Also the postcards to present the entries were used for the very first time. Most of the singers were surprisingly big names (or big names to come): Mary Hopkins, Gianni Morandi, Guy Bonnet, Katja Epstein and certain Julio Iglesias.... but it was 17-year-old fresh and sweet Dana from Ireland who scored their first win. She went on to succesful career in music first and then in politics.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpPei22aG...

Tivoli Garden in Copenhagen hosted the 9th Eurovision on March 21, 1964. Sweden stayed home but Portugal joined. With the 1956 contest this is the only that has no footage saved. A demostrator managed to run to the stage and show a sign with "Boycott Franco and Salazar", the first and last time something like this happens (or is it? I saw in Helsinki that some crazy girl almost got to the stage while The Ark was performing....) This time the juries gave 5 points to their favourite, 3 to the second and 1 to the third BUT if they all agreed on the winner it got all 9 points. 16-year-old fresh Sanremo winner Gigliola Cinquetti charmed everyone and scored 65% of all available votes beating UK's Matt Munro 49-17. She would went on to conquer the world, get beaten by ABBA in 1974 and present the 1991 Eurovision in Rome. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kd849vrtqmk , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTC0jEJXJ7U , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8wlTSaJff8 , http://www.youtube.com/wa...

When the 10th Eurovision was held in Naples on March 20, 1965 it was already broadcasted in countries that didn't take part, especially in Eastern Europe reaching around 150 million viewers. The winds of change were blowing in the contest was won by an uptempo Poupée de cire, poupée de son written by Serge Gainsbourg for Luxembourg. Only 17-year-old France Gall scored one of her first hits and went on to become a superstar and a legend. Ireland debuted. Finland scored flat zero points while the Finnish people favourite had been Katri Helena's Minne tuuli kuljettaa , then overrun by a jury in the national final. Many still wonder "what if...?" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5aeeSmkPwQ , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nH3gheBxkEE

Swedish boys of Man Meadow came third in Poland last year with Viva la musica so they tried again this year. It didn't go quite like planned with this very Modern Talking-esque Love is gonna get you : 6th place. It's still a nice track on record. Live and on stage it just doesn't work. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgHLpL0Orrk , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwwy4mj5V-g

In 1962 there were no new countries taking part but all the old ones returned to Grand Auditorium de RTL for the 7th Eurovision, held for the first and last time on Sunday. Yet again a French ballad won when France scored its third win. A new voting system was taken in use when each jury member gave to his or hers top 3 favourites 3,2 and 1 point. France won clearly with Isabelle Aubret's Un premier amour : 26 points against Monaco's 13. Marion from Finland opened the contest and would do so again in 1973 in same place - an Eurovision record to break this one. Isabelle instead returned to try her luck in 1968 scoring a respectable 3rd place with La source. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLt3AxYPLs0 , http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=BNrahkiMUpw

Cannes hosted Eurovision again when the 7th one was held there March 18, 1961. It was also the first time the contest was on Saturday night. Also a new record of participating countries was made: 16. Finland was amongst the newcomers and started the long, long march towards success.... it would take 45 years to win. The rest was very similar to the contest held 2 years before, including the presenter Jacqueline Joubert and scoreboard. Spain entered and Conchita Bautista even danced a bit. A first. The first Greek singer was in, represanting though Austria. Luxembourg took its first win and Jean-Claude Pascal returned in 1981... He died in 1992 at the age of 65. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEAmncSJs9k and here his 1981 entry http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qahpOktl0Y But this isn't the only Eurovision held on March 18th....

Inga and Anush Arshakyanner - Jan Jan http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGthkhvDyqU Ádokzoli - Dance with me http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqpcXI4fCPY Alex Swings Oscar Sings - Miss Kiss Kiss Bang http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_U_HiCXW-vU Soraya - La noche es para mi http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4kxdH6yT-8

69 danguje came third in the Lithuanian final with this one and even if I'm perfectly happy with the winner Sasha Son this one is worth mentioning. The girls did a great job with the song and the staging fits the song nicely, both of them! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0p3-FKqju8 , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-E6fyIqjtqs

The heads of delegations are in Moscow right now and moments ago the draws for running orders were taken and we will travel from Montenegro to Bosnia-Herzegovina in the first semifinal, and from Croatia to the Netherlands in the second. France seems to be doomed in the final while the UK and Spain got good positions (and maybe Germany, too). Dima Bilan drew 3 wildcard for both semis and one for the final - meaning they could pick up their starting number (*) SEMIFINAL 1 on May 12: 01. Montenegro 02. Czech Republic 03. Belgium 04. Belarus 05. Sweden 06. Armenia 07. Andorra 08. Switzerland 09. Turkey 10. Israel 11. Bulgaria (*) 12. Iceland 13. FYR of Macedonia 14. Romania 15. Finland 16. Portugal (*) 17. Malta (*) 18. Bosnia-Herzegovina SEMIFINAL 2 May 14: 01. Croatia 02. Ireland 03. Latvia 04. Serbia 05. Poland 06. Norway 07. Cyprus 08. Slovakia 09. Denmark 10. Slovenia 11. Hungary 12. Azerbaijan 13. Greece 14. Lithuania 15. Moldova 16. Albania 17. Ukraine (*) 18. Estonia (*) 19. Nether...

Shpat Kasapi was one of the favourites in the Albanian final held last December but managed to reach only 18th place in the end. There's however something very likable in this entry full of mediterranean flavour as the title suggests. Here are the 3 versions performed during the festival Kenges. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GPxf6JDllE , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbDvQN5uDcI , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4b6mIHYGlw Check his website here: http://www.shpatkasapi.com.mk/english/

Krassimir Avramov - Illusion http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyAthqewF2g Sasha Son - Love http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dveQkyY6TDA Patrick Ouchène - Copycat http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOn0QwBFOGI Intars Busulis - Sastregums http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltjjjeqrpcc

I will have a little break from blogging. There will be "musical posts" in coming days but nothing urgent. Just things to pass by a week or so enjoying some old winners and such. I will most likely not be writing about Melodifestivalen either until my return.... Here are some goodies from Austria and Hungary for you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHo71o8-q3w , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbdwleUejEQ , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgtCp1gapyo , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHPMae29iOw , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWEps4tjCdU , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbNopGmei4M , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKWeLOE-NMY , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlFtI11s3Is , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZ4EEV6gRyQ

So here it comes, the biggest and last (and best?) national final of the season providing us the 43rd entry for Moscow 2009: Melodifestivalen 2009 tonight. According fans and press it should be all laid down for Måns or Malena. Even if I like Måns and loved his Cara mia , I fail to register the greatness of this song and Malena would be just an old trick used in the Eurovision. Personally I hope for Sarah, Alcazar and E.M.D. But the most hilarious thing would be a surprise win by H.E.A.T and I would be very happy! Their early Bon Jovi-like heavypop might well do wonders in Moscow as there is nothing like it in the line up this year. 01. Måns Zelmerlöw - Hope & Glory 02. Caroline af Ugglas - Snälla, snälla 03. Agnes - Love love love 04. H.E.A.T - 1.000 miles 05. Emilia - You're my world 06. Alcazar - Stay the night 07. Sarah Dawn Finer - Moving on 08. E.M.D. - Baby, goodbye 09. Sofia - Alla 10. Molly Sandén - Så vill stjärnorna 11. Malena Ernman - La voix

Waldo's People - Lose control http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSWoSLYrqIU Lovebugs - The highest heigths http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbikwcLnDQA Andrea Demirovic - Just get out of my life http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9MNtyvgvqk Patricia Kaas - S'il fallait le faire http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITsLYay9ZEc

Another great ballad and runner up: Poli Genova's One lifetime is not enough from Bulgaria. Considering Krassimir Avramov's problems performing his winning song live this would have been a safer choice for sure. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XL4t9R_GXi0 , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShCKLy5LaT8

Sinead Mulvey and Black Daisy - Et Cetera http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9QF5d-4ZQ8 Sakis Rouvas - This Is Our Night http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtpQXLRk0N8 Lidia Kopania - I Don t Wanna Leave http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOVmrNaLDT8 Regina - Bistra voda http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJX0Ij3WD3M

Hilversum hosted the third Eurovision song contest March 12, 1958. Domenico Modugno opened the contest with Nel blu dipinto di blu , better known as Volare . It came only 3rd but remains still today the best known, most covered and recorded Eurovision song ever. It made #1 in the US and was a top-10 hit in UK. In Italy it stayed at #1 for 16 weeks. He got to sing the song twice though, as for technical problems it was not seen in some countries. Corry Brokken became the only Eurovision winner (so far...) to have scored a last place, too. Lys Assia on the other hand almost became the first double winner but in the end France's André Claveau beat her 27-24. He died at 88 in 2003. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXPz0-we5N4

Georgia has withdrawn from Eurovision 2009 in Moscow after EBU rejected their song We don't wanna put in . All I can think this was all well orchestrated mess, starting from the moment they agreed to take part in the last minute. A scandalous song that would be rejected so they could say no after all, or in case it made it all the way to Moscow would cause trouble there.... If the song was any good I would feel sorry. Being as bad it was - not only lyrically - I am just relieved I don't have to listen to it again.

The Netherlands scored their second win in the 4th Eurovision song contest held on March 11, 1959 in Cannes with Teddy Scholten's ' n beetje . UK started its string of endless 2nd places, Monaco debuted finishing last and Italy's Domenico Modugno still didn't win but his song Piove (Ciao ciao bambina) followed Volare 's steps to become a worldwide hit. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_6UoTKY0CA

Belgium finally made public its song for Moscow, Patrick Ouchène's Copycat . I thought I would hate it but I don't, it's kinda fun (at least on first hearing!) and I would say this will do better in Moscow than Germany for example, but we will see... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDQJG4zQfuw

... with Georgia that is. EBU has given Georgia a week, until March 16, to change the lyrics of We don't wanna put in , or change the song alltogether. The case is so clear they didn't wait until the meeting in Moscow next week where all the songs are presented and no changes are allowed after that. There are also the plagiarism accusations of the songs from Bosnia-Herzegovina and Cyprys to deal with....

Samuel Lucas was the runner up in Slovenia with this power ballad that owes a lot (but not too much) to Unbreak my heart . It was my instant favourite of mine and with this Slovenia would have been very high on my list of the songs of 2009, instead of being amongst the last ones.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2m9_o-AoD9w , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWm5eOCI_hc

Boaz Mauda from Israel, Jelena Tomasevic from Serbia and Sirusho from Armenia performed last night finally the song Time to pray in the Serbian final. It is just as I expected it to be: beautiful with three matching vocals. There should be more collaborations like this with the Eurovision artists.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-ja-99wyb4

Marko Kon & Milan Nikolic with Cipela have won the Serbian final. I must say I never saw this coming either. I guess the song is supposed to be fun but.... The other Nikolic, Ana, refused to take part after the last minute addition to the final and stayed home instead. Sigh.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKh0hWjktrA

Kamil Mikulčík & Nela Pocisková with Leť tmou have won the Slovakian final. I must admit I never saw this coming and doubt this shouty messy ballad will go anywhere in Moscow 2009. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJ7bZoumBaM Otherwise the final was a long one, but a good old fashioned no frills one. It was quite interesting to see the % of votes on screen while the singers performed, even if it did take away the excitement in the end.... Gipsy.cz from neighbouring Czech Republic was there doing Ave romali (are we supposed to take conclusion from that?) as well as Aysel & Arash, fresh from Moscow last night singing again Always. They have Ruslana's dancers for them, and highly untrue story how the song was chosen.... 01. Kamil Mikulcík & Nela Pocisková - Let' tmou 25.27% 02. Tomáš Bezdeda - Kazdý z nás 15.10% 03. Mukatado - Ja sa mám 14.73% 04. Mária Círová - Búrka 14.60% 05. Martina Schindlerová - Krídla 5.98% 06. Robo Opatovský - Prší 5.13% 07. Samo Tomecek ...