Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

San Marino's Valentina Monetta is bringing her social network abroad a bit before heading for Baku 2012. After the Eurovision in concert in Amsterdam and yesterday's London gathering she's off to Israel and will meet and greet fans in Hotel Maxim, 89 Hayarkon street in Tel Aviv. She's to meet also the Israeli entrant Izabo. More info here .  And don't forget the coolest Eurovision competition of the season with fabulous prizes. You can still enter for two weeks only right  here .

Great success for Nina Zilli in Bologna where she gave a sold out concert this Saturday after the OGAE Italy convention where she was present in her casual look as you can see in the photo with the hostess and OGAE Italy president, wonderful Cristina Giuntini. The Italian fans got to meet her and had a fabulous evening. Nina's L'amore è femmina tour ends in Turin on May 5th but tomorrow she will be present in Rome's mega open air concert for May 1st. After that the preparations for Baku 2012 will start with full swing. Watch here the highlights of the evening. 

Last night it was the last show in Peacock Theater in Helsinki before the show will move on to the Helsinki Ice hall next Sunday. Torsten Borg was voted out - rightfully so if you ask me - and we have two big voiced ladies in the final so one thing is for sure: it will be a female winner in this edition, the first since Hanna Pakarinen , who won the very first edition. The megasuperfavourite since the beginning, only 17-year-old Diandra Flores belted out Listen  from The Dreamgirls but Susanna Erkinheimo (27) was the big surprise by giving such a performance of The Power of love that even Jennifer Rush and Celine Dion would applause. This blogger has loved her cover of Johanna Kurkela's Rakkauslaulu previously while the song's composer, Lauri Ylönen from The Rasmus was as a judge. For the first time ever the Finnish Idols has had singers that can really do big power ballads! But this edition is only saved by these two, The Voice of Finland wins in every other aspect pl...

Tooji has. When the Swedish magazine QX asked him if he has he answered with a laugh "Who hasn´t?" . He also tells he's very much aware he has a lot of gay fans and thinks it's very cool and he can't wait to perform in some Pride or another gay gathering soon. He says he's very proud to be among this year's gay favorites and why does he think gays like his song Stay ? "Because it's the best!" When asked who's cuter of the ex-Norwegian Eurovision artists Didrik Solli-Tangen or Alexander Rybak he says: "Didrik is hunkier, so I have to answer Didrik. But Alexander is very cute, too! " He also names his eyes as his best feature even if "it would be easier to name the body parts I'm not satisfied with!" But let's leave these gay magazine questions aside as the interview is pretty nice. He says he met his Swedish songwriters through his management and went to Sweden to meet them. They all had a clear idea how ...

After Amsterdam it's all about London this weekend, where the 5th annual meeting and greeting of the Eurovision artists takes place. Nine of the 2012 acts have confirmed their presence so far and also Slovenian Omar Naber (2005), Kati Wolf (Hungary 2011) will be there with maybe some other surprises. Also you can win tickets to fly to Baku for the real thing. So, Anggun from France, Compact Disco from Hungary, Donny Montell from Lithuania, Eva Boto from Slovenia, Kaliopi from Macedonia, Sabina Babayeva from Azerbaijan and Valentina Monetta from San Marino and Filipa Sousa from Portugal will meet again.  The Shadow Lounge in Soho will be the location and the doors open at 7pm on Sunday April 29, 2012.. Nikki French (UK 2000) and Paddy O'Connell are hosting. More information here . 

Carola. A household name in Sweden (and not only). Each and everyone has an opinion about her. She doesn't need a surname. She has given a face and more to Christian people. A voice, a body and a little bit rock'n roll. Andreas Ekström and Johanna Koljonen try to find the truth behind the woman but it doesn't work. The divas can't be explained. So the book turns into a declaration of love, whether they want or not. After all they are fans. It doesn't mean it doesn't have analytic quality. It does. And it's easy and fun to read and deeply serious. Carola is far from politically correct especially in sexual matters, sometimes a real blond in what she lets out of her mouth. She is hated and loved at the same time, both by schlager audience and gays alike - despite all. After all she has the voice and the energy that sets her apart.  The book doesn't answer the questions around the enigma called Carola but it does make the reader think what it is that m...

Two power ballads, co-written by Swedes, sung by two ladies with big voice and maturity over the younger girls. Pastora Soler (33) has already gained platinum and gold albums and various awards and is concidered as one of the best voices in Spain, a year younger Sabina has yet to score big on recording market but has already claimed a few awards on various festivals. Classy ladies indeed. But it's 4-0 for Spain. Spain - Pastora Soler - Quédate conmigo (Stay with me)  ****1/2 The song starts beautifully and Pastora's vocals are fantastic. The song slowly unfolds and grows in true Eurovision style and she belts out some long amazing notes. She comes across likable and you want her to deliver and keeps you listening and almost holding your breath. The best Spanish entry for a long, long time. But then, will the televoters have a patience to concentrate and listen, as the show factor isn't that evident. Pastora herself is the show. Nothing else is needed and I hope the...

Alice did one of her rare concert last Saturday, April 21, 2012 in Bellinzona. A rare treat to her fans it was sold out well ahead of the date and she kept her promise to perform some of old songs for the first time since the 1980's like Messaggio . This blogger is so jealous for those who got to go there as the tracklist is like a dream. A fantastic mix of old and new, hits and great album tracks. I have seen her live both in Helsinki and Rome and the atmosphere in her concerts is incredible, and she really is an unique talent in the music scene. Can't wait for her new album in May (some say now postponed to September?), her first in in three years and the first with new songs since 1998! Below you can find the tracklist. Watch some videos and photos here .  1. 1943 2. Gli ultimi fuochi 3. Il contatto 4. Prospettiva Nevski 5. Nomadi 6. Chanson egocentrique 7. I treni di Tozeur 8. La recessione 9. Le baccanti 10. Tempo se...

You were expecting this, weren't you? After their Kuunkuiskaajat parody Työlki ellää that was loved by the girls themselves and half of Finland along with Europe they did Eric Saade's Popular last year (no information on what he thought about it) this time they have done the video for the Udmurt grannies Buranovskiye Babushki song  Party for everybody . It's the promo video the grannies themselves never did, bringing the song to another level, so to speak. Once again fabulous job and pure entertainment! With an important message. Well done, Dekel, Bastien and your co-grannies and extras! (And on a such wonderful spring day we have in Finland today you may want to enjoy this old gem of theirs, too.)

Tooji was born in Shiraz in Iran in 1988. He had his first birthday whilst fleeing to Norway.  The family’s Persian traditions and roots have given Tooji strong references, both musically and personally. A good life with a close-knit family in a new country has influenced his upbringing and life choices since.  With a strong wish to express impressions and feelings Tooji has gone his own creative ways, and after art school and theatre school, it was finally music that became closest to Tooji’s heart. In addition to devoting himself to his passions, the experience of working in kindergartens and with after-school-activities, young people and asylum seekers, has given Tooji an even more important mission in life: To give a voice to those who would otherwise not have been heard.  Some choices have been more important than others, and working with refugees in asylum  centers  has made its mark on him.  "It's a hard work but gives a lot" says Tooji....

OGAE Italy is organizing a convention in Bologna tonight with Nina Zilli's concert. A lot of effort has been put into this happening and Blogilkar congratulates the club! The convention starts at 5pm with the screening of all the 42 previews and continues with a dinner at 8pm. After that at 10pm Nina Zilli takes the stage in Estragon club and after the concert the night continues with Eurovision tunes. Sounds like fun! 

As there is Scandipop there is Big Balcan Ballad in Eurovision. This year we have two prime examples of the latter, when Slovenia tries it for the first time and Serbia, the master of the game tries it once again. But while Slovenia sends a 16-year-old debutant, who despite making a good job might still get a bit lost with the song penned by the very man who wrote the only BBB winner, 2007's Molitva , Serbia sends the very man who wrote the mother of all BBB, 2004's Lane moje , also for Serbia. And while Serbia has been a real success story in Eurovision, Slovenia has been struggling with only three top-10 finishes since 1993. This is 4-6 for Serbia for me. Slovenia - Eva Boto - Verjamem **** The song echoes Molitva , that is clear. But despite being very beautiful and with a certain hook it misses the boombastic climax that made Molitva a winner. The song goes forward but never really gets going but that's not Eva's fault, she does her best. Apparently this ...

Dima Bilan may have lost for the Udmurtian grannies in Eurovision 2012 but he has a new video and new single out in Russian and ex-Sovjet Union market and it's not Back to her future but  Так не бывает (It does not happen). I think it does happen indeed. The song is catchy in a weird way and the video is kinda dark affair but includes some whipped cream and Dima's belly button so it's alright. No, wonder the original is called Honey . 

Two young handsome guys with uptempo dance songs, Tooji and Kurt. Both in their early 20s and having their first real break. Both have co-written their songs with Swedish songwriters. Both countries have had mixed results in the Eurovision the past few years, Malta's last significant success was in 2005 while Norway won in 2009. Both failed to make the final last year. This battle ends 1-1. Norway: Tooji - Stay  **** Tooji has been labeled as poor man's Eric Saade, but what can he do if he's dark like him? (Being Persian or Lebanese might give you dark hair and eyes). And what comes to wearing the hood, it just happens to be in fashion up here in the north. The song itself isn't anyway similar to Popular in my books and is actually better. More interesting and not built up on a stage show. If he delivers on stage I think Norway might qualify this year. And if they do, they'll be on the upper side of the scoreboard rather than the lower... Malta: Kurt C...

Nina Zilli has started promoting her entry L'amore è femmina in Italy and performed it in mega popular Quelli che il calcio yesterday afternoon show that follows closely the football results in real time. She sung and had a very nice chat with the presenter Victoria Cabello about her album, tour and her coming trip to Baku that Nina seems to be looking forward pretty thrilled! They also showed a bit of the Russian grannies and named them as her main contenders but Nina came out as a fan and just adores them! And she confesses she's more afraid of them than 141 million TV-viewers. She was on stage with her band that will not follow her to Baku. She will have three backing singers instead.

Chisu's latest album Kun valaistun has sold already multiplatinum with three hit singles Sabotage , Kohtalon oma and Tie , but there's more to come. In the end of May she will released a special edition of it titled Kun valaistun 2.0 including three new tracks, interviews, videos, remixes and more. The new tracks are the title track Kun valaistun that she dropped from the original version "as it didn't quite fit it". Those who have heard it say it is one of her best songs. Then we have Frankestein that is the title melody of a popular TV-series Helsingin herra that has been on air all winter-spring and the new single, Kolmas pyörä . 

Blogilkar and Universal Music Germany organize a competition to win Roman Lob CD-singles. Just answer the following questions correctly before May 2, 2012  in the comments below (answers won't show there publicly) and you may be a lucky winner of Roman's single including Conflicted, Standing still and Alone off his debut album Changes .  1. How many times Roman has tried to get into the Eurovision before? 2. How high did Standing still peak in the German charts? 3. How many times has Ralph Siegel's song represented Germany in Roman's lifetime so far? Meanwhile enjoy this acoustic version of Standing still .

Eurovision 1982 is one of the Finnish Eurovision turning points. Kojo scored a flat zero in Harrogate while the other peace song Ein bisschen Frieden sailed to victory. The result got Europe asking if Finns are serious and are we doing it on purpose but we were not. When Kojo's Nuku pommiin was selected we thought we had a chance. The song was different in a in-your-face style. When Kojo returned home with null points the selecting jury was blamed and featured in newspapers with face photos like dangerous criminals, Kojo was treated as a national traitor, bottles were thrown at him in gigs and still today, after 30 years, he is known as Nolla-Kojo aka Zero-Kojo.  " Now I'm laughing only about it " he recalls in Iltalehti's recent interview. "It's ridiculous how this one mediocre song has caused so much hassle. After 30 years people still talk about it! " In 1982 Kojo had also another song in the final called Video-Venus that came 3rd. " ...

Last night in Amsterdam, Robert had the chance to ask some questions to the Maltese singer KURT CALLEJA before he would move on to Milan for another promotional activity tonight, in London Live 2.0 Tv programme. Could you please tell the readers a bit more about yourself, your experience in music and when you got known in Malta? Kurt:I am a 23 year old guy and the eldest of 3 boys. My youngest brother Kevin plays the guitar in my band. He is going to be on stage with me on Eurovision. Originally, I was studying to be a chef in the kitchen and actually did that a couple of years. And during that time I was also taking some singing lessons and working on getting to know the music better. That was the reason to stop in the kitchen because I was getting some good work in the music business so i decided to get a day job and do that in the evenings. About a year later I moved to London and full time I was working as a flight attendant. In the evenings, I was playing in bar...

Irish Peter, who lives in Belgium and is a member of OGAE Sweden is at it again. Here is what he thinks about the 2012 edition of the Eurovision song contest and who will win. ... Well, the Eurovision circus has managed to find its way to Azerbaijan and it looks like they are pulling out the stops to make this one of the best ever. Unfortunately I don't think the quality of the songs is great this year which could lead to a few surprises. Here is an overview of my thoughts on the selection.  In my overview an "(F)" indicates that I think they will get to the final. Montenegro - It was hard to know if I was listening to the opening of a new version of "phantom of the opera" ... I have only two words for Amadeus - "why bother?" - It’s not even worth more comment. [Score: 0/10] Iceland - Good dramatic opening, great drumbeat, the only difficulty with this is twofold - a lot of ballads and it's a bit repetitive - but a definite for the ...

Blogilkar's Robert was in Amsterdam last night attending the 4th Eurovision in concert and here's his report. Eurovision in Concert: A big success! Last night the 4 th edition of Eurovision in concert was held. It was the best so far. In comparison with last year, the venue De Melkweg was a well chosen location for this musicfestival. Even with a sold out concert of 1350 people, it did not feel so packed as last year and the sound this year was really good. 23 countries presented their song for Baku, only Gaitana from the Ukraine cancelled last minute due to vocal problems. One of the presenters of this evening was Ruth Jacott ( NL 1993 ) who started the evening with her Eurovision entry Vrede. Later she would sing 2 more Dutch preselection songs from 1993, Blijf bij mij en Medeleven. The audience loved it. After the opening of Ruth Jacott, it was time to countdown the 23 songs from all over Europe. Here is the list of countries in order of performance: Gre...

Two May born men, two classy ballads. United Kingdom is the most successful Eurovision nation overall with 5 wins and 15 runner ups, but it's been already 14 years since they got one of those. Estonia has a string of great success in 1999-2002 but has been less fortunate since, with the exception of 2009 . Now these two countries go to Baku with pretty much the same recipe. While Estonia's Ott (25 in May) is still a quite a newcomer with a couple of years adult fame to his credit, United Kingdom's Engelbert (76 in May) has over 45 years of career and worldwide success behind him. This is 5-4 for Estonia. United Kingdom - Engelbert Humperdinck - Love will set you free ****1/2 Is this the right card to turn the UK's Eurovision bad record in recent years? If you can overcome Engelbert's age - as it is clear many Eurovision fans are age racist but then, the hardcore fans have no power in the final result whatsoever, even if some seem to...

Blogilkar's special guest Robert is at the spot in Amsterdam today for the 4th annual Eurovision in concert and send these exclusive photos to get into the mood....

Saara Aalto has finished second in Talent, in Euroviisut and now in Voice of Finland. And I have to agree. No doubt she's got the voice and is hugely talented singer but she is uninteresting. And I'm not the only one who thinks so as her career hasn't went anywhere after Talent, not after Euroviisut. Yes, she has released two albums but has anyone bought them? Like the judges said in unison except her own Michael Monroe, she has a great future in musical world, not as a pop star. As a musical star she will have a tailor made personality to fit into. Maybe she will indeed have a career there as her voice deserves to be heard. The winner is Mikko Sipola from Tammisaari, a husky voiced rocker who sung With or without you and his first own single  Stuck inside my head in the final. Oh and Loreen was there, too.

Jippu is all of sudden everywhere. She's to release her third solo album Väärinpäin lentävät linnut (Birds flying backwards or something...) next week. She caused a stir with her look in a charity concert yesterday and now it's revealed she was cancelled from the artists list on a gospel happening due to her unfortunate comments on a talk show earlier this week where she said things like she's into sin and would do old gents like Silvio Berlusconi. Not suitable stuff for a youth gospel camp it seems. On top of that she's involved in a big political scandal in Finland when a couple that used the raise her for several years in her youth has been sentenced to jail for six and three years this week. Talk about right timing! Here's the title song. Jippu released her debut album Salaisuuksia, joita yksinäiset huutaa unissaan (Secret that the lonely cry out in their sleep) in 2006. She was awarded the Emma as the best newcomers and scored several radiohits. The s...

What to say? Greece has finished in top-9 the past eight years. Always with a similar kind of song, will their string of good fortune come to an end? Cyprus on the other hand has flopped every year since 2004. Will the tables turn in Baku? Both countries send a foxy lady, an easy pop song in English co-written by Swedes and surely will have a dance choreography to match. This is a bit schizophrenic as I think both will make the final but I won't be surprised at all if they don't. On the other hand I'd rather see Cyprus make it, and Greece not but most likely it'll be the other way around. Or will it? For me it's 2-1 for Cyprus. Cyprus - Ivi Adamou - La la love  **** First of all I'm not convinced about Ivi's vocal skills live or even her stage presence as at the moment it seems like she's missing both totally. The song itself is rather annoying piece of anonymous summer hit but yet there's something in it that makes it kinda enjoyable while ...

After six weeks climbing Gotye's Someone I used to know made it to #1 after last week's minor drop. Now, that's quite refreshing, isn't it? Loreen also climbs back one up to #6. 

This Saturday the 4th Eurovision in concert promo happening will take place and this year it's bigger than ever when 24 participating artists will be present to meet and greet the fans the and press, and perform in the concert at Melkweg in Amsterdam. Previous Eurovision entrant Ruth Jacott is hosting the concert with Cornald Maas. Cypriot Ivi Adamou was supposed to be there but had to cancel and we will have Filipa Sousa instead. The other artists are Valentina Monetta from San Marino, Sinplus from Switzerland, Jedeward from Ireland, Sabina from Azerbaijan, Iris from Belgium, Anri Jokhadze from Georgia, Eva Boto from Slovenia, Compact Disco from Hungary, Gaitana from Ukraine, Joan Franka from the Netherlands, Trackshittaz from Austria, Donny Montell from Lithuania, Pastora Soler from Spain, Sofi Marinova from Bulgaria, Pernilla from Finland, Rona Nishliu from Albania, Anmary from Latvia, Kurt Calleja from Malta, Mandinga from Romania and Eleftheria from Greece. For many artists...

Belarus and Switzerland have a lot in common this year. Both are represented by rock bands made of brothers; the Karyakin brothers Dmitry and Vladimir for Belarus with Italian Jacopo Massa as a third wheel, and the Broggini brothers Ivan and Gabriele for Switzerland, who happen to be Swiss Italian so there's the connection to Jacopo as well. Both countries have also been rather unsuccessful in the Eurovision. Belarus has made it to the final only twice out of eight entries, Switzerland three times since the semifinals were introduced. This match ends 4-3 for Belarus. Belarus - Litesound - We are the heroes  **** I like this one even if the earlier, rockier version was even better than this poppier one for Eurovision. It is catchy, the band is easy on the eye and their English is surprisingly good considering where they come from (remember Alexandra and Konstantin , for example?). This was also my favorite in the national final and I think they have a p...