ALBANIA DECIDES....

The show is on and I'm really enjoying it. The live orchestra sounds wonderful, the stage is good, the hostess wears something weird (and so does many of the other ladies....) and it's a real festival feeling!

I liked Ardian Bujupi a lot, less Valon Shehu even if it wasn't bad either and really liked Merland Kademi. Makes me think of Avion Travel and some Icelandic singer....

Kelly was great again but Rezarta Smaja did wonders with her song that borrows a bit from No Doubt but it only gives it a nice flavor. Loved it! She was followed another great song and performance by Kejsi Tola.

LYNX followed and wasn't bad at all, then Hersi Matmuja and finally I was able to say "ehm, no".Rosela Gjylbegu started slowly but just got better when the song progressed. Another great one!

Flaka Krelani next, apparently one of the favourites. Her song wasn't bad either but I wasn't convinced. However she was applauded back to the stage. Vesa Luma followed with her uptempo cheap discon that didn't get me too excited really. She was followed by Anjeza Shahini who delivered a catchy pop tune with gusto and managed to get in some gospel feeling towards the end. She was also applauded back on stage....

Then came something totally different with Adrian Lulgjuraj & Bledar Sejko. The orchestra really rocked and the choir gave all out of their vocal cords, and this rock anthem really got the house rocking and despite not being exactly my cup of tea I kinda enjoyed it. Definitively a dark horse tonight and one to watch! Bojken Lako followed and was totally overshadowed by the previous act who were also called back on stage for extra applause. Selami Kolonja followed with a classy old fashioned ballad.

Then it was time for some rap with Dr.Flori & Fabi. I have liked Dr Flori's previous efforts and this wasn't bad either. Nice melodic rap. Would also be a different choice for Albania but I have less faith in him winning. Another duo followed with Xheni & Enxhi Kumrija, a girl duo singing a rather 13 in a dozen pop rock song. And that's it. Let's see what the jury decides as there is no televote in Albania.... but an partly international jury: Nicola Caligiore (Italy), Joseph Mizzi (Malta), Szilva Puspok (Hungary), Sokol Shupo, JUstina Aliaj, Zef Coba and Petrit Ymeri.

Oh, Ell/Nikki still exist? They materialized in FiK all of sudden... They play-backed some unheard song that was as bad Running scared they play-backed afterwards ... After these puppets a real artist and singer, Rona Nishliu! Belting out the English version of Suus.....

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Sabina Babayeva for Azerbaijan

The Azerbaijani selection show for the represant was as long as the selection process for the five finalists. Kurt Calleja from Malta and Can Bonomo from Turkey were present with Ell/Nikki to see Sabina Babayeva to emerge as the winner after each and every finalist had done about zillion songs amongst other guests. Now the Azeri TV will shop around a suitable song for her.

SONGS OF THE YEAR 2015: #5 KRISTA SIEGFRIDS - ON & OFF

Krista Siegfrids is delivering nice pop tunes one after another and this one is particularly catchy and soon you will be singing along..... Hopefully her Melodifestivalen entry will be equally good!

ESC 2015 NORWAY: LISTEN TO THE FINALISTS

The Norwegian entries are now and there to listen, or here . This time Norway has only one off final with 11 songs and a live orchestra, so it will be interesting to hear how these songs will turn out as most are rather modern sounding and not so Eurovisionesque midtempo numbers. There could have been also only ten if they had dropped that joke entry from the line up. The old veterans Elisabeth and Tor have nothing to be ashamed among this lot. To be honest I didn't get excited by any of these really... Something is wrong in my books if a classic schlager like Heaven sounds almost the best... What's wrong Norway?

ESC 2016 WISH LIST: MARGARET FOR POLAND

Małgorzata Jamroży aka Margaret has also been tipped for Eurovision and apparently she did turn it down but she'd be perfect. She's got a look and persona you can't unnotice nor forget, she's got hit songs, she has been voted or nominated for everything from Trendy artist to the Hope of the Year, Fashion Icon and Glamour Woman of the year besides the usual best video, song, album, debut..... Oh she's also a fashion designer! She's very clever with social medias and would surely use it to her advantage if selected for Stockholm 2016. Her debut album is titled Add the blonde , do we need to say more? Except it includes mostly Swedish written pop tunes like Tell me how are ya , Wasted , Start a fire and Heartbeat . And of course her debut single and internationally noticed Thank you very much that you can enjoy below with all its anti-textil feel. I think she's Eurovision perfection, she's cheeky and fun, can we have her?

FINLAND: LORDI RELEASES SEXORCISM - THEIR 9TH STUDIO ALBUM

Brand new studio album SEXORCISM is released tomorrow, 12 years and 5 days after their monstreous victory in Athens 2006 Eurovision song contest. It is quite possibly the most controversial Lordi album yet and already their 9th stuido album (plus three compilations and one Ep)

THE ABBA REUNION 2016 - WATCH THEM SING TOGETHER AGAIN

The 2016 Eurovision song contest organizers didn't manage it - or any of the previous ones either nor those offering them millions of dollars - but they seem to get together for birthdays, the way the old friends do. Back in 1999 they performed together in a private party for Görel Hansel's 50th birthday, and now to celebrate the first meeting of Björn and Benny 50 years ago. Venue was Stockholm's Bern's Salonger and once again in a private setting but today even they can't stop the cell phone videos and social medias. Enjoy the magic of Frida's and Agnetha's voices again.

GOODBYE, FAREWELL...

The time has come. After all these years, 5,7 million visits, 12.000 articles I guess the time has come. As much as I love and care for Eurovision it just doesn't feel the same. The Corona years took their toll and the past two years and certain decisions have helped me to mature the idea that next year I will hear the songs for the first time in semi-final just like any so called local. The bubble has burst. Add the toxicity in social medias and fandom. The arrogant teenagers who saw their first contest somewhere 2017 or even 2021 who think they know it all and only their opinion matters. Did I mention the toxic atmosphere on social medias? I'm too old for that sh*t. It's been a long ride that took me to various Eurovision on spot as a fan and tourist, as a journalist, as a delegation member. I met some great people, made memories of lifetime. In stressful, sad periods of my life this blog has been my safe place, a place to escape and forget everything else for an hour o...

FINLAND: REMEMBERING KIRKA

Boobs for summer: Samantha vs Sabrina!

The old rivals have put their bras (or the lack of them) in peace and entered the studios together to record Blondie's boombastic Call me . Life could be worse.....

ESC 2016 BELARUS: NAKED WITH WOLVES?

Today's funniest Eurovision related story comes from Belarus. Some sources claim Ivan wants to perform on stage naked and with live wolf or wolves. It surely would be a first on Eurovision stage! We have seen some forgotten underwear over the years, and some cardbox animals though..... Is it time to take things a bit further? No, according the rules live animals are not allowed, and Eurovision being a family show nudity won't do either. (It seems to be ok to be half naked if you are a dancer though..... )

Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

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