Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

The show's over for another year and ... well, what can I say? The best bits were Zlata Ognevich . It's no secret I'm not a big fan of this contest but I try to listen and watch it in a way "would I enjoy listening this song once the TV cameras are off" and in this category I would still only put Russia and San Marino . Ukraine and Belarus would come close and no doubt Gaia from Malta has a big voice but the song gives me nothing. This said, it was kind of refreshing the victory went to somewhere else than the ex-Soviets for awhile, for the second time in the past 9 years.... And just for the fun of it, here are some images of ever beautiful Zlata.... and Emmelie was there, too. PS. If you wann see 8-year-old Gaia belt out Tina Turner's Proud Mary, click here .

Yesterday also Belarus revealed its 15 artists for the selection in early January 2014. It's good to bear in mind that the artist who wins maybe eventually won't go  to Eurovision after all, and if he/she/them do not certainly with the song they won the selection with! Unless Lukashenko likes it. Anyways, among these I recognize at least Alexei Gross , Max Lorens and Nuteki . Also Switter Boys has left its mark on world wide web....Oh, and Artem is one of the 3+2! Matvej Bondarenko Juri Vashchuk Alexey Gross Dariia Zhanet Max Lorens & DiDyuLya Anastasia Malashkevich Artem Mihalenko Alina Moshchenko Napoli Nuteki Nataliya Odintsova Elena Sinyavskaya Switter Boys

Malta has revealed its 20 hopefuls for Copenhagen 2014 Eurovision. As always the list is filled with familiar names and songs penned by Gerard James Borg, Paul Abela, Philip Vella, Paul Giordimaina, Fleur Balzan and the Micallef brothers among others. Also among the artists we spot mostly familiar names including two Eurovision veterans Fabrizio Faniello and Miriam Christine. The Micallef brothers seem to have attemps to hide themselves behind new names, Wayne as William and Richard is with the band Firelight including sister Michelle. Keep it in the family! Is  this the year Micallef clan finally makes it? I hope so! There are even two previous Junior Eurovision participants among these 20: Sophie Debattista (2006) and Daniel Testa (2008). Daniel also holds the country's best showing in that, 4th. The selection went from over 70 to 50 and then finally 20. The semiFInal is on February 7, 2014 and will cut them to 14 for the final the night after. Some Kind of Wonderful - ...

UPDATE:   The final was sold out in a few hours while there are still tickets for the other shows. Hmmm... Tomorrow is the fight day for those wanting to get tickets for the Eurovision song contest 2014. The common people and fans alike, those who are not getting the OGAE tickets. The ticket prices for Copenhagen 2014 are from 13 euros to 52 for the semifinal dress rehearsals, 15-60 euros for the 3rd dress rehearsal aka Family final, 17-93 euros for the Jury final and the semifinals. The final is prices 42-240 euros.  In the map above you can see the B&W Hallerne in Refshaleøen lay out and indeed the stage is in between the audience as rumored. Not in the middle but the audience however is on three sides of the stage, which is a normal for many concerts but a novelty for Eurovision song contest. And yes, the fan area is a standing one again but fans are getting OGAE tickets also to seated areas, my guess is the area around the stage. And a very nice touch is given m...

Here we have them. The rest of the Swedish hopefuls and it seems it's all laid out for Alcazar finally to make it and Christer Björkman got his wish, they have reunited and they are in! Also rumored dr.alban is in and the vocalist is none other than Jessica Folcker. Nice! Schlager dive and fan favorite Shirley Clamp makes also a welcome comeback and also Linda Bengtzing has been lured in by Björkman. Last year's revelation Anton Ewald is back for revenge and a lot of names I have never heard of.... Among songwriters its rather striking Thomas G:son hasn't got many songs in, only two. But in overall it seems more widespread this year. The song king and queen are Joy and Linnèa Deb along with Fredrik Kempe with four songs. Bobby Ljunggren, Sharon Vaughn and Peter Boström all got three songs in. Now everyone, start practising to pronounce Örnsköldsvik! Heat 3 - Gothenburg, February 15, 2014 State of Drama - All we are (Göran Werner, Sanken Sandqvist, Emil Gullhamn,...

The French selection committee has come up with the three names and no, they are not the big guns we might have been hoping for. At least I have never heard any of these three. By all meanss it doesn't mean they couldn't be good!  Twin Twin is made of Lorent Idir and François Djemel with Patrick Biyik . Judging their video By my side we can expect anything.... Joanna comes from a reality, Star Academy 8 and can belt out even I will always love you . Her debut single gives us something more upbeat. So, we can expect almost anything from her, too Destan is Dean, Killian and Quentin . Or in other words a rather classical boyband, as is their music, like Vole . They even do One Direction covers.... Their eventual entries will be revealed by Natasha St-Pier on January 26 and people can televote until February 23. That counts 50%, the other half of votes is given by a professional jury and the result is revealed on March 2, 2014. This is going to be rather interes...

Sanremo speculations are running wild and while the names are being dropped, confirmed, denyed on daily basis we get to see the stage design. It's a step back to the classic opera house setting and for the purpose the stage in legendary Teatro Ariston will be deeper than usual and the stage also goes further into the audience where some ten rows of seats have been removed. On the left side there's a staircase, on the right the terrace for the judges. On the back of the stage the orchestra balconies divided by a church like glass window that hides another staircase. Meanwhile the hosts Fabio Fazio and Luciana Littizzetto are working full time to complete the script of the five evenings, the final artist list will be revealed before Christmas (December 13 at 1.30pm TV News) and the names given sure right now are Giusy Ferreri, Arisa, Francesco Renga, Niccolò Fabi, Cristiano De Andrè, Dolcenera , rappers Clementino and Moreno as well as last year's Newcomers winner Anton...

We all know about the recent discriminating anti-gay laws in Russia. We know the father of them, a municipal politician Vitaly Milonov. We also know Jari Sillanpää came out back in 2006 just stating the fact we all knew by then already. The thing becomes absurd when Sillanpää headlines a concert in St. Petersburg under title Our Romance - Dialogue of Cultures , and event that includes also business and politics, and the very Milonov sits in the audience and comes out as a Sillanpää fan being very familiar with his career and songs! Milonov, known to raise scandals wherever anything gay is happening and or even suggested, sat in his place and seemed to enjoy the experience fully. Wonders of this crazy world we live in.... Along the Russian artists also Eurovision 2007 host Mikko Leppilampi performed with other Finnish artists.

Alice, who made a welcome comeback to pop world with her album Samsara (2012) with songs written by Tiziano Ferro among others, has been invited by Fabio Fazio to Sanremo 2014. And Franco Battiato should write one of her two songs! All this was revealed by Battiato himself today in a press conference about his latest album, a live one with Antony and the Johnsons featuring also Alice. He said he hasn't had time to write the song yet as he's been on tour and busy all fall, but on the other hand he takes no pressure on eventual success, nor Alice. "I only want to write a good solid song for her" he said. And he excluded his eventual presence in Sanremo along with her. Last time the couple collaborated for Sanremo they won with Per Elisa in 1981. Alice has also participated in Sanremo 1972 and in 2000. Now, first Sanremo, then Copenhagen?

There's no stopping Marco Mengoni breaking records and making firsts. The super fortunate 2013 still provides us new innovations - he comes out now with an iBook! He follow the footsteps of Coldplay and Led Zeppeling becoming only the third worldwide artist releasing one.   #PRONTOACORREREILMIOVIAGGIO by Sony is a virtual book he can update anytime and is all done by himself the way he wants it reliving this 2013 full of success from Sanremo to Eurovision, to European Music Awards, a sold out 40 gig tour, multiplatinum album, the DVD.... It includes 25 videos, 230 fotos, 45 pages divided in 8 chapters full of stories from the backstage, selfies, in company of friends and collaborators, in private. You can pre-order it now for 4,99 euros and it will be available from December 3, 2013 at the price of 5,99 for iPad and Mac with OS X Mavericks. He writes (very liberally translated): "Here I am again to share with you this another step of this journey. Life is a journey a...

The first 16 names in the Swedish Melodifestivalen 2014 are out and reading the list gives a little confusing idea: there are the "big" names rumored (Paparizou, Nielsen, Stenmarck) but "big" is relative, none of them has bothered the local iTunes for ages. Then there are a lot of names this blogger has never heard of, like Mahan Moin who actually came third in Idols. In Persia. Alvaro has been dncing behind Danny and Eric, among others. Linus brings in the ink and the piercings this year while Sylvester was already on Eurovision stage in Helsinki 2007 as a member of The Ark. Manda comes from X Factor, as do JEM. Little Great Things include little great things with ABBA heritage, namely Benny's grandsons! And then, among the songwriters we have the usual ones. Sounds a bit of a bland mix so far but then, who knows?  And we have Helena Paparizou back. Wonder how she will do? Will she end up like the girl ? However it made me also thinking, when will be have ...

I'm back! During my absense I checked the internet only once or twice and nothing much seemed to had happened in the wonderful Euovision world but now I see actually there's been some major news. Like Agnetha performing live! For the first time since 1982, mind you! Take That's Gary Barlow managed in what the others have failed so far when they sung together the song he penned for her in her latest album, I should have followed you home in London's Children in Need Rocks 2013. Now that she's back on stage, let's start the ABBA reunion rumours, will we? European Music Awards 2013 went to the usual non-European acts and Marco Mengoni nor Lena took home the trophy for the Best Worldwide act won by... err, who ??!! Montenegro has confirmed Sergej Ćetković as their representative. It seems we will get a real Balcan ballad in Joksimovic style. Now that Serbia and Croatia are missing, will Montengero sweep that vote and finally make impact in the final? Clev...

This blogger will be on well deserved holidays for some time now. I'll be back by the end of November charged with sun, sea and sand! The 2014 season will be then in full swing and it'll be a very exciting one for sure. A different one for yours truly.   Meanwhile you can count on Eurovision Jack for the latest in the Eurovision world! See you all! PS. Don't forget to vote in Eurovision Top-250! Link on the right side ->

The Eurovision circus moves to Copenhagen's Refshaleøen island and the B&W halls, where not so long time ago ships were built. It will be curious to see how much of that will be included in the show next spring! Being a fan of old hangars and industrial sites that have been given a new life, this blogger can hardly wait! Especially as this time I'll be there in person! The whole team seems very enthuastic and like they've been waiting for this all their career and now it's happening! I have put together some word by them to sum up where we stand right now. Read the full interviews and news here . Pernille Gaardbo is the Executive producer of Eurovision song contest 2014. "To be able to organise the Eurovision Song Contest in Denmark means the realisation of the ultimate dream for someone with my background", she says. people working for their ultimate dream always give their best, so what else can we ask for? Kamille Monies is the Head of pr...

It's coming again after all, the troubled Junior Eurovision song contest. The 2013 edition is the 11th and EBU has managed to lure in 12 countries, same as last year's 12 but yet far cry for the record of 18 in its second editon back in 2004. San Marino joins in while Albania, Belgium and Israel stay home this time. Macedonia and Malta on the other hand return so one could say there's a real revolving door.... Kiyv is the host city this year and the final's on November 30, 2013 . The host will be again Timur Miroshnychenko who did the job already in 2009 when he was joined by Ani Lorak. Now he gets Zlata Ognevich to his side. For the first time it's not happening at 9pm CET but more sensible time slot for the kiddos. Also, for the first time there will be awards for the top-3 and not the winner only. As an added bonus apparently the winner will also be involved in the real Eurovision song contest in May 2014 in Copenhagen somehow... Will that breath life to thi...

What would the New year's even be without the Mother of all countdowns and Eurovision charts, the already legendary Top-250! Is there another way to countdown to a new year (on ESCRADIO ), the year of Copenhagen 2014? I don't think so! Start voting here and meanwhile you can check last year's countdown here . This will be the 6th edition and so far the winner has always been a different one, will Loreen be the first ever double winner?  Where will Emmelie finish? Will Mengoni rule here, too? It's all up to you, so vote vote vote! ESC Top-250 is a collaboration between 12points.tv, ESCRADIO, INFE International, OGAE International, EurovisionBelgium.blogspot.com, SongFestivalweblog.nl and yours truly.

The rumour mill is running wild for Melodifestivalen 2014 participants and it seems Martin Stenmarc k (ESC 2005) is back while the ladies Sanna Nielsen and Linda Bengtzing are giving it yet another go. Dr Alban might finally make his debut? Aftonbladet also reveals the other possible names: Oscar Zia, Panetoz, J.E.M., Outrigger, Judit & Judit, Eko, Cajsa Stina Äkerström, Josef Johanson that are more or less unknown to this blogger. Christer Björkman is quoted of saying there are still five open slots but negotiations on going with more big names and "the big names are usually the last ones to be confirmed and the talking-them-over period is at full swing right now". It is rumored Avicii, Ola Salo and Lisa Nilsson are some of those Björkman is sweet talking. I hope he has a chat with Sarah Dawn Finer and Darin as well! SVT will reveal all the names by the end of November 2013.

Namely the Italian cinemas are showing tonight 8.30pm an anteprima of his DVD release #prontoacorrereilviaggio that sums up his amazing year 2013: he has sold 9 x platinum,  he won 7 Wind music awards, 40 sold out concerts with over 100.000 people, Eurovision song contest, winner of Sanremo, L'Essenziale became the longest chart topping single in Italy ever... Artist of the year! You can live again the year to remember with him as the film features besides the full concert in Taormina, Sicily also backstage, interviews and a lot more.  It may be an end to a chapter but the story continues... October 28 and 29 he has been performing in the USA for the Billboard's HitWeek... and he keeps on running...

Krista Siegfrids is one of the couches in The Voice Kids and performs this Sunday with her remaining two girls Rebecca and Molly her latest single Can you see me . And it's pretty stunning. Watch the preview here . She has released also a very beautiful video for this touching ballad dedicated to her late father.

Alice and Battiato together again on a record! Namely Franco Battiato's project with Antony and The Johnsons features also Alice as a special guest. This live recording from Arena di Verona on September 2, 2013 includes the concert they did together and for Alice & Battiato it's La realtà non esiste and their Eurovision 1984 classic I treni di Tozeur . The other songs are solos or duets by Battiato and Antony. La Filarmonica Arturo Toscanini is the "band" behind them. Battiato's collaboration with Antony started when he covered their Frankenstein in his Fleurs 2 album as Del suo veloce volo , that now gives the title to this special album. Cripple and the starfish (Antony and the Johnsons) For today I am a Boy (Antony and the Johnsons) You Are my Sister (Battiato/Antony and the Johnsons) Il re del mondo (Battiato) Tutto l'Universo obbedisce all'amore (Battiato) As tears go By (Battiato/Antony and the Johnsons) Crazy in Love (Antony and t...

It's 25 years since Celine Dion won Eurovision with Ne partez pas sans moi . Since then she's been having due different careers in French and in English; different productions, songs and even style, I'd say. Occasionally, but very rarely those two meet. This ads to the fact she was also a child star and when Eurovision came it was a bit of an ultimatum and deal breaker; or she wins or it's over.... She won, walked into Berlitz school of languages in Quebec and the rest is history as they. Over 200 million albums sold worldwide speak louder than she sings.  She's has just released her 11th studio album in English, Loved me back to life , the first one in six years. As usual for a global star of her caliber it's filled with collaborations (duets with Stevie Wonder and Ne-Yo to start with) and songs picked from the finest in the industry. The first single is the title track Loved me back to life , and other songs like Somebody loves somebody , and Water and a...

It seems France will have an open final this time around with three songs. A special committee will unite on November 26, 2013 to listen all the proposals and pick up three songs to be presented in the popular TV-show Les chansons d'abord presented by Natasha St-Pier. Televoters will then decide on the winner and the French entry for Copenhagen 2014.

But in this case same old isn't bad thing at all! Presenters will be once again Ilkka Uusivuori and Anne Lainto . They did a good job last year so why change? The judges haven't changed either so it's Aija Puurtinen, Redrama, Toni Wirtanen and Tomi Saarinen .  The selecting process is pretty much the same as before as well (all programmes YLE2): 10.12 names of the lucky 12 artists will be revealed   26.12 UMK 2014 will kick of with a special showing how the judges selected the 12 lucky ones among the 420 songs sent in.  28.12 the first six artists perform to the judges 4.1 the other six artists perform to the judges 11.1 first live show with six artists. One of them is voted by combined jury and televote straight to the final, another one is eliminated for good 18.1 same as 11.1 with the remaining six artists 25.1 the remaining eight (two have been eliminated, two have been sent to the final) perform live. Two will be eliminated and there's...

Albania will have its Festivali i Këngës once again and the final on December 22, 2013. As usual the winner will then go to Eurovision 2014. A couple of Eurovision veterans in the list this year: Frederik Ndoci (2007) and Luiz Ejlli (2006). Other familiar names are on the list as well as The Voice of Albania performers Venera Lumani , Lindi Islami and Klodian Kaçani . More information (and more singers?) in due time. Besiana Mehmeti & Shkodran Tolaj - Jam larg   Blerina Braka - Mikja ime   Etmond Mancaku & Saviana Vierdha - Vetëm për ty   Frederik Ndoci - Një ditë shprese   Hersi Matmuja - Zemërimi i një nate   Klodian Kaçani - Me ty   Luiz Ejlli - Kthehu   Lynx - Princesha   Marjeta Billo - Ti mungon   Orges Toçe - Jeta në orën 4   Renis Gjoka - Nuk e di   Rezarta Smaja - Në zemër   Sajmir Braho - Grua   Venera Lumani & Lindi Islami - Natë e pare   Xhejn & Enxhi Kumrija - Kur qiel...

Out of nowhere comes Spicy Geri Halliwell 's comeback with Half of me . Would BBC have a half of sense to consider her for Eurovision 2014? Isn't she after all taylor made for it? Hungarian hipster ByeAlex is back with Csóró itt minden han , another brilliant song that won't maybe open up with the first hearing but has some haunting qualities.... French Guéna LG features one of my favorite Danish voices, Bryan Rice in Stay awake . Quite fantastic club anthem with a nice retro vibe and of course, Bryan's vocals. Me likes! Cher is back with a new album and apparently it's filled with uptempo disco numbers but then there's also I hope you find it . A tender ballad, showcasing once again what a great singer she is. I wish she did this kind of stuff more, like the good old days of Dark Lady ....