Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

UMK 2014 final takes place tomorrow and Ilta-Sanomat has gathered together the data from Spotify. It shows Mikko Pohjola is by far the most listened song song from UMK 2014 with over 30% of all listenings. Also his video on Youtube has been watched over 50.000 times already. He surely has a domestic hit in his hand, and who knows wins the whole thing?! He's also leading in my poll here on the right side where you can still vote... -> Meanwhile YLE has noticed #UMK14 has become a success also abroad in social medias. Thousends of foreigners are following, tweeting, commenting, watching online. YLE wants to thank the artists themselves that who have been more active than ever in social medias. Martin Hart sums it up nicely in his tweet In viewing figures on TV UMK is still struggling. The semifinal was the first show that made it to YLE2's weekly Top-20 at number 14 with 248.000 viewers or 44%. But back to the Spotify. Softengine follows Mikko Pohjola but only hal...

Here are the eight UMK 2014 finalist for your viewing and listening pleasure with voting instructions as well. It all started with performing the demo versions to the judges, then the remixed version to live audiences in the heats and semifinals. Some of them have also produced already videos for their entries, including Lili Lambert who didn't reach the final with her Let me take you there . What is remarkable this year is that Softengine, MIAU and Hukka ja Mama have all secured a recording deal before the final. 01. Softengine – Something Better: Jury live , live , video 02. Hanna Sky – Hope: Jury live , live , studio 03. MIAU – God/Drug: Jury live , live , video 04. Lauri Mikkola – Going Down: Jury live , live , studio  Acoustic video 05. Madcraft – Shining Bright: Jury live , live, video 06. Mikko Pohjola – Sängyn Reunalla: Jury live , live , video 07. Clarissa feat. Josh Standing – Top Of The World: Jury live , live , video 08. Hukka ja Mam...

The last three Finnish Eurovision singers have all been of the Swedish speaking minority; Paradise Oskar or Axel Ehnström, Pernilla Karlsson and Krista Siegfrids . They all gathered together for the first time to remember their experiences and give some advice for the future UMK 2014 winner in Svenska YLE's De Eurovisa. In the end they also had to do a funny quizz about questions of themselves in Eurovision, of course! And Eurovision songs, if you want to see Krista go crazy for Fångad av en stormvind , Satellite, Euphoria , Lipstick ....watch the last minutes.... And what's her response to Ein bisschen Frieden ? Check it out! The Eurovisa panel has judged the Eurovision songs the past few years but they made a special and judged UMK 2014 songs instead with producer and song writer Patric Sarin focusing on hit potential, singer and Euroviisut veteran Susan Sonntag focusing on the artist's vocal capacities and song, and Eurovision specialist David Lindström focusin...

Sweden's national selection for Eurovision, Melodifestivalen, kicks off this Saturday from Malmö, last year's Eurovision venue. Last year's national runner up YOHIO will open the show in seek of a  revenge while Eurovision 2005 winner, Greek-Swede Helena Paparizou will end it in hope to get another go, it'd be her third after 3rd and 1st place in Eurovision - just like Carola! Carola ended 5th with her third go, and surely Helena wouldn't do any worse.... Both are the biggest favorites to make it to the final as well, but let's see how it goes. The Swedes often give us some surprises in the voting! This is the night of short song titles, and one more Casanova is trying to make it, too... Oh, and the glass box of Azerbaijan's Farid is still left in the arena and Alvaro is using it, it seems! And there's going to be a lot of confetti in various colors. Nose rings! Dancers! Pyros! Burning hands! High heals! Ja, det är Mello! You can listen snippets her...

Here it is finally, the start of Marco Mengoni'ss Latin market invasion. His Sanremo 2013 winner and Italy's Top-10 Eurovision song L'Essenziale (already 21 million views on Youtube, btw) finally in its Spanish version, Incomparable . For now it's only available in digital form and on Mujeres y hombres y viceversa compilation album. Meanwhile he is working on the full Spanish version of his multiplatinum #prontoacorrere album and also on new tracks to his next Italian album....  He's ready to follow other Italian singers who have made it in the Latin American and Spanish market, from Eros Ramazzotti to Laura Pausini , Nek and Tiziano Ferro just to name a few.... And he will be followed by Emma Marrone as soon she's got the Eurovision 2014 out of the way..... Tonight at 9pm CET a special show dedicated on Marco and his fans is aired on Stileradio . Fans all over the world are taking part, be sure to join in as well. Here .   UPDATE: Incomparable deb...

And the songs keep on coming. Tonight also the 40 (chosen out of 61) Moldovan songs are online here . Included are also the songs that seem to be also in the running in Lithuania, thus breaking the rules over there. Then there's also a Adam what-do-you-want-from-me Lambert wannabe...Let's see how this ends.  Among the hopefuls there some familiar names and even some good songs! These 40 will have to perform their songs live for a jury that then picks up the 24 semifinalists. This takes place next Saturday, February 1, 2014. The semifinals wil take place on March 11 and 13, and the final on March 15. Two songs made me listen and enjoy them to the finishing notes, Margarita Ciorici's Vis , and Alina Sorochina's Ascultă-mă tăcere. Both ballads in Moldovan. They showed one can get good results even with that recipe so why not continue also this year?  UPDATE 30.1.2014:   Moldovan Tv has indeed made some mistakes and therefor accepts the already dropped 21 songs in...

Latvia will have it's semifinals this weekend. Two semifinals with 12 songs, and six of them from each semifinal will go to the final of Dziesma on February 22, 2014. With a couple of listenings I shortisted my favorites and at this point they are MyRadiantU, Mad Show Boys, Dons, Rolands Udris and Olga & Ligo. Bubbling under are Markus Rivas, Aarzemnieki, Andris Kivics.... Let's wait and see if they will go all the way to the final, and maybe even Copenhagen - I have no idea how Latvians will vote! Listen all the songs here . Semi-final 1 - February 1, 2014 DJ Dween & Sabīne Berezina - Dejo Tā  Crazy Dolls - Bučas Tamara Rutkovska - I am happy Niko - Here I am again Ivo Grīsniņš Grīslis - I've got Aarzemnieki - Cake to bake Oskars Deigelis - Just stop Samanta Tina - Stay MyRadiantU - Going all the way Aminata Savadogo - I can breathe Dāvis Matskins - I need more Olga & Līgo - Saule riet (Take away) Semi-final 2  - Februar...

The Finnish Grammy or Emma nominations have been revealed today and Krista Siegfrids picks up a nomination as the Newcomer of the year 2013. She's also shortlisted in the People's Choice award for the Best artist/group. Emma Gaala will take place in Barona Areena in Espoo March 7, 2014. All nominees here . Here are the main categories and nominees: Female Artist: Erin, Jenni Vartiainen, Jonna Tervomaa, Sanni, Suvi Teräsniska  Male Artist: Anssi Kela, Cheek, Ismo Alanko, Jesse Kaikuranta, Juha Tapio, Robin Group: Haloo Helsinki!, J.Karjalainen, Michael Monroe, Pariisin Kevät, Sunrise Avenue Album of the year: Robin, J.Karjalainen, Cheek, Juha Tapio, Haloo Helsinki!, Jenni Vartiainen Newcomer of the year: Isac Elliot, Jannika B, Krista Siegfrids, Lost Society, Sanni Pop album of the year: Robin, Haloo Helsinki!, Jenni Vartiainen, Sunrise Avenue, Isac Elliot Schlager album of the year: Lauri Tähkä, Juha Tapio, Jonne Aaron, Suvi T...

After Norway and Iceland yesterday, today the Danish Eurovision names and song titles are out. Denmark sticks to its good one off formula like the good old days: ten songs, one show and that's it. How I like that! Anyways, who is going to follow Emmelie's bare feet on the stage o B&W Hallerne? Nice to have Bryan Rice and Danni Elmo trying again. At first there were 872 songs, now ten and several writers got more than one song in.... The Danish final will take place March 8, 2014 in Odense. Sonny – Feeling The You Anna David – It Hurts Basim Cliche – Love Song Rebekah Thornbech – Your Lies GlamboyP – Right By Your Side Bryan Rice – I Choose You Nadia Malm – Before You Forget Me Michael Rune feat Natascha Bessez – Wanna be Loved Emilie Moldow – We find home Danni Elmo – She’s The One

Switzerland is staging its final this Saturday and we have six finalists chosen late last year with three different selection processes by three different broadcasters. The final comes from the Arena of Kreuzlingen, and there will be 50-50 televote-jury vote. 3ForAll - Together forever The song is kinda nice accordeon driven happy little song taking a lot of ideas from the Balkans, I'm not just sure if the performers are right for it? I would have put one single performer and turned up the beat. Then - it could be a winner. Christian Tschanz - Au paradis Lovely voice, beautiful French ballad. Maybe not instant enough for Eurovision but a classy one. Old fashioned but in a good way.  Natasha & Stéphanie - Une terre sans vous Another French ballad. But this one sounds a bit tired and uninspired. The girls sing nicely but this makes me only think of the contents of my fridge and other things. Concentration gone in like 30 seconds which is not a good sign.... And...

The rumours about Geri Halliwell representing the United Kingdom in the coming Eurovisin song contest 2014 in Copenhagen have been all over the internet for weeks if not months already. Certainly she hasn't done anything to stop them, on the contrary. If chosen - or it seems rather if she accepts the job - she kind of continues the BBC trend, The Hump was big in the 70's, Bonnie in the 80's and Geri along with the Spice Girls in the 90's. In a couple of years BBC might give us something from the 2010's if we are lucky.... Anyways, Geri would be just taylor made for Eurovision in many ways. She could have an instant pop song, fabulous over the top staging and a house hold name in the most parts of Europe. And a lot of adoring (gay) fans, likable and funny enough personality to keep the media busy and entertained. The only excuse and fear she might have to face and not to accept the job is the possibility of bombing in Eurovision (too). But as her come back with ...

UPDATE 30.1 11.30am: Nearly 500 votes, thank you all! Mikko has taken a clear lead over Softengine and this couple has left the others far behind. Do you agree? If not, change the situation by voting, the last 24h to vote are here! When writing this a few votes are missing from the 400 votes and Mikko Pohjola has catched up Softengine, who have been ledding the poll for ages. Clarissa and Josh are already far behind and then there's another gap where MadCraft, the early leaders of the poll are with Jasmin Michaela and Hanna Sky. You still have a few days to vote or change your vote on the right hand side of this page -> This is the situation right now, January 27 at 5.23pm: Mikko Pohjola   104 Softengine   104 Clarissa ft. Josh    92 MadCraft   75 *Jasmin Michaela   74 Hanna Sky   72 Hukka ja Mama   52 MIAU   47 Lauri Mikkola   46 *MAKEA   34 *Dennis F...

UPDATE: All songs available now here . After Norway also Iceland makes its hopefuls knows. The first five songs are also online here . As usual the Icelandic offerings are a rather weird mix of songs and styles that somehow feel odd and strange but at the same time likable and you have no idea who's going to make it. At least this is how this blogger feels every year at first. Then, sooner or later some song(s) emerge as a favorite and then fails to win. But then I find myself liking the winner anyways. Must be the geysir effect. Semifinal 1 - February 1, 2014 Sverrir Bergmann - Dönsum burtu blús Greta Mjöll Samúelsdóttir - Eftir eitt lag Gissur Páll Gissurarson - Von Ásdís María Viðarsdóttir- Amor Vignir Snær Vigfússon - Elsku þú Semifinal 2 - February 8, 2014 Sigríður Eyrún Friðriksdóttir - Lífið kviknar á ný  Guðrún Árný Karlsdóttir - Til þín F.U.N.K -  Þangað til ég dey  Guðbjörg Magnúsdóttir -  Aðeins ætluð þér  Pollapönk -...

We are heading to the busiest six months of the year in the Eurovision world outside the contest itself in May and today Norway has made public its 15 semifinalists and here they are: Semifinal 1 - March 7, 2014 Hilda & Thea Leora - Best friend's boyfriend Mo - Heal Dina Misund - Needs Linnea Fale - High hopes Timbre & Fikk Heide-Steen feat. Ida Stein - Frozen by your love Semifinal 2 - March 8, 2014 Cir.Cuz - Hele verden Martine Marbel - Right now Oda & Wulff - SIng Knut Kippersund Nesdal - Taste of you Charlie - Hit me up Semifinal 3 - March 9, 2014 Moi - Bensin El Cuero - Ain't no love in this city no more Ilebek - Who needs the universe? Elisabeth Carew - Sole survivor Carl Espen - Silent storm You can listen very short snippets of the songs here .  Three somgs from each semifinal will go to the final on March 15, 2014 in Oslo Spektrum. In the semifinals footage of their journey to the final from the moment their s...

The three French entries have been presented tonight in telly and here they are. Destan offers a true boyband ballad with medicore vocals and a very loooong three minutes. Joanna sings well and offers a Matese interpretation of a French Eurovision ballad. French Eurovision ballad is something I have been waiting for many years now, but this one isn't exactly what I ordered, I'm afraid. Twin Twin offer more of what we've been getting from France recently instead. This will be labeled as a joke entry if chosen whoch is shame as if you listen to it only it's not bad at all.... Ok, a bit childish but kinda fun. Anyways, unfortunately very weak offering from France. Once again. The best part was to see lovely Marie Myriam again ... Destan - Sans toi Joanna - Ma liberté Twin Twin - Moustache

The Lithuanina selection has been going on forever and I have lost track of what's going on, but it seems there are only six singers left and... 16 songs? Justinas Lapatinskas and VIG Roses are already out of the race. I really haven't listened all the songs and none well but I kinda enjoyed Dying in some weird way.... Thought it would propably be more like Suicide in Eurovision..... Meanwhile the Lithuanian selection process continues until March..... Vaidas Baumila - Worlds Apart / Dying Monika Linkytė - It's All About A Boy / Breakaway Vilija Matačiūnaitė - You Found Me / Attention Martynas Kavaliauskas - New Beginning / It's not too late Mia - Let's Share That Love Tonight (Map) / Take a look at me now Ieva Zasimauskaitė - Blowing Out Cobwebs / One *Justinas Lapatinskas - Is This The Way (You Want Me) / Last date *VIG Roses - Silent Tears / In the rain

Hungary is using the good old A Dal to select their entry and the procedure is the same as previous years. Three heats with ten songs each. The jury, including last year's winner ByeAlex, first sends three acts to semifinals, and the televoting audience another three of the remaining seven.  The remaining four acts are out. Hungarian TV has once again done a great job giving us a good looking show and pretty good mix of songs. But who's going to win? You never know, it's Hungary after all! And apparently the artists are allowed to sing in English already at this stage this year?! The first heat took place yesterday with following acts, including familiar names Cserpes Laura and Király Viktor.:   Úgy szállj   – Cserpes Laura  *Csak a zene – Depresszió -televoters Help Me! - Extensive  *Retikül – Group’n’Swing -televoters The Way I Do - Hien  *Running Out Of Time - Király Viktor - Jury winner Break Up – Lil C...

The first annual QX Gay Gaala was organized last night in Helsinki and Krista Siegfrids won the award for the Best Artist of the year. Elias Koskimies , who has directed her videos among others, and directed the fabulous I've only just begun was voted the Homo of the year. Congrats to both!   That's Elias in disguise with Krista and the Ding Dong girls, who also performed last night in the gala. 

The semifinal from Peacock Theater is over and we have finalists. Some artists did better, some not so. Jasmin Michaela all of sudden was rather bland and televoters kicked her out, which is a surprise anyways. Dennis Fagerström still didn't manage to make anything out if his bland yet cute and sweet song an out he goes. MIAU and Hukka ja Mama really shined, whether you like or not their songs. Mikko Pohjola further secured his favorite status.... Clarissa feat. Josh still didn't make it on stage and vocally. The fans like the studio version and it works, like a song that's 13 in a dozen works. Live and on stage less so. Next week the final will take place in Barona Arena in Espoo, and Krista Siegfrids will be the guest star, obviously! Anyways, here is the final list. It's far from said and done deal, I still think any of these 8 could end up winning, but of course I have my favorites and dislikes, but I guess I could be more or less happy with five of these even ...

This is it. The crucial semifinal. The remaining eight acts and songs are battling it out with televote only for the six places in the final. So far we have only known the jury votes and the result of 50-50 televote-jury vote. Tonight we might be in for some surprises.... We are back in Peacock Theater in Helsinki, for the last time, and Anne Lainto and Ile Uusivuori have been styled by the winner of an online contest (Helena Pirhonen) instead of the usual YLE's stylist, will they look different?  UMK+ will start online already 19.30 CET while the live show starts at 20 CET. Brädi will be the guest star performing together with UMK judge Toni Wirtanen. It will be also interesting to see if this semifinal manages to attract more viewers in front of TV as the previous shows have all got less than about 250.000, none of them entering the Top-20 most viewed programmes of the week iin YLE2. As always, I'll be here blogging it live for you so join in and enjoy the ride! ...