Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Romania's final takes place this Saturday as well. Often one of the strongest national finals around this year also offers some pretty good ones. The main contender and one to beat is out first, Eurovision veterans Ovi & Paula . This blogger isn't impressed of this manufactured Eurovision by numbers effort. Both are good artists but this song isn't anything special, and it'd be a miracle indeed if it wins Eurovision in case it wins in Romania.... That's what I think but prove me wrong. Other favorites seem to be Anca Florescu and Stefan Stan . Both are better. I also like Renee Santana and Bere Gratis , and The dAdA aren't bad either. This said my favorite is Stefan Stan - if it only works out live on stage as well as in the very beautiful video! Recap . 01. Paula Seling & Ovi – Miracle 02. Bere Gratis – Despre Mine Si Ea 03. The dAdA – Unpredictable 04. The Zuralia Orchestra – You Know 05. Vizi Imre – Kind of Girl 06. Anca Florescu ...

UPDATE: The qualifier is Elaiza. No surprise. Germany has revamped their national final and besides the seven internally selected big acts one slot is received for a newcomer. Ten made it to the selection show tomorrow night out of over 2200 applications. You can watch the show live tomorrow, Thursday February 27 at 22.00 CET here .Televoters will decide on the finalist. Elaiza -  Is It Right  Nicole Milik -  I See Fire  Simon Glöde - Blame It On The Boogie   Melanie Schlüter - Run  Cassie Greene - Not This Time  Valentina - Love Is Gone  Caroline Rose - Amber Sky  Max Krumm - Home  Ambre Vallet - Siehst du mich?  Bartosz - Walk away The other seven acts already in the final are: Madeline Juno – Like Lovers Do / Error The Baseballs – Mo Hotta Mo Betta / Goodbye Peggy Sue Das Gezeichnete Ich – Weil Du Da bist / Echo MarieMarie – Cotton Candy Hurricane / Candy Jar Santiano – Niemals untergehen / Th...

The Sammarinese team has also been busy prepairing their entry for Copenhagen. and it's all coming together; song, video, staging. The song will be presented on March 2014 in streaming for all of you to see. The show Verso Copenaghen/Towards Copenhagen features of course Valentina with friends, team and fans, and premiers her video for the entry. The song is written again by Ralph Siegel. More about that in due time. The video was shot last week as you can see from the image above and the team behind her is the same as last year with Fabrizio Raggi as artistic director. Award winning Michele Massari is the director of the video. More here (in Italian).

Updated with links to videos Feb 27, 2014 Tomorrow evening at 20.00 CET internally selected Mei Finegold will present her three entries, each with a video. The videos have been filmed around Israel; in Tel Aviv, in Hameginim forest near Jerusalem and in the Israeli railway museum in Haifa. Two of the songs have been selected among the 78 proposals she got, one is writtten by herself. After the show the voting starts while the videos will be put on IBA's website for all the world to seee and hear. The results will be revealed on March 5, 2014.  Be proud (Mei Finegold) Same heart (Rami Talmid) Nish’eret iti (Loren De Paz-Chen Metzger Eder)

Estonia will have its final this Satuday after two semifinals where half of the songs were kicked out. Eesti laul has been the past few years rather indie, exciting, provocative (just think about Winny Puhh ) and innovative. This year wasn't so bold I'm afraid. Relistening the final line up it's pretty safe stuff and who knows what the Estonians will vote to Copenhagen? I don't. Estonia has now made three times in a row to the final, twice with a ballad in Estonian, will the wind change this year, as Sandra suggests? I would still go for that, meaning Maiken. Sandra would do again as well, I like her song and it makes me think of this for some reason, which is a good thing as I loved it. Lenna and Traffic are also potential winners, I think. I would be surprised of anyone else. Except Tanja but not in a good way. Oh hang on, what about Norman?! Here's a recap . Brigita Murutar -  Laule täis taevakaar   Traffic - Für Elise   Norman Salumäe - Search   Wilhel...

It seems the rock entries ended in the Andra chansen aka Second chance, with a very few exceptions. The only one I really want to the final is Helena Paparizou, I have kinda learned to like it, and it is catchy. But the other one? I'm between three: Linus, JEM and Outtrigger. I'd like to like Linus a bit more but something isn't yet right, J.E.M are fun if nothing original, and Outrigger for the fun of it. So let's say Helena and Outtrigger for me! Recap . Ammotrack - Raise your hands Linus Svenning - Bröder J.E.M - Lovetrigger State of Drama - All we are Ellinore Holmer - En himmelsk sång Martin Stenmarck - När änglarna går hem Helena Paparizou - Survivor Outtrigger - Echo

Poland returns to Eurovision after a break of two editions. And they make it big and viewer friendly. The song in question has had over 38 million views on Youtube and after being a huge hit in Poland is starting to get airplay also in Austria, Switzerland and Germany, it seems. And curiously it seems the Polish TV asked them after a public demand as they were flooded with suggestions and pleas to send Donatan and Cleo to Eurovision.... They asked, the artists in question were in game and here it is. My Slowianie / Slavic Girls . It's a parody of Slavic imaginary abroad and tongue in cheek lyrics to some modern beats. Most fans seem to be thrilled, some even screaming Winner! but this blogger thinks three minutes of chanting, hand clapping and half naked breasts isn't just enough. But a fun choice anyways. Here's a taste of the possible staging live .

France made public its threesome in the end of January, the online voting finished a few days ago and next Sunday it will be revealed who's the winner. Apparently TwinTwin is the favorite, despite early on accusations of plagiation, let's wait and see. It's also my favorite, not because it's great but because it's better than the other two :-). Joanna is offering a generic French ballad written by non-French that is missing the last drop of drama to make it stand out while Destan are offering a very generic and forgettable boyband mid-tempo song. Twin Twin - Moustache Joanna - Ma liberté Destan - Sans toi

Ireland, once the power state of Eurovision, is looking for their winning entry this Friday. Like in the previous years five acts chosen by as many mentors. The field is wide open this year as Jedward is not taking part this year either. Five quite pleasant songs and I must admit I have no clue who will win in the end.   Heartbeat is the big fan favorite but will regular TV-viewers buy it? I think it's quite good. I wished they would have dared more in the production and arrangements, now it's a bit bland. Promising but not delivering. Don't hold on is oldfashioned but a good solid song sung well. The movie song I like a lot. Apparently Eoghan isn't loved much as a person (but what do we European voters know about that?) so it might play against him, which is a shame. Be mine makes me think of Bon Jovi for some reason. Also very catchy after a couple of listenings which means he might be lost in the crowd. Laura thinks I don't remember her but hey, I do. Si...

Russia remains the country with very little news about their participation. A national final was scheduled originally for the new year's 2013 but then cancelled. Some have made themselves available like the Buranovskye Babushki but now another rumor has emerged: Sergey Lazarev. More credible this one. The eternal competitor with Dima Bilan for the most popular male artist in the country has tried to get to Eurovision in the past ( Flyer in 2008, when he lost to.... Bilan, as well as a member of a boyband some moons ago before that). He's also a popular TV-presenter and household name in Russia. Just like Bilan he has also tried an international career, that is yet to explode outside the ex-USSR countries.  Here he makes fun of Bilan, with Bilan himself. Lazarev's songs include Cure the thunder , В САМОЕ СЕРДЦЕ , СЛЕЗЫ В МОЕМ СЕРДЦЕ , Unreal love , Vspomonai .... This blogger has been waiting for this happen for a few years now, so hopefully it's true. At least ...

The endlessly running Lithuanian selection miraculously comes to an end eventually. Tonight the song was chosen out of the three still in the running until now. We have one song and three singers. Next week they will sort out the last handicap and we will have their entry for Eurovision 2014 in Copenhagen. I'm not a big fan of this song but maybe they will revamp and improve it somehow. At this point I like most the Baumila's version. It's less slutty. Which one do you prefere? Recap . Mia - Attention Vilja Matačiūnaitė - Attention Vaidas Baumila - Attention

The long Azeri selection process has nearly come to an end and we have the three finalists. Sadly my favorite Azad Shabanov is not among them even if he came third in the televote. Apparently only the top-2 were granted a place in the final, and the third one selected by the jury who picked Erkin instead of Azad. Oh well... They are Xana Hasanova, Dilara Kazimova and Erkin Osmanli . Next week in the final they will propably sing their entries that Azeri TV has been shopping around Europe for them, as usual.

Belgium has been sorting out singers until now but now we are getting into serious business. Four entries tonight will be voted by a jury and televotes and only two will make the final line up. You can watch it online here from 20.30 CET. Tonight also the mysterious Day One with fitting song title - is it Kate Ryan or not? Day One - Whoever you are Eva Jacobs - Nothing is impossible Udo - Hero (In Flanders fields) Petra - Killer touch The jury had Eva first, Day One second, Udo and Petra tied third but televote lifted Udo with Eva to the final, which I totally agree. Eva and Udo are maybe oldfashioned and still need work with their staging (Udo, drop the dancers) while Day One believed a bit too musch to their masks and came across only wierd and unlikable. Petra was a cliche show burlesque number that was entertaining and fun to watch but who I want to hear the song ever again? No. A bit like I wanna, ...

The final of Sanremo festival was watched by fewer people than ever in the history of Auditel or since 1987. "Only" an average of 9.348.000 people turned in. A far cry if compared to last year for example when it was 12.997.000. With the same hosts and team behind it. Sanremo is Italy's Melodifestivalen only that MF drags on for 6 weeks, Sanremo 5 days. Both have faced serious problems this year.... time for a change for both? But happier news in iTunes. Today around midday Arisa is in the lead followed by Francesco Renga at no 2, then Rocco Hunt at no 3, Noemi no 5, Giusy Ferreri no 11, Perturbazione no 16, Sinigallia no 18, Gualazzi no 22, Frankie Hi-Nrg Mc no 24, Renzo Rubino no 25, Zibba no 27.... 16 other songs have made the top-200 so far... Time will tell who stay and climbs, who drops and vanishes.  The only official compilation album will be out Tuesday with TV Sorrisi e Canzoni-magazine and includes only the final songs of the Big + all the Newc...

Sanremo's final didn't attract as many viewers as usually and end the flop season in that sense with a flop final, only 9,3 million ( 43,5%) against last year's 12,9 million and (53,8%). But the top-3 turned out b´not very Sanremo-esque when really a newcomer Renzo Rubino came third, Gualazzi with the Bloody Beetroots second and Arisa won. Well, Arisa is quite Sanremo after all, isn't she? While waiting for the detailed results here is the votes for the top-3 Televote: Arisa 58%, Gualazzi 23%, Rubino 19% Jury votes: Arisa 42%, Gualazzi 29%, Rubino 29% Here is the list of the other awards given out: Premio della Critica Mia Martini for Big: Cristiano De Andrè for Invisibili Premio della Critica Mia Martini for Newcomers: Zibba for Senza di te Award for the best lyrics Sergio Bardotti: Cristiano De André for Invisibili Award for the best arrangement for Big: Renzo Rubino for Per sempre e poi basta Award Lucio Dalla, given my the journalists: ...

While I was zapping from one stream to another with Latvia, Spain and Hungary, a quick look to Macedonia and Sweden in TV the evening went on slowly in Sanremo. Luciana was a bride, Stromae seemd drunk (and so did Cristiano De Andrè who won the Premio della critica Mia Martini), Ligabue came and sung... and in the end Riccardo Sinigallia sung his disqualified song that in the end is maybe the best of them all, me thinks. Love it. Televoting was on, the jury voted and way after midnight the results were out who made the top-3 and would be revoted by viewers still awake and the jury. And there's a surprise! No Renga! Instead two men sitting by a piano and a Minnie Mouse! The top-3 is Renzo Rubino, Raphael Gualazzi & The Bloody Beetroots and Arisa, in an order of re-performance. 00.22 We start the superfinal. First with Renzo Rubino with Ora .  He's adorable and the song is nice, but I never thought it would go this far! I even preferred his other song, and he was...

Exciting end for the Spanish final when Ruth Lorenzo and Brequette tied after the jury votes and televotes with 66 points. However Ruth won the televote so she will go to Copenhagen for Spain with her Dancing in the rain . Here are the televotes, the top-3 was within 5,6%! Ruth Lorenzo  30,97% Brequette  27,40% Jorge Gonzalez  25,34% Raul  9,36% La Dama  6,93%

Aarzemnieki has won the Latvian final with Cake to bake . So the acoustic folk trend continues. They beat Samanta Tina and Dons in the superfinal.  JURY vote: 1.        „Revelation”, Ralfs Eilands & Valters Pūce, 2.        „Pēdējā vēstule”, Dons, 3.        „I can breathe”, Aminata Savadogo, 4.        „Cake To Bake”, grupa „Aarzemnieki”, 5.        „Stay”, Samanta Tīna, 6.        „Going All the Way ”, grupa „MyRadiantU”, 7.        „Moment and tomorrow” , Katrīna Bindere, 8.        „If I Could (Get Away)” , grupa “Eirošmits”, 9.        „Saule riet” , Olga un Līgo, 10.    „Lights on” , Markus Riva, 11.    „Here I am again” , Niko,   ...

He did it finally. András Kalláy Saunders will represent Hungary with his Running in the Eurovision song contest 2014. The Hungarian final was very good this year and I'm glad my favorites made it to top-4 chosen by the jury and then televoted; besides him Bogi, Viktor Király and Fool Moon.

Tijana was internally selected ages ago and tonight she presented her song Tamu kaj što pripaǵam , and it's English version To the sky .

Europe, we have the first result of the evening. This time there were no surprises as both Alcazar and Anton Ewald qualified for the final.  Ammotrack and Ellinore Holmer went to the second chance, could they have been more different? Linda Bengtzing is out, as are I.D.A (6th), Josef Johansson (7th) and Janet Leon (8th). So, with those acts Sweden got a huge doze of tasteless, smelless plastic to the final line up :-). It'd be so sad Alcazar wins this year when they have their worst entry ever. But that's the way it often goes - you don't when when you're good, but when you are supposed to "deserve" it... So, now we have a complete set for the next week's second chance aka Andra Chansen in Lidköping: Helena Paparizou - Survivor Linus Svenning - Bröder JEM - Lovetrigger Martin Stenmarck - När änglarna går hem Outtrigger - Echo State of Drama - All we are Ammotrack - Raise your hands Ellinore Holmer - En himmelsk sång

After four nights of disappointing viewing figures Sanremo comes to its final. I must say I have enjoyed the show; Fabio Fazio and Luciana Littizzetto are a great couple. There are useless moments and intervals but we have experiences far worse in the past. Do we miss the huge divas like Madonna, Celine Dion and likes to steal the show? The models pretending to be presenters without even speaking Italian showcasing some 4-6 haute coiture dresses per night? Not really. If they only manage to tighten the script, reorganize the running order - start with a guest, let the competing singers sing and after do as many interval acts you want to until the early hours - it would be great. Apparently Fazio will do also Sanremo 2015 if he only wants to. Luciana has said this is her last Sanremo, but she said the same last year. We will see. After all, just like RAI pointed out today in the press conference, the viewing figures have been lower than expected but getting better night after nigh...

Three weeks to the dealine and the finals are here. This week we will get four new songs to the list when Latvia, Spain and Hungary select their entry. On top of that the Macedonian entry will be presented. The national selections will go on in Estonia, Sweden, Azerbaijan and Belgium. As a bonus the Italian Sanremo festival comes to an end on Saturday evening as well after 5 days of music and songs, even if not Eurovision related this time. And propably something is going also in Lithuania, I forgot. It's been going for so long.... will it ever end? Friday, February 21, 2014 Estonia - Semifinal 2 - EESTI LAUL 2014 20.45 CET - Webcast - read more Saturday, February 22, 2014 Latvia - Final - DZIESMA 2014 20.25 CET - Webcast - read more - Final songs recap - Spain - Final - MIRA QUIÉN VA A EUROVISIÓN 22.00 CET - Webcast - read more - Final songs recap - Hungary - Final - A DAL 2014 20.20 CET - Webcast - read more - Final songs recap - Macedonia - Song pres...

The results are out and the youngest artists won the youngesters contest, or the newcomers, aka Nuove Proposte, new proposals. Rocco Hunt from Salerno, born 1994. Melodic Napoletan rap that scored a stunning 75% of the televotes. Some are suggesting it's only because everyone in Naples region voted for him (a bit like in UMK the Finnish Swedes vote for themselves, and in Syksyn Sävel the Finnish gypsies voted their artists in the past, oh well). but I think he deserved to win. Here are the jury votes: 1. Diodato 47%, 2. The Niro 23%, 3. Zibba 19% and 4. Rocco Hunt 11% Here are the televotes: 1. Rocco Hunt 75%, 2. Diodato and Zibba11%, 4. The Niro 3% Below is the combined result. If you math doesn't make sense, don't worry. It's not 50-50 jury-televote after all but all about percentage. If they used Eurovision-like points Diodato would have won and Rocco second.  1. Rocco Hunt - Nu juorno buono 43% 2. Diodato - Babilonia 29% 3. Zibba - Senza di te 1...

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Incredible but true! The youngsters get to perform when some viewers are still awake and watching! The previous nights they have been the very last part of the show, always well after midnight. Fazio announced the change in the script like it was a huge favor for them, and in a way it is. Only that everywhere else perhaps they would have been treated like that already the previous nights. How about starting the show with them next year?  22.40 It started. The "giuria di qualità" has 50% of the rsult, the televote the rest and the finalists are four. We start with Diodato and Babilonia . I like this song. The orchestration fits nicely and I like his voice. Quite good performance, even if a little bit nervous perhaps? 22.49 Next Zibba and Senza di te . Lovely soft reggae with nice lyrics, great voice and likable person. Very relaxed performance! 22.53 Third one is Rocco Hunt and Nu journo buono .  Rap reggae with dialect. Very catchy and he propably has a hit ...