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Showing posts from November, 2014

OGAE TURNS 30

OGAE or the Eurovision fans club aka Organisation Générale des Amateurs de l'Eurovision was founded in late 1984 in Savonlinna, Finland by Jari-Pekka Koikkalainen. This blogger read about it in a newspaper and joined in in early 1985 (if my memory serves me right) and became the member number 15. Fifteen! Imagine! I still have each and every OGAE Bulletin that at the beginning wee nothing but photocopied pages put together. Then later on I may have had something to do with the founding of the Italian club that's another story.... Today the 43 sub clubs all over the world count nearly 10.000 members. How time flies, how OGAE grows. Congratulations! More information on OGAE here . 

SO MUCH BETTER: CAROLA IN SÅ MYCKET BÄTTRE

The 5th season of Så mycket bättre* started in Sweden last week. Among the artists this season we have finally Carola along with The Ark's Ola Salo, Orup, Amanda Jensen, Kajsa Grytt, Familjen and Love Antell. Blame it on Carola but the show broke its viewing record when 2.245.000 Swedes turned in to watch it. After all she's responsable for many Swedish records of that kind.... Update: the Carola episode was the most watched of them all. Of course. All good things come to an end and this was the last week, dedicated to Love Antell. If you missed the post about last week's Carola Day, it's here . Next week it's still time for one special edition, with duets. But back to Love Antell. Carola took on his Gatorna tillhör oss . She lets herself wild, brings in the trademark wind machine and jumps on the table and gets everybody up and dancing. And yes, makes the song a Carola anthem. Next single? Carola - Gatorna tillhör oss Vs. Love Antell - Gatorna tillhör

ESC 2015 SWITZERLAND: HERE ARE THE 18 SEMIFINALISTS

The Swiss selection moves ahead. The 18 songs and artists have been chosen in various ways. The next step is the live audition infront of a jury on December 7, 2014 where the 18 become six this way: 3 of the German speaking SRF entries will make it, 2 from the French speaking RTS and one of the Italian speaking RSI. These six will battle it out in the national final on January 31, 2015 in Kreuzlingen. Who are your favorites? SRF selected acts (listen HERE ) Arbresha   –   Same stars Bubble Beatz feat. Sandra Wild   –   Run Thierry Condor   –   Open heart surgery Dahï   –   Destiny Simon Hafner   –   There was a yesterday Andy McSean   –   Hey now San Dii   –   iMagination Timebelle   –   Singing about love Tiziana   –   Only human RTS selected candidates (listen HERE ) Alenko  –  Vu d’en haut Anach Cuan   –   Hurdy gurdy girls Celia   –   Letter to myself Licia Chery   –   Fly Mélanie René   –   Time to shine Shana P.   –   Kevlar heart RSI

ESC 2015 SWEDEN: BJÖRKMAN PROMISES MORE JOY AND WARMTH IN MELODIFESTIVALEN

Christer Björkman has talked about the coming Melodifestivalen 2015 in Expressen . SVT is searching the ways to find the lost viewers last year and make the show more viewers friendly, or at least try to stop the dropping figures with some changes. "The approach has been different this year. We have taken joy, warmth, excitement and courage as the core values. Excitement and courage has been always there, and we have taken joy and warmth a bit for granted, this being Mello. But now we have to do things with more heart instead of being fixated on picture perfect television. Make it more autenthic, give it a more spontaneus and live event feeling. The presentes will interact more with the audience and the singers will get more space. To be able to do all this we have dropped one song from the line up to gain some time." Looks like they have finally woken up. Fixation of picture perfect show and songs has made Melodifestivalen such a sterile and uninteresting show the past fe

MARCO MENGONI - SUCCESS CONTINUES WITH GUERRIERO

Marco Mengoni's new video Guerriero has gathered nearly 1,5 million views in less than five days. It only took about 1,5 hrs to make it #1 in the Italian iTunes. The success continues. The first live performance is below. With the rain on stage and all..... And did I say the song is fantastic? Post by A.M.A. = Associazione Marchiste Anonime!

HANNA PAKARINEN IS CAROLA

Hanna Pakarinen is taking on a new adventure. She has been performing Carola's - not the Swedish one but the Finnish one - songs occasionally but now she takes them on seriously. She's having a concert in Helsinki's Savoy theater on April 9, 2015 and later touring Finland with Carola's most loved songs. This blogger hopes there would be also an album.... Carola Standerskjöld (1941-1997) was one of the most succesful and admired singers in Finland in the 1960's, and surely one of the most international ever. Her repertoire included many covers of jazz and pop but also original songs and she also performed chansons, schlager, Latin, soul, rhythm'n blues and rock'n roll in various languages from Finnish to Swedish, Portuguese, Italian, French, German and English. She also recorded the Finnish versions of three Eurovision winners (La, la la, Un banc un arbre une rue and Apres toi ). She retired from the business in mid-70's but continued to do occasion

ESC 2015 SAN MARINO: FROM JESC TO ESC - MICHELE & ANITA FOR VIENNA

The youngest for the smallest, that's the slogan for SMRTV for Vienna 2015 Eurovision song contest when Michele Perniola and Anita Simoncini were revealed as the chosen artists today. The slogan could also be from JESC to ESC as both have done Junior Eurovision song contest representing San Marino in 2013 and 2014. Without much of a success I might add. This fact confuses even more the line between JESC and ESC. There are the age limits for both, but at the age of 15-16 there can be huge differences in kids... I guess it's already rather clear this blogger is not very fond of the JESC. Anyways, both Michele and Anita will be 16 in Vienna next May. And they both look the age (or older). Michele Perniola (class of Diva ) comes from southern Italy, near Taranto. In 2012 he won the Italian talent show for kids, Ti lascio una canzone, and then in 2013 was picked by SMRTV to be their debut entrant for the Junior Eurovision song contest with O-o-O sole intorno a me finish

SANREMO 2015: LISTEN TO THE NEWCOMERS

The 60+1 names with their songs have been revealed in Italy. The +1 being the winner of Castrocaro festival (that gave us The Peppermints) Alina Nicosia. Out of these six names will be chosen to take part in the next Sanremo festival in the newcomers aka Nuove Proposte category. The audition will take place on December 1 in Rome.  Among the artists we have countless names from various talent shows on TV: Italia's got talent winner Daniel Adamako, from X Factor (that gave us Marco Mengoni) Giovanni Caccamo and Violetta Zironi and TRE.N.D, from Amici (the show that gave us Emma Marrone among others) Diana Del Bufalo, Carboidrati, Stefano Maiuolo, Enrico Nigiotti, Lidia Pastorello, Simons, Simonetta Spiri and Willy De Lello. From The Voice Manuel Foresta, Francesco Caccamo, Jimmy Ingrassia and Tommaso Pini. From Ti lascio una canzone (that gave us Vincenzo Cantiello, Federica Falzon and Gaia Gauchi) Donato Santoianni, Simona Collura and Grazia Buffa. Also from Castrocaro 201

ESC 2015: BUILDING BRIDGES THEME ART WORK REVEALED

Today ORF let us see the art work for the sublogo for the 2015 Eurovision song contest to match with the chosen slogan "Building Bridges". The slogan may not be the most innotative ever but if you take it with more imagination, as bridge between east and west, south and north as Vienna sits nicely in the middle of Europe it makes more sense. This blogger isn't exactly over the moon for it as it reminds the Oslo 2010 one, that I found the most unusable one ever in my work..... But who knows, once we get to see more example than this one black one.... The official Eurovision website writes: The theme art work's use of spheres and its wave-shape symbolises being united as well as diversity. The colours reflect the individualism and at the same time building musical bridges, the diversity of the artists, variety of songs and also the diverse audience. "It is a great logo, a strong sign with recognition value and endless possibilities," says Jon Ola Sa

ESC 2015 SWEDEN: HERE ARE THE ARTISTS FOR MELODIFESTIVALEN SEMIFINALS 3&4

This morning the remaining 14 artists, songs and their writers were made public by Christer Björkman. Andreas follows his fathers footsteps, Isa moves from JESC to ESC selections, Jon Henrik was adopted from Columbia to a Sami family as a baby and then won Talent Sweden this year. All but Ellen and Andreas in the third semifinal debut in Melodifestivalen. Rio De Janeiro born Caroline returns in the fourth semifinal, as does Måns but all the others are debutants, even 66-year-old Hasse. Semifinal 3 - Östersund, February 21, 2015 Andreas Weise - Bring out the fire Anton Malmberg Hård af Segerstad, Henrik Jansson, Thomas G:son Isa - Don't stop Isa Tengblad, Johan Ramström, Gustav Svenungsson, Magnus Wallin, Oscar Merner Kalle Johansson - För din skull Martin Eriksson, Thomas G:son, Thomas Karlsson Kristin Amparo - I see you Kristin Amparo, David Kreuger, Fredrik Kempe Ellen Benediktson - Insomnia Ellen Benediktson, Anderz Wrethov Jon Henrik Fjällgren - J

ESC 2015 SWITZERLAND: THE FRENCH CANDIDATES ARE OUT

Swiss RTS or the French speaking broadcaster has chosen its six - mostly non-French - songs for the audition round next month that will join the three Italian songs by RSI and the nine German SRF ones that will be revealed later this week.  You can listen to these six here .  I will comment the songs once the full line up is ready..... Alenko – Vu d’en haut Anach Cuan – Hurdy gurdy girls Celia – Letter to myself Licia Chery – Fly Mélanie René – Time to shine Shana P. – Kevlar heart

ESC 2015 SWEDEN: HERE ARE THE ARTISTS FOR MELODIFESTIVALEN SEMIFINALS 1 & 2

Christer Björkman announced the 14 acts for the first two semifinals (the rest tomorrow) in a live webcast this morning. Most of the names were rumored already but there are some surprises not gossiped before like 18-year-old Idol-Molly, the return of Marie Bergman in duet with Sanne Salomonssen, Mariette Hansson and the unknowns Emelie Irewald. Semifinal 1 - Göteborg, February 7, 2015 Jessica Andersson - Can't hurt me now Aleena Gibson, Fredrik Thomander Behrang Miri & Viktor Crone - Det rår vi inte för Behrang Miri, Albin Johnsén, Måns Zelmerlöw, Tony Nilsson Dolly Style - Hello hi Emma Nors, Palle Hammarlund, Jimmy Jansson Molly Pettersson-Hammar - I'll be fine Molly Pettersson Hammar, Lisa Desmond, Tim Larsson, Tobias Lundgren, Gavin Jones Rickard Söderberg & Eliza Ryd - One by one  Elize Ryd, Jimmy Jansson, Karl-Ola Kjellholm, Sharon Vaughn Daniel Gildenlöw - Pappa Daniel Gildenlöw Eric Saade - Sting Fredrik Kempe, Hamed ”K-one” Pi

CAROLA COVERED - SÅ MYCKET BÄTTRE THE CAROLA DAY

The series of popular artists singing each others songs between small talk has reached the Carola Day and yes, her Eurovision entries got a new treatment. Interestingly though all songs are from her early career (1983-1986) except the 1991 Eurovision winner, like if she had no songs from the past 23 years....  Carola was so impressed of Orup's version of Främling she wished he will sing it in her funeral in case she dies first.... Indeed he managed to breath a new life to this classic heard about zillion times by now. Ola Salo had chosen The Runaway from Carola's BeeGees produced album of the same name. I must say I prefer the original. Amanda takes on her Eurovision winner and turns it into something mysterious and exciting. Great stuff. Kajsa had chosen one of this blogger's favorite Carola songs and turned a sweet little ballad into a rockier one. Another early career classic Tokyo gets update by Familjen. Or can you call a true 80's sound an update? Then we

ESC 2015 SWEDEN: MORE POSSIBLE MELODIFESTIVALEN ARTISTS....

Ahead the announcement of the artists tomorrow and Tuesday more names have emerged as possible entrants. First of all we have previous winner Eric Saade . From last year's final surprise we have Ellen Benediktsson making a possible comeback. Daniel Gildenlöw also is rumored to make his solo debut, his band Pain of Salsation presented fantastic Road salt in 2010. From 2005 we have a one hit wonder Carolina Wennergren . She was the big surprise that year with A different kind of love , that is still remembered even if we haven't heard much of her since....  Also listed is Andreas Johnson who's still missing a victory in MF from his CV. Then we have Behrang Miri ,  punkrock band Neverstore , boyband JRT and all the previous names I wrote about here . 

ESC 2015 MALTA: AMBER FOR VIENNA

The Maltese national selection took place tonight. No changes in anyone's performances from the Friday's semifinal, only that some did sing slightly better perhaps, while others... Oh well.  Conchita Wurst opened the show with Rise like a Phoenix . Then the 14 songs were presented before neverending interval acts borrowed from last week's Junior Eurovision while waiting for the results. Among them last winners Firelight with their Coming home,  follow up Talk dirty to me  and the new one Backdrop of life.  Then Conchita returned with Heroes and we had hope the interval acts were over.... And indeed.... the voting was the most uninteresting ever Amber scoring full 12 points from televotes and each juror. Amber has been a regular in the Maltese selection for years already. This spring she came 4th with Because I have you , in 2013 also 4th with In control , in 2012 3rd with Answer with your eye s and in 2010 with Catch 22 13th.

ESC 2015 MALTA: TONIGHT THE MALTA EUROVISION SONG CONTEST FINAL

All eyes on Marsa Shipyards tonight again when Malta picks up its represent for Vienna 2015. At least the artist, the song maybe as there are rumors and speculation it could be changed between now and the deadline to present entries in mid-March (the same goes for Macedonia). Anyways, 14 acts remain in the race after last night's semifinal and one could see PBS is putting on an extra effort this year. Besides the show hosted on the same stage as the Junior Eurovision song contest a week ago - yet they have managed to make it look rather different - many artists have dancers and all that usual stuff to make every entry look different and thought after. Well done.  Amber  (pictured) is the front runner followed by the Eurovision cliché act by Jessika , but the girl can't hold a note for full three minutes, it's painfully evident by now. The nuns could win with televote but surely they won't win with jurors unless they are in majority foreign and want to make Malta

ESC 2015 MALTA: WE HAVE FINALISTS!

Malta has chosen its 14 finalists and I must say my prediction went pretty well: 12/14. Only Raquel (pictured) and Lyndsay didn't make it, wonder why?. If we look at my want list it's another story, 9/14. My top contenders both made it so we are still chasing a dream with Trilogy and hoping it's Lawrence Gray the one the jurys will love. The final takes place tonight. Franklin – Still Here Christabelle – Rush Jessika – Fandango Chris Grech – Closed Doors Karen Debattista – 12, Baker Street Daniel Testa – Something In The Way Glen Vella – Breakaway Lawrence Grey – The One That You Love Deborah C – It’s Ok L-Ahwa – Beautiful To Me y Amber – Warrior Trilogy – Chasing A Dream Dominik – Once In A While Ekklesia Sisters – Love & Let Go

MARCO MENGONI IS A WARRIOR. GUERRIERO VIDEO LAUNCHED

Marco Mengoni has released today his new single and video, Guerriero , the first off his worthcoming new album in January 2015, that follows his multiplatinum #Prontoacorrere . The journey continues with slightly more electronic sound. Mengoni doesn't disappoint, this is a great song that only gets better with further listenings. There's no sight of his success fading at all. The next album could make him even bigger, who knows? Or what do you think about the fact Guerriero went to #1 in iTunes only after 94 minutes after tis release? 

CONCHITA WURST - HEROES, THE VIDEO

Conchita Wurst is concentrating on her recording career after the stunt in Crazy Horse in Paris and here's the video for her new single Heroes . Stylish, symbolic, beautifully shot in black and white it adds to the song that is a grower. She's taking her time to finish her debut album and it pays off if it's filled with such songs, well produced and sung, suiting her persona. It would have been so easy to just get a dozen songs, record them and release as quickly as possible and cash at the momentum. But not Conchita.... well done! Can't wait for the album, propably to be released next May. 

ESC 2015 SWEDEN: THE ARTISTS REVEALED NEXT WEEK

Melodifestivalen acts will be announced next Monday and Tuesday. The rumor mill of possible participants has been running wild for weeks already and finally we know who are really in and who are not. What we know so far is that Sanna Nielsen will debut as the host and with her will be Robin Paulsson , a very well known television host, also him making his MF debut. We also know one of the contestants already, Kalle Johansson . He won the Svensktoppen nästä 2014 contest and the award was a ticket to Melodifestivalen 2015.  SVT received 2.177 songs this year and it seems the famous Swedish schlager is making a comeback. There are minor changes to the format and instead of 32 songs there will be only 28, but 12 of them will advance to the final instead of 10. Makes sense? Måns Zelmerlöv is supposed to be making a comeback to the contest, as are Lili & Susie, Linus Svenning and Charlotte Perrelli . Sean Banan has also made it clear he has sent a song. Other names rumore

ESC 2015: CZECH REPUBLIC RETURNS!

Now this was a surprise! While the news of Bosnia & Herzegovina not making it to Vienna after all out of nowhere come the news Czech Republic will return after five years absence.  They will select internally and promise to offer us a "top quality Czech song".  For one thing, it's hard for them to do any worse than they did with their previous three entries. The debut in Helsinki 2007 finished last in the semifinal with one point only. The year after they scored a total of 9 points and 18th place (out of 19) in the semifinal and finally in 2009 they got no points at all and again last in the semifinal....  I think they deserved sometimes a bit more, especially in Helsinki. Let's enjoy their efforts in the past: 2007 Kabát - Malá dàma 2008 Teresa Kerndlovà - Have some fun 2009 Gipsy.cz - Aven romale 2015 ?