Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Here it is again. The biggest. The best. For the seventh time fans all over the globe have voted their favorite songs since 1956 until 2016. How many entries of this year made the cut? Is Jamala the best of them or did someone beat her? How many winners are in and who's left out and forgotten?  And most of all... is Loreen still the number one for the 5th consegutive year? I will post here the countdown as it happens. Tune in at 11 CET in escradio and listen the countdown. Is there any better way to spend the New Year's Eve? No. 1 (1 ) Loreen – Euphoria (Sweden 2012) 2 (3 ) Il Volo – Grande Amore (Italy 2015) 3 (new) Sergey Lazarev – You are the only one (Russia 2016) 4 (new) Jamala – 1944 (Ukraine 2016) 5 (16) Sertab Erener – Everyway That I Can (Turkey 2003) 6 (new) Poli Genova – If love was a crime (Bulgaria 2016) 7 (6) Pastora Soler – Quédate conmigo (Spain 2012) 8 (5) Måns Zelmerlöw – Heroes (Sweden 2015) 9 (25) Marija Šerifović – Molitva (Serbia 2007) ...

2016 has been a sad year in entertainment industry and also in the Eurovision world. So many familir names have left us. Here are some of them.... Sir Terry Wogan , the face of the British Eurovision at the age of 77. He commented the Eurovision for the BBC from 1971 to 2008, and hosted the show in 1998. He died of cancer. Kevin aka Danny Finn of Prima Donna (UK 1980). He was married to Eve Graham and they both were also part of The New Seekers. He was 70. Jānis Vaišļa of Pirates of the Sea (Latvia 2008) died at the age of 46 of heart complications. He had also competed in The Amazing Race with fellow pirate Alexandra Kurusova. Lola Novaković (Yogoslavia 1962) died at the age of 80. Roger Cicero (Germany 2007) died at the age of 45 of a stroke. He was to start a new tour and projects after releasing two albums in 2015. The Eurovision 1957 winner Corry Brokken (The Netherlands) dies at the age of 83. She represented the Netherlands also in 1956 and 1958. In...

The 2016 has been a very kind year to this blog. Half a million hits makes me feel extremely happy and humble, especially when I have had a more relaxed approach and not taking all this so serious anymore, just doing my own thing without thinking about competing with any other blog. On the contrary. I thank you each and everyone who turn up over and over again and keep following me. Let's hope 2017 will be kind to all of us, fullfill some dreams along the way and give us many memorable and happy moments..... and some great new songs and artists in Kyiv 2017. But let's get back to this blog. No doubt Marco Mengoni is the king. Most every post about him has done very well and the one on September 25 is the most read of the year. Other good names to post what comes to hits have been Amir, Måns Zelmerlöw, Douwe Bob, Sergey Lazarev, Il Volo and Alice & France Battiato . The choice not to follow Saara Aalto 's adventures in X Factor was deliberate. My Malta series ins...

This curious post was released yesterday by Tony Maiello: "I have been proposed to represent San Marino in the Eurovision, all is needed to have 500.000 euros for "promotion".  Just to be sure I have asked if they wanted it in cash or if a card will do." That's a free translation of that curious post. Apparently he wasn't impressed and one can only wonder why he comes out with such a thing now....   Aaah, his new album, first in six years, is coming out shortly. Any pubblicity is good. Even Eurovision. So this blogger does his part....Things have really changed in Italy if even the Eurovision card is playable these days  :-) (And yes, hours later the comment came from SMRTV "We've never heard of Tony Maiello") Who is Tony? He did X Factor finishing 4th and then Sanremo where he won Newcomers in 2010. And that's just about the last we have heard of him as a singer really. He's been writing songs to others including Laura...

Montenegro has announced  Slavko Kalezić (31) of X Factor fame to their represant in Kyiv 2017 Eurovision song contest. He's also an actor in both stage and film. He certainly looks and sounds like an interesting choice. I suppose we are into a visual treat this year..... His entry Space will be revealed later. Be sure to check out his X Factor Adria audition that was something ... else... Apparently he didn't get that far but ended up being a replacement host -  only to be replaced himself again?!? 

Last but not least, here are the nominees for the Female Artist of the Year. One real veteran, one recordbreaking looking for a trple, two who have gone solo from succesful duos and one that whose talent has blossomed in Vain elämää and will do amazing things in the future... I guess it's predictable this goes to Vesala, as Sanni winning it again would be a bit boooring. Kaija Koo might surprise but most likely not. I'd give this to Suvi Teräsniska, she has proven to be not only loved by public but also being a Talent in Vain elämää. Amazing singer and voice. Go Suvi! Erin (ex-Nylon Beat) returned to her successful solo career after three years of silence and two kids. Her solo debut back in 2011 sold triple platinum and had several hits, the second one sold platinum and gave her more hits and this one released last month has already Sydäntä särkee and Kohta hänen . Maija Vilkkumaa has been involved in writing this album. Kaija Koo 's success continues with so...

The oldest OGAE fans organized contest, OGAE Song contest has come to its 30th edition this year and is doing better than ever. Wolrdclass acts like Adele, Delta Goodrem, Mariza and Enya battling it out along with Eurovision stars Anna Vissi, Dina Garipova, Sirusho, Amir, Kati Wolf, Eva Boto, Marija Serifovic, Lena Philipsson, Daniel Kajmakoski, Helena Paparizou and Softengine and all the others the local clubs have chosen to represent themselves. A total of 28 great songs to choose from - what would be a better past time? You can listen to all the entries here and have a look at the voting here .  The past few years the victories have all went to same nations: United Kingdom (2009, 2010, 2011), Spain (2013, 2016) and France (2014, 2015), only Italy breaking the trend in 2012. And these four countries do have the most wins ever in the contest anyways. At least the Big5 is ruling here.... One can only wish and hope Alvaro Soler would be one of the shortlisted and invited a...

Today's the day the ultimate Balcan Diva Kaliopi turns 50 years young! OMG, how time flies and she certainly proves age is just a number. This blogger sends her all the best and expects many more lovely screams in the future!  For the occasion she has released a new song that is another goodie in a long string of pearls she keeps giving us. It's titled Rodjendan aka Birthday!

Lithuania is ready to start their marathon selection. A total of 51 singers will battle through ten episodes and March 11 we have the final with at least singers. Among the artists two previous winners Sasha Song  (2009) and  Vilija Matačiūnaitė (2014) as well as eternal runner ups Mia and  Aistė Pilvelytė - will she finally make it? This is her... 10th? try - and a string of other familiar names like Ruslanas Kirilkanas . Below is the full list of the artists taking part. The shows start on January 7, 2017. In the first four shows it's jury-televote, and from then on the international jury joins in making it a jolly threesome.  Golden Monkeys, Otreya, Augustė Vedrickaitė, Edgaras Lubys, Tadas Rimgaila & Tina,  Sasha Song, Rūta Andruškevičiūtė, Benas Malakauskas, Audrius Petrauskas, Justin 3,  Dagna Kondratavičiūtė. Paula Valentaitė, Valdas Lacko, Monika Mėčiūtė, Rugilė Daujotaitė, Kotryna Juodzevičiūtė, Deividas Žygas, Mia. Rasa Kau...

#UMK2017 videos have just been released on UMK's website, have a look. There will be a review show for the videos on YLE2 on New Year's eve at 19.10 local time. Eini, Jaana Pelkonen, Tuija Pehkonen and Suvi Alto will watch and comment the videos and songs hosted by Mikko Silvennoinen. The voting will start after the preview show...... Watch the videos here

Emma Gaala's Male artist of the Year nominees include some names from various reality music tv programmes, rappers and a surprise. I would give this one out to Mikael Gabriel as icing on the cake for his fabulous year and marvelous metamorposis. Lauri Tähkä started his succesful year with a Elastinen duet (read more below)  Lempo , Then he released an album that went straight to #1, scored a hit with  Morsian  (radioplay #1), followed it with hits from the Vain elämää reality tv-series, including Kipua (#2), a Mikael Gabriel cover, Minun Suomeni , Lauri, Elastinen, Mikael - all are here nominated. Mikael Gabriel really broke through this year. He's been around but as "just another rapper" but his latest album did well featuring #2 single Helium . Then he became the nation's sweetheart against all odds in Vain elämää . His personality made us all fall in love with him a little, and adopt him as nation's own son. He scored the most hits from the...

These are the nominess for the Newcomer of the year Emma, aka Finnish Grammy. Some real talent here and quite a few questionable ones, IMHO. But what do I know? Alma (20) made herself known in Idols three years ago where she finished 5th but then disappeared from the spotlight. She kept working and exploded this year with Karma , Bonfire and Dye my hair both nationally and internationally. Her debut album will be released in 2017 and the expectations are high, both by public and critics. Interesting talent indeed. She should just walk this category.  Arttu Lindeman (20) is a videoblogger and rap artist. Thanks to his huge following in web he has scored four Spotify #1s this year with Läikkyy , Faijas , Menee tunteisiin and Hukutaan . Fans like, critics don't. I don't.  Evelina (21), like Alma, made her first appearance in a talent show, The Voice. She didn't get that far and it took a few years and she was back; ready and succesful. She scored her firs...

Carlo Conti has announced the first Italian super guest star in Sanremo festival 2017: Tiziano Ferro. He will perform the first night, just like he did already in 2015.  Six studio albums, all but the debut, number ones in Italy. Millions of albums sold all over the world, especially in Latin America, seven Italian number one singles and 20 top-10 ones, countless gold, platinum and multiplatinum records in Italy, France, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Austria... Collaborations with other big names (check out the videos below), songs written to artists like Alice and Giusy Ferreri, Baby K and Blue....  He has come out, been proud and written a book about it. He's survived depression and gotten over medication. He's got Grammy nominations. He has lived in Mexico and Manchester. He has toured sold out stadiums. Sung in Italian, Spanish, English and French. A superstar indeed, but wouldn't it be nice to have him compete instead? And do Eurovision while a...