FINLAND: ARTISTS WE SHOULD HAVE IN #UMK18 - IF ONLY... Vol.5: KAURIINMETSÄSTÄJÄT, JENNI VARTIAINEN, IDA PAUL, KALLE LINDROTH, JARI SILLANPÄÄ

It's September and the Eurovision 2018 season is officially on. I will feature in coming days names that could be in UMK18, if only...... I say if only, as most likely we won't see any of them in there for UMK is profilied as a newcomers contest instead of being our own Sanremo or Melodifestivalen. In short: a major contest all the big names want to take part not only to win but to boost their record sales and score hits. But one can dream, right? I have thrown in some not so known names for variety. Let's go.... Vol.5 (Check out Vol1, Vol2, Vol3 and Vol4)

Kauriinmetsästäjät are Heikki and Tuomas, and they have already enjoyed Spotify and radioplay success with their Sua sua, Intiaanikesä, Oisit vaan sanonu, Kun mä mietin sua niin uuh and Revi mua (below). Could this Pet Shp Boyish in style and look do the trick in Lisbon?

Jenni Vartiainen was part of the Popstars winning girlband Gimmel in 2002. In 2007 she came back after a break as a solo artist and three multiplatinum albums, several hits and nine Emma awards (aka Finnish Grammy) later she's ready to release her fourth album. Hits like Missä muruseni on, En haluu kuolla tänä yönä, Nettiin, Ihmisten edessä, Junat ja naiset and Turvasana (below) are all already classics. Along with Chisu she would be an ultimate Eurovision wet dream. Her Missä muruseni on holds the record of weeks as #1 in the Finnish charts: 15.

Kalle Lindroth is a musician, ex-front man of SMAK, and tv-presenter. After the band period he's been singing with Ida Paul as a duo. Kalle's solo Annika has been followed by duet Hakuammuntaa (below), Kun tää loppuu, Kupla and Parvekkeella. Ida is half American, and has been writing song to some top artists, besides her solo songs like Laukauksia pimeään and Kunhan muut ei tiedä. Together or solo, they both could be worth a try.

Jari Sillanpää is the second most sold Finnish solo artist with the sales of 850.000. He's been there, done that and even tried to get there again and it's no secret he'd like to do it again. A true entertainer and showman with the right song he could be worth another shot. His Sinä ansaitset kultaa (below) has been in the RadioPlay top-100 already 122 weeks, this week at #66. His latest album took a clear change to poppier sound with songs like Malagaan, Tanssii kuin John Travolta, Liekeissä and Bondesque Suurempaa is his latest. It would be interesting to see what he'd come up if chosen internally.....

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Sabina Babayeva for Azerbaijan

The Azerbaijani selection show for the represant was as long as the selection process for the five finalists. Kurt Calleja from Malta and Can Bonomo from Turkey were present with Ell/Nikki to see Sabina Babayeva to emerge as the winner after each and every finalist had done about zillion songs amongst other guests. Now the Azeri TV will shop around a suitable song for her.

SONGS OF THE YEAR 2015: #5 KRISTA SIEGFRIDS - ON & OFF

Krista Siegfrids is delivering nice pop tunes one after another and this one is particularly catchy and soon you will be singing along..... Hopefully her Melodifestivalen entry will be equally good!

ESC 2015 NORWAY: LISTEN TO THE FINALISTS

The Norwegian entries are now and there to listen, or here . This time Norway has only one off final with 11 songs and a live orchestra, so it will be interesting to hear how these songs will turn out as most are rather modern sounding and not so Eurovisionesque midtempo numbers. There could have been also only ten if they had dropped that joke entry from the line up. The old veterans Elisabeth and Tor have nothing to be ashamed among this lot. To be honest I didn't get excited by any of these really... Something is wrong in my books if a classic schlager like Heaven sounds almost the best... What's wrong Norway?

ESC 2016 WISH LIST: MARGARET FOR POLAND

Małgorzata Jamroży aka Margaret has also been tipped for Eurovision and apparently she did turn it down but she'd be perfect. She's got a look and persona you can't unnotice nor forget, she's got hit songs, she has been voted or nominated for everything from Trendy artist to the Hope of the Year, Fashion Icon and Glamour Woman of the year besides the usual best video, song, album, debut..... Oh she's also a fashion designer! She's very clever with social medias and would surely use it to her advantage if selected for Stockholm 2016. Her debut album is titled Add the blonde , do we need to say more? Except it includes mostly Swedish written pop tunes like Tell me how are ya , Wasted , Start a fire and Heartbeat . And of course her debut single and internationally noticed Thank you very much that you can enjoy below with all its anti-textil feel. I think she's Eurovision perfection, she's cheeky and fun, can we have her?

FINLAND: LORDI RELEASES SEXORCISM - THEIR 9TH STUDIO ALBUM

Brand new studio album SEXORCISM is released tomorrow, 12 years and 5 days after their monstreous victory in Athens 2006 Eurovision song contest. It is quite possibly the most controversial Lordi album yet and already their 9th stuido album (plus three compilations and one Ep)

THE ABBA REUNION 2016 - WATCH THEM SING TOGETHER AGAIN

The 2016 Eurovision song contest organizers didn't manage it - or any of the previous ones either nor those offering them millions of dollars - but they seem to get together for birthdays, the way the old friends do. Back in 1999 they performed together in a private party for Görel Hansel's 50th birthday, and now to celebrate the first meeting of Björn and Benny 50 years ago. Venue was Stockholm's Bern's Salonger and once again in a private setting but today even they can't stop the cell phone videos and social medias. Enjoy the magic of Frida's and Agnetha's voices again.

ESC 2016 BELARUS: NAKED WITH WOLVES?

Today's funniest Eurovision related story comes from Belarus. Some sources claim Ivan wants to perform on stage naked and with live wolf or wolves. It surely would be a first on Eurovision stage! We have seen some forgotten underwear over the years, and some cardbox animals though..... Is it time to take things a bit further? No, according the rules live animals are not allowed, and Eurovision being a family show nudity won't do either. (It seems to be ok to be half naked if you are a dancer though..... )

GOODBYE, FAREWELL...

The time has come. After all these years, 5,7 million visits, 12.000 articles I guess the time has come. As much as I love and care for Eurovision it just doesn't feel the same. The Corona years took their toll and the past two years and certain decisions have helped me to mature the idea that next year I will hear the songs for the first time in semi-final just like any so called local. The bubble has burst. Add the toxicity in social medias and fandom. The arrogant teenagers who saw their first contest somewhere 2017 or even 2021 who think they know it all and only their opinion matters. Did I mention the toxic atmosphere on social medias? I'm too old for that sh*t. It's been a long ride that took me to various Eurovision on spot as a fan and tourist, as a journalist, as a delegation member. I met some great people, made memories of lifetime. In stressful, sad periods of my life this blog has been my safe place, a place to escape and forget everything else for an hour o...

ITALY: WHO ARE MÅNESKIN - EUROVISION 2021 WINNERS? CAREER IN WORDS AND PHOTOS

"Siamo fuori di testa, ma diversi da loro" they wrote in Instagram already in May 2017. The street musicians from Rome have gone a long via X Factor to Sanremo and to Eurovision in a short time. As I didn't do any artist presentations this year, and to be honest I'm not so familiar with Måneskin, let's do a short biography who they are and what they have been up to in the past few years. The band is made of lead singer Damiano David (21), Victoria De Angelis (20) in bass, Thomas Raggi (19) in guitar and Ethan Torchio (20) in drums. Novembre 2015. Damiano asked Victoria to form a band, she brought in her friend and school mate from Monteverde Thomas. Ethan was found after an ad in Facebook. The year after they took part in a competition Pulse - High school band contest and won it. The same year they had their official concert and usually they were found playing in the streets of Rome, their hometown. 2017. They took part in X Factor when they all were j...

Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

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