Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

As the speculation got wild over the past 24 hour it has now been formied Ryan O'Shaughnessy will be representing Ireland in Lisbon 2018 Eurovision. His song is called Together and will be released later when the production and video clip are finished. Ryan promises Rock'n roll kids kind of moment so it's one more acoustic ballads on stage, people. More emotions, less fireoworks! Ryan is a 25-year-old singer-songwriter with a lot of experience already. He starred in an Irish soap opera Fair city for nine years, took part in both Britain's got talent and The Voice of Ireland in 2012  at the same time! That caused a bit of a drama apparently. The year after he took part in the Irish reality The Hit .

  After YLE prettycancelled the usual UMK2018 and turned into Saara Aalto show it's been quite queit in that front. The final will take place in Metro Arena in Espoo on March 3, 2018 and Saara will perform her three stage shows and apparently there will be several guest stars. The first one has been now confirmed: Spice Girl Melanie C, Saara's childhood hero. They are set to perform also together and Saara says she feels more nervous for that than her own performances. Bless her.  Saara's three songs will be revealed with respective videos one every week starting on February 9. 

The OT couple Alfred Garcia and Amaia Romero have won the Spanish Eurovision selection with their Tu canción . The couple's blossming love affair during these Operacion Triunfo months may have played a role crowning them Spain's latest lovebirds and winners. Anyways, it's a refreshing step away from the usual overproduced plastic entries Spain has sent way too often, and clearly nods to last year's winner's acoustic intimate mood. Emotions, not fireworks, people! The superfinalists were: Alfred y Amaia - Tu canción 43% Aitana - Arde 31% Aitana & Ana - Lo Malo 26% As a bonus here is their City of stars :

After winning the international juries vote the online voting hs been added and there's no doubt it: Mikolas Josef's groovy Lie to me is the winner in Czech Republic and is set to do wonders in Lisbon. Maybe. At least it's their best effort yet: original, catchy, different from the rest with a likable artist and great video. Now it's all up to his live vocals and staging..... Out with the gorille, in with the camel - it's 2018!

Last year Russia tried to send Julia Samoylova and her wheelchair to Kyiv and long story short: she never got there. Now she's given another chance as Russia has confirmed she will be the one indeed for Lisbon. This blogger must admit I never thought this would happen, but hey, life's full of surprises. Wheelchair or not, I hope she has got a better song and learned to sing better during this year.... Just sayin'... And considering Russia and Ukraine are in the same semi, and apparently the Ukrainian law forbids broadcasting these banned artists even on television....  this isn't over yet, I suppose. And curiously Russia confirmed her as soon as the allocation draw took place.... Hmmm...

Moldova had live auditions to all the eligible 27 (of 31 submissions) and after hearing what they had in offer (likes of Sasha Bognibov, ehm)  dropped the semifinal and chose 16 for the final directly. Some names are at it again: Doinita, Che MD, DoReDos, Felicia.... Apparently it's all settled for DoReDos to win with their Kirkorov penned nonsense anyways. But could it be Doinita's time finally with her latin number penned by those ever trying Persson sisters? If we want an entry in language then it'd be Nicoleta Sava.  Anna Odobescu – Agony Anna Timofei – Endlessly Bella Luna – Moments Che MD – Inima-n stanga  Cobilean Constantin – Numai Tu  Doinita Gherman – Dance In Flames DoReDos – My Lucky Day Felicia Dunaf – Alien Ilia Soroceanu & Dasha DaGro – Minds & Veins Lavinia Rusu – Altundeva  Nicoleta Sava – Esencia Del Sur  Ruslan Tsar – Come To Life Sandy C & Aaron Sibley – Once Upon A Time Tolik – Broken Glass ...

Isn't she like brunette Krista Siegfrids?? Finland is back to semifinal one, in the 2nd half for a change Italy was the only one with a request this year,  and their wish to vote in the 2nd semifinal was granted Bye bye Kyiv, welcome Lisbon!

  The allocation draw to determinate in which semifinal the countries will perform took place today in Lisbon City Hall along with the Insignia ceremony wheee Lisbon officially takes over from Kyiv, a tradition started in Helsinki 2007.  You can watch it here at 13 CET. Below are the pots: Pot 1: Albania, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia, Switzerland Pot 2: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Sweden Pot 3: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Russia, Ukraine Pot 4: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Moldova, Romania Pot 5: Australia, Austria, Czech Republic, Israel, Malta, San Marino Pot 6: Belgium, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Poland

  Spanish Operacion Triunfo isn't over yet as still five contestants are in the running, but the Eurovision side kick will be finished tonight. Five + plus one finalists singing nine songs, one of them becoming the Spanish entry for Lisbon. The voting will be in two rounds. After the first one top-3 goes for the superfinal and voting will restart from zero. The songs are a real turn away from the Swedish produced nonsense Spain has sent so often. The only song in that direction is the plastic manyfactued group song and maybe a bit  Magia . Al cantar, Tu canción and Arde are soft almost acoustic ballads. Que nos sigan las luces and Lejos de tu piel are pleasant but rather forgettable simple pop rock. El remedio and Lo malo bring in some Latin rhythms. If one of those ballads or one of those Latin songs wins Spain is going to have one of the better quality entries since many years. OT comes once again to save the day, it seems. Amaia Romero - Al cantar A...

UK has also revealed its cards for the season. Once again six hopefuls and pretty much nobodies to the great public with eexperience in talent shows like Britain's Got Talent, The Voice and some musicals. The final will take place on February 7 in the legendary Brighton Dome hoted by Mel Gledroyc with Måns Zelmerlöw. He's not only Swede in the show as Edward af Sillén has been hired to script the show. Oh, and Icelandic Greta Salomé has co-written one of the songs...... and some Danes another.... For this blogger Liam Tamne stands high above the others, followed by SuRie, Raya and Asanda but as said: Liam with no doubt or question.  Asanda - Legends Goldstone - I feel the love Jaz Ellington - You Liam Tamne . Astronaut Raya (Clark) - Crazy SuRie - Storm

"The Scenography, designed as an auditorium, is conceived prospectively to expand into the Teatro Ariston. Wide meshes of steel - almost streets - build a link with the outside through light paths. White triumphs as a symbol of purity of art. The music inside, thanks to these links, comes out of the outside drawing inspiration and reason to exist. The architectural elements give stage volume to represent an urban agglomeration, a city of the future. Through two video spirals that rise and fall in helical twist to help the music rise to new horizons. Acoustic arcs find verticality to help the sounds become universal ". This is how Emanuela Trixie Zitkowsky, scenographer of the 68th Sanremo Festival, recounts the encounter between light, image and architecture on the stage of the Ariston, to accompany the show of the songs in front of the millions of viewers at home and the 1273 spectators seated in the theater. "A thousand square meters of video and light  transfor...

  Denmark has been suffering the past few years and is eager to change back to the success they enjoyed in early 2010's. This year's cast includes a couple of familiar previous wannabes, Ditte Marie and Albin , and a familiar name to all us old folks, dee dee na na na , Whigfield! After 25 years using her real name Sannie she's now after Eurovision stardom and another hit single.  The songs will be released only on the week of the final. Ditte Marie - Riot Anna Ritsmar - Starlight Rasmussen - Higher ground Sannie - Boys on girls Sandra - Angels to my battlefield Lasse Meling - Unfound Carlsen - Standing up for love Karui - Signals Rikke Ganer-Tolsøe - Holder fast i ingenting Albin Fredy - Music for the road

Iceland has revealed its songs for Söngvakeppning 2018 as well, and just like last year there are both Icelandic and English versions of them out already (with exception of one, maybe it's ment to stay in Icelandic?). All songs will be erformed in Icelandic in semifinals, but for the final they can change into English if they intend to sing it in it in Lisbon in case of a victory.  For the first time in many years I didn't get excited about any of the entries, but the last song I listened Brosa/With you saved the day eventually. Maybe.  Aron Hannes and Rakel are back from last year, and Stefania hopes to be third time lucky (2013, 2015) and finally win. Two semifinals (February 10 and 17), three songs qualifying for the final from each. Aron Hannes – Golddigger/Gold Digger Áttan – Hér með þér/Here for you Ari Ólafsson – Heim/Our Choice Fókus hópurinn – Aldrei gefast upp/Battleline Dagur Sigurðarson – Í stormi/Saviour Heimilistónar – Kúst og fæjó Stefaní...

Ukraine will have two semifinals (February 10 and 17) before the final and the line up features quite a few familiar names looking for a revenge: for example last year's runner up Tayanna and televoting winner and 3rd placed Melovin are in, as is 4th placed Illaria . Kadnay also tried last year but missed the final while Pur:Pur placed 4th two years ago. Constantine Serhii Babkin Laud Kazka The Vyo Kozak System Vil’na Pur: Pur The Erised Ingret Kostenko Melovin Julinoza Tayanna Kadnay Yurcash Mountain Breeze Illaria Dilemma

Serbia is one of the countries returning to the national final format, a very welcome move! After nine years Beovizija is back and out of 75 submissions 17 have been selected for the final sometime in February. Eurovision veteran Rambo Amadeus is back at it, as is Vladimir Graic, winning composer with Molitva from 2007. He has written now to Ana Nikolic. In the list given by Serbian tv the songs are in English and the original titles in brackets. I suppose it's simply misunderstanding and the songs are in Serbian and the English translation should be in brackets? Didn't they demand songs in Serbian and other official languages? “Neither Sun, Nor Moon” (Ni sunca, ni meseca) – Ivan Kurtic “You’re Gone” – Rambo Amadeus and Beti Dordevic “Fairy” (Vila) – Boris Režak “The Rose of Destiny” (Ruža sudbine) – Danijel Pavlovic “Our Children” (Naša deca) – Sanja Ilic and Balkanika “If Only I knew” (Bar da znam) – Srdan Marijanovic “Wake Up” (Probudi se) – Osmi Vazduh...

    Reigning Eurovision winner Portugal has revealed all details about their national final Festival da Canção 2018. Two semifinals (February 19 and 25) before the final, seven out of each will move on to the final. In the semis there will be 50-50 televote-jury, and in the final 50-50 regional juries-jury. And yes, this bloggers superfavorite Diogo Picarra will sing his own song :-) Besides we have Anabela (ESC 1993) and José Cid (ESC 1980) in the list. There was a freedom of language but apparently only two songs are in English :-) Joana Espadinha – “Zero a Zero” (Benjamim) Peu Madureira – “Só Por Ela” (Diogo Clemente) Anabela “Para Te Dar Abrigo” (Fernando Tordo) Janeiro – “(sem título)” (Janeiro) Rui David – “Sem Medo” (Jorge Palma) José Cid & Gonçalo Tavares – “O Som da Guitarra É a Alma de Um Povo” (José Cid) JP Simões – “Alvoroço” (JP Simões) Catarina Miranda – “Para Sorrir Eu Não Preciso de Nada” (Júlio Resende) Beatriz Pessoa – “Eu Te Am...

Montenegro is having a national final again and this time there will be only five acts competing for the ticket to Lisbon 2018 Eurovision. These have been picked out of 31 submissions aka applications for the job. The final will take place in Podgorica's Hilton hotel on February 17. Lorena Jankovic - Dusu mi daj Nina Petkovic - Disem Katarina Bogicevic - Nezeljena Ivana Popovic Martinovic - Poljupci Vanja Radovanovic - Inje Update 13.2. - Snippets of the songs:

NRK released the names and songs of MGP 2018 on January 15 and among them we have Alexander Rybak (Eurovision 2009 winner), last year's JOWST is back at it, credited as the singer Alexander Walmann this time, Roxette 's Per Gessle has co-written Charla K 's song. Kjetil Mørland (ESC 2015) hs written Rebecca 's song. Stella Mwangi (ESC 2011) is another veteran re-trying. Only one song in Norwegian this time.  This blogger loves Chilean Alejandro Fuente 's Spanish language entry Tengo otra with it's beat - must be the recent Cuban influence and the beat is pure Gente De Zona . Love it! But maybe it's not the way to go, even if Norway has sent some Latin stuff before. Other ones to look out Walmann , Rybak (but I doubt this groovy number would set European wide audiences to voting frenzy.... or would it? Hmm...), Charla K and Vidar Villa .  All in all a good selection of songs a quite many potential winners :-) Alejandro Fuentes - Tengo otra ...

The Friday night in Sanremo festival is dedicated to duets again after a few years pause (in recent  years the artists have covered Italian classics) and the list of Big artists duet partners is out. Alice is back to Sanremo for the 4th time (1972 Il mio cuore se ne va , 1981 Per Elisa - winner, 2000 Il giorno dell'indipendenza ) and duets with Ron , with a song co-written by late lagend Lucio Dalla, Almeno pensami , and described by the media who has already heard the songs as one of the front runners for the victory.  Also many other returns to Teatro Ariston stage by names like Michele Bravi, Giusy Ferreri, Simone Cristichhi, Neri per Caso, Arisa, Sergio Cammariere and Marco Masini , and some big names elsewhere, like Midge Ure . Annalisa with Michele Bravi Avitabile and Servillo with Avion Travel and Daby Touré Decibel with Midge Ure Diodato and Roy Paci with Ghemon Elio e le Storie Tese with Neri per Caso Ermal Meta and Fabrizio Moro with Simone Cris...

Who is Mercy? Read her story here What is the best way to overcome jetlag but watch some Eurovision? The French final took place last night and took quite a long time but was rather entertaining show anyways as far as I can recall while dozing off a few times ;-p  Each of the finalists performed twice, first with a guest star and then their entry. In the end the international jurors gave out their points before the televoters votes were added, and the voting did keeep up the drama til the end. The international jurors votes went all over the place but in the end Madame Monsieur scored big with the televoters and jumped from the juries 3rd place to a win. Worth noting is Eurovision General Christer Björkman gave them only 2 points underlining what I was thinking myself: Mercy is a lovely atmospheric song, very chich and elegant, very French and I do like it a lot but.... will European televoters get it or will it be lost in the crowd? My guess is it will do a lot poore...