EUROVISION 2018 REVIEW: ICELAND, BELARUS, IRELAND, GERMANY

Iceland - Ari Ólafsson - Our choice

Ari (19) is one of the youngest artists this year and his song is one of the oldest. Pure old school Eurovision and therefor a pearl to cherish. Even more so as he has proven to be a great vocalist live despite his age sounding good and looking so fresh and innocent. He has also proven himself in the social medias and pre-contest promotional events - is there anyone who doesn't like him as a person?
This is anthemic, almost religious hymn with lyrics... well, let's forget the lyrics and just enjoy the melody and his convincing performance! The video makes me want to visit Reykjavik, even if it seems to be the size of one block .-) Sadly they didn't bring this Icelandic version though. This blogger would love to see this as shocker qualifier but the odds are heavily against it: starting number, semi one, betting odds... but hey, miracles do happen! And televoters decide. 7/10

Belarus - Alekseev - Forever

Ukrainian Nikita Vladimirovitš Alekseev or simply Alekseev (24) was the cause of this year's annual Belarus controversy and scandal when the other artists were against his participation as he is Ukrainian, and then that his song wasn't maybe exactly following the September 1 rule. He has won the Newcomer of the year awards in both Russia and Ukraine and apparently has an active fan base. All that doesn't hide the fact he isn't quite the best singer. This is a song that has been revamped for Eurovision, and quite honestly it's gotten even worse. It's a question of taste but I don't like his voice, and the song either. The Russian version sounds a lot better though. The national final performance has a staging gimmick that will propably repeated in Lisbon but hey, Estonia is coming right after with their projection dress. Hmmm... not looking very good for poor Alekseev, is it? 3/10

Ireland - Ryan O'Shaughnessy - Together

Ryan (25) did Britain's Got talent and The Voice of Ireland - at the same time causing quite a scheduling mess. He didn't win neither but signed recording contracts here and there before getting into The Hit, an Irish songwriting talent show. Before that he acted in an Irish soap opera for nine years and now finally he's here. Ryan has co-written Together, and one might think he'd have trouble singing it live but no worries, the high notes are on spot. I was a bit surprised when I saw the video as it was totally unexpected but when I read his reasons for it, it all fits in. This a real gem, classy, well sung, old school Irish Eurovision and I hope this will qualify and do well in the final, as we need songs like this to balance certain manufactured "creations". This is real, honest and heartfelt. 9/10

Germany - Michael Schulte - You let me walk alone

Michael (27) started his career placing 3rd in The Voice of Germany 2012 and releasing his debut album. Since then he has made it big in Youtube before taking part and winning the German national final. This is a tribute from a soon to be father to his late father, it has a lovely melody and airy arrrangement, especially the piano. he handles it quite nicely live, He manages to capture the attention on stage - I like to see it live but would I listen to this on repeat on stereo? No - and it will be interesting to see how far this one goes in the end, or will it have the usual German entry's fate? This deserves better. A lot better. 8/10

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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 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?

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..... )

Rumors, rumors, rumors....

While the national selections for Junior Eurovision are going on around Europe and Ani Lorak's been confirmed as host all sort of rumors about the real thing are beginning to be the order of the day. Austria returns - or then not. Andorra stays home - or then not. San Marino returns - well, most likely but not surely. Luxembourg should make a come back - or then maybe not. Liechtenstein is still in the running - or has it ever been for real? Has the local TV ever confirmed anything? Is it just wishful thinking by the fans? Poland on the other hand has confirmed they will be in Oslo. And Italy will be still out. And apparently there will be no ban or such for Azerbaijan nor Spain for the irregularities in and after the 2009 edition. EBU had to change the text in the rules to make it sure nothing like that what happened in Azerbaijan could happen again. Or if it will they have means and rules to back up a ban or sanction.... Katerina Avgoustakis has been rumored to be in Oslo...

JEDWARD GETS NAKED FOR THE FANS

Well, almost. The boys celebrated their 650.000th follower on Twitter by being photographed fresh from shower as promised. It's not the first time they drop their clothes as you see here . Meanwhile their second album is nearly here and the title track Young love is hitting the charts....

CAROLA'S BOOBS STEAL THE SHOW, SVT APOLOGIES

Update! Another thing got Swedes talking last night: Carola's boobs when she was giving away an award. This is not the first time her boombs cause headlines; her misfortunate adventures in the 80's in Japan wer explained with her boobs being too big for Japanese market. Ok.... Or was it the song ? Anyways, Carola apologies and says she thinks the dress is stylish and elegant (even her friends said so) and she's a mature woman in her 40s, not a 16-year-old girl and looks like one. The Swedish Oscars, Guldbagge awards were given out last night. Carola was there as a guest star to sing Barbra Streisand's The way we were when honoring the movie stars who passed away during 2012. However, the cameras were too much on Carola, not on the stars showed in photos in the background and that upset many viewers as that part of the show was to celebrate them, not Carola. Oh well... The producer of the show tells in Aftonbladet the part of the show was made the sam...

GREECE: HELENA PAPARIZOU HITS AGAIN WITH HAIDE

Eurovision song contest 2005 winner Helena Paparizou has been enjoying Top-5 hits every year since 2003 with the exception of 2010 and 2014, this latest one being already her 27th! And Haide is charting also in Bulgaria and Finland, of all places. The catchiness of her hits has changed less over the years than her face.... Here's the English version , below the Greek version.

Russia recycles the video

Here is the video for Alexey's previous hit Бам Бам! and here is the video for his Eurovision 2011 entry Get you as Alex Sparrow as he likes to be called now abraod. Looks like he potreys the new rich Russia well.... The only problem is that he can't play the bad part convincingly not even a second. And did I say the song is crap? And of course as he is a Russian star he must have nude fotos of him flotaing around internet trying to be sexy and he fails there, too, big time. If you are not bad nor sexy you shouldn't push it. Maybe he should stick to singing jolly little numbers like the Kalinka rip off instead....

UK: Naked Blue

The boys of Blue have posed nude again. This time for the Attitude magazine's annual Naked issue and they are also in the cover. Watch the video of the shooting here . Band member Duncan, who is bi-sexual, recently told The Daily Star : “We are getting our kit off for Attitude magazine like the McFly boys did. I’m up for showing everything off. I’m happy enough about the size of my manhood. ” Extra media attention won't hurt their changes in Germany to win it for the UK for the first time since 1997... They will and they can!

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...

Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

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