Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

New music from old familiar Eurovision voices again. Rasmussen continues with the Viking pop as his Go beyond is pretty much the same sound as his Eurovision entry. Why change it if it works and no one else dos it?  Benjamin Ingrosso goes from success to another, like her mom in the 1980's. Behave . Why am I thinking of some early Madonna? Musically and as a person: not the best of singers nor dancers he somehow makes it work... Sevak Khanagyan keeps building his Russian career.  Океан Внутри Тебя (Ocan within you) is another typical Russian pop song he wrote himself but it could be Dima Bilan's latest.  Spanish sweethearts broke up after Eurovision and their solo efforts haven't been that convincing, but here's Alfred and his De la tierra hasta Marte .

Four more songs from Eurovision stars of the past Hovi Star released earlier this month self-written Silver spoon , The somewhat angry mid-tempo pop tune showcases a rougher side of his voice. Also Alma offers us anger in T'es pas un homme , a song born out of frustration of men molesting her and other women in metro.  Luisa Sobral has written her Dois namorados herself. Of course. Simple and acoustic love story that lasts for decades.... Polina Gagarina goes up-tempo bubble gum pop in  Меланхолия (Melancholy).  Apparently she tries to beat it with hysteria and anger judging the video....

Once again some more or less new releases from Eurovision artists A top-10 hit for Emma Marrone with Mondiale , a single off re-release of her latest  platinum selling #2 album  Essere qui . Patrick Fiori has released another single of his 2017 album Promesse , and re-unites with Jean-Jacques Goldman as songwriter for this  Les gens qu'on aime . His career continues strong already for 26 years.  Soraya Arnelas released late last summer  Yo brindo and as summer is approaching it's a nice tune to get into the right mood!  Lior Narkis has released with Itai Levi and Vivo  מסיבת רווקים /Mesibat Ravakim (Bachelor party) which is as title suggests a party song with propably not so many words of love....

My very first musical crush was Diana Ross. My very first LP I owned was also a Diana Ross album. Once I discovered her I have followed, listened and bought her music ever since going also back to her The Supremes songs - my favorite group ever - and found also Motown, a company I have felt so passionate for and the Motown sound never bores me, I could listen to it anyday, anywhere. If I hear their music in shops or bars it always lifts me. And Diana Ross was and is the Queen of Motown and a living legend. And she's 75 today. Happy birthday my one and only, true Diva! Too many songs to choose from but below are some of my favorites from the past six decades...

Mahmood's Sanremo 2019 winner and Italy's Eurovision entry Soldi has got its already third remix, this time from Vigiland . Enjoy! (The previous ones are from Benny Benassi and Denis First . 

Once again some more or less recent releases from Eurovision stars. Enjoy! Anna Rossinelli has kept her career going nicely and this Hold your head up comes from her Swiss #1 album released this January. The video has an interesting floating in the milk kind of imaginary, that Italian Dolcenera took a step further in her Piú forte .... Also Laura Rizzotto has been very active post-Eurovision and her latest is Tightrope . As usual she has written the song herself. There's also a remix Severina has been dropping hits the past two years including Halo , and finally released a new album this year. She keeps on breaking regional records on Youtube, like having 1,3M views in a day of a new video. Not bad. And no wonder. At 46 she still shows the girls who's the hottest.... Michael Schulte is another example that Eurovision won't hurt your career. He has been going strong ever sinc his top-5 finish. Back to the start is excellent catchy pop song, a bit th...

More more or less recent releases from Eurovision winners and stars. Enjoy! Fan favorite and Next Star Eurovision judge Harel Skaat has released late last year this  בחיי (Honestly), a happy little pop tune, that honestly doesn't change the world or become an evergreen but it's fun 3+ minutes, catchy and earworm so be aware! Match Portugal's biggest star (who sadly missed Eurovision at home) Diogo Piçarra and Spanish ex-Jesc runner up and The Voice winner Antonio José and a dramatic ballad A dónde vas with mixed lyrics and this is where it leads you to.  Staying in Portugal we have Salvador Sobral coming to ruin the plans in Anda Estragar-me Os planos . It's off his new album Lisboa, Paris, out March 29. Simple and kinda funny. No fast food! Jamala has been in the medias lately for all the wrong reasons but she keeps also releasing music.  Самға (Samğa) is in Kasakh language if I have understood right, which makes it even more interesting. S...

Marry me , she sung to the whole of Europe back in 2013, when she and Janne Grönroos had been together already almost ten years. The year after Janne finally took the hint and proposed to her in Maledives but it would take another three years when they finally got married late 2017. Less than two years later the marriage is sadly over. Krista comments on her social medias: We got to grow up together with Janne. He has taught me a lot and made me a better person. We have experienced a lot together, downhill and uphill. Life changes people, as well as their needs and dreams.  We have decided together to continue the journey as friends. I am really grateful that we have shared all these years together. I will appreciate and love you forever Janne.❤ We hope that we will get the peace we need to recover from our divorce. We do not comment on this further. Janne shared pretty much the same text in his social media while both shared the same aphorism: Janne has been workin...

If you are heading to Eurovision In Concert in Amsterdam on April 6th be sure to make it a day, or  a night earlier because on 5th there's the pre-party in Melkweg! Organized by OGAE NL the event features previous Eurovision winners and stars to have a great time mingling with the other fans and enjoying the music. Marga Bult aka Marcha is not only performing her Rechtop in de wind but also being the hostess of the evening. More info here Get your tickets here

Another look & listen of what Eurovision (related) artists have been releasing lately... The Balcan Queen Kaliopi released late last year  Hajde da pjevamo   asking us all to sing along in her pop rock song looking 50+ fabulous topped with her one of a kind voice.  Shiri Maimon is back with   נ שימה (Breathing) off her new album, first in seven years. It comes with a simple yet effective video. She has been busy with musicals and tv-projects the past few years, including the Next Star for Eurovision.... Latvian  Brainstorm aka  Prāta Vētra perform the main theme  Мотив (The motive) of a Russian romantic comedy Семь ужинов (Seven dinners) and even star in the film's final scene. Very nice song indeed! Vincent Gross has gone a long way since his attempt to represent Switzerland in Eurovision. Now he has teamed with German Stereoact for Nicht allein sein , a catchy fun pop song that flirts with tradition an...

After the Benny Benassi remix here comes another one by Denis First. Enjoy!

Another look & listen of what the Eurovision stars have been up to lately.... Ever lovely  ZOË has released already late last year this wonderful feelgood tune C'est la vie . Catchy and 100% ZOË, what could you ask for more? Only more of this same.... Imri has been bitten by the Latin fever it seems and has released earlier this month this summer song with mixed Hebrew and Spanish lyrics. Imrico , Ay que rico! Also released already late last year Guy Sebastian 's Before I go  that sounds like works of Symphonix with its beat and gospel choirs. The same pool Sweden is fishing this year. Great song anyways. Eurovision 2010 winner Lena is also having a minor Latin vibe in Don't lie to me , second single off from her new album out in April. Her previous single Thank you already gave glues of this new sound. 

From 16 to 54, that's the (known*) age range of this year's Eurovision song contest in Tel Aviv.  Zena from Belarus is the youngest turning 17 in September while San Marino's very own Turk Serhat will celebrate his 55th birthday in October. Malta's Michela, Belgium's Eliot and Croatia's Roko are also born in the 2000's. The oldest artists besides Serhat come from the north: Finland's Darude (43) and Sebastian Rejman (41) with Tom Hugo (39) of Norway's KEiiNO. They're also the only artists born in the 1970's (and  Serhat the only one in the 1960s). Nineteen artists were born in the 1990s - 1994 being the most common year (Ester, Luca, Nevena, Duncan, Srbuk and Sarah). Thirteen were born in the 1980's with 1989 having the most (Katerine, Oto, Lake Malawi's Albert, Paenda, Conan and Fred of KEiiNO).  One could say it's a very youthful edition. And a very masculine one, too. It's also a year of masks, crowns and und...

Last few weeks have had some Eurovision related releases outside the national final bubble from previous winners and other well placed acts. Enjoy! Dima Bilan released last year his yet another addition to his endless string of hits at home soil.  Океан (Ocean) is an atmospheric ballad and comes with a nature filled beautiful video.... Fabrizio Moro has released today video for Ho bisogno di credere (I need to believe), first offering from his new and 10th studio album Figli di nessuno , out April 12. It's a melancholic ballad with some pseudo rapping (and no trademark screaming) and video that fits nicely with the overal mood. Very good! Last year's Eurovision 3rd placed César Sampson has finally released a follow up to his Nobody but you called Stone cold . Maybe not as catchy as his entry was but this has all the same ingredients from beats to gospely choirs and César's beautiful vocals.  Eurovision winner and all around man Måns Zelmerlöw is pr...

Thomas Neuwirth, Eurovision song contest 2014 winner has been flirting with the idea of getting rid of his alter ego Conchita Wurst already for years and it seems the time has come.  A week ago he released a video Trash all the glam where he was potrayed in a latex jumpsuit like a crisalide to be born and heading to the new direction, Wurst.  And here he is now, without glamour, wigs and evening gowns as a bearded man and and not a lady, in Hit me . Wurst is reborn.

  Eurovision winner 2006 Lordi is losing another member of its winning formation. After Kita (2000-2010) and Awa (2005-2012) also Ox (2005-2019) is leaving the band after this summer's festivals. In the band's website he says there's no drama or major issues. He only has a strong urge to do something else in music and be available for new adventures. He thanks the band and the world's best fans for this 13 years long journey. Ox aka Samer El Nahhal is half Egyptian and he has studied in Los Angeles Musicians Institute. He spent part of his childhood in Libya and Irak wherefrom they fled when the war started. Kita or Sampsa Astala has been active after Lordi with his band Stala & So and they even participated in the Finnish national final back in 2010 - that got him fired from Lordi actually. He also plays in several other bands, plays drums and does backing vocals besides writing and producing songs for others. Awa aka Leena Paisa left Finland and moved to ...

The Head of delegations from the 41 participating countries are all gathered in Tel Aviv to hand over their entries for Eurovision song contest 2019 among other things, like electing members for the Reference group for the next two years - among them Italian Nicola Caligiore again - and getting information on the final plans for the stage and performances and the state of preparations and what is in store for May in general. One of the jobs to do at this point is to draw where thee host country will perform in the final and Israel got the perfect number in the midway: 14th. Thirteen entries will come before them, thirteen will follow them.  Meanwhile we will have a rather masculine contest this time. Or maybe it is the most masculine ever? Statistic nerds out there will surely look into that.  A total of 18 male soloist vs. 14 female ones. In addition in duos/trios/groups we have 3 male voices and 4 females plus two with both vocalists. So it's 21-18 (+2). But not even ...

Last but not least here comes Home by Kobi Marimi, thee Israeli home entry in Eurovision song contest 2019 in Tel Aviv. A ballad highlighting Kobi's original voice and way of singing the best of ways. This clearly isn't everyone's cup of tea but I have been lapping up Kobi's tea since the first audition and this song is taylor made for him, starting off with his trademark lament, then builts and erupts with the choir before calming down for the finish. For me this goes straight to top-5....

Armenia was the first to announce their internally chosen artist already in November 2018, but we had to wait until tonight to hear the chosen song by Srbuk. Walking out  almost became the last song to be heard but officially that goes to Israel's home entry even if it's already leaked to the www..... Walking out  is a decent song and well performed by Srbuk but not something this blogger will have high on my scoreboard propably judging first impression. However this is the third song this season mentioning the crown....

Malta has revealed its entry for Eurovision 2019 in Tel Aviv by X Factor winner Michela Pace (18) and it's called Chameleon - no, not the Ira Losco song she won with in 2016 before they changed it into some random Walk on water . Michela is good but loses this blogger once the chorus hits in - I have always found that kind of sounds irritating and this is no excption. Maybe I'm just old, I don't know. But the video is rather fab featuring all trends what comes to interior design this season: exotic flowers and parrots, palm trees and other animals. And a lot of flowers everywhere! Spot on in that department, looks like a shoot for some department store's spring/summer catalogue. And I know a thing or two about those!

John Lundvik was the big favorite and last year's third ( My turn ) became the clear winner with his joyful, engaging gospl driven Too late for love, and there's a real risk Sweden wins again in Israel. You rarely see such a joy of performing on stage. Add fabulous backing choir, great vocals and a killer song. He scored full points from the international jury (8 times 12) and also topped the televotes. Well done. John (36) was born in London and adopted to a Swedish family. He's been living in Sweden since he was six and has a past as a national level athlete before starting to write songs to others, and finally makee it as a singer last year. In Tel Aviv he will be competing against himself as he's also co-writer of the UK entry. The on stage backing vocalists of John Lundvik are two American and two Swedish women. One of the Americans, Ashley, didn't get the time off for the #Melfest final from her day job in Washington DC. So she quit and decided to move...

The love of you're the only one has turnd sour in three years and this time Sergey Lazarev presents Scream , written by Dimitris Kontopoulos and Philipp Kirkorov, with lyrics by Sarah Vaugh. Fokas Evangelinos will take of the staging. Moscow Symphony Orchestra is heavily featured in the track. What an anti-climax after all this wait.....

Last but not least, Sweden will choose its entry for Tel Aviv 2019 Eurovision in Melodifstivalen, this season's last national final. 12 songs made it to th final from four semi-finals and on second chance round. John Lundvik seems the one to beat and Jon Henrik's fat might be once again be close but not winning. Anna is after a revenge and we can't rule out Hanna & LIAMOO either just yet.  This blogger's favorites are Anna and Mohombi, and John would be fine, too. Anyone else will once again drop Sweden off my top-20 or so....  1. Jon Henrik Fjällgren - Norrsken (Goeksegh) 2. Lisa Ajax - Torn 3. Mohombi - Hello 4. Lina Hedlund - Victorious 5. Bishara - On My Own 6. Anna Bergendahl - Ashes to Ashes 7. Nano - Chasing Rivers 8. Hanna Ferm & LIAMOO - Hold You 9. Malou Prytz - I Do Me 10. John Lundvik - Too Late for Love 11. Wiktoria - Not with Me 12. Arvingarna - I Do

Benny Benassi remix. Run time 3'00

Former Yogoslav Republic of Macedonia is now North Macedonia, and they're sending to Eurovision a real veteran, internally chosen Tamara Todevska with Proud . An emotional ballad dedicated to her daughter and full of girl power. 

Today's already fourth published entry comes from Poland. Tulia was announced as the act weeks ago but now their entry has been confirmed. Pali się: (Fire of Love) is a revamp from their debut album. This is certainly brave move and different. Tulia are Tulia Biczak, Joanna Sinkiewicz, Patrycja Nowicka and Dominika Siepka. Their about one year existance has given them already a lot of success and awards.

Azerbaijan has revealed their internally chosen entry for Eurovision 2019 in Tel Aviv. It comes from the Borislav Milanov-Trey Campbell & co hit factory and indeed there's no doubt this will we another success. Truth is sung by Chingiz Mustafayev (27), a name that has been tipped as the one for weeks already.  Born in Moscow but living in Azerbaijan for over 20 years he has already represented his country in New Wave 2013, and did also The Voice of Ukraine in 2016. Since then he developed his flamenco inspired pop but now for Eurovision takes a radio pop turn. The song comes with visually stunning video that features some of this year's trends: face masks and underwater males....

Another release today: Austria's Limits by Paenda for Eurovision 2019 in Tel Aviv. This one needs some digestion.....

Ireland is today's first to announce and publish their entry: it's 25-yeae old Sarah McTernan with 22 . She came third in The Voice of Ireland in 2015, and last year tried her luck in the Sammarinese selection.

Serhat continues with shameless disco pop with his second Eurovision adventure for San Marino. Say na na na is even catchier than I didn't know in 2016. The video drops at midnight.

Like it, she said and the jurors did. Junior Eurovision star 3EHA aka Zinaida Kupriyanovich (16) has won the Belarusian national final for Tel Aviv 2019 Eurovision with Like it . ZENA - Like it 69 BLGN feat. Mirex - Champion 65 Sebastian Roos - Never getting close 62 Michael Soul - Humanize 59 Alyona Gorbachyova - Can we dream 59 KeyCi - No love lost 59 NAPOLI - Let it go 58 PROvokatsiya - Running away from the Sun 55 Aura - Čaravala 55 Eva Kogan - Run 54

Today's second internally chosen entry premiere for Tel Aviv Eurovision 2019 comes from Duncan Laurence from the Netherlands. His self-written song is called Arcade , a ballad/anthem. Now I want to see how they bring that video on stage! I suppose they can't take much lead from that..... :-)

Switzerland has published today its internally selected entry for Tel Aviv 2019 Eurovision and it's widely rumoured and speculated Luca Hänni with She got me. A nice pop tune with a little Latin flavour. Luca (24) is singer-songwriter/model. He gained popularity by winning the German Deutschland sucht den Superstar 2012. He has released four albums, all of them top-6 incl. two number ones in Switzerland, and charting also in Germany and Austria. 

Belarus is the second to last national final this season (Swedn being the last one as usual on Saturday). This time there will be only a jury vote, and in case of a tie another round of voting.... Let's see if they finally send NAPOLI, or if PROvokatsiya will make it? Alyona sounds like a standard entry for any eastern country though. This blogger kinda likes Aura, but the fan favorite is ZENA. But this is Belarus, anything can happen... Michael Soul - Humanize  ZENA - Like It Eva Kogan - Run BLGN & Mirex- Champion Sebastian Roos - Never Getting Close Alyona Gorbachova - Can We Dream PROvokatsiya - Running Away From The Sun Aura - Čaravala NAPOLI - Let It Go KeySi - No Love Lost

This is the hot week of releases and here is Spain's revamped version of La Venda by Miki and it's official music video. Not much change really, which is only good. 

Tonight was Greece's turn to present its entry for Tel Aviv 2019 Eurovision, Katerine Duska's internally selected Better love .  She's got an interesting voice and the song's certainly different from what one thinks whn thinking of Greek Eurovision entries.... Rather anthemic really. 

Tamta's video for Replay featured on Youtube tonight at 8pm. We already hard from the leaked demo and teaser snippet it sounds very much like last year's runner up Fuego . And indeed it does, like a love child of Fuego and this year's withdrawn Siren song from Ukraine what comes to the sound. But Siren song was better than either of these two in my books.... It's a bit weird they go with the such a same recipe (same team and writers) and such similar song. Ok, it worked last year but it's no guarantee it will work again (except among euroboys). The risk is high it will backfire and the juries for example could ignore this totally. And Tamta doesn't seem to have "it something" Eleni and her hair did. But we will see....

Serbia's national final Beovizija 2019 was won by 24-year-old Nevana Božović with self written Kruna (Crown).  She's no stranger to Eurovision having represented her country in Junior Eurovision 2007 ( Piši mi , 3rd) and as a member of Moje 3 in the real thing in 2013 ( Ljubav je svuja , 11th in semi-final). She's also The Voice 2012 runner up. She has released a dozen singles since 2007.  1. Nevena Božović - Kruna (televotes 8+jury 12) 20 2. Dženan Lončarević - Nema suza (10+7) 17 3. Saška Janks - Da li čuješ moj glas (6+10) 16 4. Nataša & Una - Samo bez straha (12+2) 14 5. Wonder Strings & Ivana Vladović - Moja bol (5+8) 13 6. Ivan Kurtić - Bella (7+4) 11 7. Majdan - Budim te (3+5) 8 8. Lord - Radnički sin (2+6) 8 9. Sofija Perić - Aritmija (4+1) 5 10. Jana Šušteršić - Viktorija (0+3) 3 11. Aleksandra Sekulić - Tugo (1+0) 1 12. Ana Popović - Lutaš (0+0) 0

Oto Nemsadze (29) has won the Georgian ticket to Tel Aviv 2019 Eurovision with Sul tsin iare ( სულ წინ იარე) aka Go ahead. He scored over 44% of the televote in the fourway final. This was Oto's second attempt to get to Eurovision having participated two years ago in the national final with his band Limbo with Dear God (10th) He's no stranger for competing or winning though: 2010 he won Geostar/Idols, and in 2013 he was runner up in The Voice of Ukraine.  1. Oto Nemsadze - Sul tsin iare 44,13% 2. Lisa Kalandadze - Sevdisperi zgva 35,51% 3. Giorgi Nakashidz - Sul tsin iare 11,06% 4. Giorgi Pruidze - Me mjera 9,30%