Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

  I got to know about Milva thanks to Franco Battiato and she joined as my favorites next to Alice and Giuni Russo thanks to two albums he wrote and produced to her in the 80's (and he would do a third one in 2010) Natural step was to discover her better and her career in German and French as well. She has released 173 albums singing in various languages (studio/live/compilations) but is retired  since 2012 because of poor health. Milva holds the record of participations in Sanremo (with Peppino Di Capri and Toto Cutugno): 15 times between 1961 and 2007 with one 2nd place (1962) and four 3rd places (1961, 1968, 1969, 1973) and further six top-10 placements. One of the last true Divas. In a good sense.  Check out also

  Unlike most Stock, Aitken and Waterman artists Rick wasn't thrown into studio and easy hits made right away and he worked in the studio learning the business and overcame his shyness, while he waited his moment to shine. It came with a single that hit #1 in 25 countries and pretty much saved the company that was starting to fall apart a bit. Three hit albums later they parted the ways, Rick's career pretty much flopped and he retired for many years. He made his second comeback in 2016 with a #1 album in the UK.  I had no idea. I'm stuck in the 80's with him. Everyone of us sounds great though! Check out also

Albania's Festivali i Këngës reaches its 58th edition this December and the dates have been set to 19 and 20 for the semi-finals and after one night break the grand final on 22nd. Among the participants again familiar names from Olta Boka (ESC 2008) to already ever present Bojken Lako and Kamela Islamaj and Era Rusi. Local megastar Elvana Gjata appears on the list as well as Arilena Ara who has already enjoyed some international success.  Wendi Mancaku – Ende (Endrit Mumajesi/Wendy Mancaku) Valon Shehu – Kutia e Pandorës   FINALIST (Elvis Preni/Eugent Bushpepa) Tiri Gjoci – Me gotën bosh   FINALIST (Pandi Laço/Everest Ndreca) Sara Bajraktari – Ajër   FINALIST (Adrian Hila) Robert Berisha – Ajo nuk është unë   FINALIST (Filloreta Raçi) Renis Gjoka – Loja (Ilir Krasniqi/Renis Gjoka) Olta Boka – Shkrime në mur   FINALIST (Genc Salihu/Florent Boshnjaku) Nadia & Genc Tukiçi – Ju flet Tirana (Agim Xheka/Genc Tukiçi) Kastro Zizo (a...

Everyone knows Paula today as the American Idol judge, but she's been judging X Factor, So you think you can dance and many others. Her career however started when she was discovered by The Jacksons when she was cheerleading the Lakers. Soon she was choreographing their video and tour, and later Janet Jackson's Nasty and Control , did choreographies for movies and shows and then someone asked: Can she sing? The rest is history. Three hit albums in late 80's-mid 90's and a string of hits followed with six US #1's in a row with wins MTV Music awards and others. I was a fan. Extra points for taking Ofra Haza along to My love is for real .  Check out also:

The tenth season of Vain elämää has come to an end what comes to the artist days, a few more episodes will air again with re-runs of the songs only and also a two episode Christmas specials. Maija Vilkkumaa had the honor to end the days, and as I am a fan of Maija these songs were mostly wellknown to me beforehand. Antti honored the Finnish national instrument kantele in his version.  Studio Maija Vilkkumaa's original Studio Maija Vilkkumaa's original Studio Maija Vilkkumaa's original Studio Maija Vilkkumaa's original

  I got to know Amedeo Minghi late 80's and discovered also his back catalogue, even if he really hit on me in the 90's, with collaboration with Mietta being the real turning point. I may have lost him in the 2010's but he has written some beautiful music over the decades, I ricordi del cuore being one of my all time favorite songs that still gives me goosebumps every time. And there's OGAE Song contest winner Vattene amore with Mietta. And a majestic hymn to his hometown, Rome.  Check out also

  Late George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley formed Wham in 1980 and hit fame with their debut album in 1983 and the second album just got bigger. By the time George was already willing to go solo and do more serious music but third album was released, including Careless whisper that was nothing but his first solo effort, in true Diana Ross and the Supremes split style. Someday we'll be together.... not. Curious fact is the song is written by the guys when they were just 17... I never cared for George's solo stuff to be honest but Wham was fun. And comes around every Christmas again.  Check out also

Slovenia has sent two rather daring entries in a row and has reached the final, so no wonder they want to explore the young and fresh pool even deeper. Here comes EMA Freš , a special selection that will add two entries to the EMA 2020 line up next to more seasoned artists. These youngsters must be under 26, and have not released more than three songs so far. The selection starts with duels on November 4 from Monday to Wednesday online, and then those three winners battle it out on Friday as that week's winners. Then those 10 winners will battle it out in the EMA Freš final and the two winners will join the EMA 2020 cast. Clear? It's Sanremo Giovani 2019 all over again! 4.11 Stella – Ne vem, če sem v redu Pia Nina  – Tukaj in zdaj 5.11  Soulution  – Bil bom s teboj Younite  – The Cure 6.11  Astrid in Avantgarden – Sing To Me Martina – Pleši Stella Vs. Younite Vs. Martina 11.11  Klarity – Diham Tilen Lotrič  – Jaz in ti 12.1...

  The Bangles were a real girl band, the played and co-wrote their songs unlike the 90's girl groups and delivered hits in a steady flow until the usual happened; Susanna Hoffs was considered the lead singer by media and the rest is history: they broke up in 1989. Ten years later they got back together after Susanna's solo career pretty much faded, but haven't bothered the charts since. They left us gems like Eternal flame anyways!

  Just like the past year's the Sanremo winner will be representing Italy in the Eurovision song contest 2020, but with a twist. If the rules have been rather loose before now it's all set with documents and signed papers. Namely, every Big participant and their record label has to sign papers if they wish to do Eurovision in the case of victory before the festival starts. Should the winner be one of those few who decides not to sign the paper, Rai will choose the represent by their own criteria.  All this will make things clearer and faster after the victory. Last year Mahmood said in the press conference the night after his victory "yes" only to withdraw his answer the day after and it took a few days to settle things and confirm it. Also in 2016 Stadio didn't answer right away and the day after said they wish runner up Francesca Michielin would take the job instead.  In Italy there's also every year the question of scheduling Eurovision gig with...

It's finally here, Conchita Wurst's second album, or rather WURST's debut album following that of self titled Conchita in 2015 including the Euroviison song contest winner Rise like phoenix , and the cover album From Vienna with love  released last year with Wiener Symphoniker. Or is this Conchita's third album? How do you count Tom's various projects and alter egos? Anyways. From the new one, already four videos have been released:

  Multi-instrumentalist Mike Oldfield became a household name in early 80's when he decided to try the pop song formula for a change (a bit like Franco Battiato in his way) and got Maggie Reilly as his vocalists. Several pop hits followed with Moonlight shadow hitting home globally. Ge's still around making music for various purposes. Maggie started her solo career in early 90's scoring a big hit with Everytime we touch . 

  Emma is back! Stronger than ever after the sudden operation  last month that caused quite a speculation of the state of her health and the cancer thread. She announces she wants music, more music, and music for the rest of her life and that she's the happiest girl in the world! Meanwhile she's beautiful in her latest single Io sono bella....

Marco Mengoni continues his success story with a new release: a double album recorded live during his recent Atlantico Tour to promote the latest album with the same title. Atlantico On Tour includes the Atlantico album with three new songs: Duemila volte, Calci e pugni and Il destino davanti , and 19 songs recorded live during the show. Check out the track list below with clicks to singles/videos released over the years.  CD 1 1. Duemila volte 2. Calci e pugni 3. Il destino davanti 4. Voglio 5. Hola (I say) feat. Tom Walker 6. Buona vita 7. Muhammad ali 8. La casa azul 9. Mille lire 10. Intro della ragione 11. La ragione del mondo 12. Amalia fado feat. vanessa da mata, selton 13. Rivoluzione 14. Everest 15. I giorni di domani 16. Atlantico 17. Hola 18. Dialogo tra due pazzi CD 2 1. Intro Atlantico 2. Muhammad Ali 3. Voglio 4. Ti ho voluto bene veramente 5. In un giorno qualunque 6. Sai che 7. Proteggiti da me 8. Mille lire 9. Onde 10. Hola 11. Mondo ...

  Holly Johnson and Paul Rutherford fronted the scandalous Frankie Goes To Hollywood, BBC banned Relax and the rest is history. The fun lasted about 3 years, two albums and seven singles. Holly Johnson later went solo, and Paul R tried to, without much of a success. But the hype was real and if you only think same band gave us both Relax and The power of love , it's quite a stunt.  Check out also

Here it is finally, eagerly waited follow up to Duncan Laurence's Eurovision song contest winner Arcade . It seems the midtempo Love don't hate it has surprised many who thought he'd release another ballad and has met with general praise. And indeed, it's a good one. The wait for the follow up has raised also a lot of talk in the Eurovision bubble why the winners take so long to release a follow up.  Duncan's five months is in line with the others, or even a bit faster than average. On the other hand it is only the second song he has released so we can talk about a real debutant. The 2018 winner Netta released her follow up Bassa sababa only in February the year after and has released a total of three singles so far. Salvador Sobral, the 2017 winner, for obvious reasons, released his follow up a year later. Mano a mano was followed by his second studio album and two more singles. After Eurovision he released a live album of his debut album based tou...

  Bryan Adams fitted nicely into my 80's pop rock taste, and those songs have become real evergreens over the decades. And Bryan is still recording and touring, even if his chart success has been limited to album charts where he still scores top placements in Canada and many other countries. Check out also

Sanremo Giovani returns to Treatro Ariston next February after one year's absence when only two tickets were given to the festival, but among the Big and the rest is history. Mahmood won it all. That won't happen again next year. Now it's back to basics and the youngsters compete among themselves and have to wait at least a year to make it among the Big, like Francesco Gabbani and Ermal Meta in recent years. Out of the names below, 20 will be selected in live auditions to perform in television in Marco Liorni's show Italia Sí . The 20 will become first 10 , then five . The five chosen ones will meet in Sanremo the two from AreaSanremo selection, and one from Sanremo Young, or the winner 15-year-old Tecla Insolia.  Among the names several familiar names from various talent shows or previous editions: Federica Abbate, and Giulia Mutti with Icaro aka Antonello Carozza. Leo Gassman, Matteo Costanzo and Nico Arezzo already have X Factor experience, while Samuel P...

  Sabrina Salerno was Italy's answer to Samantha Fox. If Samantha started with Page 3, Sabrina's way to success was various beauty contest and finally Miss Italia 1984. She didn't win but got jobs in tv and soon became a showgirl in various variety shows. Next step international pop singer,  In Italy she moved to films and theater and is there still, as well as keeping her singing career going with occasional singles. In 2010 she united forces with Samantha Fox for Call me cover.... In Finland Sabrina was very popular and even was the interval act in the 1989 Euroviisut , the national selection for Eurovision song contest. Check out also