Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

The reigning Eurovision winner Duncan Laurence from the Netherlands came to Helsinki's Nosturi in his European tour on November 28, 2019. The chosen venue was Nosturi amongst the ship building docks by the sea, a venue that will be sadly closed by the end of the year and torn down. The day was also one of the darkest and rainiest possible so outside the atmosphere was all but joyous. Also, going there knowing only the two singles he had released so far the expectations weren't very high to be honest. Paul Elias of UMK's Satin Circus fame (runner up to PKN) was the warm up artist and his gig didn't really go well from broken guitars to missing vocals..... Also, the venue was barely half full, among them many local Dutch obviously.... I had also read some reviews in search for information on set list etc and one reviewers note stuck in mind "he hardly took any eye contact and it seemed like there was a invisible wall between him and the public" I wasn't s...

Cyprus has internally chosen 23-year-old Sandro Nicolas (or Alessandro Rütten). His father is American, mother Greek and he grew up in Germany. Link to Cyprus? None, except the Greek language he's fluent with. He has previously done Supertalent in Germany without success, the Voice of Germany reaching semi-finals, and represented USA in the New Wave festival in Sochi (the festival that used to be always in Jurmala, Latvia) finishing 6th. Sandro follows the international non Cypriot trend the island is having in Eurovision lately as he follows Georgian-Greek Tamta, Albanian-Greek Eleni Foureira and Armenian-Cypriot Hovig. Eurovision veteran Linnea Deb of melodifestivalen and Finland's Monsters fame has been spotted in studio with him and several posible song titles have been circulating in the fan media but time will tell if he tries to copycat Eleni Foureira and Luca Hänni with mucho calor, or something else....

Yle has today announced they have received 426 songs and a jury of ten persons has cut the songs down to six for the March 7 final in Tampere's Mediapolis studios. The artists and songs will be revealed Janaury 21 in a live stream on Yle Areena. "The music industry's response to the return to open competition was really positive. The participating songs featured with some of Finland's best songwriters, composers and producers. The finalist songs were selected by a jury of ten, featuring music experts from inside and outside of YLE. The final level is really high and the songs are versatile in terms of both style and artist. I hope that as many Finns as possible find an artist and song that they think  is perfect for representing Finland in Eurovision", says Tapio Hakanen, Head of Music at YleX and head of UMK's expert jury. Now we can only wait and see if any of those who didn't make it come forward with their entries in Youtube and social medias......

When people take inspiration for the past and respect it in their creative work they get nothing but respect from me, too. I mean inspiration, not copying but still clearly linking it to the previous ones as the Dutch team has made with the Eurovision song contest 2020 theme logo. It fits with the old ones they have created in the past yet looking fresh and new and somehow also very Dutch. It's also good to have the flags in the spotlight again. My only regret is it doesn't feature all the flags that have taken part in the past 65 years but only those taking part in 2020. It's understandable but..... it would have been great to have the whole timeline with the flags and when they participated. 

Sweden has revealed its cards for Eurovision 2020. Among the Melodifestivalen acts five previous winners (Anna Bergendahl, Robin Bengtson, Nanne Grönvall aka One More Time and last year's backing group The Mamas and Victor Crone who sung for Estonia). Six acts from last year return, there are two runner ups looking for a revenge, nine debutants (as soloist at least) and among the songwriters the usual ones but also Paul Rey writing for Ellen, and Nanne writing for Jakob. Frida is back for the 4th time but the first as solo. As does Victor actually. And Hanna. And Anis. And Albin. Both Amanda and Faith come from P4 Nästa competition where the winner (Amanda) got a ticket to Mello. Somehow Faith got in as well. Paul Rey is actually Pauli Jokela, a very Finnish name. His dad is a Finn, mom a Chilean. Linda B is back for the 7th time, Sonja and Mendez for the fourth.  Semi-final One - Linköping, February 1, 2020 Malou Prytz - Ballerina *** 2ND CHANCE (Thomas G:son, Peter...

  Singer-songwriter Victoria Georgieva (22) was announced today as Bulgaria's internally selected artist for the Eurovision song contest 2020 in Rotterdam. Bulgaria returns to the contest after placing 4th and 2nd and then flopping somewhat with an international operhyped supergroup before skipping out last year. Now they put their hopes on a fresh local talent again, Victoria made herself known in the X Factor 2015/16 even if she only placed 6th and is set to release her debut album next spring. Bulgaria's Eurovision adventure is apparently aimed more to make her promotion rather than winning it, making the whole affair a bit more humble and likable than their last effort to be honest.  Victoria's entry is expected to be released in March 2020.

 

Israel kicked off its search for the next Eurovision star to represent the nation in Rotterdam 2020 Eurovision with HaKokhav Haba. The artists are once again judged by the five jurors and the audience. In the first round they either qualify for the bootcamp or be eliminated.  You can watch the performances here  Below is the charft of their performances with % of the first round and after that the result of the eventual bootcamp (directly to top 20 or second chance and thereafter top 20 or eliminated) Episode 1 (November 20) Orr Amrami-Brokman (97%) FINAL TOP 20 Ella-Li Lahav (96%) FINAL TOP 20 Ravid Kaner (93%) FINAL TOP 20 Ohad Shragai (88%) -> 2nd chance -> FINAL TOP 20 Daniel Ben  Efrayim (72%) eliminated Ilor Bar (67%) Noa Maman (60%) Episode 2 (November 23)   Lali Kolishkin (92%) FINAL TOP 20 Eden Alene (88%) FINAL TOP 20 Yanai Ben Hamo (88%) eliminated Dana Lapidot (88%) FINAL TOP 20 Avihu Pinhosov's Rhyt...

 

 

  Estonia has revealed the other 12 ones for the Eesti laul 2020 semi-finals. If the first 12 names featured several familiar names among songwriters and artists these other 12 seem less familiar, except for Synne Valtri, INGER  and Jennifer Cohen The songs will be published November 30, and the semi-finals will take place February 13 and 15 before the grand final on 29th.  I'm Sorry. I Messed Up - Uudo Sepp  (Andrei Zevakin)  Georgia (On My Mind) - Egert Milder  (Kaspar Kalluste, Matteo Capreoli, Egert Milder) Heart Winder - German & Violina  (Timo Vendt, Ebbe Ravn, Carine-Jessica Kostla, Liis-Marii Vendt) Hingelind - Janet  (Marek Rosenberg, Lauri Lembinen, Kadri Lepik, Janet Vavilov)      Kapa Kohi-LA - Viinerid  (Peter Põder, Hardo Hansar, Martti Kask)    Kirjutan romaani - Revals  (Jaanus Saago)          Majakad - Synne Valtri feat...

  Estonia has revealed today half of the Eesti laul 2020 participants and among them we find this blogger's soft spot Laura with STEFAN, Uku Suviste, Traffic and Rasmus among others and also the writers include several very familiar names from Uku and Sarag Vaugh, Tanja Mihhailova-Saar, Victor Crone with Stig Rästa. Not forgetting Finnish Janne Hyöty who has co-written Laura's song. He holds the record number of Euroviisut entries written - shared  with Lasse Mårtensson - (14) in the Finnish national final between 2004-2012. These days he writes songs mainly for the Asian market through his Sugar House Publishing having several Japan #1s under his belt with various groups.  Beautiful Lie - Jaagup Tuisk  (Jaagup Tuisk) Break Me - Laura  (Janne Hyöty, Jessica Hyöty, Laura Põldvere) By My Side - STEFAN  (Karl-Ander Reismann, Stefan Airapetjan) Lean On Me - Ziggy Wild  (Laura Prits, Valdur Viiklepp, Sander Nõmmistu, Henri-Hann...

Amadeus has found a way to bring previous hosts to Sanremo Giovani - as the professional jury. Among them legendary talent scout Pippo Baudo who has discovered more new talent than anyone in Italy during the 20 festivals he has hosted and acted as the artistic director.  He has discovered among others Al Bano, Eros Ramazzotti, Lorella Cuccarini, Laura Pausini, Andrea Bocelli, Giorgia, Michelle Hunziker, Gianluca Grignani, Gigi D'Alessio and Anna Tatangelo and therefor there's a saying  "L'ho inventato io...." (I have invented him/her!) that refers to his talent. He gets company from Carlo Conti who also did a great job with his 3 consecutive festivals, Paolo Bonolis who would like to make Sanremo more Eurovisionlike and bring it out of tiny Teatro Ariston, Piero Chiambretti and Antonella Clerici, the godmother of Il Volo. So these five will decide who will get the tickets to the festival next February on December 19 in a show hosted by ever youthful Marco ...

Like last year 41 countries will take part in the Eurovision song contest 2020 in Rotterdam. Sadly Hungary and Montenegro have withdrawn but luckily Ukraine and Bulgaria return after one year's absense. Ukraine thanks to the Maruvgate. She won the national final (and would have swept the floor in Tel Aviv with her Siren song ) but refused to sign the contract and conditions to take part in Eurovision by the Ukrainian television. After her refusal the other runner ups did the same and the rest is history. She just won the MTV Europe Music award as the best Russian act.... Bulgaria withdraw due financial problems officially but I suppose there were some sour grapes after totally anonymous international "supergroup" failed to score better than 14th after Bulgaria's 4th and 2nd place. How about sending something autentic with a bit of a soul and feeling, not only great singers this time? This blogger is very sad to see Hungary go. One can only wonder the real reas...

Georgian Idol is used once again to choose the entrant for the Eurovision song contest for Georgia. And once again the finalists include some seasoned talent show veterans with talent and X factor: Tornike is X Factor 2014 winner and also tried the national final already in 2017. Anri is another X Factor winner, season 2018. Barbara won Got talent in 2015. The elimination shows start this Saturday, November 16. Once we have the winning singer, the Idol team will search for the suitable song for him/her/them.  Merab Amzoevi / მერაბ ამზოევი Mariam Gogiberidze / მარიამ გოგიბერიძე Anri Guchmanidze / ანრი გუჩმანიძე Tamar Kakalashvili / თამარ კაკალაშვილი Nika Kalandadze / ნიკა კალანდაძე David Rusadze / დავით რუსაძე Barbara Samkharadze / ბარბარა სამხარაძე Mariam Shengelia / მარიამ შენგელია Lisa Shengelia / ლიზა შენგელია Tornike Kipiani / თორნიკე ყიფიანი Week one: Tamar Kakalashvili 16,53% Tornike Kipiani 14,5% Barbara Smakharadze 12,91% David Risadze ...

Incredible but true, Mietta is turning 50 today, Auguri! The Southern Italian beauty mainly known as a singer but also an actress and a writer has been keeping low profile since 2010 when she gave birth to her son but made a comeback with summer hit  Milano è dove mi sono persa , and is ready to relaunch her singing career full time and who knows, maybe we will see her again in Sanremo, too? I have been a fan since her Sanremo debut 1988 with Sogno . The year after she was back and won the Newcomers with Canzoni , and the year later scored massive evergreen with Vattene amore together with Amedeo Minghi (also OGAE Song contest winner). She has returned five times to Sanremo since, last time so far 2008 with Baciami adesso . She won Vota la Voce three years in a row 1989-1991 as the female artist of the year. In 1990's she also started acting in both films and television and has continued to do so ever since. In 2000's she has participated in various reality shows an...

  Francesco Gabbani hasn't done the usual, or releasing his new song via the usual streaming platforms and digital stores but via Whatsapp directly to the fans who then were asked to spread the word, or the song. The song #Duemiladiciannove comes with a video featuring likes of The Pope and Greta Thunberg, prime minister Conte and Leonardo Di Caprio among others miming the song that is a kind of a round up of this #2019 . Enjoy and spread the video!