Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Eurovision throwback! New series. I will present and comment here the contests of yesteryears picking up four songs from each year (or more). Not the ones I think are the best (now) but the songs that throwback memories when I see them in the participation list. Of course mostly they're my favorites at the time, songs that I have loved. Some have aged well, some... well, not so well. After the 1976-77 editions that I have some uncertain memories, 1978 is the contest I remember almost too well watching. I remember our old house, how it was furnished, the people I watched it with. My parents had some relatives visiting who decided to leave after the songs as it was getting late and they had to drive some 30 kms to home. I remember I was in total shock how could they leave in the middle and not wait for the winner! Well, I guess I was getting the first signs of some deeper obsession to the Eurovision at tender age of 11. Well, what do I remember? The lifts bringing the ar...

Let's continue the series and kill some time having a look at the last decade and see who were the Top-10 best scoring countries in the Eurovision song contest in the past ten years. The ways to calculate are many and here I have used the simple average placement method (and it's not all so serious). Number one is of course Sweden. Two wins, two bronzes and four additional top-7 finishes makes Sweden the most succesful Eurovision country in the 2010's, the only odd one out being the home entry in 2013 (14th). But let's see how long this will last; fandom isn't anymore equally mesmerized by Melodifestivalen and the Swedish entries, and certainly not the televoters in the recent years while the juries still back them up no matter what. This blogger has pretty much lost interest in Melodifestivalen the past few years to be honest, and think Sweden's been overrated for way too long. But times are changing, let's see how their 2020's will be. I persona...

Let's continue the series and kill some time having a look at the last decade and see who were the Top-10 best scoring countries in the Eurovision song contest in the past ten years. The ways to calculate are many and here I have used the simple average placement method (and it's not all so serious). Next up is Italy at n.o 2. Italy made a comeback to Eurovision in 2011 with a bang and a 2nd place finish. And Mahmood secured yet another 2nd place for Italy last year. Add Il Volo's 3rd place and four other Top-10s and you're left with one 16th place and one 21st place. And that 21st being the only one not linked to Sanremo but an internal selection. Five entries were Sanremo winners. one a runner up and one a Newcomers winner. Three of the entries among the most watched Youtubes ever on Eurovision platform, and also breaking Italian streaming records. Each and every artist still present and succesful, as most every one was already back then! Other countries take exa...

Let's continue the series and kill some time having a look at the last decade and see who were the Top-10 best scoring countries in the Eurovision song contest in the past ten years. The ways to calculate are many and here I have used the simple average placement method (and it's not all so serious). Next up is Russia at n.o 3. Two silvers and two bronzes with two top-10 finishes is Russia's result in the 2010's. With one withdrawel and one NQ, both thanks to Julia Samoylova, the Crimea crisis and dirty political game. A lot of booing for Russia over the years and one man to stop it: Sergey Lazarev. Twice. And then we had the grannies, too..... and way too much Kirkorov! 2011 Alexey Vorobjov - Get you - 16th ** 2012 Buranovskiye Babushki - Party for everybody - 2nd **** 2013 Dina Garipova - What if - 5th *** 2014 Tolmachevy Sisters - Shine - 7th  *** 2015 Poli Gagarina - A million voices - 2nd **** 2016 Sergey Lazarev - You are the only one ...

Let's continue the series and kill some time having a look at the last decade and see who were the Top-10 best scoring countries in the Eurovision song contest in the past ten years. The ways to calculate are many and here I have used the simple average placement method (and it's not all so serious). Next up is Ukraine at n.o 4. Ukraine, Ukraine.... so many troubles this decade. Still doing great success - when they managed to take part. Due to the crisis with Russia and financial matter they stayed home in 2015 just to come back and win it in 2016. And just like back in 2005 they did poorly at home compared to their other efforts. 2019 again the trouble with Russia caused withdrawel for Maruv (that I have included here just because it's so awesome and err,.. I needed nine songs) Unlike many I think Jamala was a worthy winner in 2016 and the only Ukrainian entry I never cared for is Be my guest really.... The Ukrainian national finals also provide a lot of drama every...

Let's continue the series and kill some time having a look at the last decade and see who were the Top-10 best scoring countries in the Eurovision song contest in the past ten years. The ways to calculate are many and here I have used the simple average placement method (and it's not all so serious). Next up is Azerbaijan at n.o 5. Azerbaijan entered with a Top-10 finish and continued the trend with five consegutive Top-5 finishes including a win before all the vote buying scandal and all that exploded. Miracuslously after that they didn't trouble the Top-10 until last year again, and had even one NQ in their table.... Fair enough. Azerbaijan has sent good entries, no doubt about that, but what annoys me personally is the lack of local work in them. In fact, only their debut entry has been written by Azeris (unless its credited by alias). I remember all Azeri entries way too well thanks to their usually very original stagings. 2011 Ell & Nikki - Running sc...

Let's continue the series and kill some time having a look at the last decade and see who were the Top-10 best scoring countries in the Eurovision song contest in the past ten years. The ways to calculate are many and here I have used the simple average placement method (and it's not all so serious). Next up is Romania at n.o 6. Romania has had a very steady finish in the contest last decade; only two top-10s but all the rest 12th-17th. Until two close non qualifications to end the decade with. And then there's of course the disqualification in 2016 for TVR for repeated non-payment of debts that made Ovidiu Anton stay home in the last minute with   Moment of silence . Moment of silence indeed that year!  Hotel FM is the one I have completely forgotten over the years.... but Romania has surely provided some unforgettable moments with Cezar, Ilinca and Alex for example 2010 Paula Seling & Ovi - Playing with fire - 3rd *** 2011 Hotel FM - Change - 17th * ...

Eurovision throwback! New series. I will present and comment here the contests of yesteryears picking up four songs from each year (or more). Not the ones I think are the best (now) but the songs that throwback memories when I see them in the participation list. Of course mostly they're my favorites at the time, songs that I have loved. Some have aged well, some... well, not so well.   Before 2020, the 1977 edition of Eurovision has been propably the most troubled one. The contest was postponed thanks to BBC's strike, the native language rule returned but only after Belgium and Germany had already chosen their songs (in English), the voting was interrupted several times due to errors, there were no postcards...  This was also the first ESC held in May. Pink was the color as besides white and black (and Marie Myriam's yellow) it seemed to be the only other color (some ugly marrow is spotted on occasion, too). BBC tried some camera effects (Monaco) and the contest ...

Let's continue the series and kill some time having a look at the last decade and see who were the Top-10 best scoring countries in the Eurovision song contest in the past ten years. The ways to calculate are many and here I have used the simple average placement method (and it's not all so serious). Next up is Norway at n.o 7. Norway has been sending a steady string of successes after a rocky start of the decade that started with a NQ and then a last place in the final.. Those who didn't qualify were fan favorites no matter what, and this blogger thinks Agnete's NQ was very much undeserved. Five top-10 finishes ending with a televoters winner in 2019  is a great result no matter how you look at it.  2011 Stella Mwangi - Haba haba - NQ (17th in semi-final) ** 2012 Tooji - Stay - 26th *** 2013 Margaret Berger - I feed you my love - 4th **** 2014 Carl Espen - Silent storm - 8th ***** 2015 Mørland & Debrah Scarlett - A monster like me - 8th ***...

Let's continue the series and kill some time having a look at the last decade and see who were the Top-10 best scoring countries in the Eurovision song contest in the past ten years. The ways to calculate are many and here I have used the simple average placement method (and it's not all so serious). Next up is Denmark at n.o 8. They have been doing constantly pretty well except two non qualification in between compensated by a win and additional three top-10 finishes in this decade. Anti Social Media is the one I hardly remember at all to be honest.... but I do remember Tim Schou's shirt all too well! And no one seems to like Soldiers of love , I do. Whereas Where I am .... not so much! 2011 A Friend in London - New tomorrow - 5th *** 2012 Soluna Samay - Shoud've known better - 23rd *** 2013 Emmelie De Forest - Only teardrops - WINNER ***** 2014 Basim - Cliché love song - 9th *** 2015 Anti Social Media - The way you are - NQ (13th in semi-final) ...

Let's continue the series and kill some time having a look at the last decade and see who were the Top-10 best scoring countries in the Eurovision song contest in the past ten years. The ways to calculate are many and here I have used the simple average placement method (and it's not all so serious). Next up is the Netherlands, that has some very mixed results before getting their act togethers. Honestly, I didn't even remember 3JS at all..... and Joan Franka's headpiece hasn't aged so well either. The Netherlands lands at 9th plave despite those flops thanks to a gold and a silver medal and three 9-11th places. 2011 3JS - Never alone - NQ (19th in semi-final) * 2012 Joan Franka - You and me - NQ (15th in semi-final) * 2013 Anouk - Birds - 9th *** 2014 The Common Linnets - Calm after the storm - 2nd ***** 2015 Trijntje Oosterhuis - Walk along - NQ (14th in semi-final) ** 2016 Douwe Bob - Slow down - 11th ***** 2017 O'G3NE - Lights ...

New series start: Let's kill some time having a look at the last decade and see who were the Top-10 best scoring countries in the Eurovision song contest in the past ten years. The ways to calculate are many and here I have used the simple average placement method (and it's not all so serious). First out Serbia! 2010 Milan Stanković - Ovo je Balkan (Ово је Балкан) - 13th *** 2011 Nina - Čaroban (Чаробан) - 14th * 2012 Željko Joksimović - Nije ljubav stvar (Није љубав ствар) - 3rd ***** 2013 Moje 3 - Ljubav je svuda (Љубав је свуда) - NQ (11th in semi-final) *** 2015 Bojana Stamenov - Beauty never lies - 10th *** 2016 Sanja Vučić ZAA - Goodbye (Shelter) - 18th **** 2017 Tijana Bogićević - In too deep - NQ (11th in semi-final) ** 2018 Sanja Ilić & Balkanika - Nova deca (Нова деца) - 19th **** 2019 Nevena Božović - Kruna (Круна) - 18th **** As a remainder, Serbia would have been represented by Hurricane (incl...

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Eurovision throwback! New series. I will present and comment here the contests of yesteryears picking up four songs from each year (or more). Not the ones I think are the best (now) but the songs that throwback memories when I see them in the participation list. Of course mostly they're my favorites at the time, songs that I have loved. Some have aged well, some... well, not so well.   Anyways, let's start from the beginning: 1976. 1976 is the first contest I have some memories of.  Nine years old me watched the snow sneaking in to living room escaping the eyes of my parents who'd rather see me in bed already. But I was there, hidden at the door eyes fixed to the tv screen and by 1977 I was hooked forever. My uncle had the tape of these songs so I listened to it every given chance when at my granny's in the summer..... The voting was a runaway race between winners Brotherhood of Man and France's Catherine Ferry leading the first half of the voting. She u...