Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Yle organized among its other consolation Eurovision 2020 programming also a voting to find out the most loved Finnish entries of each decade (here). The clear winner was Something better and saara Aalto finished where she usually lands to: second. 2014 Softengine - Something better  29,3% 2018 Saara Aalto - Monsters  19,3% 2017 Norma John - Blackbird  12,5% 2013 Krista Siegfrids - Marry me   12,3% 2011 Paradise Oskar - Da da dam   10,5% 2015 Pertti Kurikan Nimipäivät - Aina mun pitää   5,7% 2010 Kuunkuiskaajat - Työlki ellää  4,8% 2019 Darude feat. Sebastian Rejman - Look away   2,1% 2012 Pernilla Karlsson - När jag blundar  2,1% 2016 Sandhja - Sing it away  1,3%

Yle organized among its other consolation Eurovision 2020 programming also a voting to find out the most loved Finnish entries of each decade ( here ). And this is no surprise: Hard rock hallelujah!   When eveything else has been tried go over the top and just risk it full time. It paid off. The hell froze over and liberated Finns from the decades long trauma of "Finland zero points" and for a year or so everyone was an Eurovision and Lordi fan. Well, it didn't last long...... Once again Finns had to sit home thanks to poor results in 2001 and 2003 before that insanity was changed. Or rather semi-final introduced. 2006 Lordi - Hard rock hallelujah  63,3% 2002 Laura Voutilainen - Addicted to you  10,7% 2007 Hanna Pakarinen - Leave me alone  8,6% 2008 Teräsbetoni - Missä miehet ratsastaa   6,5% 2009 Waldo's People - Lose control  5.6% 2004 Jari Sillanpää - Takes 2 to tango   3,7% 2005 Geir Rönning - Why? 1,0% 2000 Nina Åstro...

Yle organized among its other consolation Eurovision 2020 programming also a voting to find out the most loved Finnish entries of each decade ( here ). And there was no dount Kätkä sisters took home the victory. Bye bye baby has become an evergreen, a classic and a song everyone knows still. Despite the very disappointing 22nd place (Finland was in top-5 in the betting odds on the eve of the final) Finns didn't put the girls down but treated them as heroes and in the summer 1994 Bye bye baby was playing everywhere. The way it should be! Otherwise the 1990s were the sad sad decade for Finnish Eurovision, being made to stay home by the rules in 1995, 1997 and 1999.  1994 Cat Cat - Bye bye baby  55,3% 1991 Kaija Kärkinen - Hullu yö  17,5% 1993 Katri Helena - Tule luo  12,8% 1998 Edea - Aava  6,1% 1992 Pave Maijanen - Yamma yamma   3,8% 1994 Jasmine - Niin kaunis on taivas  2,4% 1990 Beat - Fri? 2,2%

Yle organized among its other consolation Eurovision 2020 programming also a voting to find out the most loved Finnish entries of each decade ( here ). The 1980s were certainly a real rollercoaster giving us some of the best and some of the worst entries ever. Sata salamaa took a clear win, no doubt helped by Antti Tuisku's recent cover that brought the song to new generations.  1987 Virve Rosti - Sata salamaa  34,8% 1989 Anneli Saaristo - La dolce vita  19,6% 1985 Sonja Lumme - Eläköön elämä 16,9% 1984 Kirka - Hengaillaan  12,1% 1983 Ami Aspelund - Fantasiaa   5,7% 1981 Riki Sorsa - Reggae OK  3,3% 1980 Vesa-Matti Loiri - Huilumies  2,7% 1986 Kari Kuivalainen - Päivä kahden ihmisen 2,3% 1982 Kojo - Nuku pommiin  1,9% 1988 Boulevard - Nauravat silmät muistetaan   0,6%

Yle organized among its other consolation Eurovision 2020 programming also a voting to find out the most loved Finnish entries of each decade ( here ). Two ladies battled it out with Katri Helena taking the crown ahead of legendary ode to the Lapland exotism in 1970s.  1979 Katri Helena - Katson sineen taivaan 29,8% 1977 Monica Aspelund - Lapponia 21,3% 1973 Marion Rung - Tom tom tom  16,0% 1975 Pihasoittajat - Viulu-ukko  14,6% 1976 Fredi & Friends - Pump pump  8,6% 1974 Carita Holmström - Älä mene pois 3,3% 1972 Päivi Paunu & Kim Floor - Muistathan  2,2% 1971 Markku Aro & Koivistolaiset - Tie uuteen päivään   2,1% 1978 Seija Simola - Anna rakkaudelle tilaisuus  2,1%

Yle organized among its other consolation Eurovision 2020 programming also a voting to find out the most loved Finnish entries of each decade ( here ). The 16-year-old Marion Rung's chirpy ode to the spring has become a classic and no wonder takes the 1960's trophy easily.  1962 Marion Rung - Tipi-tii 34,6% 1961 Laila Kinnunen - Valoa ikkunassa  14.7% 1966 Ann-Christine - Playboy 11,2% 1964 Lasse Mårtensson - Laiskotellen   10,8% 1967 Fredi - Varjoon - suojaan  8,8% 1969 Jarkko ja Laura - Kuin silloin ennen   7,2% 1968 Kristina Hautala - Kun kello käy  6,5% 1965 Viktor Klimenko - Aurinko laskee länteen   5,2% 1963 Laila Halme - Muistojeni laulu   1,1%

The missed Hungarian entry 2020

Lo vedi amico arriva un'altra estate e ormai chi ci credeva più che è stato duro l'inferno ma non scaldava l'inverno hai pianto troppo questa primavera See my friend, another summer arrives and who believed in it anymore it's been a hell and winter didn't warm us you have cried too much this spring time If Diodato's Fai rumore seemed to be perfect for the Corona virus pandemia by accident, now he has written another fitting anthem. Un'altra estate has been written during the lockdown when he like everybody else was locked in at home and just watched the life outside his window in Milan changing from winter to spring and his imagination making tricks on him, like all of sudden smelling the sea and dreaming of going to the beach. The song was recorded during phace 2 in distance with the musicians.  The song's available in his re-release of Che vita meravigliosa from May 22, 2020. 

In the end of Europe shine a light consolation show from Hilversum for the cancelled Eurovision song contest 2020 in Rotterdam it was announced that it will be Rotterdam 2021. In one way or another they will make it happen and there will be a winner. It also looks the Open up slogan will remain as well. To be honest, tonight's show was more of a memorial service than a celebration - where were the smiles, the jokes, the FUN?!? By no means I'm not saying this wasn't better than nothing and the 2020 artists got at least a little airtime but.... I expected some true entertainment, good vibes and celebration and all I got was seriousness, everybody talking about corona, only acoustic ballads..... Not my idea of celebration! This said the final number with all the artists was great, not to mention Diodato singing alone in empty Arena di Verona, that broke me. Going back to 2021 and making it happen one way or another. How ironic it would be if next year we still are in...

Reigning Eurovision champion Duncan Laurence should have given away his crown tonight but.... you know. Here comes anyways his EP including the latest single Someone else , that he would have performed in Rotterdam arena in the Eurovision song contest 2020. Instead tonight he will perform it in Hilversu,m tv-studios for Europe shine a light ...... (Still don't get it why EBU decided to cancel instead looking for an alternative in form on videos or something though....) This is his third single following Eurovision winner Arcade and Love don't hate it released last October. His EP Worlds on fire include also Beautiful and Yet . A full album is expected to be released later this year...

    So, here they are all together but let's have a look how I voted and felt that moment I did the ranking, if there are some adjustments to do. I gave a total of four 10s: Italy, Norway, Lithuania and Croatia and five 9s: Israel, Ukraine, Australia, United Kingdom and France The first semi-final is clearly better in my ranking and in fact and in fact 5-6 first semi entries drop out to make way to three second semi ones, if I take only the top-10 from each semi-final to the final... Poor Azerbaijan, North Macedonia, Malta, Belgium, Sweden and Ireland and lucky Portugal, Austria and Armenia who would qualify over them. But then again, there would have been changes during this week based on rehearsals and the live shows, last night's Youtube celebration already made me do some adjustments.... Check out the individual reviews below and the full ranking after the jump Finland Ukraine, Lithuania, Russia, Iceland Netherlands, Denmark, Ireland, Georgia S...

  Finland - Aksel - Looking back Finland.... the fandom has paid little attention to this winner as their favorite Cicciolina didn't win. I admit I fell to that trap myself at first. But this is a fine song, well sung and beautiful. Actually a few weeks ago it was playing on radio and I was only half listening until I noticed myself stopping and wondering what is this song, this is good and it took me awhile to realize it's our Eurovision entry. I have a sneaky feeling the juries would have liked this and Finland for once could have been a shock qualifier. The staging in UMK was fitting and simple yet beautiful, and this was more or less how it would've been in Rotterdam. I give a very strong 8/10 YLE is planninh a new UMK2021 as usual and there's no guaranteed place for Aksel in it but "he is welcome to send a song". And indeed after initial hesitation it looks like he's about to......

Ukraine - Go-A - Solovey I kinda liked this when it was selected but didn't pay much attention to it other than the sharp faced lady and the fact the song sits nicely into Finno-Ugric heritage in style. Fast forward now and I love it more and more. Now it gets a nine but I have a feeling this could have blossomed on stage in Rotterdam into a full 10. But for now 9/10 Lithuania - The Roop - On fire I liked The Roop the first time they tried to get into Eurovision and this time even more. There's nothing I don't like in this one. It may look like a joke entry but it's not; there's melody, there's hook, there are excellent vocals and I love his voice. The choreography adds to the whole package and this might have been heading to Lithuania's best placing ever, if not the first win. And it comes with an important message that I for once can relate.   10/10 Russia - Little Big - Uno Talking about joke entry... well, this is not one eithe...

The Netherlands - Jeangu Macrooy - Grow The host country often has the pressure off and can send something more demanding, like the Dutch this time. Certainly not an easy, catchy song but full of emotion with a good arrangement and a fine vocalist who does what he always does without trying to fit into the ESC model. Except for the lenght and I feel this song just gets going when it reaches the 3 minutes and therefor only.... 7/10 Denmark - Ben & Tan - Yes I get what they are after here, but this really isn't my cup of tea. It's shouty and noisy. Certainly would have worked wonders in an arena full of people, it's catchy and all that but ... No, I find this a bit irritating. Certainly not in my playlist.  4/10 Ireland - Lesley Roy - Story of my life Maybe I'm wrong with my ranking, but I haven't really gotten onboard with this one. I like her and she's proven to be a fantastic Eurovision ambassador in this pre-contest period so I really ...

Switzerland - Gjon's Tears - Répondez-moi One of those songs I think I should like more but in the end, no I don't. A big plus for bringing something in French instead of English, and something original and different that isn't manufactured to fit the Eurovision formula  written in some random international songwriting camp (even if apparently it is....). Original, haunting, beautiful ... but for me there's something missing to make it a standout song and a winner like it was in the various  betting odds pre-cancellation. On the other hand the first hearing felt a lot better than it is after a few hearings and people who vote... Well, we will never know!   8/10 Belarus - VAL - Da vidna The national final performance in the preview video isn't the best I have seen. There's something about them and their song that I really like,and this plays often in my headradio. This could have been a surprise success in Rotterdam, maybe. I mean a finalist and ...

Moldova - Natalia Gordienko - Prison One of those songs that are just "nice" in every way: melody, idea, vocals... but being so anonymous it leaves you nothing and even after several hearings you really don't remember a thing about. Except the overproduced over the top beats and arrangements. 3/10 Slovenia - Ana Soklič - Voda This is the complete opposite of Moldova. I liked it from the first hearing but then it has just grown and become better! Ana has proved the past months she's one of the best, if not the best, vocalist this year. The song is beautiful and she sings it with style and gusto. And for once the new version is better than the original mix. Could have been maybe a surprise success in Rotterdam, who knows? 8/10 Poland - Alicja - Empires This song's a problem for me. I'd like to like it a lot more than I do in the end. Alicja does a great job for her age, the song is melodic and boombastic without becoming a cliché. But someh...

Czech Republic - Benny Cristo - Kemama What can I say? There are elements I like, but in the end it's a mess. It's also so anonymous it could be from anywhere, anytime. I kinda like it for a while when it plays but besides that it's completely forgettable. This said I would have been interest to see how they would have staged this because I have a feeling this might have worked live in a big arena with audience participating. But would people have taken the effort to vote? Probably not. 4/10 Austria - Vincent Bueno - Alive Shackle bolts! Now that's something you don't hear every year in Eurovision. This is like Czech entry, I kinda like it when it's playing but have hard time remembering otherwise. Vincent does his best Timberlake/Jackson moves and grooves but it really isn't that original or captivating, is it? 5/10 United Kingdom - James Newman - My last breath The best UK entry for a long, long time! I really like his voice and I hope...

San Marino - Senhit - Freaky! Not exactly a song I play in repeat but everytime I hear it it makes me happy and jamming along. Senhit is so full of positive energy and sells this so well. All was looking good for San Marino to reach the final for the third time most likely. I'm between 7 and 8 but as it is my second adopted home country I give 8/10 Italy - Diodato - Fai rumore I fell in love with this song during Sanremo, and in the end after hearing all the Eurovision entries in a long run it has climbed back to the top. Excellent song with a proper melody, sung in a good old fashioned way belting it out from the heart in a proper manner when due. No gimmicks, no today's trendy arrangements or production but a timeless classic. The pandemic has given this song another dimension. I want to think Italy would have won in Rotterdam if only.... 10/10 Albania - Arlena Ara - Fall from the sky As usual Albania revambed their song and translated it into Engli...

Italian Rec Cross and Amazon have united forces with over 50 artists to create a charity song Ma il cielo é sempre piú blu, a cover of Rino Gaetano's classic. The idea comes from music journalist Franco Zanetti and producers Takaki & Ketra with Dardust took care of the rest while artists rushed to join in from their homes. Among them Eurovision stars Emma, Francesco Gabbani, Il Volo, Ermal Meta, Gianni Morandi, Fabrizio Moro, Raf, Umberto Tozzi and Diodato . Full list below: Alessandra Amoroso, Annalisa, Arisa, Baby K, Claudio Baglioni, Benji & Fede, Loredana Bertè, Boomdabash, Carl Brave, Michele Bravi, Bugo, Luca Carboni, Simone Cristicchi, Gigi D'Alessio, Cristina D'Avena, Fred De Palma, Diodato, Dolcenera, Elodie, Emma, Fedez, Giusy Ferreri, Fabri Fibra, Fiorello, Francesco Gabbani, Irene Grandi, Il Volo, Izi, Paolo Jannacci, J-Ax, Emis Killa, Levante, Lo Stato Sociale, Fiorella Mannoia, Marracash, Marco Masini, Ermal Meta, Gianni Morandi, Fabrizio ...

Portugal - Elisa - Medo de sentir When the Portuguese songs were out this was instantly one of my favourites in its studio version. Live it somehow falls flat, don't know why. I want to like this a lot more than I actually do. Always a plus for the language. But... I don't know quite what to say. I am always pleased when this plays on Spotify playlist but otherwise I hardly remember it.... Sadly only 5/10 Cyprus - Sandro - Running Another song that goes nowhere. The first 45 second are kinda interesting and the last 30 seconds but all that in between feels very long and repetitive. Sandro can't save the song that's not there. Simply not effective and interesting enough, back to studio and come up with better ideas to fix the whole thing... ah, too late now. 4/10 Malta - Destiny - All of my love Destiny is the big fan favorite person. But why they have made her look twice (or more) her age like if she was some big soul diva? She's still a teena...