Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Germany 12 points is quite a demanding title for the German national final show. They haven't gotten that many points as a total in 2021, 2017, 2016, 2015... And they have placed 25th, 25th, 4th, 25th, 26th and 27th in the past six editions. This year out of 944 submissions these six were picked up by a jury after an audition with 25 entries. Hooray to them as it really takes talent to get this kind of group of songs together.... Felicia Lu, Malik Harris or Emily Roberts should win, but none of them will most likely do any better than the previous German entries. Germany 25th again should be the name I guess.  Malik Harris - Rockstar ** I'm glad I had a quick listen of the songs already before so now I know this is one of the best ones, if not the best one of this lot. I don't know why I am thinking Eminem as this is all but, but..... I kinda like his voice. Maël & Jonas - I swear to God * Somehow the same mood continues here as  Malik. But this is more of the uninteres...

  This week among the new tunes from Finland also Vesala's coming summer hit Uu mama she premiered at UMK2022 final with quite a staging  and a hommage to Katri Helena's old school Euroviisut selections :-) ANI / Nelli Matula - Vegasissa naimisiin Vesala - Uu mama Jussu Pöyhönen - Sydämessä matkustaja ILON - Dream

They came. Finally. And they won with a big margin winning both international jury vote and the televote. The Rasmus and Jezebel with fly the Finnish flag in Turin Eurovision! Here are UMK 2022 results: 1. The Rasmus - Jezebel (jury 68 + televote 242) 310 2. Cyam Kicks - Hurricane (52 + 169) 221 3. BESS - Ram pam pam (56 + 148) 204 4. Olivera - Thank God I*m an atheist (46 + 121) 167 5. Isaac Sene - Kuuma jäbä (28 + 99) 127 6. Younghearted - Sun numero (40 + 51) 91 7. Tommi Läntinen - Elämä kantaa mua (4 + 52) 56

Pre-contest favorite Sheldon Riley with his Not the same has won the Australian national final for Eurovision song contest 2022.  Sheldon (22) is of Australian and Filipino origin. He started his career in 2016 with X Factor without much success being eliminated as soloist, then put into a boyband that was eliminated in the live performance stage. Two years later he was back trying The Voice of Australia this time, and better luck as he finished third. He has released three singles before Not the same. Other than that he is gay and has Asperger Syndrome and has been open about both. Australia decides results: 1. Sheldon Riley - Not the same (jury 50 + televote 50) 100 2. Voyager - Dreamer 37 + 60) 97 3. Jaguar Jonze - Little fires (51 + 40) 91 4. Charley - I suck at being lonely (33 + 30) 63 5. G-Nation - Bite me (11 + 45) 56 6. Paulini - We are one (32 + 20) 52 7. Andrey Lambrou - Electrify (16 + 35) 51 8. Jude York - I won't need to dream (32 + 15) 47 9. Erica Padilla - To the ...

After demands from SVT and a couple of other broadcasters, and artist like Citi Zēni from Latvia Finland's Yle comes out clear and loud: If Ebu doesn't band Russia from Eurovision 2022 Yle and therefor Finland will stay home. “Russia’s attack on Ukraine is against all the values that Yle and other European broadcasters represent. Yle always defends Western democracy, the rule of law, freedom of expression and human dignity. Yle cannot take part in an event where Russia, which has blatantly attacked these values, can use one of Europe's best-known brands to advance its own interests. I hope that the EBU will live up to its values here, ”says Ville Vilén, Director of Yle's Creative Content and Media Unit. Yle is due to select the Finnish entry for Eurovision song contest 2022 tomorrow night at Logomo in Turku.  Updates: Estonia follows and joins the boycott. And so does Ukraine, Sweden, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Lithuania, Iceland apparently. Add Poland. Ebu'...

UMK 2022 has been a success already. The international praise when the songs were released, approval by the fandom and the chart action in Finland proves it. Four out of seven songs has made the official singles chart besides making waves in streaming platforms, and each song has made the Radio play Top-100 as well. If we were to believe charts BESS would be clear winner, being at #1 for the fourth week at the moment, and also the highest entry on radio charts but is it destined to be a domestic hit only? We'll see. On top of that the UMK final in Logomo, Turku, sold out in record time. It is also a record it sold out completely unlike the previous attempts to have a national final arena style. I personally have three favorites, a couple of other that would be fine. too, so it's very hard to say how this will end and what would be the best choice, I let the live performance guide me. And there lies my biggest fear. We all remember what happened to Cicciolina on stage and how w...

  Australia is back at the Euroviison for the eight year counting the cancelled contest in 2020 and last year when they remained home and participated with a video, and failed to qualify for the first time. This is only third time Australia chooses through national final having trusted internally chosen artists and songs the first years. Quick listening these songs one spontaneously thinks maybe it was better to stick to that formula..... But let's go:  Andrew Lambrou - Electrify ** Ok, this is a sort of club anthem. Also in Spanish, which gives a nice touch. But thinking of Turin wouldn't Italian been a bit more original and useful? Sadly the song isn't going anywhere and has no beginning nor end but endless flow of the same for 3 minutes.  Charley - I suck at being lonely ** Very much in line with many songs in the national finals, especially in 2020-2021 seasons. Also this one is not going anywhere really, but could get some life to it live? On the other hand I may aga...

Ukraine has re-chosen after Alina Pash, the winner withdrawn from Eurovision due travel document scandal and backlash on social medias etc. Among other things. Long story short the runner up (and televoting winner) Kalush orchestra was asked to do the honors and after few days of thinking they have accepted.  Kalush is Ukrainian rapper Pleh Psiuk, multi instrumentalist Ihor Didenchuk (also a member of Go_A) and DJ MC Kilimmen. The band was formed in 2019. Last year Kalush became a parallel project with added multi instrumentalis members Tymofil Muzychuk and Vitali Duzhuk and added folk and traditional music to the sound, just like their Eurovision entry Stefania. Today the full results of Vidbir 2022 were also published: 1. Alina Pash - Tini zabutykh predkiv (jury 8 + televote 7) 15 , total televotes 19.535 2. Kalush orchestra - Stefania (6 + 8) 14, 31.634 3. Wellboy - Nozzy bossy (7 + 6) 13 , 5.642 4. Roxolana - Girlzzzz (3 + 5) 8 , 5.034 5. Barleben - Hear my words (4 + 3) 7 , 2....

 Emma Muscat (22) joins Mahmood & Blanco and Achille Lauro as household names for Italian viewers at Eurovision song contest 2022 in Turin as she won Malta's national selection last night with Out of sight. Emma studied music and dance, and started uploading her songs to Youtube in 2016 and two years later she was in Italy taking part in Amici di Maria de Filippi finishing fourth and getting a record deal. 2018 and 2019 she was inIsla of MTV with names like Jason Derulo, Martin Garrix, Bebe Rexha and Ava Max, dueted with Joseph Calleja and Eros Ramazzotti. Then followed her EP, Christmas songs and featuring with Italian stars like Shade and Junior Cally, followed with collaborations with Biondo, Astol and Alvaro De Luna and her first major hits.  And now she's ready to step out to the spotlight for real and represent her island in her adopted home country.  All the jurors gave her full 12 points (while all of them giving 10 to Aiden) and she clearly won also televote,...

  Achille Lauro (31) was announced the winner of Una Voce per San Marino 2022 as soon as his name was revealed by most everyone. Which puts a shadow over the everlasting casting extravaganza selection and audition credibility a bit. Doesn't it? This said, choosing him is a smart move whoever came up with the idea to invite him. He surely won't pass by unnoticed, he has a following in Italy and coming straight from Sanremo could attract this movement also in coming years. Sadly Italians can't vote him in the semi-final so he needs to survive that without that support. Having Mahmood, Blanco and Achille all in Turin will surely give media something to write about for that Eurovision period. Achille is all around artist who has recorded and performed different music styles over his career that lasts already almost ten years. But like many, only his Sanremo participation have made him a household name and opened new doors. He has been present there the past four years, three ti...

  Krystian Ochman (22), the designed winner did what he was expected and won with River his ticket to Eurovision song contest 2022 in Turin. He was rumored as internally chosen both last year and this year before TVP decided to go for a national final, so.... Why bother? Well, we did have some fun though. Ochman, citizen of both Poland and the USA as he was born in Massachusetts to a tenor father. He started his career at school musicals and studied music both in the US and Poland before entering and winning The Voice of Poland 2020. He released his debut album last year and has released already six singles off it. Like Croatian Mia he has been singing in his native language until now. Shame he decided to switch to English for Eurovision.... And of, is Unmute sign language affair? I didn't quite realize that in my reciew earlier. This said the song's still not my cup at all and not suitable for Eurovision. Nor nothing new either, Signmark already tried that in Finland and actua...

  Mia Dimšić (29) is another last Saturday's surprise winner. At least for some. The fandom was supporting other Mia. She sung last and showed she's better than the rest with Guilty pleasure . Mia started her career in 2014 when Džentlmeni band asked her to join them for their diaspora tour in Canada and USA. Soon after that went solo and has sold platinum with her country pop, collected six #1 singles and won several awards including Album of the year, Song of the year and Best vocal collaboration. Three albums to date, two of them #1s and the third one #2, and 15 Top-10 singles she's ready to make Croatia proud. Sadly in English as all her music has been Croatian so far it seems.... She won both jury and televotes. Dora 2022 results: 1. Mia  Dimšić - Guilty pleasure (jury 91 + televote 166) 257 2.  Marko Bošnjak - Moli za nas (71 + 108) 179 3.  Mia Negovetić - Forgive me (Oprosti) (81 + 60) 141 4. Bernarda - Here for love (64 + 47) 111 5.  Eric Vid...

  Subwoolfer won as expected the Norwegian Melodi Grand Prix 2022 with their Give that wolf a banana beating among others the fan favorite Elsie Bay. The identity of Subwoolfers is not known but the main suspects are Ylvis aka brothers Vegard and Bård Ylvisåker, known for their hit What does the fox say?, or Ben Adams of A1 fame (in that case he beat his ex-band member Vhristian Ingebrigtsen), and Gaute Ormåsen. Or maybe they are another brother duo Sirkus Eliassen? Magnus and Erik? Or pop group Erik & Kriss? One day we will find out. Maybe. Meanwhile we can call them Jim and Keith.  Here are the results of MGP Norway 2022: 1. Subwoolfer - Give that wolf a banana 368.106 2. NorthKid - Someone 312.223 3.-4. Sofie Fjellvang - Made of glass 3.-4. Elise Bay - Death of us Oda Gondrosen - Hammer of Thor Anna-Lisa Kumoji - Queen bees Farida - Dangerous Frode Vassel - Black flowers Christian Ingebrigtsen - Wonder of the world Maria Mohn - Fly

  LPS aka Last Pizza Slice was a surprise winner of Ema 2022 with their song Disko , to the horror of fandom who wanted and hyped another acts beforehand. This blogger is pleased, I kinda liked them from the start. They were jury's runner up and televoters winner.  The band met at school 2018-19 and after a minor change in the line up it is now Filip Vidushin - vocals, Gašper Hlupič - drums, Mark Semeja - electric guitar, Zala Velenšek - bass guitar, tenor and alto saxophone and Žiga Žvižej - electronic keyboards. They have participated in a couple of festivals before and released their debut Live from Šiška in 2021 and their debut singles this year, the other being Silence in my head . They are fresh and retro, let's see how this mix works in Turin! Ema final results:  1. LPS - Disko (jyry 43 + televote 60) 103 2. Batista Cadillac - Mim pravil (50 + 40) 90 3. BQL - Maj (19 + 50) 69 4. Luma - All in (33 + 35) 68 5. July Jones - Girls can do anything (32 + 30) 62 6. Mano...

Next Saturday it's finally Finland's turn to choose for Turin 2022 Eurovision, out of one of the strongest national final line ups this year. Out of seven I would be happy to send any of these four, or even Cyan Kicks wouldn't be bad, just after Blind Channel maybe a bit wrong timing? BESS - Ram pam pam The Rasmus - Jezebel Isaac Sene - Kuuma jäbä Olivera - Thank God I'm an atheist

The Sammarinese ambitious national selection including and welcoming the whole globe finally comes to an end tonight. The selection hasn't been saved from controversies, minor scandals, disqualifications and withdrawals - the latest came yesterday when Big artist Blind had to withdraw as he is ill. His song would have been Non mi perdo più . Shame, as this song is maybe the best I have heard so far, Can't do a review as most of the songs aren't available as yet and the emerging artists showing are just plain bad. Achille Lauro has caused the biggest stir, let's see if it's all laid down for him to win after all? The auditions for the emerging artists started in December in San Marino and out of 585 submissions and 66 showed up for the auditions. Long story short 17 made the Emerging artists final and nine of them pass to the final tonight with nine Big artists. All in all this is what we have wanted all these years, and a fun idea. However the initial selection shou...

Malta returns to national multi artist selection after experimenting with X Factor and internally chosen songs for a couple of years. And it is like time stood still: mainly same names and same songwriters and same sounds return. Only that Maltese language is heard in more than one song this year, and Malta's biggest star abroad at the moment, or at least in Italy, Emma Muscat is taking part. Add Euroviison veterans Richard Edwards and Jessica Muscat, Nicole Azzopardi sung at Junior Eurovision 2010 and Francesca Sciberras the year before. Philip Vella & Gerard James Borg, ever present have saved their songs all these years and are back as are Swedish peter Boström and Greek Dimitri Stassos and Nektarios Tyrakis and most of the other names are also Malta Eurovision regulars, both writers and artists.  As I said, time has stood still. A total of 22 songs were in the semi-final and 16 make the final cut. When writing this we still have all 22 in the running so I will update that p...

Tu bije serce Europy! Wybieramy hit na Eurowizję ("The heart of Europe beats here! We choose the hit for Eurovision"), that's the name of the new Polish national selection for Eurovision and for reasons very evident I didn't write it on the title bar. A new name and change of heart as they were going to select internally first but then all of sudden announced a national final. Ten songs in the running, and 50/50 jury/televote will choose the winner.  To make things great there will be five hosts and seven guest acts including Polish Eurovision and Junior Eurovision entrants plus one Eurovision winner: Ell & Nikki. Nice that someone remembers them, too. I guess. Among entrants Lidia Kopania, the Polish 2009 entrant with a song co-written by ever trying Ylva & Linda Persson in any random open eastern European selection and usually never reaching the final stages. Krystian Ochman, The Voice of Poland, first rumored to have been selected internally both last and t...