Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

  Odd Børre (Norway 1968, Stress , 13th) (9.8.1939-28.1.2023) Heddy Lester (Netherlands 1977, De mallomolen , 12th) (18.6.1950-29.1.2023) Laura Valenzuela ( ESC 1969 hostess ) (18.2.1931-17.3.2023) Anita Thallaug (Norway 1963, Solhverv, 13th) (14.2.1938-20.3.2023) Dario Campeotto (Denmark 1961, Angelique , 5th) (1.2.1939-1.4.2023) Roy Taylor (of Jump the Gun, Ireland 1988, Take him home , 8th) (1957 -1.6.2023) Rachel Haim (of Lehakat Shiru Israel 1993, Shiru, 24th) (1957 -18.6.2023) Rele Kosunen (Finland choir 1985 , 1986 + national final entries ) (30.7.1962-23.6.2023) Özkan Uğur (of MFÖ, 1985 Didai didai dai , 14th, 1988 Turkey, Sufi , 15th) (17.10.1953-8.7.2023) Liisa Tavi (Finland national selection 1980, Nopea talven valo , 6th) (12.5.1956- 10.7.2023) Patricia Bredin UK 1957, All , 7th) (14.2.1935-13.8.2023) Luc Smets (of Dream Express, Belgium 1977, A million in one, two, three , 7th) (1.8.1947-20.8.2023) Toto Cutugno (Italy 1990, Insieme: 1992, Winner) (7

Mahmood famously won Sanremo giovani 2018 securing a spot in the Sanremo 2019 line up and went on to win it with Soldi, and placing 2nd at the Eurovision , not so far behind eventual winner Duncan Laurence. This year three acts will earn a place in the Sanremo 2024 line up with 27 other acts, including Mahmood aiming for his third win, along with previous Eurovision entrants Ricchi e Poveri ( ESC 1978 ), Emma ( ESC 2014 ), Il Volo ( ESC 2015 ) and Diodato who missed his chance in 2020 when the contest was cancelled. Mahmood may be an exception to have had such success among the Sanremo giovani qualifiers but this year we may have another one that could maybe go all the way. In general I think the standard is pretty high with some variety in musical styles yet being very much the music Italians like and listen these days.  This year's Sanremo giovani acts were chosen as usual with two different selections: majority comes from standard selection organized by Rai chosen out of 654 a

  Here are some more. Ibe actually said somewhere he wrote Blondina UMK 2024 in mind but liked the song so much he couldn't wait to release it and therefor never submitted it in the end. Well, not bad that decision either as it's already a top-5 hit in Finland. Kiki and ABREU have been both heavily rumored and might still be in with different songs while Pariisin Kevät has a comeback after a few years and just might have tried to do it via UMK. Or then not. Probably we will never know. Ibe - Blondina Kiki - Kuka itkee nyt ABREU - Sulle tehty Pariisin Kevät - Haaveet haaveet

  Here are some more possible, rumored UMK submission that didn't make the cut. At least one seem to one for sure as they have said so themselves it seems: Nush Unbrushed. Then again, they could still be in with different entries, especially Nelly and Sexmane. Reino Nordin - Sydämet palamaan Nush Unbrushed - Army of lovers Nelli Matula - Skorpioni Sexmane - Hallille

A month to go for the UMK artists reveal and the rumor mill is heating up, and most every release in the past few weeks has been labeled as a possible UMK reject. Like all these basically. Maybe true, maybe not, we maybe never will find out....  Erika Vikman - Elisabeth Taylor Katri Ylander - Kun me hajotaan Niila - Fire in the rain Ebbe - Mitä sä teet viel täällä

  Almost there. Here's Jenni Vartiainen's comeback (she's heavily rumored for UMK 2024 as well), as is Mikael Gabriel's. Then we have a remake on Eurovision 2006 wannabe and fan favorite by Annika Eklund, and finally another goodie from Eurovision veteran Darude's new album. Jenni Vartiainen - Lanka Mikael Gabriel - Ruotsinlaiva DJ Oku Luukkainen / Spekti / Annika Eklund - Shanghain valot Darude / Gid Sedgwick - Closer together

  We are almost here, the #Finpop2023 month of November is nearing the end but here's some more for your enjoyment (with a hint of Voyage voyage): Tams - Kittilä Annukka - Kaikki päättyy hyvin pehmoaino - Valssi Rosi - Taideteos

  We have already reached 100 entries as of yesterday for this month's #Finpop2023 - the hiots from streaming platforms, charts and radio waves but here are some more! Enjoy! Käärijä - Huhhahhei Diandra - Night in Paris Sani - Kaunis Aliisa Syrjä - Perillä

  We have reached already 100 #Finpop2023 entries this month! How many of these artists have applied for UMK, and how many made it? Time will tell... Elastinen /BESS - Pimee Frans Harju - Tässä tää nyt on Indica - Savuna ilmaan BEHM - Sinä lähdet, minä jään

  Today's another #Finpop2023 day! There are many Vilmas in the pop world these days, who knows if one of them will be in UMK sooner than soon? To complete the set is Lili & Luna, or Norma John's Leena & co.  Vilma Jää - Humalahullu Vilma Alina - Pidän susta irti Vilma Talvitie - Mistä taivas alkaa Lili & Luna - Josefin

 Your daily dose of #Finpop2023: s'il vous plait! Neea River - Burned CD Tams - ICD-10 Runo - Ennen sua Jutta Rahmel - Kyyneltenkerääjä

  Already three weeks of daily #Finpop2023 doses for you. Here's today's offer with a couple of future UMK worthy names and this year's UMK revelation Kuumaa : Disco - Me selvitään Lauri XCVII - Mitä täällä teen Evelina / Nelli Matula - Onnellinen Kuumaa - Anna mulle mitä vaan

  Your daily dose of #Finpop2023! Suvi Teräsniska - Seuraavassa elämässä BEHM - Tylsät ihmiset Melis - Daiquiri Toivonen - Joku jota sä mietit iltaisin

  Another set of goodies from #Finpop2023 summer-fall season! Among them UMK veteran Robin "I will never sing in Finnish again" Packalen among others. Robin Packalen / Ege Zulu - Kolmistaan Evelina - Sä <3 mä SANNI - Mielenmaisemat Sara Siipola - Susta tulee tähti

  Today's #Finpop2023 foursome! Including UMK veteran Isaac Sene. DJ Oku Luukkainen /Katri Ylander - Yksi sydän Viivi / JVG - Mitä näillä korteilla saa? Isaac Sene - La Perla Pehmoaino - Mietin sua pahalla

  Another day, another dose of #Finpop2023. Paul Elias - Marttyyri Aki Tykki - Satulinna, satumaa ABREU, Pihlaja - Sisko Jannika B - Paras osa

Today's dose of #Finpop2023 is rather electro poppish, including UMK favorite Lxandra. HUGO feat. Costi - Taulut costee - Rakastunut suruun Elsa Brotherus - Kokonaan Lxandra - Blonde

  It is the month of  #Finpop2023 from radios, streaming and charts in 2023 so far. Enjoy! Paul Elias - Karoliina Vera Wall - Tää ei oo mä NOTO - Dimmelo Titta - Onni pitkästä ilosta

  Yet another dose of those #finhits, small or big, from radiowaves and streaming platforms. Enjoy! Juno - Eden Evelina - Ikinä koskaan Ufo Mustonen - Niin ihastunut Vahtera - Villihevosii

 Yes, it's your daily dose of #Finpop2023! BEHM / Olavi Uusivirta - Viimeinen tanssi Antti Ketonen - Paha mies Rosi - Buutsit Ollie - Hellettä

  The hits keep coming from radio waves and streaming platforms and charts! Enjoy! Olli Halonen - Kylä keskellä ei mitään Eini - Puhdasta nautintoo Eeva Louhivuori - Ruusu Maija Vilkkumaa - Maria

  Four new songs from #Finpop 2023 catalogue for your enjoyment, including Eurovision veteran Hanna Pakarinen: Frans Harku - Muukalainen Henna Uoti - Parantajat Hailio - Hei maailma Hanna Pakarinen - Täydellinen myrsky

 Here we go again! Today's dose of #Finpop2023. Enjoy! Aliisa Syrjä - Sydämetön BESS - Mission Antti Tuisku - Koti Joalin - SOLO

  Yet another does of #Finpop2023 from streaming platforms and radio waves. Enjoy! Jannika B - Hymytyttö Leo Stillman - Ikuinen valo Jukka Poika - Amerikkaa Tuure Kilpeläinen - Kaikki mihin oot tottunut

  Another dose of #Finpop 2023 tunes from this summer and fall from radio waves and streaming platforms for your enjoyment selected by me. Let's go! Noto feat. Ibe - Ylläs Bee - Viimeisiä sanoja Sani - Sydänhuone Jussu Pöyhönen - Argentiinaan tai Australiaan

  Another day, another dose of #Finpop! BESS - Kädet ylös Tuure Boelius - Sitä mitä me oltiin SHRTY / Joalin - Pariisin kevät Isac Elliott / SANNI - Riidellään

 Today's dose of #Finpop2023! Including Eurovision veteran Hanna Pakarinen. Enjoy! Hanna Pakarinen - Elämä on elämää Anja Niskanen - Tanssi kanssain kuin tangoa Jukka Poika - Kesäilta Haidi - Mun New York

  Another set of #Finpop2023, today by UMK star Ilta among others. Enjoy! Ilta - Pura vida ESME - Pleijeri Hallio - Hengitä Mikko Harju - 11 kirjainta

  Another dose of #Finpop2023, this time by Eurovision veteran Darude with Eurovision wannabe Oskr among others. Enjoy! Darude / House Body / Oskr - Outlwas Ressu Redford - Sä olet syy Teleks - Onnellisii loppuja Anu Marin - Äiti

  Today's dose of #Finpop2023 with two Eurovision wannabes Eini and Aksel.... Lore - Kun mä näin sut Tuure Boelius - Toista mua Eini - Syntynyt uudelleen Aksel Kankaanranta - Ilman sua

  Another dose of #Finpop2023 from this spring/summer season! Enjoy! Antti Tuisku / Käärijä - Auto jää ABREU - Eilisen m Aleksanteri Hakaniemi - Viimeinen kesä sinkkuna Benjamin - Minä-minä-maa

  Today's dose of #Finpop2023: SANNI - Haukilahden rantaan Hassan Maikal - Päästit mut pois Antti Tuisku - Baila por mi Berta - Pitäisit mua hulluna

  Oh, it seems I might be back,  sneaking in quietly and warming up with some #FinPop tunes from this summer and fall but yet sticking away from Eurovision for awhile. Enjoy!  And welcome back! BEHM - Sata vuotta Ollie - Teeskennellään ANI - Popstar! pehmoaino - Sisko älä pelkää

  Well, at least to launch a November of #Finpop!  Four songs every day from the Finnish streaming platforms, charts and radio waves. A lot of newcomers and fresh talent along with bigger and Big names already maybe familiar to you. And who knows, maybe among them we have some or all the UMK 2023 entrants?  Enjoy the month ahead!

The time has come. After all these years, 5,7 million visits, 12.000 articles I guess the time has come. As much as I love and care for Eurovision it just doesn't feel the same. The Corona years took their toll and the past two years and certain decisions have helped me to mature the idea that next year I will hear the songs for the first time in semi-final just like any so called local.  The bubble has burst. Add the toxicity in social medias and fandom. The arrogant teenagers who saw their first contest somewhere 2017 or even 2021 who think they know it all and only their opinion matters. Did I mention the toxic atmosphere on social medias? I'm too old for that sh*t. It's been a long ride that took me to various Eurovision on spot as a fan and tourist,  as a journalist, as a delegation member. I met some great people, made memories of lifetime. In stressful, sad periods of my life this blog has been my safe place, a place to escape and forget everything else for an hour o