Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Carlo Conti has announced today the Big artists taking part in the 76th Sanremo festival della canzone italiana or simply Sanremo 2026. As widely speculated in the past few weeks the cast may not be as "big" as usually and eyeing it as  the Eurovision in mind it looks rather slim. But then again, let's hear the songs before judging more! Among the artists we have previous winners Arisa (2014), Ermal Meta (2018), Marco Masini (2004) and Francesco Renga (2005) among Big. The previous Newcomers winners among them are Leo Gassman (2020) and previously listed Arisa (2009) and Marco Masini (1990). Eurovision veterans are Ermal Meta (2018), Raf (1987) and again Marco Masini as backing singer (1987).  For this blogger the list includes some names I have no idea of: Bambole di pezza, Eddie Brock, Colombre, Nayt and Samurai Jay among with other names I know the name of but have no idea of their music like Luchè, Sayf and Tredici Pietro. Thus I guess I can consider myself able to jo...

  He's done it again. A real fun banger.  He did Amsterdam's Het grote songfestivalfeest again this year opening the whole show this time

  Another dose of #Finpop 2025. With already familiar names with their latest. Enjoy! Pihlaja - BMW Aatulove - Onnenkyynelii Mikael Gabriel / Senni - Sotilas Ellimei - Susta löysin kodin

  This week's dose includes UMK veteran Goldielocks teaming up with Eurovision veteran TEYA, another Eurovision veteran Joel Hokka, ex-Blind Channel debuting with his new band simply calle HOKKA, another big name collaboration between Tippa-T and Robin Packalen and a new fresh name Helmi Marleena. Enjoy! Goldielocks / TEYA - My religion Helmi Marleena - Sydän sydän sydän Tippa-T / Robin Packalen - Et ollut se HOKKA - In the darkness

  Here comes another dose of #Finpop 2025 with already more or less established  names with their latest efforts. Enjoy! Vahtera - Seitsemäs kerta Lage / Lauri Haav - Yksin tääl Jaakko Kulta - Älä pyydä mua päättää ABREU / Ahti - 7 syntiä 

Käärijä has cha cha chad already almost three years and Finns - and not only - love him as much as ever. Since Eurovision he has released an album, a string of singles with various collaborations at home and abroad, toured Finland and Europe a few times to sold out venues, performed in Eurovision song contest as guest star two years in a row, making him do Eurovision three years in a row,  and this fall he has starred in ever so popular Vain elämää series doing covers of other singers songs on weekly basis. And now.... finally! He has announced an arena concert in Veikkaus Arena, the new names very arena that hosted the Eurovision 2007 in Helsinki.  He has teased many guests, most likely at least everyone he has collaborated (see videos below) and that's not all for sure.  Slovenian Joker Out will be the opening act prior Käärijä stars in their show in Slovenia in June 20,  2026. For this bromance he skips the very generous midsummer gigs in Finland that he could hav...

After Pippo Baudo another Sanremo legend leaves us. Bebbe Vessicchio is dead. He has conducted maybe more Sanremo entries than anyone else (or so it seems as it was always a pleasure to see him appear!) and each time he appeared in front of the orchestra it was a good sign, his sole appearance made you in a good mood.  Giuseppe, or Bebbe as everyone knew him, was born in Naples in 1956. He started his musical career with singers like Nino Buonocore. Edoardo Bennato, Peppino di Capri, Peppino Gagliardi and Gino Paoli with him he wrote hits like Ti lascio una canzone . Soon he was working in television and most notably in festival of Sanremo since 1990 conducting dozens of entries, apparently over 120! His arrangement won the best arrangement award in 1994 , 1997 , 1998 and 2000 , and he conducted the winning entries in 2000 (Avion Travel - Sentimento ), 2003 (Alexia - Per dire di no ), 2010 (Valerio Scanu - Per tutte le volte che ) and 2011 (Roberto Vecchioni - Chiamami amcora amo...

Another dose of #Finpop 2025 and.... #UMK2026 rejects? As Berta and Tina among others have already publicly told they submitted an entry (that you can sneak peak in TikTok) most every other around 3 minute song released is under suspicion these weeks.   Lauri Mikkola is no stranger to national selection and is house singer for Yle's Elämäni biisi shows while the others here are new fresh names who could try to enter UMK to boost their careers. Right? Lauri Mikkola - Jos kukaan ei näkis Sofia Voltti - Suru ei oo sairaus Heidi Beth - Miehii sataa Jamie - Kokonaan ilman sua

Here comes the season's first confirmed artist. Cyprys and CyBc has internally chosen Antigoni Buxton for Eurovision song contest 2026. She lives in London, has Cypriot parents and is best known for her participation in Love Island UK in 2022. She's also doing radio show Crazy roommates.  She signed her first publishing deal at the age of 14 and has since been developing her style mixing hip hop, pop and bouzuki waiting for her big break through that might just happen next spring as her dream of Eurovision becomes reality.  Her entry for Vienna 2026 will be released later. meanwhile you can enjoy some of her previous songs below:

Today's hot news is Canadian CBC/Radio Canada might enter Eurovision song contest. This blogger isn't surprised at all and after initial confusion I can't quite see why not? After all Australia is in already for ten years and even if Australians might be more keen viewers of the contest already for decades the Canadian singers in the Eurovision pout number the Australians pre-participation 9-4 with a quick count. Everybody is aware Celine Dion did Eurovision and won for Switzerland in 1988 but not so many don't remember also Lara Fabian did it for Belgium. For the other internationally known names we have Natasha St-Pier and La Zarra doing ti for France but they are not alone. Read more below. As for the Australians I only remember Olivia Newton-John, double winner Johnny Logan, Gina G and Jane Comerford of Texas Lightning. check them also below. CANADIANS (of birth fully or partly or some other way): Sherisse Laurence - L'amour de ma vie - Luxemburg (3rd) Celine D...

  Another dose of #Finpop 2025, already the 40th this year. That's 40 x 4 new Finnish songs and artists already! This time real newcomers, some of these even with their debut release! Aleksi & Eemeli - Miten sä et vois haluta mua Raama - Tuntemattomii TOIVONEN - Ikuisuus on liian pitkä aika olla yksin SCHAR, Scharliina - Needed