Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

  Domino qualified from Sanremo newcomers 1996 to Sanremo 1997 with this Nohai (ora l'amore) . This blogger was sold with first hearing. In Sanremo she presented Io senza te winning also an award for Best Vocal performance. Sadly, I have never heard of her ever since. What a pity!

Hanna-Riikka Siitonen (47) has died of thyroid cancer she was diagnosed in 2000.  She was multiple times a backing singer for Finland in the Eurovision song contest (1996, 2004, 2005) and participated in the national selection 2006 and was a featuring figure in the opening and interval acts in Helsinki 2007 Eurovision. She was one of the most used backing and studio singers in Finland, and worked a lot in television and theatre both in music and acting, radio and was Idols vocal coach. She was a daughter of Fredi aka Matti Siitonen (Finland ESC 1967, 1976, composer 1979).  In 1990's she formed multiplatinum selling duo Taikapeili with Nina Tapio. 

Jasmine turns 41 today. Her Eurovision adventure in 1996 was full of drama; in the national final her microphone didn't work and she had to sing again. Then the voting failed and the winner was revealed only days after. She made it to the Eurovision from the pre-selection as the last one kicking out Germany and Israel for example after a tie with Hungary. Then in the final she had the hair disaster and started singing in a wrong place. All this said, it's a jolly lovely little tune she recorded in many languages and far better than its reputation. Jasmine did gigs abroad and released two albums and then vanished from the spotlight only to emerge later in some YLE's Romani programmes.... Congratulations!

Malta will have it's national selection once again for 2012 and it will take place on Friday 7th and Saturday 8th of February at the Malta Fairs and Convention Centre in Ta’ Qal. As usual many familiar names among the artists and songwriters including even two previous winners Fabrizio Faniello (ESC 2001 and 2006 ) and Mirian Christine ( ESC 1996 ). The 20 in semifinal become 14 for the final. I have listened the songs a couple of times and here's my wild guess for the ones that will stay in semifinal: Andreana Debattista, Corazon, Amber, Ryan Paul Abela, Pamela and Deborah C . They just didn't pull any strings in me that would indicate Eurovision success or that I'd would particlarly want to listen them over and over again.  I don't have a clear favorite either, the live performance will be crucial me thinks. A the moment my favorites are (in no particular order) De Bee, Romina Mamo, Chris Grech, Miriam Christine, Wayne William, Firelight, Christabelle, Davi...

My flying reporter Robert had a very private interview with Kaliopi as the icing on his fantastic cake of work he did for me and for you readers in Baku. It is long, it is deep, it is fun. In one word: it's a treat! Sit back, have a cup of coffee and enjoy: Thank you Kaliopi for this interview. I have been trying to get hold of you all week and finally I have you here, just in time before I leave back to Amsterdam! I hope it's not because I'm such a big Diva! No, no... It has been so busy and you know now we have the pleasure to be alone ! Without other people around :-) No journalists, just you and me here in my hotel having coffee and tea or chai... isn't this nice ? Yes indeed. But let's get to business. Maybe not all readers know you very well so how would you describe Kaliopi? What are your qualities? What do you find important in life? Hmmm, it's always difficult to talk about yourself but I try to be honest. It's very heavy to be honest. I...

Gina G, the bubbly Aussie that made us all go ooh aah back in 1996 is making a comeback in homeground with Next 2 U .

The status of Big4, or Big5 as it is now when Italy returned has divided the fans and public alike ever since its introduction in 1998. It all started when in 1996 there were suddenly 30 countries wanting to take part in Eurovision but the show could handle only 23. So, an audio semifinal was held and all of sudden Germany's entry was left out. Germans were outraged as the song was seen as a favourite - and indeed it might have done well if it made it to Oslo 1996. EBU was troubled as it's biggest economical contributor at the time was out. Finns on the other hand were very surprised we made it through the semi (and eventually came last in oslo but that's another story). Anyways, it was Leon's technopop Blauer Planet - the only German entry that has been left home in the history,  making 1996 the only year when Germany haven't been present. That's a record.I think he would have done well in Oslo.... if he ever got that far. And Leon? He tried again in the Germa...

Blogilkar guest writer Daniel Motiño Camúñez reports: Spain RTVE starts the search today November 15 for Eurovision 2011. After Roberto's Chikilicuatre bad joke and the live on air  John Cobra scandal, Spain is finally changing the rules in order to select the artist and the song for Eurovision Song Contest. RTVE will not be hosting an open internet selection like in the past years; the artist will have to go through a jury filter before appearing in the Galas. In addition the song and the artist will be choosen separately like in the Spanish national selection in 2007, when D'Nash were chosen and performed I love you mi vida composed by Rebecca who did not qualifiy to the big final. (Quite frankly I prefer Rebeca's version! BlogIlkar) In order to access the galas candidates have to submit a video performing a song which has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest and can be performed in any language. Here is the biggest innovation of the selection ...

Two Swedish Eurovision stars have been abusing alcohol that has caused their careers and private lives to go down the drain. Kikki Danielsson has tried a come back and sober up several times in the 2000's, so far in vain, but now Jan Johansen comes out as clean. "I got drunk for the first time when I was 12. Since then I have been drunk every other day, more or less " he says. "It ruined my career and my personal life, but it is so common in this business to have a drink after show no one noticed. Since September 28, 2008 I haven't touched alcohol. I was diagnosed with ADHD and all of sudden it all fell apart. I was drinking because of that! After diagnosis I got my life back" Well done Jan! Maybe it's time to record some great songs again? Like Se på mig and Let your spirits fly . And best wishes to Kikki to make it. And give us more Bra vibrationer ,  Varför är kärleken röd and I dag & I morgon .

Oslo hosted the 41st Eurovision and in the end 22 countries were present. In all 29 countries wanted to take part but EBU couldn't decide what to do with them so only two months before a preselection was held with the tapes only. The results were meant to be kept secret but it has been later revealed Sweden won this one. And what is known is that Germany, Denmark, israel, Russia, Hungary, Romania and Macedonia didn't survive the selection and were out. Especially Germany's dropping out was the very first step for creating the Big4. Elisabeth Andreasson was there once again and finished second just before Sweden. Portugal got its best placing to date: 6th. Gina G for UK scored only 8th place but topped the charts later here and there and having a top-12 hit and Grammy nomination in the USA! Belgium sent Liefde is een kaartspel l. The same song did much better for Sweden as Listen to your heartbeat a few years later. But that wasn't the biggest problem that year but Irela...

The annual party by Eurofest Croatia is happening for the 6th time this weekend in Rabac (Istria) and the guest star is fantastic Maja Bladgan who sung Croatia's best placement (shared with Doris Dragovic 3 years later) 4th in 1996 with Sveta ljubav. Enjoy it again here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9jEKJtyx4o