Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

  Nek first tried Sanremo in 1992 among Newcomers placing third with In te, He already released albums and wrote song for others when he returned to Sanremo 1997 with Laura non c'è (#1) that really kickstarted his career especially abroad despite placing only 7th. The song charted in Europe (UK #59) and in Latin America, USA (#19) and he released also Spanish and English versions. Nektarios Sfirakis did a Greek version , Wim Soutaer a Dutch one and Nek with Céréla eventually did a Italian-French one, too.  Nek almost won (and went to Eurovision in 2015 with Fatti avanti amore , and yes, he's back in 2+24!

  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!

Italy took its well deserved third victory - finally! - at the Eurovision song contest 2021. Over the years several other Italian entries would have been worthy winners. In this series I will go through all of them from the worst ranking to the winner s. Maybe the most controversial Italian participation at the Eurovision ever. Italy returned after skipping three editions and vanished after this until 2011. The one surrounded by all sort of conspiracy theories of Rai making sure they won't win,  and dirty job by the Italian media. All in vain, Jalisse finished 4th out of 25 with their Sanremo winner Fiumi di parole . Unknown Jalisse's win at Sanremo was some sort of a shock and soon they became a symbol of everything bad and ridiculous in the festival and sadly this image still remains. Jalisse has tried to get back to Sanremo ever since and has accused and blamed Rai in turn but the fandom loves them and this song and indeed the song is great! Italian media tried to accuse th...

It's summer and most every one is releasing summer songs with Latin flavour but not Jalisse. On the contrary. They go metal. Don't be afraid to call it love , they sing in their latest single and video featuring metal band Teodasia and the result is somewhat Nightwish-esque and against all odds it works as Alessandra's voice fits in very well, maybe even better than in some previous pop tunes they have released....  And guess what, by October they will publish a new album with only new songs! (About the time, too...)

Today's Slovenia's turn to reveal their entries for Eurovision 2018. Their EMA will have a semifinal wherefrom half the songs will qualify for the final: four by a jury, four by televoters. 50-50 jury-televote will reign in the final, too. Two previous winners in the line up. ManuElla (failed to qualify in 2016) and one of this blogger's favorite Slovenian entries, as Tanja Ribič makes a comeback! (with Zubi se,  10th in 1997). Last year's runner up BQL tries again and other familiar names include King Foo, Lea Sirk, Nika Zorjan, Ina Shai and Nuška Drašček, who all took part also last year! The songs were chosen among the 108 submissions Anabel – Pozitiva  BQL – Ptica  Gregor Ravnik – Zdaj je čas  Ina Shai – V nebo  Indigo – Vesna  King Foo – Žive sanje  Lara Kadis – Zdaj sem tu  Lea Sirk – Cirque  ManuElla – Dan Potem  Marina Martensson – Blizu  Mila – Svoboda  Nika Zorjan – Uspavanka...

How have the winners of Eurovision ending with a "7" have been over the decades? Some iconic stuff here really. Let's have a look... 1957 The Netherlands won their first win of many to come shortly. A very clear win (31 points to France's 17) for Corry Brokken and Net als toen In 1967 United Kingdom won with Sandie Shaw 's Puppet on a sting . An evergreen and back then a very uptodate sound. And she was barefoot. Something unheard just years before when the artists were still in tuxedos and evening gawns. And another very clear victory (47 points to Ireland's 22)   In 1977 France won for the last time so far. I'm sure they didn't think it would take this long to win again having used to win every few years really. Marie Myriam 's L'oiseau et l'enfant is one of the most loved Eurovision tunes ever, and for a reason.  In 1987 Johnny Logan . Hold me now . The first ever double winner (and so far only) Do I need to say mo...

The 1957 Eurovision song contest winner for the Netherlands Corry Brokken has died. She's one of the very few artists who sung at the Eurovision three years in a row and she won with her second attempt. The year after she came last so she hold the record of being first and last. She also presented the contest in 1976, and was the Dutch spokesperson in 1997.

Jalisse is back. Or at least trying to be. Ever since they won Sanremo 1997 and for some reason the Italian media decided to put them down and snob them every possible way (There's even a book written about it, Valeria Ducato's I Jalisse, che fine hanno fatto? or Jalisse, whatever happened to them? ). Over the years they have released songs following their excellent debut album including the Sanremo winner and Italy's Eurovision 1997 entry Fiumi di parole , but to be honest, the material they have released hasn't been up to the standard of the debut album that was indeed something unique; fresh and original topped with interesting arrangement and production topped with Alessandra's crystallic voice. It's no secret they have tried to get back to Sanremo without luck, and even to Eurovision via San Marino's 2008 selection but nothing. The final slap in face must have been Alessandra's participation in The Voice where none of the judges wanted her......

Russian Superstar and Eurovision primadonna 1997 has become a mother again at the tender age of 64. The father is her husband of 2 years (and 12 years together) Maksim Galkim, also an entertainer in Russia. And that's not all - it's twins! A boy named Garri and girl named Jelizaveta. Alla has already a daughter, Kristina Orbakaire , 42, also a popular singer who is apparently thrilled to have little  sister and brother. But there's a trick: Alla didn't carry the babies even if the babies are Alla's and Maksim's biological children. They were born on September 18, 2013, and the couple managed to keep it secret even from their closest friends and family.  Congrats!

What a weekend, ragazzi! I just realized I have spent over 21 hours in front  of the screen blogging and watching Sanremo.... no wonder my shoulders, neck and head are aching like there's no tomorrow. But all is fine when things end well. My favorite won the Newcomers Friday night, namely Antonio Maggio with Mi servirebbe sapere . Then I was having cold sweat for the Big category's superfinal when Elio & Co and Modá made it but Marco Mengoni made it all up by winning it and even going to Eurovision. For the first time since Jalisse Italy will be represented by the latest Sanremo winner, even if he will most likely pick up a song from his coming album. L'essenziale wouldn't be bad either; a classic Italian song but how would it fit into 3 minute formula? Latvia also selected their winner and I must say I'm not pleased at all.... PeR and Here we go didn't impress me before nor after their win..... Shame.  In Hungary they also selected the last semifina...

Hungary's A Dal starts tonight. In a rather lenghty process there are first three semifinal with ten songs each and six qill qualify for the semifinals; three by televote, three by jury vote. The jury is made this year of Csaba Walkó (Compact Disco, ESC 2012), Philip Rákay, Jenő Csiszár, Viktor Rakonczai (ex-member of VIP, ESC 1997) and wonderful Magdi Rúzsa (ESC 2007). Apparently Hungarians don't see anything strange in the fact another ex-VIP member Rácz Gergö is competing this year.... You can listen to all songs here . This blogger kinda enjoyed with the first hearing the songs by Tibor, Tamás and beforementioned Gergö. Agárdi Szilvi-Pál Dénes - Szíveddel láss   Background - Neonzöld   Baricz Gergő - Húz   Bogi - Tükörkép   Fehér Zoltán - Nincs baj   Gyurcsik Tibor - Örök harc   Keresztes Ildikó - Nem akarok többé játszani   Mrs Columbo - Play / Játszd újra   Palcsó Tamás - Ezt látnod kell   Rácz Gergő - Csak áll...

When Heilsarmee aka Salvation army won the Swiss final last Saturday it didn't take long the questioning started. As we know EBU doesn't allow any advertising or brand names or commercial stuff in the songs and such. So what can we do with the name of the band and their uniforms? Apparently only to change them or they are out. However, it's not sure if the band will agree to that (and that would be a such a shame!). We should know better before the end of the year.... The Salvation army was founded in the United Kingdom in 1865 and operates in 126 countries today. It's a Christian organisation known for it's charity shops and charity work. Apparently they are also a but homophobic but as that's new to me so I won't go into that any deeper.  In Finland they are best known for their Christmas Red Kettles that come to the streets a week before Christmas and people can donate money and goods (like toys, clothes) for the poor.  Anyways, also their entr...

Today it's been 15 years since the most famous woman on globe died in a tunnel in Paris. You all know of course who I am talking about. Not being exactly a fan but when I heard the news, sitting at work that morning in central Rome it was a weird feeling, an awkward moment. One of those "you remember exactly where you were and what you were doing when you heard" moments. I felt like I've lost someone I really knew. And closest I ever had with her was in November 1989 when I was in Hong Kong and so was she, and I saw her - and the man that later married the rottweiler, like she used to call her - walking by just meters away upon their arrival. She was already in an unhappy mood. You could see it even if it wasn't public yet. The funeral followed with Elton John  making some publicity for himself before he took as his purpose in life to mock Madonna... Her faith was such a shame. I think she looked prettier and happier than ever in her last summer. The sum...

Also the Italian speaking Swiss radio-TV RSI has made public its entries. The jury has already chosen five songs to the final to be held on November 8, 2011 and the online voting will add two more songs to the line up. From this kind of semifinal two top songs will go to the Swiss final in December. And to make things confusing there are once again same artists listed as in other language TVs selections but the ones the Italian speaking jury have chosen are Gianluca Solci, Rossella, Silla and two of my favourites from elsewhere, Sinplus and Vittoria Hyde. You can listen to their songs and all the others here . Amongst them is Barbara Berta (ESC 1997) and Flavio Cristilli (Euroviisut 2007). Worth mentioning are also Hirion and Rino Dilugano  The voting goes on until October 24, 2011.

Hungary returned to the Eurovision stage with a bang and even if Kati Wolf didn't do as well as expected with her What about my dreams? it was no doubt one of the best songs in Eurovision for several years. What will they send in 2012? A good possibility would be Gergö Rácz, me thinks on this rainy day. He's no stranger to Eurovision for already being in it in 1997 as member of V.I.P and yes, he also co-write the beforementioned What about my dreams ? He has been hot on Hungarian radio lately with Harc és vágy and Ez még csak a kezdet with Renàta Tolvai. Both songs have also visually stunning videos so check them out!

If you thought the video we have seen so far with the guys on a rooftop over London was the official video you were wrong. The guys have made a new video and it's simple and effective with a wet ending - is that a hint for Eric Saade? They charmed the fans i Amsterdam and the gay audience with their Attitude photo shoot and are amongst the favourites to win according the bettings odds. I think UK is closer to the sixth win since 1997. BBC may have gotten it all right this time. Wouldn't it be nice if another Big5 country would win right after Germany? My bet is on UK, not France this year.

The boys of Blue have posed nude again. This time for the Attitude magazine's annual Naked issue and they are also in the cover. Watch the video of the shooting here . Band member Duncan, who is bi-sexual, recently told The Daily Star : “We are getting our kit off for Attitude magazine like the McFly boys did. I’m up for showing everything off. I’m happy enough about the size of my manhood. ” Extra media attention won't hurt their changes in Germany to win it for the UK for the first time since 1997... They will and they can!

Italian fans are impatiently waiting for the news of who is going to mark country's return to Eurovision? Is it going to be Nathalie after all? Or perhaps Marco Mengoni? Or Anna Tatangelo? As long as it's not Roberto Meloni! So, one can also speculate on commentator as in some places like Italy it IS important and sets the tune to the whole show (see Sanremo? Sometimes I think it's not about the singers and the songs but who's show it is this time around. 2011 will be Morandi Show) so could it be the X Factor presenter Francesco Facchinetti will go on to Eurovision as well? He has many fans on his side as after all he knows music being a musicians, rapper and DJ himself. Or perhaps Fabio Canino ? He's a radio person, writer of funny books and did an excellent job commenting the Eurovision 2003 edition for Gay.tv , an Italian internet channel. Or perhaps Fiorello , the Sicilian showman and singer who would attract most Italians to watch Eurovision just with his pr...

Apparently also San Marino - along with Hungary and Montenegro - is amongst the countries that have applied for the Eurovision song contest 2011. This trio has until December 25 to decide if they really go on with it or will they stay home after all. Who would have thought a few months ago we would have both Italy and San Marino back in Eurovision? Now this is what I call a Christmas gift! San Marino's only participation was in 2008 with Miodio's Complice . Great track that very unfairly was left 19th in its semifinal with only 5 points.... Italy did much better in its last participation in 1997. Jalisse's Fiumi di parole was 4th. Will Italy and San Marino become the new Greece and Cyprus exchanging the 12s every year? :-)

Non so che? Non so che darei , one of the maybe forgotten Italian entries by Alan Sorrenti, anno 1980. The Olsen Brothers are celebrating the 10th anniversary of their win with Fly on the wings of love with a new album made of Eurovision covers titled Wings of Eurovision including of course their own updated to 2010. The other songs are Congratulations , Waterloo , Ein bisschen Frieden , Främling , Save all your kisses for me , Hallelujah , Boom bang a bang , Volare , La det swinge , Love shine a light and Rock'n roll kids . Some choices sound very suited for the gentleman, the others... well, we just have to wait til late May to hear how they manage with them!