Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

TRM organized once again Etapa națională 2024, the Moldovan national final for Eurovision song contest 2024 and as almost every year there was some controversy.  Open call resulted in 51 submissions and 32 were invited for auditions, and eventually 11 took part in the final won by Natalia Barbu, already an Eurovision veteran from Helsinki 2007.  Natalia Barbu (44) is a Moldovan singer-songwriter who lives in Romania these days. Her music career started in 2006. Her biggest success has been  Îngerul meu that topped the Romanian Top-100 for 11 weeks in 2006. In 2007 she was selected to represant Moldova in Helsinki Eurovision.  The legend goes she had to pay her trip herself unless she reaches the Top-10, then TRM would pay her back everything. And yes, she placed 10th with Fight. In 2012 she topped the Moldovan charts with I said it's sad. In 2013 she tried her luck in the Romanian selection with Confession placing 13th.  She has released several albums an...

The Käärijä hype in Finland is real. The past week everything has turned green and most every company and business is showing support in most imaginative ways from big companies to small businesses, private and public and I have to admit I have never ever witnessed such a support and hype for anything or anyone, not even ice-hockey world champs and that tells it all.  And it shows also in viewing figures: 1.264.000 (78%) for the first semi-final, all time record. Taking account the grand final that usually gathers a lot more viewers it's the 7th most watched Eurovision final or semi-final since 1999. The record is obviously Helsinki 2007 Eurovision final with 1.905.000 (83%). I have a feeling we will break that next Saturday. The fever was high also in 2006 when Lordi won. 1.479.000 (75%) gathered in front of their tv-screens. But in spring 2006 there was no hype. It only started a week before the final and exploded in their home coming concert in Helsinki Market Square with 800.00...

Helsinki Arena, as it was called for the Eurovision song contest 2007, is commonly known as Hartwall Arena due to its sponsor. Or it was as it is no longer sponsored by them nor the arena is in use anymore. Thanks to Russia's crazy war in Ukraine.  The arena has been owned by Russians Roman Rotenberg and Gennady Timchenko, both with close ties to Putin, since 2013. After the war started scheduled events started being removed or cancelled, the major ticket offices stopped selling tickets there one by one, and by March 2, 2022 the main sponsor Hartwall beverages cancelled their sponsorship and the same day took off their name off the building's walls. At the same time the Ice Hockey World championships games that were to be played there in May along with Tampere's new multi use Nokia Arena were moved out as well. Those games will be played now in Helsinki Ice Hall that has a capacity of 8200. Without Russia and Belarus as both were expelled for obvious reasons. The arena, bui...

Eurovision 2020 may be cancelled but the various broadcasters are filling the empty hours with Eurovision related programmes and their plans are slowly coming out. Besides the specials in the making in Germany and Sweden, and EBU's own Love shine a light show airing on May 16 that should involve all the artists of Eurovision 2020 somehow there are alternative ideas. Yle has decided to celebrate the brightest moments of Finland in recent years instead. On May 14 Krista Siegfrids and Mikko Silvennoinen will be hosting a Top-10 show (19.00-20.30 local time). Finns have an opportunity vote online before hand the Eurovision 2020 songs and they will reveal and showcase the top-10. The voting opens on May 8 and the show will feature also other performances and guests. After that Yle will broadcast again the Eurovision 2014 final , where Softengine placed 11th with their Something better .  On May 15 we will have Krista and Mikko again (19.00-20.30 local time) and this tim...

I haven't been following so closely the host lottery and gossiping but I supposed Edsilia came from nowhere? And as I am convicted Edsilia fan ever since 1998 and totally in love since Helsinki 2007 I couldn't be happier! She so much fun, pretty, great singer and apparently also a good at hosting considering the jobs she's done so far including Eurovision in concert. I will forever remember her after failing to reach the final in Helsinki 2007 comforting the sad and teary eyed fans post-show in the press center telling it's ok, don't be sad, she's fine..... What a lady! Next to her there will be also Chantal Janzen, actress and musical star and hostess of Hollan's Got Talent and The Voice of Holland. The male star of the trio is Jan Smit, ex-child star and singer, plus the Dutch commentator in Eurovision for the past nine years and otherwise heavily involved in all things Dutch Eurovision. 

Serbia's national final Beovizija 2019 was won by 24-year-old Nevana Božović with self written Kruna (Crown).  She's no stranger to Eurovision having represented her country in Junior Eurovision 2007 ( Piši mi , 3rd) and as a member of Moje 3 in the real thing in 2013 ( Ljubav je svuja , 11th in semi-final). She's also The Voice 2012 runner up. She has released a dozen singles since 2007.  1. Nevena Božović - Kruna (televotes 8+jury 12) 20 2. Dženan Lončarević - Nema suza (10+7) 17 3. Saška Janks - Da li čuješ moj glas (6+10) 16 4. Nataša & Una - Samo bez straha (12+2) 14 5. Wonder Strings & Ivana Vladović - Moja bol (5+8) 13 6. Ivan Kurtić - Bella (7+4) 11 7. Majdan - Budim te (3+5) 8 8. Lord - Radnički sin (2+6) 8 9. Sofija Perić - Aritmija (4+1) 5 10. Jana Šušteršić - Viktorija (0+3) 3 11. Aleksandra Sekulić - Tugo (1+0) 1 12. Ana Popović - Lutaš (0+0) 0

I'm not usually so keen on Eurovision returns - especially those who try and try again after being there already once - but this is one group I'd love to see giving it another try. The line up may have changed so many times that no one can keep track but Olga stays from the original Helsinki 2007 formation and the other girls today are Katya (2016-) and Tatiana (2017-). Despite changing line up almost every year they have kept their hits coming (12 top-10 hits in Russia, 5 #1's) along with three albums and chart success also abroad, especially Italy. They've got their cheeky side and sexy poses and fun catchy songs along with some ballads. Should Russia send them again they would certainly create quite a stir and with some ear worm like Mama Lover or Mi mi mi they could even better their third place with Song #1 . Check out also Malo tebya , Chocolate  and  СЛОМАНА

Georgian Tamta placed 3rd in the Greek national final back in 2007 with With love following her 2nd place in Greek Idol 2004 (only a year after she moved to Greece) that gave her popularity in both Greece and Cyprus. She's been ever since on Eurovision fans radar for a suitable artist for either Greece or Georgia, where she has also been working lately as X Factor judge since 2014, with a one season switch to the Greek one. As Georgia is using Idol to select their entrant for 2019 we won't see her for them next year for sure, but who knows maybe for Greece? Check out Unloved ,  Πες Μου Αν Τολμάς , Tag you in my sky ,  Ήλιους και Θάλασσες , More than summer love , 

Yle is going internal again in 2019 and it will be very curious to see who they choose (or get) after Saara Aalto - will they go for big international name or something big in Finland.  Or someone new and emerging? Would this list be complete without some hard rock? No. Finns and hard rock go together like Lordi and Eurovision. Besides, Apocalyptica already did Helsinki 2007 Eurovision interval act and wouldn't be the first one stepping out from there to the competition. Ask Miss Mauboy for example. Another Eurovision links are Marta Jandová who sings in various songs of theirs and Hanna Pakarinen the frontman wrote a song for. They have been quiet awhile but apparently finishing their new album so what would be more appropriate than a huge #UMK2019 show and worldwide exposure from Israel? Also in German

Måns Z continues to release singles that are nice but not extraordinary. Good effort though... Lordi does what Lordi does best: poppy hard rock with questionabe lyrics Marija does what Marija does best: Balkan ballad Jamala continues on her own path delivering some wings this time.  Mind you there are other versions:  Deep House remix , Disco remix , live

No more leave me alones as Eurovision 2007 veteran Hanna Pakarinen has published in her Youtube channel a video unboxing the Finnish state's maternity box aka layette set thus announcing she's due to have a baby later this spring. Congratulations!

  After yesterday's semifinal one entries Estonia revealed today the semifinal two entries. Like yesterday the goodies are far and apart, and below is my First hearing ranking . Eelis & Eurovision veteran Gerli deliver a timeless ballad that feels real and not manufactured for Eurovision, and therefor stands out. Indrek continues to deliver after Hispaania tüdruk , and a lot of experience in musicals in meantime. Tempel is lovely little tune. Karl & co go deep fishing from the sound of 2017 but don't come out that strong sadly. Marju's song includes Paradise Oskar (FIN 2011) among the songwriters, but... oh well. A local hit for sure and classic old school Eurovision but would this work in ESC 2018? Maybe not.  Then there's some pseudo eletro punk that goes to PKN way or lasts (thankfully) just barely 2 minutes. Add some monotonous indie pop, equally monotonous rap in Estonian, lounge disco and a very disappointing Rolf this bloggerwas expecting great th...

  Finland celebrates its 100th year as an independent state and has ever since searched for its place in Europe and the world, between East and West. Sometimes with less success. As we speak in 1939 we were at war again with Soviet Union but - let's make a huge change of subject here -  since 1961 Finland has been taking part in the Eurovision song contest (and we also took part, and won twice, the copycat contest behind the Iron curtain, Intervision song contest). It may have taken awhile before we won, but it never stopped us taking part. EBU did, in those crazy 1990's-early 2000's. Let's look back in coming days as a countdown to the Big Day some of the most memorable and significant entries from Finland..... Monica Aspelund 's 1977 entry Lapponia is one of the most iconic Finnish entries, and one of those taking a large serving from the mythology with added flavor from Lapland. This is exotism we should have used more often, this blogger thinks. It...

    Estonia's Eesti laul 2018 semifinalists have been revealed tonight. Among the contestants Eurovision veterans Stig Rästa and Gerli Padar , who's also Eurovision winner Tanel Padar's sister so real Eurovision royalty. This blogger always liked her Helsinki 2007 entry, so underrated by most.  Other familiar names Iiris Vesik , Rolf Roosalu (ex-Rolf Junior), Indrek Ventmann and Karl Kristjan . Mostly Estonian songwriters it seems with a very surprising name: Axel Ehnström aka Paradise Oskar among writers for the Marju Länik song. She's 60 and sings since 1970s.... Stig Rästa – Home Metsakutsu – Koplifornia Elina Netšajeva – La forza Aden Ray – Everybody’s dressed Frankie Animal – (Can’t keep calling) Misty Nika – Knock knock Iiris & Agoh – Drop that boogie Etnopatsy – Külm Vajé – Laura (Walk with me) Miljardid – Pseudoprobleem Tiiu x Okym x Semy – Näita oma energiat Desiree – On my mind Rolf Roosalu – Show a little love Eli...

  Belarusian Ivan goes from Eurovision wolves to Aliens in his latest,  Чужая . A midtempo rock song with enough drama to keep you watching the video til the end...... Errr.... what was that? Russian Serebro  from Eurovision 2007 in Helsinki are unstoppable and have released  в космосе or In space, despite being in the middle of recruiting a new member. It's another pop tune in pure Serebro style. Love it. Sunstroke Project that took Moldova to the surprise podium at Eurovision 2017 is back with another saxxy hit, Sun gets down. Maybe they should have released this a month or two earlier to score late summer hit..... In rainy dark Finland this feels like a slap in the face instead...... Ola Salo , who sung for Sweden with The Ark in Helsinki 2007 has went solo ages ago and has released a new single, I call your name . I wonder if he's really calling for the safety word as he seems to be performing in a sexclub where all sort of things are going...

  French Patrick Fiori is back with a new album this year, and Oú je vis is the lead single of it. A song that grows and grows and gets stuck in your head. Another Fiori goodie. He should do Eurovision again! Sweden's Eurovision winner Loreen continues releasing singles off her coming album and 71 charger is out now. This is a far cry for euphoric feelings, but a lot more enjoyable than her other latest efforts, mainly thanks to its mysterious atmosphere. Slovenian Marayya are trying to go international with their latest Diamond Duck , an obvious reference to the orange man in the white house. Filled with emojis and stuff, the video is far more interesting than the song that sounds more like an idea of something that never became a proper song. But sometimes these things work and become hits. Released already awhile ago it seems this is not one of those, Shame. Russian Serebro has released a song about "the love between us" in the middle of yet anot...

Mikko Leppilampi, the host of Eurovision song contest 2007  in Helsinki, turns 39 today. Congratulations! Mikko shot to the fame when he landed his first movie role back in 2003 and besides getting the lead role he also won Jussi award aka the Finnish Oscar for it. In the next years he did 9 more films and a musical before he landed the hosting role in the 2007 Eurovision song contest next to Jaana Pelkonen. Since then he has done 17 more films, acted in seven tv-series, released an album as a singer, and hosted a variety of top tv-series from Dancing with stars to various top award and gala evenings, and countless visits to other series either as a host or a guest. In one word: he's been on screen ever since! Even in ads....

As an Eurovision fan travelling to a new Eurovision country is always also an adventure to the local record stores - if they only exist anymore. I was in Prague last week and they do have several stores left but....  not so much for a collector of this genre... The only Eurovision artists I saw were Kabát and Karel Gott. But then again, Kabát was all over the place; streets full of their tour ads and their CDs in every shop. The band's been together since 1983 and still seem to be the Czechia's finest and most popular rock band, filling stadiums and arenas. Their Mala dama deserved so much more in Helsinki 2007! Karel Gott is still very popular, at the tender age of 78, it seems. He has released dozens of albums since his Eurovision (for Austria) in 1968. He has already retired twice but seems to come back due to the popular demand again and again.   The Golden Voice of Prague joined forces with rock band No Name this summer for Kto dokáže for example..... and his ...

Congratulations to Hanna Pakarinen who married her drummer boy Risto Niinikoski in Temppeliaukio church in Helsinki They have been together for then ten years. And off they go to the Honeymoon in Los Angeles...... No more leave me alones I hope..... PS. These days it's been also reported Krista Siegfrids will finally get married this fall, too, but the date hasn't been revealed.....