Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

The Finnish trio KAJ that won Swden's Melodifestivalen and placed 4th at the Eurovision song contest 2025 has been collecting awards and milestones over the past year.  Bara bada bastu topped the charts both in Finland and Sweden, as well as Spotify's Viral Global chart. Last year it also topped the OGAE poll and won Eurovision song of the year at OUTmusic Awards. The Finnish music publishers awarded it as The Song of the Year and also gave an Export award to KAJ. They have won also an award by the Finnish language teachers union SUKOL and many more among them The Finnish-Swedes of the Year and even an award for promoting sauna culture.  In the Finnish Grammys, Emma Awards Bara bada bastu won The Song of the Year and they also won The band of the Year and the Export award. Now they have won in the Swedish Grammys aka Grammies also The Song of the Year award. Previously they won in Sweden's Rockbjörnen award the Band of the Year and the Breakthrough of the Year awards. I sup...

The 2025 was kinder to Eurovision family than some previous ones but we did lose some Eurovision artists and personalities, let them rest in peace and live forever in our collective memory.  Here they are in random photo (above) order: Tapani Kansa (1949-2025): He took part in the Finland's national selection Euroviisut with 13 different songs between 1975-2009. He may have not hit it big in Euroviisut but his biggest hits came from somewhere else . He recorded 39 albums and had countless hits, awards and nominations and was one of the most loved and versatile artists. Tali Eshkoli (1964-2025): israeli producer and Eurovision personality. She launched The Next Star national selection and Israel Calling event, produced a documentary on Harel Skaat where he came out, she was the executive producer of Eurovision song contest 2019 in Tel Aviv and she was a regular in juries across Europe to select songs for Eurovision. Shpat Kasapi (1985-2025): Albanian singer-songwriter. He took part...

The official single's chart that you can find here differs quite a lot from what the radios play proving the streaming audience is not the same as radio listening audience. Needless to say this blogger is a lot more in tune with the radio waves. Even if they played mostly only Nelli Matula's UMK 2025 entry and BEHM... And Ed Sheeran being the only non Finnish chart topper in 2025! Mirella - Löytää mut (weeks 1-3, 6-9) Shrty - Sirkus (weeks 4-5) Nelli Matula - Hitaammin hautaan (weeks 10-23) 14 weeks  Ed Sheeran - Azizam (weeks 24-25) BEHM - Kaiken arvoinen (weeks 26-43) 19 wks Kaukua - 10.000 tuntia (week 44) Haloo Helsinki - Voiko enkelitkin eksyä (weeks 45-47, 49, 51) Ahti x Behm - Tähdet (Week 48, 50)

Montenegro is selecting its entry for Eurovision song contest tonight. 15 songs have made it this far and there will be a threesome voting: 50% jury, 25% Montenegrin televote and 25% international televote. The show airs from RTCG's Veliki studios in Podgorica. Among artists Eurovision veteran Andrea Demirović and Dolce Hara who for some mysterious reason has decided to sing in accented Italian or maybe just keep up with the "let's sing in Italian for no reason at all" in various national finals trend that regularly is dusted somewhere. And she's not even alone.... Tamara Is a singer and flutist, studies in University of Arts in Belgrade. Her breakthrough came last year in Montesong where she placed 9th with Poguban let . After that she has released another two songs:  Prošla godina and Bez kontrole .  Update: Music video and revamped version was released March 8, 2026 Below are the results (jury + public - total, placement) Lara Baltić - Rhythm Boy   (6 + 12) 18 ...

  The year is nearing the end and so it #Finpop 2025. We started with Käärijä and Hooja and end up with another Swedish connection or KAJ, the Finnish trio that represented Sweden at Eurovision and their latest banger Karaoke. Enjoy and thank you for this year. #Finpop 2026 will be launched in due time! Stay tuned! Aliisa Syrjä - Sydän on rikki Lasse Havu - Tahdon Birgi - Oon sun lähellä KAJ - Karaoke

 Yet another dose #Finpop 2025 with four lesser known more or less indie female artists that re worth a listen. Enjoy! ellaella - Pilalla yaya - Huokauksii Ira - Meistä kertova satu emma - Elvytä mut

  Another dose of #Finpop 2025 with UMK and Eurovision twist. Kuunkuiskaajat (ESC 2010) are back together after nearly ten years apart while Aksel Kankaanranta who missed Eurovision due Covid-19 has released yet another new song as has home ground Eurovision 2007 star Hanna Pakarinen and finally UMK veteran Ilta belting out yet another beautiful ballad. Enjoy! Kuunkuiskaajat - Lemmenhuuto Aksel Kankaanranta - Mitä sanoisin Hanna Pakarinen - Rakenteet Ilta - Yksin et koskaan sä mee

This time a treat: UMK 2026 drops out - and one from UMK 2025! Usually artists keep quiet that they have applied for UMK but sometimes they just admit they did apply and were not taken. This is the case of Berta, Tina and Miki Ratsula with their entries below. Plus One Ghost that apparently applied for 2025 but wasn't taken. What do you think, did they deserve to be there? Berta - Kuu Tina - Kohoma Miki Ratsula - Supposed to be One Ghost - Legacy

  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 

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

  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

  Another dose of #Finpop. Are these #UMK2026 drop outs or not? We will find out in a few months! Senni - Tuu mun kaa Joe L - Pisamat ja naarmut emma & matilda - Ei kulu päivääkään Henna Uoti - Hoivatuuli

  Here we go again for another dose of #Finpop with songs and names that may or may not have been submitted to #UMK2026 as fandom speculates about most every song released from now on around 3 minutes mark as possible #UMK drop out.... Ellimei - Mun ihminen Benjamin - Bensaa tulipaloon Minttu - Tyttöystävä ( dance video ) Karim B -  Otan kii

  Another dose of #Finpop 2025 . This time a foursome of songs that have been waiting for weeks or months to be included but always left out the last minute for a reason or another. So here they come: Eini's yet another insanely catchy banger, Bee's smash hit and James-J's and Raappana's catchy tunes. Enjoy! Eini - Yön selkään James-J - Parempaa Raappana - Konkurssi Bee - Ei me kuolla kuitenjaan

The Sanremo 2026 had launched the selection for the artists and the very first phase of Sanremo Giovani has got the 524 submissions to 34 who will now have a live audition in front of the jury who will pick up the 24 for the live five shows on Rai2 hosted by Gianluca Gazzoli from November 11, 2025. After three shows on December 9 there will be a semi-final where from only six will reach the final Sarà Sanremo on December 14, 2025. They will be joined by two lucky ones selected through Area Sanremo who will be selected in early December. Those two from Area Sanremo have already their ticket to Teatro Ariston in February at that point along with two selected in that final so in total the Newcomers section in Sanremo 2026 will have four artists. All clear and simple? Among the names many familiar names from various talents shows like X Factor, Amici and even previous Sanremo selections   Here are the 34: Agèlo - Io distruggo  Alunno - Bonnie & Clyde Amsi - Pizza Americ...

  After a tiny little break another dose of #Finpop 2025 in between all Vain elämää covers dropping. This time with already #Finpop regulars Aliisa Syrjä, Jemina, Costee and Atti Ketonen with AI artist Sofia Noir. Yes, AI. I discovered that a bit too late as I am against AI stuff but let this be a good reminder and warning that you cannot trust your ears and eyes anymore...... Aliisa Syrjä - Meit ei löydä kukaan Jemina / costee - Epäreilu maailma Antti Ketonen - Ohimenevät päivät Sofia Noir -  Oot mun seikkailu

  Here comes some more #Finpop 2025. We have Sofia Zida, Olli Halonen, newcomer Kaukua (as an artist as he has co-written and produced already many hits for Hugo for example) with up and coming AHTI and Finnish schlager pop scene icon Meiju Suvas with her retro banger that has taken a new life Could all these acts be heading for UMK in form or another? Meiju has expressed her wish and has applied before (already in early 1980's btw). We'll see.  Sofia Zida - Rakkauden taa Olli Halonen - Rakastaa ja tulla rakastetuksi Kaukua / AHTI - Jos viel tänään  Meiju Suvas - Pyjamas päälle mä paan 

  Another dose of #Finpop 2025 for you. First we have UMK runner up Sara Siipola, then possible UMK 2026 names Elias Kaskinen - btw also Nelli Matula's husband - and Alina Burnet, with a producer/Dj Eben.  Sara Siipola - Haluun elää Elias Kaskinen - Meidän tässä kuuluisi rakastuu Alina Burnet - Tyttö maan pääl Eben - Drown