Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

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

It's September and the Eurovision 2018 season is officially on. I will feature in coming days names that could be in UMK18, if only...... I say if only, as most likely we won't see any of them in there for UMK is profilied as a newcomers contest instead of being our own Sanremo or Melodifestivalen. In short: a major contest all the big names want to take part not only to win but to boost their record sales and score hits. But one can dream, right? I have thrown in some not so known names for variety. Let's go.... Vol.10 Check out the previous posts by scrolling down. Vesala is singer-songwriter, actress and playwriter, started in hugely popular PMMP before going solo, writes hit songs to other artists as well and Lauri's ex-wife and mother of his kid. Past few years it seems everything she touches turns into a success and she's got her shelves full of awards to prove it. This week it was revealed she has written the Finnish version of  hit musical Mamma M...

How times flies? It feels like last week when ten years ago after two weeks of 24/7 Eurovision hassle non stop the grand final was here, I was sitting in the audience waving my Finnish flag and feeling so sleepy.... Amazing two weeks, house full of people, writing for a website, staying in the arena and in the press center from early morning to late night only to contnue to day at the EuroClub.  Amazing production also the final with Lordi's opening video and live performance. Who could forget Krisse, the princess of the republic? Jaana Pelkonen & Mikko Leppilampi the fantastic hosts? Santa Claus! The Apocalyptical interval act with more heavy rock than all other Eurovisions put together.... I'm a proud Finn!  Such wonderful colorful memories! Here's the final recap: And here's the full show:

Another duo for Vienna 2015. Czech Republic revealed last night they have internally chosen after "going through artists one by one" and have chosen Marta Jandovà (41) and Václav Noid Bárta (35). Marta has been doing career also in Germany, and dueted even with Finnish Apocalyptica ( here ). She is also doing tv-presenter and has lend her voice to many bands. Václav has a past in rock bands, has done a lot of musicals and is also a composer, lyricist and actor. Their song is called Hope never dies , and was chosen among the submitted and invited songs. A jury picked it up without knowing the writers and faith has it - it is written by Václav!

In our exlusive interviews n Malmö 2013 Finland's Krista Siegfrids mentioned The Rasmus as the one she would like to see represent Finland in Denmark 2014.  This is also been this blogger's wish for years already! However, recently the lead singer Lauri Ylönen said The Rasmus is about to take a break while he is to release a new album with his new band Amanda . This album was supposed to be his second solo album following the success of his debut.... Meanwhile The Rasmus has announced tour dates in Russia this fall! Things are a bit complicated here but The Rasmus/Lauri/Amadeus would a great choice anyways, but only a wish I guess as UMK 2014 will be here again.... But maybe could be at least involved in writing the song? He and his partner PMMP's Paula Vesala wrote for example Johanna Kurkela 's Rakkauslaulu . Anyways, The Rasmus is one of the most succesful Finnish bands abroad. In 2003 their In the shadows was the number one single in Europe that year. Othe...

If some of you follow daily politics you may know we are in the middle of presidential elections here in Finland. The first round was won by Sauli Niinistö, but Pekka Haavisto, an openly gay represant of the Green Party made the impossible and made his way to the second round as well. Political views aside, as the seat of a republic's president is non-political but the country's cultural life has divided. In short, the artists are on Haavisto's side, the sportsmen and business on Niinistö's side. And even if the artistic support for Haavisto has been widely public since day one tonight an incredible line up will take the stage in Helsinki's Ice hall to support Haavisto. Ultra Bra reunites just for him for this one off, Jenni Vartiainen breaks her holiday to be there, both PMMP girls will be there, so will Lauri  of The Rasmus, Paradise Oskar, Anna Puu, Eicca Toppinen of Apocalyptica, Freeman, Jonna Tervomaa, Kaija Kärkinen, Maarit, Maija Vilkkumaa, Värttinä an...

The annual charity concert for children's hospital will take place in Hartwall Areena on September 15, 2010 and once again the hottest Finnish pop names are there from Hanna Pakarinen to Apocalyptica , from Jenni Vartiainen to Cheek and Irina just to name a few. More names will be added for sure and there's always also a surprise foreign act to heat things up, last year it was Tokyo Hotel. Hanna and Apocalyptica have worked together in Black ice .

After Whitney Houston I'm going to see Nina Hagen and Grace Jones. Did someone mention I'm very versatile? Nina Hagen started already 36 years ago with schlager Du hast den Farbfilm vergessen but soon became the queen of punk worldwide. But she's also trained operasinger as you can hear in Total eclipse and generally just lovely & mad like in Blumen fur die Damen or Seeman . Grace Jones started in 1976 with I need a man and scored a megahit with La vie en rose the year after. A few years later Pull up to the bumper and I have seen that face before were megahits. And here's null problema with Nina!

Euroviisut fan favourite Johanna Kurkela (Euroviisut 2007 Olet uneni kaunein ) will release her fourth album Hyvästi, Dolores Haze on April 7. It's first promo single Rakkauslaulu is already #1 in RadioSuomi's most played songs chart. It is written by Lauri Ylönen (of The Rasmus ) and Paula Vesala ( PMMP ) and Eicca Toppinen ( Apocalyptica ) plays cello in it.

Apocalyptica's visits to the USA are paying off. Already last year they scored a #6 hit on Billboard and at the moment their I don't care is #1 on BDS and Mediabase Active Rock radio play charts, and climbs to #2 on Billboard's Hot mainstream rock tracks, right after AC/DC. They're also doing better than Metallica. The irony is Apocalyptica started as Metallica cover band! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uu9uxGP5nL0 Watch here the fabulous Helsinki 2007 Eurovision interval act with Apocalyptica again: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyqLl0XoMTI

Hanna Pakarinen's new single Make believe off her 4th album to be released in 2009 is digitally available today. Check it out on her MySpace! She's at the studio finishing the new yet untitled album and promises " feel good music. Light and beautiful pop music. More happiness, less angst!" she promises. Meanwhile listen & watch some angst with Apocalyptica & Hanna here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhRuhDEUEas

The rumours from Turkey tell TRT is torn between Şebnem Ferah and Hadise, two rather different female artists. Şebnem Ferah (36) started her career in all female hardrock band Volvox back in 1994 but has also provided the voice of Ariel in Disney's The little mermaid . She went solo in 1996 and has since released 5 albums and become one of the leading rock figures in Turkey. In 2001 she collaborated with Apocalyptica. Listen to it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tG3GihFVfTI Hadise Açıkgöz (23) was born in Belgium and participated there at 17 in Pop Idols. She didn't even make it to the semifinals but has since built up a career as a r&b singer, songwriter and tv-presenter. She sings mainly in English but has recently also been trying to hit the Turkish market where she has received criticism for being too erotic. Judge yourself here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNd7akhxHcM

Radio Rock Finlandia award was given for the first time last year and was won by Hanoi Rocks, the first real Finnish rockband that gained success abroad. The voting has already started on http://www.radiorock.fi/kilpailut/rrf08_aanestys.html and goes on until November 28. The big gala will be held on December 5 in Helsinki's Ice Hall. The nominees are: Apocalyptica , Apulanta, Children of Bodom, CMX, Diablo, HIM, Kotiteollisuus, Mokoma, Negative, Nightwish , The Rasmus and Teräsbetoni . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyqLl0XoMTI , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3iwCGBXmDI

Finland biggest and most important summer rock festival is happening this weekend and the artists include HIM; Nightwish, The Ark, Apocalyptica and Teräsbetoni . Also Jippu makes her rock festival debut - she says she never attended one in her life - and will perform her songs and "surprises" with a gospel choir of 40 members! If gospel and Jippu sound a bit strange in a rock festival how about the Eurovision connections? Has Eurovision become more rock or rock festivals more schlager?

Tomorrow is Finland's 90th birthday and the president hosts the annual reception in her castle and besides the members of the government and parliament, all the diplomats anda few hundred common mortals who have achieved something during the year have been invited. Around 2 million Finns light up candles, open a bottle of wine (or something stronger) and get together in front of the TV to judge the ladies dresses, who comes with who and why? to this only real glamour happening in Finland. Stay tuned for Jaana Pelkonen , Mikko Leppilampi , Eicca Toppinen of Apocalyptica and Katri Helena amongst others.... (And yes, Lordi was invited last year but didn't show up. Or did they? The mystery remains....)