Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

After the qualification for the final by San Marino (2014) and Czech Republic (2016) there's only one country left that has never made it: Andorra. And as Andorra seems to have no intention to participate again in the Eurovision song contest - sadly - after their six year run of misfortunes, let's have a look what they did offer us during those years 2004-2009. They debuted in 2004 with Marta Roure and Jugarem a estimar-nos , the first ever song in the contest in Catalan. She scored 12 points in the semifinal (all of them from Spain!) and places 18th leaving behind Belarus, Monaco, Slovenia and Switzerland. Marta released her debut album shortly after but has since disappeared, at least from the internet. The year after Dutch born hotel director Marian van de Wal had the honors with Anabel Conde in the backing vocals with La mirada interior . She scored 27 points (10 from Spain and 7 from the Netherlands, and 6 from Albania and 4 from Moldova), that was enough for ...

Sad news to those who like me waited for the return of the Andorran broadcaster RTVA to return to Eurovision. Due financial reasons the broadcaster follows Luxembourg and exists EBU altogether. Shame. But we can always remember and cherish country's less shiny Eurovision history. Many of these songs deserved better than they actually did. None of them made the final, not even the big favourites Anonymous in Helsinki and Jenny even came last... But here they are: 2004 Marta Roure - Jugarem a estimar-nos (18th in semifinal) live at ESC 2005 Marian Van De Wal - La mirada interior (23rd in semifinal) live at ESC 2006 Jenny - Sense tu (23rd in semifinal) live at ESC 2007 Anonymous - Salvem el món (12th in semifinal) live at ESC 2008 Gisela - Casanova (16th in semifinal) live at ESC 2009 Susanne Georgi - La teva decision (Get a life) (15th in semifinal) live at ESC

Andorra's Gisela didn't quite impress the televoters in the first semifinal this year with her Casanova but the fans surely noticed her self designed dress and she was a clear winner of Barbara Dex Award, the award for the worst dressed artists in the Eurovision 2008. She beats Belgium's Ishtar and Spain's Rodolfo clearly getting 104 votes against their 30 and 23. Therefor she enters the hall of fame of bad taste with Verka Serduchka, Nonstop, Martin Vusic, Debbie Scerri and Guildo Horn, just to name a few. The award was launched back in 1997. See the full winners list here http://www.eurovisionhouse.nl/bdaward.php Watch the award winning creation here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnDtWSVPGZY&feature=related

Andorra entered the Eurovision in 2004 but is yet to reach the final. They have even managed to come last in the semifinal already despite decent songs in general. Last year they were the shock drop outs as Anonymous was amongst the favourites and considered rather safe qualifier. This year Andorra tries again something new and different for them: a rather Scandinavian sounding poptune sung by a Spanish artists who actually does have a career already: Gisela! Spanish Gisela from Barcelona will represant Andorra in the Eurovision this year. She already backed up Rosa in 2002 as a member of the Operación Triunfo finalists. She was studying journalism when she was accepted to OT and the rest is history. Disney soon picked her up to sing in Peter Pan , The Beauty and The Beast and Enchanted . She has also done musicals and represanted Spain in Viña del Mar festival in 2003 that she won. She remains the only one who has won both the best singer and the best song awards. In 2008 she hopes...

The rumours and speculations came true as Gisela has been confirmed as the Andorran entrant. She will sing Casanova in Belgrad. She is Spanish and became famous in Operación Trionfo 2001. She came only 8th but travelled with Rosa to the ESC as backing singer and has ever since build a rather succesful career. She will be 29 in January and has won Viña del Mar 2003 festival with Este amor es tuyo , just like fellow entrant Paolo Meneguzzi in 1996 with Aria ario . Have a look what to expect here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAEMlIJ0o-s (be sure the watch til the end, THE windmachine returns!!)

Andorra seems to become the first one to reveal their artist this time around, if the Giselagame becomes reality. Over the past few days the news of her have been rumoured, confirmed, denied and all over again.... She sounds and looks like a good Eurovision choise on the safe side so let's see if she manages to pull Andorra to the final for the first time. That is, IF she is chosen!