Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Finland really, really turned into dark side again when Blind Channel took a very clear win with their violent pop  Dark side in the UMK21 final. That was no wonder as the signs were clear in the social medias all throughout the day and evening, but the amount of televotes was: 479 vs. Telfon Brothers feat. Pandora's 150. over 54% of the total. Still not as much as The Roop got in Lithuania though. This said, YLE did a great job. Each staging had an idea and was well done. Teflon Brothers feat. Pandora was a bit over the top (and vocally clearly the weakest) and one could not think the Darude example when Look away was wonderfully staged in UMK and won, and then it was literally down scaled and watered down for ESC.... All the others gave their best and worked, including Danny with his funeral symbolism and minimalism and Ilta's beautiful staging and touching performance. Oskr and Aksel clearly ate each others votes and if only one of them was in running he would have ended ...

Finland is among those few countries where it is business as usual for Eurovision song contest 2021 or in short: last year's entrant has no free ticket to the contest in 2021 but the national final goes on as usual. But with a twist, last year's winner Aksel is there, apparently chosen through the open call for songs but as the songs this year are seven instead of six, one can put one plus one together and get Aksel as result. Right? Why not be open about it? Last year UMK provided a mega hit that wasn't the winner but the runner up Cicciolina by Erika Vikman and she's back performing the opening number with the host Antti Tuisku, Finland's number one pop star. On top of that supermegapopular pop rock band Haloo Helsinki makes a comeback after their break of a couple of years to relaunch their career.. As for hits the 2021 edition has already given us three hits as Teflon Brothers feat. Pandora (#2), Blind Channel (#5) and Ilta (#5) are all in Top-13 in the for th...

Play is an irresistible combination of country and pop. Its lyrics focus on an on-and-off relationship where one person has become fed up with constantly forgiving the other. I want my audience to open their hearts and find the power and support they need to move on in their lives and relationships. I believe that my story will resonate with many listeners , Laura says. Ever since she was a little girl, Laura has spent a considerable amount of time in Finland. Today, she typically spends half of the year in Finland as part of her musical and professional career. Her tenth album, released in the winter of 2019, was produced in Finland, and she has also begun learning Finnish. Laura feels that participating in UMK will help further cement her position in her new home country. The final spark for performing in the contest was lit last spring when she participated in UMK’s international jury. Better on her own? We will see. She's been to Eurovision twice but never solo so far and I d...

The artists may have leaked already last night, as usual, but today they were confirmed in a short presentation on Yle's social media channels and even live on TV1 at 1pm local time. The songs will be aired one per day starting from tomorrow. The final will take place on February 20 without live audience, and the winner will be determined by televoters (75%) and international jury (25%). The host os the show will be revealed only in February.  TEFLON BROTHERS X PANDORA - I LOVE YOU (Jaakko Salovaara-Axel Ehnström-Mikko Kuoppala-Heikki Kuula-Jani Tuohimaa-Anneli Magnusson) Teflon Brothers is a rap, pop, dance trio made of Pyhimys, Heikki Kuula and Voli. They started back in 2006. They have released six albums and 27 singles, often featuring guest vocalists and having humorous lyrics. Their biggest hits are Seksikkäin jäbä (#3), Maradona (Kesä '86) (#1), Pämppää (#1), Hubba bubba (#2), Aksel Kankaanranta got his breakhtrough being featured in Jättiläinen by Pyhimys who has...

Estonian superstars, the hardest working and performing male artist Koit Toome and the most played singer on radios, Laura, fresh from Eurovision song contest 2017 in Kyiv are coming to Helsinki's Aleksanterinteatteri on October 23. Will they get lost?

Tonight I say goodnight with this little curiosity. Enjoy! Tomorrow the rehearsals contnue with the second ones for the first semifinal ones from Sweden to Cyprus. ee you then!

Koit and Laura. My two favorites. Laura is a stunner in her fantastic dress, handmade in Estonia, and they apparently bring on stage similar choreography they had in Eesti laul final. Or rather camera work. And it seems they are yet to find their positions and cameras on that stage but there's time for that. All is very black and white and close ups of their faces telling the story before they are eventually united on stage. Lack of chemistry between them, it is said. Well hello, if they lost the love how much chemistry there can be? This is no this is love! This is one of my top favorites and I can only say like Tim Gunn: Make it work!

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Koit Toome and laura have been busy delivering new versions of their entry Verona in true Eurovision style. First of all there's a 80's mix that sounds more Modern Talking than Modern Talking itself ever did. But the rea curiosity is the Italian version. It must have seemed like a wonderful idea on paper, and indeed many fans have welcomed it with pleasure. Italians and those who know Italian like this blogger have been more confused and perplexed.... some might even call it a parody but then again.... One gets used to everything, even to this. Let's just be happy it's been recorded, ok? The Italian version is included on Laura's worthcoming Greatest Hits album, and the other remixes of the song in the vinyl EP that you can order here . 

Pictured is cornflower, Estonia's national flower  A recordbreaking 242 songs were submitted to the annual Eesti laul, 20 were selected for the semifinals, including a string of previous Eurovision veterans (Ivo Linna, Elina Born, Lenna Kuurmaa, Laura, Koit Toome). Ten songs made it to the grand final in sold out Saku Suurhall. In the end veterans Koit & Laura won, after a rocky road: in the semifinal the jury placed them only 5th, televoters 2nd. In the final's first round the jury kept pushing them down, now only 5th but they won the televote getting double the votes of runner up Kerli. Three songs made it to the superfinal where only televote ruled and they took a convincing victory (55%)  and slapped the jury's face with Verona , written by another veteran, Sven Lõhmus. Koit Toome (38) started his career in a hit duo Code One  before going solo with Eurovison 1998 and Mere lapsed placing 12th. Since then he has released albums and singles, won Danc...

Eurovision bubble is something many artists tend to return, or at least try. This year again in various national finals we have several previous participants trying again, including winners. But the sad fact is that usually the comebacks aren't so succesful. Previous winners in recent years from Dana International to Niamh Kavanagh and Charlotte Perrelli have tried and failed. But sometimes it works, like Poli Genova last year. In May we will know how it will go for these lucky ones who are back at it: Omar Naber from Slovenia returns to Eurovision, and even to Kyiv where he represented his country for the first time in 2005. Back then he failed to make the final placing 12th in the semifinal. Koit Toome and Laura from Estonia have both represented their country separately in the past. Koit placed 12th in 1998 and Laura as a member of Suntribe also did Kyiv 2005 but the girlband failed to make the final placing only 20th in the semifinal. Moldova's Sunstroke Pr...

Estonia's Eesti laul 2017 will have it's glamourous final tonight in Saku Suurhall in Tallinn. Four previous winners and several veterans and runners ups are at it, and I feel a bit favorism from Estonian tv here as the running order has Koit & Laura placed  at number two while Kerli gets the last one. Hmmm... Despite all this I firmly stay in team #Verona . My other favorite Ariadne didn't quite deliver live and struggled to get even this far. Kerli may have the most outstanding performance but certainly not the best song so let's see if also the Estonians prefer show over song.... A sad remainer again Eurovision song contest is mistaken way too often as Eurovision show contest  (ghrm, Statements , grehm) Liis Lemsalu – Keep running Koit Toome & Laura – Verona  WINNER Karl-Kristjan & Whogaux feat. Maian – Have you now  (4TH) Lenna Kuurmaa – Slingshot Daniel Levi – All I need Elina Born – In or out Ivo Linna – Suur loterii Rasmus R...

Estonia's Eesti laul 2017 second semifinal takes place tonight. Again five songs will make the final after 50-50 televote-juryvote. This one includes among others fan favorites Koit & Laura and Kerli, something that wouldn't be out of place in Kuunkuiskaajat album(Antsud) and a hippie anti-war anthem (Alvistar) that namedrops every country possible and is so weird it's already quite fantastic! Watch here from 20.35 CET Rasmus Ränvee - This love Angeelia - We ride with our flow Daniel Levi - All I need Antsud - Vihm Koit Toome & Laura - Verona Kerli - Spirit animal Close to Infinity feat. Ian Karell - Sounds like home Liis Lemsalu - Keep running Alvistar Funk Association - Make love, not war Almost Natural - Electric

Estonia has had the most exciting and indipendent selections the past few years but this year it seems it has taken a step back going to the UMK direction (that is isnoired by Eesti laul anyways) and throws in some Melodfestivalen. Rather middle of the road entries (still way better than the most songs in MF anyways) and no real smash hit with the first hearing but I'm sure they can make ost of them work wonders on stage. The most alternative ones seems to be Kerli, Close to Infinity and Alvistar but they are smooth pop compared to Winny Puhh.... This blogger was left rather unmoved and a bit disappointed with the offering at first listening as the names promised so much. However, I did like Laura & Koit, Adriane and Almost Natural and many other songs are nice, just not strong enough I think. All the time I was expecting something wonderfully weird and crazy to come up and it didn't materialize but some Kuunkuiskaajat wannabes and something Toyah could have done in the ...

Oh my, Estonia Eesti laul 2017 line up is epic. This is going to be so good it seems! Lenna, Rasmus, Elina, Daniel, Laura, Koit, Ivo, Kerli, Liis... they are all in! How can one choose? Lenna Kuurmaa - "Slingshot" Lenna Kuurmaa, Nicolas Rebscher, Michelle Leonard Rasmus Rändvee - "This Love" Bert Prinkenfeld, Stewart James Brock, Ewert Sundja, Rasmus Rändvee Angeelia - "We Ride With Our Flow" Angeelia Maasik, Andres Kõpper Elina Born - "In or Out" Stig Rästa, Vallo Kikas, Fred Krieger Leemet Onno - "Hurricane" Leemet Onno, Ed Struijlaart Laura Prits - "Hey Kiddo" Tara Nabi, Laura Prits, Andres Kõpper Daniel Levi - "All I Need" Ago Teppand, Daniel Levi Viinalass Antsud - "Vihm" Aile Alveus-Krautmann Ariadne - "Feel Me Now" Margus Piik, Tomi Rahula, Anni Rahula Koit Toome ja Laura - "Verona" Sven Lõhmus Kerli - "Spirit Animal" Ker...

  Estonia is thinking big this time. First of all the national final has been moved to Saku Suurhall, the very venue of the Eurovision song contest 2002 and if we believe the rumours most every artist in Estonia is trying to be part of it - among them several previous participant and those who made it to runner up before. Time for a revenge!  There are so many top girls that if they all make it we can expect some serious cat fights: Getter Jaani, Grete Paia, Laura, Ines and Liis Lemsalu just to name a few. But the guys aren't any less: Daniel Levi, Ott Lepland, Robin Juhkental, Rolf Roosalu and Mikk Mäe, Rasmus Rändvee, Rauno Pella and Silver Sepp . Throw in accapella group Estonian Voices and some Estonia-Finnish EMD with Popidiot . And what would Eesti Laul be without somethng weird and odd like a song titled Can you tell the difference between a cock and a hen? by Odd Hugo . Well, Tuesday we will know who has made the cut of 20 semifinalists and if indeed all...

Jüri Pootsmann has won the Eesti laul 2016 with 44% of the votes in the superfinal for his Play , co-written by last year's winner Stig Rästa leaving Laura second and Cartoon third.  The jury, including Finnish teenage pop sensation Isaac Elliot also had Juri as their favorite and Mick Pedaja second followed by Cartoon, Laura only fifth so the lovely people of Estonia lifted her to the superfinal, meaning she has had to score either 10 or 12 from them, and Mick Pedaja only 5.... Check out the detailed votes after the jump.....

Estonia's final wil take place tonight after two semifinals where half the songs were eliminated. There will be first round of voting 50-50 televoting-expert jury. The top-3 will go for the superfinal, where only televote reigns. My favorite by far is Laura, it's about the time she wins after all her wonderful entries in the past and this is equally fantastic. I also like Grete, but it's a bit like Laura light in style and rather lame staging. Shame. Jüri seems to be also popular and indeed he might be a good choice. Cartoon takes the staging further than maybe ever in Eurovision - and that's something. Shame vocally it's a mess. And what would Eesti laul be without some weird indie stuff. This year we have Meisterjaan, Mick Pedaja and I Wear* Experiment .... Laura - Supersonic Go Away Bird - Sally Mick Pedaja - Seis Grete Paia - Stories untold Kéa - Lonely boy Jüri Pootsmann - Play Kati Laev & Noorkuu - Kaugel sinust Cartoon...

Estonia's turn to kick off their national selection tonight. Over the past few years Eesti laul has become one of the most alternative and interesting national selections around usually not giving a damn what's "Eurovision-like" featuring all kind of music and acts. Who wins in the end is another matter but at least they're not afraid of showcasing the independent and alternative scene for the masses. Some familiar names trying again, among them Laura who has been close to winning already a few times - is it her turn finally? I'm not even trying to guess who will qualify here.....But my votes go to Laura and Indrek at this point.  Five will qualify for the final thanks to 50-50 televote-jury.  Love a Little Bit - The Jingles Live I'm Facing North - Würffel Live Seis - Mick Pedaja   FINAL Live Hispaania tüdruk - Indrek Ventmann Live Immortality - Cartoon feat. Kristel Aaslaid FINAL Live Lonely Boy - Kéa   FINAL Live Kaugel Sinust - K...

Antonino takes the main award in the Golden Stag or Cerbul de Aur. He is the winner of 2005 edition of Amici, an Idol like talent show in Italy. The Marker from Romania came second and Ovi from Norway third. Ovi we remember of course from the Norvegian Eurovision national final this year. Glen Vella from Malta won the jury's award. The other Eurovision artists like Laura from Finland and Roberto Meloni from Latvia return home empty handed. Watch the videos . here. And here is Laura performing The Balcan girls , the Romanian entry this year.