Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

  This time let's have a UMK/Euroviisut special. Annika Eklund placed 3rd with Shanghain valot in the Euroviisut aka national selection in 2006 but it has become an evergreen and it was featured in this new version in UMK final with Annika, Eini, Keira, Bess, Laura Voutilainen and Linda Lampenius. Markku Aro of ESC 1971 has released a new track and is still actively performing and touring. Tina Petterson of Beat and ESC 1990 fame continues to release self written music and finally we have Waldo's People's ( ESC 2009 ) latest effort for the summer. Enjoy! Annika Eklund & co. - Shanghain valot 2025 Markku Aro - Sulle annoin mun elämän Tina Pettersson -Ajatuksen voimalla Waldo's People - La Fiesta

Yle organized among its other consolation Eurovision 2020 programming also a voting to find out the most loved Finnish entries of each decade ( here ). Two ladies battled it out with Katri Helena taking the crown ahead of legendary ode to the Lapland exotism in 1970s.  1979 Katri Helena - Katson sineen taivaan 29,8% 1977 Monica Aspelund - Lapponia 21,3% 1973 Marion Rung - Tom tom tom  16,0% 1975 Pihasoittajat - Viulu-ukko  14,6% 1976 Fredi & Friends - Pump pump  8,6% 1974 Carita Holmström - Älä mene pois 3,3% 1972 Päivi Paunu & Kim Floor - Muistathan  2,2% 1971 Markku Aro & Koivistolaiset - Tie uuteen päivään   2,1% 1978 Seija Simola - Anna rakkaudelle tilaisuus  2,1%

Markku Ato (67) has been awarded this year's Iskelmä-Finlandia, aka the most prestigious award for the "schlager"  music. Aro is still very active touring Finland and entertaining people with his songs and making them to dance. His most succesful years were the 1970's what comes to recording amd making hits but his absense from the charts doesn't mean he hasn't been working:  "This is the first award I ever get. I have had ups and downs in my career but I have never been out of gigs. I have always kept high profile live and have been on the road with my a´band all these decades. People want to hit the dance floor and dance. That's still the real thing, where you can meet real people. It's not all online and in social medias. Ending the career will be difficult. I have spent sleepless nights thinking how to do it with grace. Maybe I will never stop singing but continue doing private gigs and concerts, instead of touring the dance halls...

Markku Aro turns 67 today, congratulations! Markku was a teenage hearthtrob back in the day when he represented Finland in the Eurovision 1971 with Tie uuteen päivään with Koivistolaiset. He also scored a nice 8th place (out of 18).  He has releaed over 20 albums and he's still touring and performing regularly. His gig calendar has nearly 30 gigs between February and April 2017. Way to go, Markku!

The second season of Tähdet, tähdet has been again a success, and no doubt thanks to some Eurovision singers: Krista Siegfrids, Laura Voutilainen, Jarkko Ahola (Teräsbetoni) have done it all the way to the almost end, while Markku Aro was voted out after his country performance. More Eurovision is added when Mira Luoti (PMMP) was eliminated to the sounds of Lapponia , and multiple national finalist Arja Koriseva made it to sixth episode. On top of that UMK host Roope Salminen is in top-4.... As is Laura Voutilainen. But as said, surprisingly and unfairly Krista Siegfrids dropped out last Sunday. She has been a real transformer and managed all genres wonderfully showing she can also sing and is a real performer and it's time to forget ding dong and see what she is all about: a true artist. Now that's she's out I'm all for Laura Voutilainen.... She's in top-4 with Jarkko Ahola, Roope Salminen and opera hunk Waltteri Torikka.

Tähdet, tähdet or Stars, stars is a variety show that premiered last year and was won by Eurovision veteran Jari Sillanpää (ESC 2004) and featuring also Vicky Rosti (ESC 1987) and UMK participants Diandra and Stig. This year it is even more Eurovision connected when Krista Siegfrids (ESC 2013), Laura Voutilainen (ESC 2002), Markku Aro (ESC 1971), Jarkko Ahola of Teräsbetoni (ESC 2008) join national selections veteran Arja Koriseva  and #umk15 host Roope Salminen among others in the line. In this series artists perform each week music from different genres from rap to opera, from heavy rock to schlager and pop and everything in between. One of the most talked about performance last season was Jari Sillanpää's Gangnam style .

The 37th Syksyn Sävel was held in MTV3 studios in Helsinki tonight. Unfortunately it was a poorly staged rather amateurish offering this year with songs that could have taken part in the 70's or 80's mostly but that's no wonder when you look at the artists internally selected for it - most of them had their last hit in the 70's or 80's, or in some cases 90's. With a few exceptions who indeed turned out to be the best ones. Suvi Teräsniska was high above the rest with her elegant, dramatic pop perfection Täydellinen elämä . No wonder she scored almost 30% of the votes. Milana Misic had also a very strong song, with a touch of French chanson. Stig from UMK continues going more and more mainstream and he was rather enjoyable. Finally Neljän Suora , one of the rare acts actually being popular in the 2010's also had a song that will be another hit for them for sure. Finally, a hands up for Vicky Rosti , who looked more stunning than ever and also seemed ...

The annual award for the merits in the schlager field will be given out tonight. As usual the audience has a poll and the people's favourite will be awarded with a diploma but the real winner of 10.000 euros and name in the music history will be decided by Arto Alaspää alone. This is the 11th time the award will be given and last year the winner was Laura Voutilainen. Previous winners include Marion Rung, Kari Tapio, Jari Sillanpää and Paula Koivuniemi.  This year the moniness feature four veterans and a surprising newcomer, Mariska . She started as a hip hop artists but has then moved to pop, jazz and schalger also writing songs to other artists like Anna Puu, Jenni Vartiainen. Four albums todate with the latest hit being Suloinen myrkynkeittäjä . Very underrated name in this is Meiju Suvas . She started in 1982, has participated in Euroviisut and has based her career on cover versions mainly but has showed over the 30 years she's got it what it takes to stay in this business...

Varied artists today. The list regulars Anne Mattila and Agents are here but also many artists with only one entry: Dingo, Jonna Tervomaa and Eurovision veteran Markku Aro plus rockbands Mamba, Eppu Normaali and again Tik Tak. Jonna's song is a fantastic cover, so is Agent's (one of my all time favourite songs, btw) and I also like a lot Tik Tak's song! 221. SIELU SALAMOI - ANNE MATTILA 222. SAN FRANSISCO - AGENTS 223. TUULEKSI TAIVAANRANTAAN - TIKTAK 224. OLISHAN SE HIENOO - HECTOR 225. LAIVAUUTISIA - DINGO 226. RAKKAUDEN HAUDALLA - JONNA TERVOMAA 227. SÄ OOT HISTORIAA - MAMBA 228. MÄ LÄHDEN MAALLE - JUICE LESKINEN 229. KESTÄN MITÄ VAAN - MARKKU ARO 230. EI SANKARIAINESTA - EPPU NORMAALI

Euroviisut 2010 live broadcast on radio will have high profile commentators when Riki Sorsa (1981), Fredi (1967, 1974), Katja Kätkä (1994), Ami Aspelund (1983), Anneli Saaristo (1989), Markku Aro (1971), Laura Antikainen (1969), Katri Helena (1979, 1993) and Tomi Putaansuu aka Mr Lordi (2006) will comment the final songs and predict how they would do in Oslo 2010. Euroviisut legend Sanna Kojo will present the show with Jorma Hietamäki. Euroviisut 2010 will start at 19.00 CET from Tampere live on YLE2 and Radio Suomi.

Finland returned to the contest in 1971 after skipping the 1970 edition (the only time we have willingly done so, btw, and also the only time the contest has not been broadcasted on radio/TV since 1959) with one of the hottest up and coming male singers, Markku Aro. He got backing from Koivisto sisters who also were quite popular show girls at the time but soon disappeared from the spot lights. Markku Aro's debut single came out in 1968 and he scored big hits all 1970's. In the late 1070's - early 1980's he collaborated with Singapore born Nisa Soraya - until the romance lasted - and they were in Euroviisut 1981 with Mun suothan tulla vierees sun (5th) as well. He had also participated in Euroviisut 1969 (5th), 1974 (8th), 1976 (3rd) and 1979 (5th). But Markku's star was falling and he hasn't got a big hit since early 1980's even if he is still around recording and singing live and being quite popular and a household name. His latest album is from 2006.

Here's a nice photo of all the finalists in Euroviisut 1969. It is also quite remarkable each and every participant is a winner; Laila Kinnunen, Marion, Katri Helena and Markku Aro, and the whole nation's sweethearts Jarkko and Laura who beat all the others that year.... More of them shortly!