Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

What can I say about the show to start with? The hosts? Okeyish, mostly kept to their role, the attempts to be funny mostly were a bit meh and what an earth was Michael wearing?! The graphics were rather unpleasant when the songs were introduced. The postcards kinda nice but weird, an evolution of those in Turin but better. The opening act was nice and pure Eurovision, the interval act also typical Eurovision the little I watched it being busy scrolling Twitter but that Australia/austria thingy was a big yawn really. And it seems Italy and Finland took over Twitter at least in my wall.  But the stage! I love the stage! It looked great to most everyone and some shots were just stunning. One of the best stages for many years! Of the acts Croatia stunned me the most and Belgium looked great, too, as for the songs Israel really steps out in the recaps.  And then the finalist, here in order they were announced except Finland (announced second) that makes the headline of course. Aft...

What can I say? Not much judging these short videos. But I say a few words anyways by the first impression that can be very misleading anyways. Moldova is a bit let down, not at all so powerful and energetic as I expected. Vocals seem to be off, too. Sweden . Same as Moldova. Which makes me think these vids are on purpose a mess. Croatia seems very busy and a bit too serious and angry. I have said before and I repeat myself: angry women don't do well in Eurovision . Greece .... Oh well, looks rather chaotic and his voice a bit weak. But then again it's a rehearsal. Need to see the whole package but doesn't look like a winner despite all. This said my favorite performance of them all is the Greek national final preview with only one hanging mic. That was fab and let Akylas show all his charm. Now he disappears into his visuals.  Portugal stands out with the pretty staging, calm song and good voices. They're so sailing to the final! Georgia was on my list to qualify b...

  Finland - Linda Lampenius x Pete Parkkonen - Liekinheitin Georgia - Bzikebi - On replay Portugal - Bandidos do Cante - Rosa Greece - Akylas - Ferto Croatia - Lelek - Andromeda Sweden - Felicia - My system Moldova - Satoshi - Viva, Moldova! All photos lovingly borrowed from Eurovision official media

Here it is, already traditional Blogilkar's Eurovision Home Jury results. This year we had a total of nine people in the jury from teenagers to 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s, most every one just people who do watch Eurovision but aren't any fanatic fans, just tv viewers who don't remember who won two years ago or sometimes even last year, don't have a clue about the polls and odds but just score the songs to their liking. We used 1 to 10 scores. Tie breaks were settled by highest marks and if still a tie by my preference. Here we go! 4. MALTA - AIDEN - BELLA    60 5. SWEDEN - FELICIA -  MY SYSTEM     55 6. NORWAY - JONAS LOVV - YA YA YA    55 7. MOLDOVA - SATOSHI - VIVA, MOLDOVA!    50

    I wasn't planning on doing personal reviews this year either but here we go after all. Truth to be said I have listened the entries 0-2 times before sitting down now to comment them. Let's go! The usual Blogilkar's home jury will reunite later and the results revealed in due time. meanwhile, my thoughts and comments on the entries of Eurovision song contest series is right here.  Greece - Akylas - Ferto ***** Ok, this is this years Käärijä/Joost/Baby Lasagna/Tommy Cash but Akylas has what the others have missed since Käärijä: the cute bubbly personality that I can't not adore. The song's also fun, catchy but not studid. The arrangement throws in nice nuances and the ballad bit fits and is beautiful and very, very Greek. Great job. I hope this makes the Top-5. Should this win I wouldn't be too sad but this more of a tyoical runner up like song. Instead of the national final video I want to add here the preview video as it shows best his personality.  Moldova ...

  Moldova had its national final Finala Națională for Eurovision song contest 2026 on January 17 and it was won by Satoshi and his Viva, Moldova! Satoshi (aka Vlad Sabajuc, 27) is a Moldovan singer, songwriter, rapper and composer. He's been involved in music as Satoshi since 2019 and has already released four albums and 40 singles since 2022! However so far only two have apparently charted: Noaptea pe la 3 (#16 in Moldova) and Diferente (#81 in Romania).  Satoshi won in the final both international and national jury and also the televote by huge margin: he got 13.084 votes versus CatalinaSolomac's 861! Originally 37 songs were submitted, 34 attended the auditions round in December and 16 acts reached the final. Both the national and international jury included several Eurovision artists who also performed during the show.  Finala Națională 2026 (nat jury + int jury + televote) 1. Satoshi - Viva, Moldova! (12 + 12 + 12) 36 2. Pavel Orlov - Can't say goodbye (10 + 8 + 8)...

The announcement came in a press conference this morning, held by Moldova1 Director Corneliu Durnescu, and the Moldovan Head of Delegation, Daniela Crudu:  "The decision was not an easy one, but it was necessary in the current context. This year’s national selection highlighted certain challenges, including a decrease in the public interest and the overall quality of artistic plays and performances. This has generated a negative perception among specialists and the public, stressing the need for a substantial reform in the selection process. We consulted music specialists, and most of them expressed serious reservations about Moldova’s participation this year, in agreement with the opinion of the jury that TRM selected for this edition. We respect the opinions of professionals and of the general public, and we understand that we have to make responsible decisions. This decision was not an easy one, but we assure you that it was analysed in detail. We know that we all wanted to org...

As Eurovision is nearing its 70th edition in 2026 we still have 25 countries, more or less active or existing that have never won the contest. Some have been close already like Croatia this year placing second, as well as other runner ups Cyprus, Bulgaria, Australia, Iceland, Malta, Poland and no longer existing Serbia & Montenegro. Moldova, Romania and Bosnia & Herzegovina have reached the third place getting a taste of the podium success, too.  Then we have poor Andorra that never reached the final being close to do so in Helsinki 2007's massacre mega big semi-final of 28 entries placing 12th. Some countries are yet to reach the Top-1o in the final: San Marino, Montenegro and no longer participating Slovakia and Morocco. This said let's hope they all come back one day! While at this let's enjoy those non winning countries best placed entries to show them some support, ok? 2024 CROATIA (2.) Baby Lasagna - Rim Tim Tagi Dim 2019 NORTH MACEDONIA (7.)   Tamara Todevs...

Another year, another Home Jury. And mind you, never ever before the results have been so surprising and I must honestly admit so not in line with my own likes and dislikes but what can I do, they have spoken. We voted with scores from 1 to 10 and this year also the scores are all time low and without a runaway winner. Ties were broken by highest individual scores. This year our unprofessional, mildly interested, regular Eurovision viewers included people in their teens, 20's, 30's, 40's and 50's. Both sexes, various locations in Finland added with our exotic Peruvian member to spice things up a little. I will count down the whole ranking in coming days from bottom to the top so please do follow up and comment if you like. Let's go! 32. SPAIN  3,63 33. ARMENIA  3,25 34. ICELAND  3,25 35. GEORGIA  3,25 36. GREECE  3,00 37. MOLDOVA  3,00

As there isn't much to blog when rehearsals are done with closed doors (and yes, I'm all for it!)  I will just do a feature with a couple of  photos from the rehearsals as published by Ebu.  Today a couple of things caught my eye: Luxemburg's totally wrong outfit, Finland's and Slovenia's "nudity" and Moldova's lack of those violin girls. Not so sure of Azeri outfits either. As for the rest pretty much the same and expected.  Today we had the first 30 minutes technical rehearsals by these countries: ICELAND SLOVENIA FINLAND MOLDOVA   AZERBAIJAN AUSTRALIA PORTUGAL LUXEMBURG

TRM organized once again Etapa națională 2024, the Moldovan national final for Eurovision song contest 2024 and as almost every year there was some controversy.  Open call resulted in 51 submissions and 32 were invited for auditions, and eventually 11 took part in the final won by Natalia Barbu, already an Eurovision veteran from Helsinki 2007.  Natalia Barbu (44) is a Moldovan singer-songwriter who lives in Romania these days. Her music career started in 2006. Her biggest success has been  Îngerul meu that topped the Romanian Top-100 for 11 weeks in 2006. In 2007 she was selected to represant Moldova in Helsinki Eurovision.  The legend goes she had to pay her trip herself unless she reaches the Top-10, then TRM would pay her back everything. And yes, she placed 10th with Fight. In 2012 she topped the Moldovan charts with I said it's sad. In 2013 she tried her luck in the Romanian selection with Confession placing 13th.  She has released several albums an...

Here it is! The incorruptible, infallible and most reliable Blogilkar's Home Jury made of people in their teens, 20's, 30's, 40's and 50's, mainly Finnish and mainly those who turn into Eurovision only on that one Saturday night, enjoy the show and that's it. Most everyone heard the songs for the first time so this was a true first impression judgement. And thus they had no idea about the fan polls, betting odds and trivial information and expectations. And boy did they turn those pools and odds around mostly, sinking some major favorites and enjoying some real underdogs. I will countdown the full ranking day by day until we have our winner out just before Liverpool is in full swing. This year I publish very few comments or opinions. Just the average score (we voted 1 to 10). In short this year is considered a bit poor by the jurors compared to for example last year and it may show in the somewhat low scores. Anyways: Enjoy! 18. MOLDOVA - Pasha Parfeni -  Soarel...

He was the favorite and did it after many attemps again. Pasha Parfeni returns to Eurovision song contest in Liverpool for Moldova. He won both jury and televote, and the other Eurovision veterans occupied the rest of the podium. This wasn't apparently good enough for Sunstroke project who badmouthed Pasha's victory. Sour people. Aliona on the other hand praised Pasha's song. It's worth remembering Pasha was a member of Sunstroke project for a short period. In 2013 Pasha wrote Aliona's entry for Eurovision while Aliona was Pasha's backing singer in 2012. The circuits are small in Moldova it seems. Results (jury + televote): 1. Pasha Parfeni - Soarele și Luna (12 + 12) 24 2. Sunstroke Project - Yummu mommy (8 + 10) 18 3. Aliona Moon - Du-mă (10 + 7) 17 4. Surorile Osaianu -  Bade, bădișor, bădiță (7 + 8) 15 5. Donia - Red zone (5 + 6) 11 6. OL - Why you play it cool  ( 6 + 1) 7 7. Corina Ivanov - When love's real (4 + 3) 7 8. Cosmina - Indestructible (2 + ...