Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Jamala is now at the winner's press conference. She starts telling she feels amazing and have no other words in English to describe it. Then she thanks the organizers and everybody for those three minutes. And everyone who voted for her. Everybody in her team who created the staging magic. The most important thing is to believe in yourself and what you are doing. If you talk or sing about truth, it will touch people. She hopes 1944 will have the same kind of power than Schiendler's list (soundtrack) Then she is declared the new queen of Crimean tatars by someone in the audience. Jamala hopes the next Eurovision will take place in Ukraine, not sure where but in Ukraine. She will be working on her new album soon. She has written a new song even today. It will be her 5th and they hope to have an interantional release for it. And then she's asked about LGBT rights and if they will be safe in Ukraine next year, sigh. Obviously, is the answer. Enter Jon Ola Sa...

Hungarian Freddie was very thrilled and happy, "we gave it all" and he just wanted to make his country proud.  Nina Kraljic from Croatis is still in shock. She says some people back at home wanted her to fail and now she made it to the finals for the first time in seven years. Douwe Bob from the Netherlands said he got what he wanted from those 10 seconds. And he, like everyone else on that table, is aiming to bring home the trophy. He believes he has a strong song and that less is more. Iveta Mukuchyan from Armenia thanks the production and how it was so nervous to wait for the name even if everyone was saying she will slay in the semifinal. She takes nothing for granted, and feels so priviliged to be right here and now. She wants to enjoy every second. And then she's asked about the flag.... Sergey Lazarev of Russia admits he was feeling nervous and has a lot of pressure on his shoulders. Then he invites everyone to Russia to see they are not h...

A lot of memories and emotions today. Today is exactly two years when the San Marino miracle happened and Valentina Monetta qualified for the final with Maybe . I'm so happy I was part of it, and that night remains the most euphoric one ever. From the area to that totally fabulous press confeence after over to the EuroClub. There was a lot of love in the air that night! Can't wait to meet up with the legendary team again in Stockholm next week!

One of the most memorable moments in the press conferences so far has been this Israeli-Lebanese moment. Building bridges indeed..... 

Today's exactly a year Conchita Wurst won the 2014 Eurovision in Copenhagen and this annoversary also means kick off for a new season as today the delegations have started arriving in Vienna. Things get serious tomorrow when the first countries take the stage for first rehearsals (Moldova, Armenia, Belgium, Netherlands, Finland, Greece, Estonia and Macedonia). It seems all is ready and people already arrived and checking things out seem to be more than pleased. And indeed it all looks fine. The city of Vienna seems ot have put a lot of effort making the event visible all over the town and the press center and the rest looks nice and cozy. Let the show begin! Few facts on the stage: it's in the form of an eye, 43 meters wide, 14 meter high and 22 meters deep. 1270 individual steles surround it, all equipped with LEDs just like the stage floor. Behind it all a LED wall that is 30 meters wide and 9 meters high that can be hauled apart in the middle.  And let's see w...

Emmelie de Forest, the happiest girl in the world is meeting the media right now....  Happy and relieved. She tells Loreen was the first artist to congratulate her (so, no one in green room did?!) and she thought her worst competitors were Norway, Swedem Ukraine and Azerbaijan.... DR said they will host the contest, but where will be decided in coming months. Jan Ola Sand welcomed DR to Geneva in June to start preparations and said Emmelie is a worthy winner. Good night Europe, see you in Denmark 2014!

Farid from Azerbaijan started the show by doing some capoeira to the request of the hostess. Then he was asked if he will take ESC back to the land of fire. He said why not, it's a good idea! He draw the second half. Then Krista asked if Farid would marry her. He said he'd rather have her hold him. Ha ha! And Reeta is a good kisser, she said! Then she was asked if her boyfriend has proposed her yet and she said she hasn't had time to check her phone but if he doesn't propose by the end of this week she will marry someone else, a boy or a girl!  She draw herself to the... first half :-(  But she said it's ok and she's happy with it! Gianluca from Malta was very euphoric and wasn't sure if he will go back to work on Thursday in the hospital. He drew himself to the first half. Eythor thinks he doesn't have to better anything in his song, just sing it again on Saturday. He will sing in the second half. Greek Ilias told he was looking for her ...

Estonia is very, very happy for making it as they didn't quite believe they could make it without Latvia and Finland voting in this semi but "music wins!". Birgit draw herself to first half. After her Emmelie took Denmark to the second half. She thanked the audience for a great evening.  Russia was happy of course and dedicated her "victory" to everyone, we are one. She took Russia to the first half. Zlata says she's almost crying, she was so nervous! And for the giant it's the happiest day of his life. She was asked if there are any men in Ukraine as they always send beautiful girls! She answered: Oh, we do, Verka Serduchka! Ha ha. And Ukraine will be in the second half.  Anouk got a huge applause. Then she told she wasn't very nervous but when the number nine came and she wasn't even that.... but she had noticed the camera crew coming around her a few times already so....  then to the queestion about her gay icon status: I don't ...

The winner's press conference was rather chaotic as expected so after trying to get anywhere near the desk I went to the working area and watched it from the screen instead, tired and relieved. And yes, the girls did sing Molitva in Finnish. The chorus at least!