Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Now and them combined, as they sing in Don't shut me down . Abba is back and what a relief they still sound like themselves and instead of the break of 39 years it could be three years, or nine. But then again, the 1980's sound is back so the timing is perfect - or was it this they were waiting all this time?  Agnetha and Frida may have lost the crystalline edge of their voice but they still are totally recognizable. A bit deeper and huskier but still the voice mix that always made Abba stand out. Despite the comeback the ladies have chosen to stay out of spotlight and leave the talking to Björn and Benny. While the two now released songs ahead of the album Voyage to be released in November 2021 are already storming the global charts it will be interesting to see how this develops. Another album after this one? Or is this is, with the virtual show in London May 2022 and eventual world tour after that. Meanwhile the fandom all over the world has gone crazy and one can pre-order...

  I discovered Cher thanks to her 80's comeback hits penned by Diane Warren, and have followed her ever since as an artist and as an actress discovering also her back catalogue with jewels like Dark lady and Gypsies, tramps and thieves . Later the world (and I) went crazy for stuff like Believe .... and her latest incarnation goes all ABBA..... The first two songs below however stay as firm favorites.  Check out also

  After ABBA went on everlasting break Agnetha continued her solo career right away releasing three albums in mid 80's. Since then she has released about an album in a decade.... Check out also:

  Musical Swedish family Glenmark has given several singers and various combinations but the one here is the duo of Anders and Karin. They first scored well in Melodifestivalen 1984 with Kall som is , before becoming the wannabe ABBA when ABBAs boys wrote material for them for the next two albums, and their debut single Just like that was even an unfinished, unreleased ABBA track . Anders also scored internationally with ABBA boys' Chess musical's hit single One night in Bangkok . His falsetto and her chrystal clear voice, what's there not to love? Shame it lasted only two albums (and occasional live returns). As a duo. Both have continued and done a lot of stuff ever since.

  ABBA was so present everywhere I didn't even have to own any ABBA records to listen to them, actually my first one was ABBA Gold . You couldn't avoid them in the late 70's and early 80's before they split up.... and one still remembers all the songs by heart and they are as present as ever....

Hazell, from the UK Eurovision selection 1976 and 1984 to a leading and multiple award winning Hi-NRG live artist before providing hidden backing vocals to Samantha Janus in 1991 Eurovision and tuning into a cover artists and singing her old hits in the gay circuit. She's still around but like with so many I lost track of her when the decade came to an end.... Wonderful vocalist, maybe I should check out her again..... because she does things like this , this and this . 

"Singing Fernando for the movie Mamma mia! Here we go again was such fun I decided to record a whole album of ABBA songs" told Cher earlier this year. And here it is. Match made in glitter heaven. And among the coutless ABBA classics Cher does also Eurovision song contest winner Waterloo ... and some less covered tunes like One of us and The name of the game . The arrangements are pretty true to the originals without trying to update and alter them too much. But it's a Cher album so get ready for some heavy auto-tune effects. And hooray for that!

Just 16-year-old Gigliola Cinquetti charmed first Italy by winning the talent contest Castrocaro 1963 and then Sanremo 1964 with her Non ho l'etá, and went on to charm the rest of Europe as well by winning the Eurovision song contest a few weeks later in Copenhagen.  She beat UK to second place by scoring 47 points vs. their 17, when over half the juries gave her full marks. The song sold over 4 million singles worldwide and launched her international career. She has had singles released in 120 countries! In Italy she enjoys fame and success participating in various festivals and Sanremo. She almost got back to the contest already in 1966 when she won Sanremo with Domenico Modugno and Dio come ti amo . Modugno decided to go himself back to the contest and came last....  (Such a shame as it is one of the best Italia entries ever, if you ask me! And Gigliola's version is much bettr anyways) In 1974 she was chosen to represent Italy again and the song is Si. Italy ...

The ever so popular Mamma mia! musical by ABBA is having its Finnish version coming up next May in Helsinki. Laura Voutilainen has landed the role as Donna (played by Meryl Streep in the movie) and she describes it as her dream role and as written for her. She's done musicals before but says this is her first experience in such an acting role. She auditioned for the role by the request by the producers and there was no doubt she'll be perfect.  But the Eurovision connections don't end here: Nina Tapio and Tomi Metsäketo are also in the cast. Nina Tapio has been several times in Eurovision as a backing singer, as well as in the national final and even performed in the opening numbers in Helsinki 2007 Eurovision. Tomi Metsäketo nearly beat Lordi in Euroviisut 2006 but let's see how it goes for him now. He's in the middle of #metoo scandal now and was kicked out last week from a tv production he was supposed to be in several future episodes still in coming we...

  Krista Siegfrids will perform today in Helsinki's Musiikkitalo some Swedish classics with Tomi Metsäketo who came second in Euroviisut 2006 losing only to Lordi with his Eternamente Maria . The concert Thank you for the music is part of annual Helsingin Juhlaviikot and the songs to be performed were voted by the public over the smmer. Below is the list of the songs to be performed and the original artists, aka the most loved Swedish songs in Finland :-) Krista however performed already yesterday one of the songs, Eva Dahgren's Vem tänder stjärnorna in the Eurobasket Fan Village right next to the venue sporting a huge Krista billboard.... She really did justice to the original, great stuff! She also did her latest single, that sounded just fabulous live  1995 .   Europe – Carrie Herreys – Diggiloo Diggiley Carola – Främling Lisa Nilsson – Himlen runt hörnet Erna Tauro – Höstvisa ABBA – Knowing Me, Knowing You Roxette – Listen To Your Heart A...

London's Southbank Centre will host a new immersive ABBA exhibition later this year. A lot of stuff is borrowed from the ABBA Museum in Stockholm, and one of the highlights will be recreating the night they won the Eurovision song contest as will be the hotel suite in Brighton they stayed in and the legendary Polar Studios.  Add the Eurovision winning medal, iconic costumes and instruments and their story told with recreation of iconic places in Sweden and abroad of their career. Their songs, written in the 1970's are still played today, will be set to the context of the period they were written in. What was happening in the UK and in the world? ABBA has in the UK alone nine #1 hits, ten more Top-10 hits and seven more Top-40 hits.  ABBA is proud of their Eurovision as you can note from the speech Björn Ulvaeus gave when Eurovision song contest was awarded the Charlemagne medalfor media that has contributed to the European unity:  "For me the Eurovision Son...

ABBA's Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus are planning and considering a possible comeback concerts and tour with the British music mogul Simon Fuller - as holograms. "Nobody wants to see us old people on stage" they have stated many times before and are searching through the material from their 1977 and 1979 world tours that could possible used for the project. Techically it would be possible as likes of Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson and Frank Sinatra regularly keep on performing in Las Vegas shows these days. Björn and Benny and their represants don't want to comment the plans at the moment except with "there are always all kinds of plans in the air"....  Meanwhile you can enjoy them as holograms in Stockholm's ABBA Museum. 

The 2016 Eurovision song contest organizers didn't manage it - or any of the previous ones either nor those offering them millions of dollars - but they seem to get together for birthdays, the way the old friends do. Back in 1999 they performed together in a private party for Görel Hansel's 50th birthday, and now to celebrate the first meeting of Björn and Benny 50 years ago. Venue was Stockholm's Bern's Salonger and once again in a private setting but today even they can't stop the cell phone videos and social medias. Enjoy the magic of Frida's and Agnetha's voices again. 

The new Good evening Europe Eurovision exhibition has been success and a must visit among the Eurovision fans in Stockholm. The opening took place in presense of the Swedish Eurovision winners Björn Ulvaeus of ABBA, the Herreys, Carola, Måns Zelmerlöw and Loreen. Only Charlotte Perrelli had something better to do. Also this year's Frans and many other artists from various countries were there, or have visited the exhibition in coming days. And guess, whoever wins tomorrow gets to host this temporary exhibition next! In Stockholm it stays open until September 1, 2016! Among the many objects there are the outfits of Celine Dion, Conchita Wurst, Bobbysocks and many more. Add Barbies of Carola, Krista Siegfrids, Loreen and many more plus wax statue of Mr Lordi. What else do you need for a fun day? Interactivity? There's plenty! New interactive exhibition at ABBA the Museum, dedicated to everything that has to do with Eurovision Song Contest. The visitor can delve into hu...

The Stockholm department store NK is having its share of Eurovision celebrations as it's visual marketing crew has created six windows celebrting the six Swedish Eurovision song contest winners. I think the one with Carola takes the prize!

In 2013 Petra Mede was wearing Jean Paul Gaultier, but this time around she has chosen three Swedish designers to dress her up: Lars Wallin, Ida Lanto and Valerie Aflalo. Expect sparkling chrystals, glitter and jumpsuit!  "It's great to be able to showcase these three designers, they are skilled and dedicated to what they do and their cloathes sparkle - just like they should do in Eurovision! I absolutely love Lars Wallin, who I have worn in many occasions before. His dress for the final is sewn on by body and sparkles so much one would think it's paparazzi's taking photos of me! It's as far from a dull everyday life as it gets!" tells Petra. The first semifinal dress is by Ida Lanto. "It's a micture of classic and modern, very gala and glitter. It's stylish and same time covers up, something very suitable for a mature woman like me". The second semifinal dress is by a new designer for Petra, Valerie Aflalo. "It will be exciti...

Love metal meets Swedish pop when HIM's lead singer Ville Valo gives his voice to guitarist MGT's (Mark Gemini Thwaite) debut album's first release, an ABBA classic Knowing me, knowing you.   MGT stated in Loudwire , “ABBA released ‘Knowing Me Knowing You” nearly 40 years ago in the winter of 1977, and the single sleeve and their video had a wintery feel to it, so when we decided to shoot a video for our version. Both myself and Ville Valo agreed we should try and capture some of the feel of the ABBA version and have a winter vibe to our video as well.. So we shot my footage up in snow covered mountains, and Ville’s close-ups in front of a fire place in a secret place in Hell-sinki. We’re pleased with it, and director Ville Juurikkala did a fantastic job!” This blogger thinks those Björn & Benny have proved once again how timeless and flexible their music is. This is great!

The Dome in Brighton hosted the 19th Eurovision song contest on April 6, 1974. BBC took over the contest after Luxembourg declined to host for the second year in a row after their win in 1973 at home. All of 17 countries took part when Greece debuted, and France withdraw in the middle of Eurovision week after the death of president Pompidou, whose funeral fell on the day of the contest. Their entry was ment to be number 14, Dani's La vie à vingt-cinq ans . Also Malta withdraw without giving reasons but before the contest. Their chosen entry was Enzo Guzman's Paci fid dinja . Portugal's entry literally started a revolution. It being payed on radio on April 24 was a signal to get ready and start the coup! Italy also had some drama when their entry titled Si (Yes) was banned from RAI for over a month due the divorce referendum. Italy didn't even broadcast the contest until summer. Shame, as Italians missed the excitement of the 1964 winner Gigliola Cinquetti almost...

Laura Pausini debuted as show hostess with Paola Cortellesi, an imitator and comedian, last night on Rai1. And she handled it surprisingly well, a highly entertaining show with Marco Mengoni , Noemi and Andrea Bocelli among guests. On top of that she did several of her songs , medleys, talked a bit dirty, changed outfits. And it was striking how Eurovision/Swedish friendly the show was for an Italian prime time production: first of all Mengoni was there, A medley included Gente di mare , Jalisse was named (and Fiumi di parole sung but with different lyrics by Paola), Andrea Bocelli sat down the piano and played and sung a bit of Pippi Longstocking , Laura's act for Innamorata was all yellow-blue.... they did ABBA medley ! And more; there was Raul Bova, they did The Superemes ! Marco Mengoni and Paola Cortellesi did touching monologue against bullism with Guerriero . Teary eyes all over. That was entertainment at its perfection.  They show was also a rating success being t...

Slovenian entrant and one of the biggest favorites in Vienna 2015 Eurovision Marayya joins worldfamous Sloenian a capella group Perpetuum Jazzile for a special version of Here for you . It's a great track even without the beats and sounds, and Marjetka's voice is just unique. Perpetuum Jazzile has also done some fab ABBA covers.... but they are best known for the cover of Toto's Africa .