Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

It's been two long years and four days since Duncan Laurence was crowned the Eurovision champion in Tel Aviv. Meanwhile his winning song Arcade has gone viral and on Tuesday night he received a platinum record for a one billion streams globally. Tonight he was meant to perform the song again and hand over the Chrystal microphone to a new winner. But no. On Wednesday he was tested positive for Covid-19 and instead will be watching the show in quarantine in his hotel room.... Sometimes destiny just plays tricks on us. (Not to mention some other tricks played by another Destiny's delegation to anger the fandom...) This said I can only say it's going to be a great show and the strongest line up I can remember, and also the most open contest I can recall, and I have been watching since 1976. Usually at this point I have firm favorites to win, 2-3 of them, and I can't remember when last time one of them didn't win. Maybe Marie N? Quite often I have had a winning candidat...

The traditional red carpet that would have led to the usual welcome party and official opening of the Eurovision song contest after the first rehearsals have been done for all took place today in Rotterdam's harbor despite fandom screaming for a last minute cancellation when several countries were put in quarantine in the past 24 hours starting with Poland (35 in the odds atm) and Iceland (4) and later also Romania (18) and Malta (3) when someone in the delegations has tested positive. Probably and hopefully the second tests will come back negative and the show continues as usual for next weeks general rehearsals and live shows. Also missing of course Australia (28).  Seeing today's rather crowded happening one can't be too hopeful but let's hope for the best. Meanwhile here are the rest in their red carpet glory in the order they are now in the betting odds, or from Italy to Georgia. Enjoy!

In a perfect world without worries the Eurovision 2020 pre-parties would be in full swing from London to Amsterdam last and next weekend while in Rotterdam's Ahoy the construction for the Eurovision 2020 stage would be kicking off as we speak with other building preparations. The fandom would be arguing who's good and who's not, and the betting odds were read every day, several times a day to keep up on what's going on. Instead all the parties have been cancelled and fans and artists are spending time online in lockdown and Rotterdam's Ahoy is busy with building up a temporary care center and hospital to cure Corona virus patients and we are reading the charts of how many infected people there are in various countires, how many deaths instead. This said, Rotterdam's Ahoy isn't the only one. Also Helsinki Fair center that was housed the press center during Eurovision 2007  has offered its now empty spaces and staff that has been left without work to ...

Rotterdam and it's Ahoy have been announced as the city and venue for the 65th Eurovision song contest today, just as I already said back in June 4 thinking its the only and obvious choice. The dates are May 12, 14 and 16, 2020. 

Rotterdam started as a front runner the race as the host for Eurovision song contest 2020 but then came Maastricht with its bid and presentation and is now really challenging Rotterdam. As the Dutch broadcasters dismissed the other candidates , we now have to wait for the EBU delegation to have a visit to both of these cities and be introduced to the venues and intended opening ceremony, red carpet, Eurovision village and other venues as well as the overal plan and idea of the 2020 contest.... Rotterdam is the second biggest city in the Netherlands and its history goes back to 1270 while it's a city since 1340. It's also Europe's biggest port with a population of about 635.000. The city center was nearly completely distroyed in the World War II and today its skyline is heavily marker by skyscrapers and some very original modern architecture. Rotterdam also has the oldest metro in the Netherlands, it opened in 1968 and today it has five lines. Today it's also...

Update July 12: After the bids were officially delivered in Hilversum two are already ranked out: 's-Hertogenbosch and Utrecht who wanted to have the contest in a tent.... That leaves us with Arnheim, Rotterdam and Maastricht. Apparently they will announce sometime soon the final two officially... The Netherlands is keen on hosting Eurovision song contest 2020 and after initial nine cities and 11 venues we have five cities and venues left after capital Amsterdam has withdrawn all three of its eventual bids following Leeuwarden, The Hague and Breda in the past weeks. There are also rumours Utrecht might not go all the way either leaving us with Arnheim, 's-Hertogenbosch, Maastricht and Rotterdam.  Arnheim and Maastrich may have the suitable venue but Rotterdam and its Ahoy Rotterdam has both the venue and all the rest and after all we may have gone all this circus for nothing: it was the first bid that can be considered valid and suitable and in the end it will most likel...