Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Belarus is having its final tonight. Alexey Gross with his pompous anthemic power ballad and Kirill Ermakov, already familiar name from JESC, have emerged as pre-contest favorites. Alexandr Ivanov seem to have some following too, and it wouldn't be the first time Belarus sends a blond long haired simil-rocker. The EM has something going on and could be worked into something. Anastasiya would follow the trend of screaming ladies with heavy beats but it's not all that bad really.... Nicely 90's.  Napoli goes all sugary Disney. Yuk. Quite a few jazzy flirty elevator music pieces are included in the very bland line up. Not forgetting the strong Russian accents :-) You can watch it live from 20.00 CET at eurovision.tv Alexey Gross - Flame   studio Sasha Zakharik - Glory night   studio Valeria Sadovskaya - Not alone   studio Radiovolna - Radiowave (Ne shodi s uma)   studio The EM - Turn around   studio Navi - Gyeta zyamlya (This land)   st...

The Belarusian jury has done its job and hopefully no one suffered any permanent damage. I stopped watching any audition videos after one Hello and a live chicken.... Veterans Alexey Gross, Alexander Ivanov and Napoli made the cut, now it's up to televoting public to send one of them to Stockholm come January 25. Alexey Gross is ready to fight it seems.... Alexander Ivanov - How to fly Valeriya Sadovskaya - Not alone Anastasiya Malashkevich - Pray for love Navi - Gyeta zyamlya Alexey Gross - Flame  ( live ) Kirill Yermakov - Running to the sun  ( live ) Radiovolna - Radiowave (Ne shodi s uma) Sasha Zakharik - Glory night Napoli - My universe  ( live ) The EM (Michael Soul & Egor Sharankov) - Turn around

Belarus has received 84 songs for their national final, quite a drop from last year's 110. Tomorrow November 26 and December 1 these 84 songs will be performed live for a jury (you can follow it live on tvr.by it seems) that will select the finalists (15) for the national final to be held on January 15, 2016 in Minsk. The names should be out on December 2. In the final there will be televote only and let's see how that will end like. Belarus is famous for scandals and changes and all sort of things before and especially after their national final..... Can they make it right the first time? What will Lukashenko say? Quite many previous wannabes are at it again from Alexey Gross to Janet , Chistyi Golos  and Napoli. And Aura , Sweet Brains ..,  Alexey Gross (pictured) has a long history in the contest, he has taken part most every year lately.... will he finally win? Here are some of his entries: One way love (2013), If I could do it all again (2014), Stand as one (2...

Belarus is having its EuroFest final tonight. Alexander Rybak's Milki project is the one to beat, it seems. Wouldn't it be ironic if Uzari with his violin player would beat him? Anyways, there isn't much to write about; mediocre or simply bad songs, Belarusian "English" and propably the singer and/or the song will be changed anyways before mid-March if it isn't Milki, so I will stick to my Christmas relaxing instead of watching this..... Anyways, it starts at 8pm CET and you can watch it live here .  NAPOLI  –  My dreams Lis  –  Angel Daria  -   Love is my colour Gunesh  –  I believe in a miracle Yana Butskevich & Muzzart  –  Tolko tantsuy Valeria Sadovskaya  –  Summer love Rostany  –  Electric toys Janette  –  Supernova Alexey Gross  –  Stand as one Milki  –  Accent Uzari & Maimuna  -   Time Beatris  –  Fighter Vitaly Voronko  –...

Belarus will have its national final on December 26, 2014 and a jury has picked up the 15 finalists after casting auditions. Several familiar names but not Alyona Lanskaya who either didn't pass the casting or didn't participate at all after all. Not that this blogger misses her one bit. As expected the designed winner Milki did it with a song penned by Alexander Rybak. It would a surprise if they didn't win eventually. If they don't, there's always a way to make it happen afterwords. This is Belarus after all. And therefor there's also a lot of broken English and some rather horrid songs in the line up that have no life but in national Eurovision selections. This said, it has been worse so the jury has done quite decent job... Listen with caution:  Gunesh - I believe in a miracle Janette - Supernova Alexey Gross - Stand as one Daria - Love is my colour Valeria Sadovskaya - Summer love Uzari & Maimuma - Time Milki - Accent Yana Butskevich...

The rules of Eurovision seem to be just a piece of paper in some parts of Europe. In Belarus Alexey Gross made it to the final line up with If I could do it again , but... Raquela already brought this song to the Maltese selection in 2011... It seems Alexey was unaware all of this so I would point out the finger to the songwriters, they must have known.... or someone. Anyone? or does anyone care really? Alexey himself has decided to withdraw even if he could have changed the song (as they do over there even after winning) and is coming back in 2015 to win. Good boy!