Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Spain became the first country to reveal their names for Eurovision 2023. The semi-finalist of Benidorm Fest 2023 are 18 this year, up two from last year's very successful first edition. Two semi-finals will feature nine entries each, four of them going to the final. There is a mixed voting system for each three shows: 50% professional juries, 25% demoscopic panel and 23% televote. Mónica Naranjo will host again with Inés Hernand. The semi-finals will air on January 31 and February 2 and the grand final on Fenruary 4.  Last year Chanel won over Tanxugueiras (70,75% televote!) thanks to expert jury but they clearly saw its potential better as SloMo finished 3rd in Turin only 7 points short of 2nd place, while France's entry , the most similar to Tanxugueiras one finished 24th.  Among the artists is 2018 Eurovision entrant Alfred Garcia , Blanca Paloma from the 2022 edition,  Famous who won Operacion Triunfo 2018 and already tried to get the ticket to Eurovision 2019. Tw...

After dueting Marco Mengoni in Hola, co-written by Mahmood Tom Walker duets with Lena.  Is it time to do Eurovision?

New music from old familiar Eurovision voices again. Rasmussen continues with the Viking pop as his Go beyond is pretty much the same sound as his Eurovision entry. Why change it if it works and no one else dos it?  Benjamin Ingrosso goes from success to another, like her mom in the 1980's. Behave . Why am I thinking of some early Madonna? Musically and as a person: not the best of singers nor dancers he somehow makes it work... Sevak Khanagyan keeps building his Russian career.  Океан Внутри Тебя (Ocan within you) is another typical Russian pop song he wrote himself but it could be Dima Bilan's latest.  Spanish sweethearts broke up after Eurovision and their solo efforts haven't been that convincing, but here's Alfred and his De la tierra hasta Marte .

  Spain joins the countries releasing the official music video for their entry. Alfred & Amaia's Tu canción has a La la land feel to it somehow, but sadly misses the intensity and the cute shy excitement they have had when performing live and especially Alfred looks a bit uncomfortable, if not even angry, most of the video. Where's your sparkle in the eye you have when live, chico?

The OT couple Alfred Garcia and Amaia Romero have won the Spanish Eurovision selection with their Tu canción . The couple's blossming love affair during these Operacion Triunfo months may have played a role crowning them Spain's latest lovebirds and winners. Anyways, it's a refreshing step away from the usual overproduced plastic entries Spain has sent way too often, and clearly nods to last year's winner's acoustic intimate mood. Emotions, not fireworks, people! The superfinalists were: Alfred y Amaia - Tu canción 43% Aitana - Arde 31% Aitana & Ana - Lo Malo 26% As a bonus here is their City of stars :

  Spanish Operacion Triunfo isn't over yet as still five contestants are in the running, but the Eurovision side kick will be finished tonight. Five + plus one finalists singing nine songs, one of them becoming the Spanish entry for Lisbon. The voting will be in two rounds. After the first one top-3 goes for the superfinal and voting will restart from zero. The songs are a real turn away from the Swedish produced nonsense Spain has sent so often. The only song in that direction is the plastic manyfactued group song and maybe a bit  Magia . Al cantar, Tu canción and Arde are soft almost acoustic ballads. Que nos sigan las luces and Lejos de tu piel are pleasant but rather forgettable simple pop rock. El remedio and Lo malo bring in some Latin rhythms. If one of those ballads or one of those Latin songs wins Spain is going to have one of the better quality entries since many years. OT comes once again to save the day, it seems. Amaia Romero - Al cantar A...