Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

  He's done it again. A real fun banger.  He did Amsterdam's Het grote songfestivalfeest again this year opening the whole show this time

Käärijä has been touring Finland every weekend and not only ever since he won UMK 2023 and Cha cha cha has conquered everywhere every time and now it's time to bring this crazy party to Europe and to Eurovision promo events and to the international fans! He has missed the earlier ones due to already booked gigs in Finland but now he will be present in Madrid, Amsterdam and London. In calendar also includes still gigs in Finland before leaving for Liverpool and most of all he will be chachachaing most every single major summer festival in Finland! Below are his already booked summer festivals and gigs pre-Liverpool: April 7-8 - PrePartyEs, Madrid (ES) April 9 - Siilifest, Kankaanpää (FI) April 15 - Eurovision in Concert, Amsterdam (NL) April 16 - London Eurovision Party, London (UK) April 21 - Kuopio (FI) April 22 - Lappeenranta (FI) May 20, Helsinki, Jäähalli (FI) June 2 - Ähtäri (FI) June 9 - Helsinki (FI), The legendary rock club Tavastia (sold out x2) June 16 - Jyväskylä (FI) Ju...

The Eurovision winners and favorites will have the biggest gathering together since Norway's Momarkedet's legendary 25th anniversary event back in 1981 that cemented this blogger's fandom giving me the fist glimps of those old glories and I was hooked. In the era of no internet or Youtube or whatsoever it was the only way to see the past ones and it had an immense impact. On me at least. It made me. These days things are different with footage available for everyone everywhere anytime. The biggest impact this time seems to be the bruning question is Dima Bilan a diva or not, pulling out a few days before over a font size problem in a poster. I must say I agree with him. Why is Gali Atari, just an example in a big font and Dima is not? Or the obvious, why is Sergey in a big font and Dima is not? Or rather: Why aren't they all in same font and in alphabetical order so no one has issues with anything? Just wondering..... Dima, I feel you.  I have listed the winner in...

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...

It's been less than two days since Duncan Laurence sung his Arcade to the Eurovision victory and gave The Netherlands their fifth win after 44 years after Ding-a-dong in 1975. Already ten venues in eight cities have showed interest to host Eurovision 2020, added by the whole region of North Brabant.... later specified capital s'-Hertogenbosch's Brabanthallen as the venue.  The front runners are Amsterdam, Utrecht and Rotterdam but also places like Arnhem, Leeuwarden, Maastricht, Zwolle and The Hague, the host of 1976 and 1980 editions. It's a bit like when Finland won all sort of Rovaniemi and Lahti wanted to be game and quoting Duncan "bidding is a losing game" for them from the start. Simply because they don't have a suitable venue to start with. or they do and it doesn't have a roof..... But then we have Amsterdam's Ziggo Dome (17.000) and Amsterdam RAI (13.000), already a host for the 1970 contest, and Rotterdam's Ahoy (16.000) with ...

The Finnish duo Norma John also continued their promotour and performed in Amsterdam's Eurovision in Concert. Melkweg Amsterdam Say cheese..... ... and eat cheese?!

The Queen of San Marino with her partner in adventure this year, Jimmie Wilson also danced the spirits of the night away on Melkweg stage in Amsterdam's Eurovision in Concert last night. Pre-party action.....  Interviews, interviews....

The king has arrived! Francesco Gabbani delivered on stage in Amsterdam and just keeps becoming bigger and bigger pre-contest favorite. And fans can't get enough of his video either, as it has become the most watched Eurovision Youtube video ever. The live hic up in the cut of the song in London was gone and he delivered a confident, relaxed and very entertaining performance.  With Valentina Monetta and Jimmie Wilson from San Marino (Photos and video lovingly stolen from the www)

The annual promo event Eurovision in Concert was bigger than ever, and what I hear, better than ever, 35 of this year's 43 artist were present to the joy of sold out Melkweg filled with fans.    Check out the exclusive photo gallery after the jump....

The once again sold out Eurovision in concert takes place tonight in Amsterdam's Melkweg. A record breaking 27 acts will gather together this time, when Armenia's Iveta Mukuchyan cancelled her participation a couple of days ago: "My dear friends from Europe, I have made the decision to cancel my upcoming performance in "Eurovision in Concert" in AMSTERDAM, as I mourn and pray for the peaceful Armenian people, who were horribly tortured and killed in The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. I pray for the bravest soldiers, who died while defending our kids, our parents, our independence. War crimes are a result of hate, indifference, lack of love and understanding. It is our duty to condemn such brutal aggression and preach for love and peace."  How honest that statement is, and if it's coming from herself or is it just fishing for sympathy votes, I let you decide. Just wondering. And saying this, I am not taking sides in this matter and any war action is ...

Mäns Zelmerlöw, the Eurovision song contest 2015 winner with Heroes will have a very busy schedules next months. Besides his on going tour in Sweden and previously booked joint dates with Tomas Ledin he's now been booked to perform in various European countries and cities in Finland, Denmark, Germany, France, Ireland, Switzerland and Netherlands. Besides that he is doing also appearances in various festivals, like Coca Cola Summer Festival in Rome, Italy.  Check out the dates and the cities after the jump.....

The biggest ad best Eurovision get together - besides the real event of course - is happening once again this weekend in Amsterdam. It's already the 7th edition and by now an approved and a must happening for many fans and artists alike. For some it's also the first chance to perform live their entry. All eyes are on Australia's Guy Sebastian this time as he hasn't yet performed the song anywhere live! It's a good opportunity for the artists to mingle and get to know each other, or meet again after meeting in other promotional events across Europe. It has moved away from the original idea of giving fans a chance to meet & greet the artists, too, in a more relaxed occasion which is a bit of a shame.  Ever wonderful Edsilia Rombley will host the show with Cornald Maas in Melkweg. Special guests are the Norwegian 1985 winners Bobbysocks who will let it swing on stage once more. 24 out of the 40 acts will be present: Elnur Huseynov (Azerbaijan), Måns Zelmer...

Eurovision 2014 winner for Austria Conchita Wurst is headlining various European Pride festivals this summer. And she already did Zurich Pride . Among others.  Next week (June 27) she will be taking part in the Pride festivites in Dublin before headlining the London Pride the day after (June 28).  In July she will be present in Shangay Pride in Madrid (July 7) reuniting with her Eurovision collegue Ruth Lorenzo. They have confirmed a collaboration on Ruth's worthcoming album - will we get a preview already? In August it's time for Amsterdam Pride (August 2-3) and a week later Antwerp Pride (August 10).  She was present last year in Stockholm Pride and who knows she will be back there, too? Update June 22: Indeed she will be there for the opening day concert (July 30)!) And there's time to add more events to her calendar .

The vote for the best national acts to compite for the Best European Act is over and the winners are out. For Italy it's Marco Mengoni . He was also nominated back in 2010 when he also won the Best European act.  For Germany it's Lena again. She was nominated and also won the Best European act in 2011. The category has been won now five times out of six by Eurovision artists (maNga, Mengoni, Lena, Dima Bilan) so let's see if one of them will do a double and continue the trend!  Here are all the nominees. For Finland it's Isac Elliot . EMA 2013 will take place on November 10, 2013 in Amsterdam.

Krista Siegfrids has been everywhere this weekend! It's even hard to keep track about her whereabouts as she has been to Stockholm Pride , doing Tv-show Sommarlov in Malmö , DJing as Queen Bee  on NRJ @ the sea cruise from Helsinki to Tallinn , doing a gig in Hanko for her Ding Dong Tour, Pride in Amsterdam ...  Four countries and five gigs. All this in four days! She sure is one busy bee.... Ding dong! Maybe now after Amsterdam we can say Amen ? (Until Friday when the tour hits Hyvinkää, that is...)

Carola recently had a huge success in Eurovision in concert in Amsterdam and will be performing in a gay club, soon, namey Wonk in Malmö during Eurovision 2013 (other artists include Charlotte Perrelli and Loreen). She has always had a lot of gay fans but the things turned sour back in 2001 when she said in QX's interview homosexuality is unnatural. "Now the time has come we can but all that aside" she says "I felt such a love and support from my gay fans in Amsterdam. A new era has begun and I feel such unity." But the QX magazine hasn't yet forgotten. They say they should sit down with her and have another interview and talk about things before she could be invited to perform in Gaygalan or Pride. Even then part of the audience might be booing at her while most would cheer her. She will start from Wonk, maybe those two will follow..... and she can belt out her hits to gay crowd, like this . Or this . And even this . Carola's gay career: 1993...

Krista Siegfrids and her Team Ding Dong were in last Saturday's Eurovision in Concert in Amsterdam and surely wasn't left as wall flowers. She rocked the stage and got the audience wild, and shocked some, but pleased most with a Saphic kiss in the end of her performance with Reetta Korhonen. "It was all planned and yes, it was a statement for equal marriage right!" she says. "Everyone should have the right to marry whether it is two men or two women. If I can help with it great!" In Finland Tahdon2013 campaign has gathered already 148.000 signs this past few weeks and Krista is among the public supporters. "Audience went really wild in Amsterdam and in social medias I have only got positive comments about it. Some have been wondering how I dare as there are also conservative countries in Eurovision who won't understand it, but one needs to do something to make things happen. We plan to shook up Europe a little, and this was only a start!...

  Happy survivors :-) The Eurovision in concert 2013 in Amsteram didn't have an happiest ending for Italian Marco Mengoni and Lithuanian Andrius Pojavis who were abroad a KLM flight from Amsterdam to Milan. Soon after the plane had reached the flying height the smell of smoke filled the plane and the right engine was apparently on fire.  The plane had to turn back and make an emergency landing in back to Schiphol airport. Pojavis reports to Lithuanian press there was some panic aboard with 112 passangers but apparently all ended well and both singers were scared but safe and ok now. UPD. It seems now that both have taken another flight back to Milan. This must have been a rather shaky experience for Mengoni who isn't so fond of flying! UPD2: Mengoni and Pojavis are already in Milan after taking another plane. Otherwise the situation is getting more confusing; some reports claim the plane took fire BEFORE take off, not when on air?! Anyways, Mengoni himself has pos...

All Eurovision fans eyes are on Amsterdam, if they are not there themselves like Blogilkar's collaborators. Here's a little teaser of what's going on, Carola performing for the fans and this edition's artists Captured by a lovestorm/Fångad av en stormvind , her winning entry in Eurovision 1991. Worth noting Krista Siegfrids and her girls doing a great back up all through the song! And there's also a video of Krista interviewing her childhood idol Carola by escstats here . Will she be couching Krista to Eurovision victory? And here's just for the fun of it a photo of Marco Mengoni and Valentina Monetta.....  And if Johnny Logan is Mr Eurovision, Carola has now been officially crowded as Miss Eurovision... And here are Marco,   Krista and Valentina in video, too...

Valentina Monetta has released the English version of Crisalide (Vola) titled Crysalis (You'll be flying). Not bad, but it's a relief it is sung in Italian in Malmö 2013 Eurovision! The lyrics are witten by Jim Leary and Valentina will premier it in London Eurovision Party on April 21, 2013.... Meanwhile Valentina will be in Amsterdam's Eurovision in Concert this weekend.... Read Valentina's exclusive interview here .