Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Namely first European to sing the lead role in The Phantom of the Opera ! This weekend Jöback was in New York to sing in the play as a special guest. "This is the musical world's biggest role for a male singer, and an absolute dream" he tells the media. Last spring he sung the role already in West End, London and it must have gone very well as Sir Andrey Lloyd Webber picked himself Jöback for Broadway. He will do it for four months from the end of April until August, eight performances a week. Peter says he's not sure yet if his husband Oskar will also move to New York. Anyways, he says he's going to enjoy the experience and find himself a new dream as his biggest dream ever comes reality at the age of 41....   The Phantom of the Opera premiered in London 1986 with Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman. It's the second longest running West End musical ever. Today it's the longest running show in Broadway's history and it hits 25 years there, too. T...

The annual rumours of Mika's involment in Eurovision are circulating again. When he has been given as the UK singer, when he is quoted of wanting to represant Lebanon if and when they return and this time he is said to be the one to write the UK entry for 2011 following the succesful Andre Lloyd-Webber & Diane Warren and the less succesful Peter Waterman fiasko. Well, it's summer, hot and rumours are flying....

Waldo is very happy for the running order slot right after the UK because it gives him a chance to maybe meet Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber. "If someone told me a year ago I would be competing here against likes of Lloyd Webber and Patricia Kaas I would have said he's completely coccoo!" Also Karoliina dreams of meeting Patricia Kaas, that hasn't happened yet. She would also like to meet one of her idols, Diane Warren who has also arrived in Moscow. But the Finns are not the only ones wanting to meet the French diva: Christer Björkman told he and Malena from Sweden were actually hoping to get number 2 or 4 in the running order so they would have better chance to meet La Kaas

Uk has made a few changes to the presentation as well, and it seems to have been confirmed Andrew Lloyd Webber himself will pretend to play the piano come Saturday. Jade sings her lungs out and it all looks very... well... the same and kinda boring, I'm afraid. But I guess many people will like this sort of thing? http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=1c_HBhDrnfs

I was reading what the other bloggers have written about this here and there and it was rather confusing experience: a total division of opinions from stunning perfection to total disaster. Well, it is very predictable: the staircase to walk down, the violinists, the grand piano, Jade walking this way and then that way... Very musical-like indeed. The song would work best in musical as well. It's not that great in the end, despite being written by Lloyd-Webber and Dianne Warren. Could go either way and if it goes the good way it's all because of Jade. http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=85m3xsfO-1I

Answer this question right and you have a chance to win Jade's It's my tim e radio promosingle: What does Eurovision song contest and the musical Jesus Christ Superstar have in common (besides Andrew Lloyd Webber of course!) Send your answers to blogilkar@hotmail.com before April 11. I will sort out two (2) winners on April 12. Good luck everyone! Meanwhile watch her promovideo here: http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dlc9HEI-dA COMPETITION HAS CLOSED. Thank you for everyone who participated. Most answers were correct and the winners came from Italy and Poland. They have been notified.

I have a couple of Jade´s radio Cd-singles It's my time , the UK entry in Moscow 2009 to give away, with kind collaboration of Universal Music Finland. Stay tuned for the competition...

Jade Ewen (21) has won the UK talent search Your country needs you and therefor will represant UK in Moscow with My time , a song written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Diane Warren. The Twins were second and Mark third. After hearing the song I must say I'm very, VERY disappointed. Standard boring musical ballad. I don't think UK will do any better than recent years. Shame.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dmdZc6kHEc , The Twins version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0PdlCXCfDw and Mark's: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95NmuQlaX3Y

I watched the show tonight and I must say it was very entertaining. Lulu is still fab and it was great to see Diane Warren, too. Of the singers maybe Charlotte was the least promising and indeed she ended up in Danger zone with the Emperors of soul and at that point I was sure Andrew would drop them. But no, Charlotte didn't survive this Danger zone. However I just wonder how the Emperors + Lloyd Webber + Warren + Eurovision mix would sound like? Not good propably.... Yet, as a fan of Motown (Have you checked my new Motown blog yet?) I got to love their voices and harmonies.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OR7LDTzqE8I , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0b_ZBDvfSPE , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqHcnNPiSs4 , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dUCTslkJ6c , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hi1YCxZ3fnE

Another big name, a HUGE name enters the Eurovision race as Andrew Lloyd Webber confirms Diane Warren is going to write the lyrics for the UK entry. Most of you will know Diane Warren but if you don't here's some artists who have recorded her songs: Michael Bolton, Natalie Cole, Mariah Carey, 'N Sync, Agnetha Fältskog, Celine Dion, Patricia Kaas, Alice Cooper, Eric Clapton, Chris Isaak, Laura Branigan, Joss Stone, LeAnn Rimes, Gloria Estefan, Bon Jovi, Backstreet Boys, Cher, Jon Secada, Brandy, Mary J. Blige, Elaine Page, Whitney Houston, Taylor Dayne, Tom Jones, Ricky Martin, Westlife, Heart, Belinda Carlisle, Toni Braxton, Cyndi Lauper.... ithe list is like Who's who in music business! She was the first writer to have 7 songs in the US Billboard chart at the same time! Absolute record. For me she's the best. I'm not a big fan of American music, I'm afraid but when I hear something good from there I often discover she's behind it. Just think about How d...

Well well, don't I pick my favourites well? My fave from the UK selection was the first one to drop out. Sigh. Damien was in danger zone (meaning came 5th or 6th in the telvoting) along with Charlotte and Lloyd Webber saved Charlotte. He sung How am I supposed to live without you (the Michael Bolton cover) while Charlotte sung Kelly Clarkson's Because of you. The Emperor's of Soul did Love train , Mark Wasting my time , the Twins You've got a friend and Jade Beyonce's Deja vu. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MK_31X3xKtI , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmcYmk6_uCk , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJwBc_brUNU , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n45RAz32FjY , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-2qbOMACxQ , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWByM23quRQ

BBC has revealed the singers and acts that are going to battle it out to sing a song penned by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber. Now let's see what we have here: shoppaholic identical twins, a footballing Tom Jones' backing singer, a singing dancer & actor, half Sicilian ex-girl band singer, a Motown tribute band that has members that used to be in Flying Pickets as well as dancer in various music videos and a youngster with big hair! Or Francine & Nicola, Damien, Mark, Jade, Emperors of soul and Charlotte .

Why that makes Kylie's Your disco needs you playing in my head instantly? Anyways, it's happening: Andrew Lloyd Webber will compose the song for the winner of Your country needs you , a series of elimination shows to find out the most suitable one. The winner(s) get to perform the song in Moscow for the United Kingdom. How fancy! And Graham Norton will host the shows. What can you ask for more?