Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

  Latvian Justs is back with another goodie, Are you there . Electric beats and his voice mixed with a video full of skaters, models, empty industrial spaces.... Nice effort! Australian Guy Sebastian is back big time, and Bloodstone is his latest from his new album Conscious featuring lovely gospely undertones. Great beat and great vocals again.  Eurovision runner up Ukrainian Ani Lorak and Eurovision interval act Emin from Azerbaijan are hitting the Russian charts with  Prostit'sya (Проститься) that comes with a beautifully shot bath tub video. The song itself is a very typical Russian radio charts song that could be sung by any of the big names. But it's a very pleasant one masterfully performed by the stars.  Slovakian (and Czechian) superstar Kristina has released Sympatie (from Tri želania/Three wishes film soundtrack) continuing her endless string of hits. Slovakian tv, wake up and send her off to Eurovision again!

How times flies. Two weeks of rehearsal madness is gone and dramatic semifinal, too. Here we are. The final night. Besides the 26 entries we can expect  performances from all of the Ukrainian Eurovision royals (except Ani Lorak (2nd in 2008 but she's apparently on the Russian side of things, you know). The winners Jamala (2016) and Ruslana (2004) both are performing, and Verka Serduchka (2nd in 2007) reappears with her mom and Zlata Ognevich (3rd in 2013). Instead of self eliminated pro-Russia Ms Lorak we have ONUKA, an Ukrainian electro-folk band.  The hosts have showered and are ready, are you? ISRAEL POLAND BELARUS AUSTRIA ARMENIA NETHERLANDS MOLDOVA HUNGARY ITALY DENMARK PORTUGAL AZERBAIJAN CROATIA AUSTRALIA GREECE SPAIN NORWAY UNITED KINGDOM CYPRUS ROMANIA GERMANY UKRAINE BELGIUM SWEDEN BULGARIA FRANCE I will publish my prediction table later tonight.....

As every year the lists of nominees are filled with Eurovision stars only proving that Russia indeed does send their biggest guns to Eurovision. Serebro was once again nominated for the best group, Dima Bilan for the best song ( Не молчи ), as was Svetlana Loboda ( К чёрту любовь ), Polina Gagarina for the best video ( Я не буду ), with Alexey Vorobyov ( Сумасшедшая ), Sergey Lazarev ( Это все она ) and Dan Balan ( Плачь ). Dima Bilan and Sergey Lazarev once again battled against each other in the best male singer category and Sergey won the second year in a row. Eye on Egor Kreed who could be the next one with Eurovision glory.... Ani Lorak - these days a persona non grata at home in Ukraine - was nominated for the best female artist again with Polina Gagarina, but  Ёлка won this time around. Nyusha , also a very possible future Eurovision name was nomintaed for the best dance video, as was Egor Kreed . Emin was nominated for the best acting role in a movie....

Promotional tours and events & Eurovision. This year the starts have been socializing more than ever before it seems and when in Copenhagen some of them must know each other already quite well. Maybe. It's always nice to see some group photos of the artists like school kids, Class of '14 indeed. Besides several meetings and face-to-face across Europe there are three main events. Most of all already cemented Eurovision in concert in Amsterdam where 25 of this year's entrants got together. Then followed London Eurovision Party with 12 of them. This Sunday once again six of them are together in Moscow - luckily time is running out or next weekend there would be a lonely threesome somewhere in Europe.... The Russian preview party seems something new to the scene, but when it also headlines some of the county's biggest names as guest stars it is apparently broadcasted on various TV stations and getting huge media coverage. Maybe. Sammarinese Valentina Monetta bec...

Jūrmala in Latvia is the place to be if you are singer in ex-USSR countries and not only as the New Wave - the international contest of new pop voices is taking place again. Sixteen singers or groups have made it to the contest this year coming from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, Russia, Azerbaijan, Indonesia, Germany, Armenia, Latvia, Cuba, Georgia and Vietnam. No Finnish or Italian singers made the cut this year. In the coming days the performers will do world-wide hits and local hits, while guest stars will perform as well. There will be also gala concerts, tennis, soccer.... a lot goijg on indeed. If the contestants are new and fresh the guest stars include a lot of familiar names: Valeria, Sergey Lazarev, Intars Busulis , Dima Bilan , Emin , Garou, Julio Iglesias , Il Divo, Natalia Podolskaya , Ani Lorak , Serebro , Lara Fabian , Timati, Verka Serduchka , Alsou , Alessandro Safina, Emma Shaplin.... and if that wasn't enough Toto Cutugno is one of the judges! You ...

The one to impress today, it seems, was Azerbaijan. The song it is what it is and it isn't bad, and the staging is once again very clever, done by Greek Fokas Evangelinos who has already done some memorable stunning numbers in the contest for Helena Paparizou, Ani Lorak, Sakis Rouvas and Dima Bilan - and how did they all end up? Anyways, this blogger may have pronounced the words "we might well be back to Baku in 2014, hopefully Chrystal Hall is still standing?" already weeks ago and now the fear of that is bigger than ever. Judge yourself here . No wonder he looks so happy with his HoD in these photos ny Bycycling reporter Robert....

Ani Lorak is returning to business after her motherhood and looks every bit as stunning as she did before. Here is  Зажигай сердце with a fancy looking black and white video. The song isn't anything that special but pleasant and catchy enough to please her fans, I guess. 

Well, not really. But he did take part in the Russian show where pop stars perform opera arias and he did pretty well as you can judge here . That's no wonder as he has classical vocal training and studied theater before becoming a pop star and Eurovision winner.  How about Ani Lorak? You can judge her operatic skills here . And oh wait, Sergey Lazarev was there , too!

In Jurmala, Latvia the annual New Wave contest is being held culminating with the final concert on Sunday. The idea is to present the new comers from all over the world but the superstars steal the show as usual. Likes of Dima Bilan , Sergey Lazarev , Ani Lorak , Serebro , Alsou and that crazy Jamala from Ukraine. The cast includes also many familiar names like Aisha and Instars Busulis, the Latvian entrants 2010 and 2009. This event is getting bigger every year and surely gives the artists a visibly in the ex-Sovjet Union area like only Eurovision can do otherwise. Anyways, the new comers include some familiar names as well: Koop Arponen , the Finnish Idols winner is there with Flute of shame trio, and Donny Montell for Latvia. The others are Yusary (Belarus), Erik (Armenia), NAOMI  (Russia), Roger Ricco (Brazil), Jenna Hof (Togo), Jayden Felder (USA), Bishkek (Kyrgyzsan), A-Lau (Kazakhstan), Twins (Ukraine), Kolya Serga (Ukraine), Monika Wisnioswka & Michal Bober (...

Last night both the Ukrainian and the Greek-Cypriot parties took place in EuroClub. Judging the photos half the artists were there: Beglium, Estonia, Moldova, Latvia, Azerbaijan, Malta, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Netherlands, Armenia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovakia, Iceland, Croatia, Finland and Ireland and of course Ukraine, Greece and Cyprus. Also Ani Lorak and Ruslana were there.... These pics and many more on excellent http:// www.flickr.com/photos/33508965@N00/

The annual ESC Radio Awards have been given out for the third time and the radio listeners all around the world seem to agree with the real winner as Dima Bilan wins the best male and Believe the best song award. Ani Lorak is the best female artists and Euroband the best group. Dima Bilan wins over Boaz Mauda and Paolo Meneguzzi in best male artist category, while Dustin the Turkey beats Rodolfo Chikilicuatre in the bottom of the list. In best female Ani Lorak, Sirusho, Gisela and Vania Fernandez fought for the top places while Czesy, Geta Burlacu, Teresa Kerndlová and Hind fought for the last place. In groups Euroband, MioDio and Elnur & Samir were on the top, and Krajlevi Ulice & 75 Cents and Kreisiraadio on the bottom. In songs Believe was a clear winner followed by Qele qele and Casanova . Real fight for the worst song but Lato svet clear the way for that, thus making the Estonian team win two last places: worst song and worst group! Full results here: http://www.escradi...

Raffaella Carrá continues with Eurovision 2008 in her Carramba, che fortuna! show exposing italians to more Eurovision. What I hear it's working and the people are warming up to it. I bet half the italian male population did heat up last night when Ani Lorak was shaking it live on stage finally. Raffaella already presented her on tape weeks ago. Way to go, Raffa! Watch Ani here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2DTEGxB1QM

True to her word, Raffaella Carrá continues her crusade against all odds to exploit Eurovision in Italy and this week showed the clip of Ani Lorak in Belgrade and talked about Dima Bilan's success in last week's show. She was hoping to bring Ani in studio in flesh soon and next week Roberto Meloni will bring his pirates to Rome... http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=9SRzHW-Ez2s

A real reunion of the Eurovision artists has been on in Belarus where Slavianski Bazaar 2008 contest/festival/whatever has been taking place: Sirusho from Armenia , Pirates of the Sea from Latvia , Boaz Mauda from Israel , Mor Ve Ötesi from Turkey , Ani Lorak from Ukraine , Ruslan Alehno from Belarus and Dima Bilan from Russia were all there from Eurovision 2008. Add Dima Koldun from Belarus 2007, Ruslana from Ukraine 2004 and Kostas Martakis from Greece 2009 to the list and you have so much Eurovision goodies you feel sick. Greece 2009? Well, I think, predict and hope it's Kostas instead of Sakis next year after all... :-) Have a look what he could offer here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwDH__8IlD8 and here why he should have won already in 2008: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jPsTGYpE8I

As usual many Eurovision stars have been to most every minor festivals and competitions before Eurovision in their career and to many it opens the doors to do so after. This summer three of this year's entrants are trying their luck in Montenegrin Pjesma Mediterana or The Song of the Mediterranean: Boaz Mauda (Israel), MioDio (San Marino) and Tamara (Fyrom). In the competition are also other Eurovision veterans: Goran Karan (Croatia 2000) and Ekstra Nena (Yogoslavia 1992). More information here: http://copyright-budva.com/festival/ucesnici.php Ani Lorak instead performs in the Turkish Cesme Music Festival and Sebastien Tellier is touring Europe.

I have completely forgotten to post about the Marcel Bezençon Awards announced in the After party as usual. Marcel (1907-1981) was the father of Eurovision song contest. He was until 1970 the director of EBU and created Eurovision based on Sanremo festival. However, to the point: The composers present in Belgrade voted for their favourite and this year's Composer's Award goes to Andrei Tudor and his song Pe-o margine de lume , the Romanian entry. Previous Eurovision winners have also voted for Artistic Award for the best performer and the lucky winner is Ukraine's Ani Lorak. Accreditated press in Belgrade voted for Portugal's entry Senhora do mar by Vania Fernandez as the best song or Press Award . Finally, the readers of gylleneskor.se website were able to vote for the Fan Award , given to an artist under 25 years. Armenia's Sirusho and Qele qele took this one home.

Dima Bilan with Edvin Marton has been moving towards west in his winner's tour. From Helsinki to Stockholm, further west to Oslo where he performed with the Norvegian entrant Maria (who came 5th). Now he is in Dublin Ireland before tomorrow's stop in London and the big winner's party organized by esctoday.com where also the runner up, Ukrainian Ani Lorak will perform along with Bucks Fizz, Sonia and Nicky French. After that the busy schedule will still include Belgium where he will meet again the Belgian represantives Ishtar, France and San Marino! In San Marino he will meet Miodio and many OGAE fans from Italy and elsewhere....

Tonight at EuroClub it's Ukrainina party with a special guest star: Verka Serduchka!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oG7BQbMKQuk&feature=user