Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Krisse Salminen, the crazy blond co-host of Eurovision 2007 in Helsinki won last night the Finnish Strictly come dancing aka Tanssii tähtien kanssa . One of her three final songs was reprise of paso doble to Euphoria .  She and her partner Matti Puro scored 4x10 points from the jury with this one and won the other finalist pair in each and every dance and even the televote by 57% of votes. So, the string of Eurovision related people winning this dance thing continues, more here .  Antonio Flores came second just like his husband Pekka Haavisto in the presidential election earlier this year. 

The seventh season of Tanssii tähtien kanssa or the Finnish version of Strictly come dancing is coming to and end this weekend and the Princess of the Republic from Helsinki 2007 Eurovision, Krisse Salminen has made it to the final. A couple of weeks ago she did paso doble dancing to Euphoria  of all tunes. She will meet in the final Antonio Flores , the husband of Pekka Haavisto. Haavisto himself was in the "final" of the presidential elections earlier this year where he closely lost to Sauli Niinistö.  This show has had a string of Eurovision related artists over the years: Tomi Metsäketo won the first one, Mariko the second one. And Maria Lund the third one while Pirkko Mannola came 2nd in 2009, as did Laura Voutilainen the year after. Jani Toivola came third last year and this year if Krisse wins the chain of Eurovision related people in top-3 continues....

Fans of reality show and Eurovision have a lot to watch this fall season in TV. The Big Brother kicks off tonight and while there are no Eurovision stars as housemates (as far as we know) the presenter of the Big Brother Extra show every early evening and co-host of the main weekly show is none other than Cristal Snow! Remember Can't save me from Euroviisut 2008? And in this season's Dances with stars we have Princess of the republic,  vision in pink Krisse Salminen who charmed the world in Eurovision 2007 co-host trying her dancing skills. Euroviisut contestant Jippu is there, too, from the same year as Cristal with  Kanna minut and so is Antonio Flores, the partner of runner up in the latest presidential elections earlier this year, Pekka Haavisto. Nothing to do with Eurovision or music but a remarkable thing anyways!

The impossible didn't happen in the end. Haavisto couldn't beat Niinistö in the second round who now became Finland's 12th president as of March 1, 2012 for the next six years. But - if someone said a gay candidate, married to a foreign and represanting the Green party would almost become the president just a few months ago, people would have thought him crazy. Yet it has happened. Finland has made a full turn once again after the horrid results of the last parliament elections where the True Finns thriumphed with their narrow minded, racistic and homophobic views. I guess half of their voters already regret they ever voted them.... But, maybe the dream of Pekka & Antonio moving into the presidential residence will realize in 2018? So, it was 62,9% (or 1.801.665 votes) for Sauli Niinistö and 37,4% (1.076.598) for Pekka Haavisto. Haavisto won in Åland islands (60,0%) and almost in Helsinki (49,8%).

If some of you follow daily politics you may know we are in the middle of presidential elections here in Finland. The first round was won by Sauli Niinistö, but Pekka Haavisto, an openly gay represant of the Green Party made the impossible and made his way to the second round as well. Political views aside, as the seat of a republic's president is non-political but the country's cultural life has divided. In short, the artists are on Haavisto's side, the sportsmen and business on Niinistö's side. And even if the artistic support for Haavisto has been widely public since day one tonight an incredible line up will take the stage in Helsinki's Ice hall to support Haavisto. Ultra Bra reunites just for him for this one off, Jenni Vartiainen breaks her holiday to be there, both PMMP girls will be there, so will Lauri  of The Rasmus, Paradise Oskar, Anna Puu, Eicca Toppinen of Apocalyptica, Freeman, Jonna Tervomaa, Kaija Kärkinen, Maarit, Maija Vilkkumaa, Värttinä an...