Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

  Let's continue with the most unlikely ones. See the previous post for more information.... ABREU - Lusikat Antti Tuisku - Valittu kansa Chisu - Ikävä Sanni - Yksinäinen milleniaali Arja Koriseva - Leipää, lempee, lämpöö Evelina - Mä en haluu tietää Kasmir - Aamu Mariska - Minä liityin sinuun Suvi Teräsniska - Samase Ressu Redford - Viimeinen päivä Jukka Poika - Papaija Laura Närhi - Helsinki

It's already a tradition YLE dusts off some old Euroviisut broadcasts for the May Day and today is no exception. On Yle Teema channel at noon we have again Eurovision Brunch with the Finnish selections of 1993 and 1994. HAPPY WAPPU EVERYONE! The 1993 was a bit special one as that year YLE invited four super ladies for the competition: Katri Helena, Paula Koivuniemi, Marjorie and Arja Koriseva . Each had two songs selected from the submitted ones and the whole show was very low key in YLE's studios. Katri Helena's Tule luo was a clear winner. In 1994 it was back to normal, big show in Tampere talo. But it was a flop, they didn't manage to fill the concert hall even half way, maybe due to the very unknown line up, but in television it was a success when almost 1,2 million watched CatCat march to the victory with Bye bye baby . There was the telvoting for the first time and the votes were given out by regions plus the ones from the audience in the hall. CatCa...

SBS is in charge and it seems the very first Asian-Pacific Asiavision song contest will take place in Sydney in March 2017, just in time that the winner could possibly maybe in theory take part at the 2017 Eurovision song contest as well. This blogger thinks it's an interesting idea and won't say No right away. The original plan may have been 2018 kick off but Dami Im's 2nd place this year has caused the speed up in the process. Let's see how this will turn out.... They are hoping to get at least 12 countries taking part (out of 68 possible). Australia is set to form the reference group with China, Japan, South Korea and India. And yes, an European country could be also invited to take part at the Asiavision.... Turkey is also a member of ABU, will they make a comeback here? And so is Azerbaijan. And Kazakhstan. Associate members include France and Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Switzerland and United Kingdom.  Lots of ideas and a lot of talk. This blo...

The second season of Tähdet, tähdet has been again a success, and no doubt thanks to some Eurovision singers: Krista Siegfrids, Laura Voutilainen, Jarkko Ahola (Teräsbetoni) have done it all the way to the almost end, while Markku Aro was voted out after his country performance. More Eurovision is added when Mira Luoti (PMMP) was eliminated to the sounds of Lapponia , and multiple national finalist Arja Koriseva made it to sixth episode. On top of that UMK host Roope Salminen is in top-4.... As is Laura Voutilainen. But as said, surprisingly and unfairly Krista Siegfrids dropped out last Sunday. She has been a real transformer and managed all genres wonderfully showing she can also sing and is a real performer and it's time to forget ding dong and see what she is all about: a true artist. Now that's she's out I'm all for Laura Voutilainen.... She's in top-4 with Jarkko Ahola, Roope Salminen and opera hunk Waltteri Torikka.

Tähdet, tähdet or Stars, stars is a variety show that premiered last year and was won by Eurovision veteran Jari Sillanpää (ESC 2004) and featuring also Vicky Rosti (ESC 1987) and UMK participants Diandra and Stig. This year it is even more Eurovision connected when Krista Siegfrids (ESC 2013), Laura Voutilainen (ESC 2002), Markku Aro (ESC 1971), Jarkko Ahola of Teräsbetoni (ESC 2008) join national selections veteran Arja Koriseva  and #umk15 host Roope Salminen among others in the line. In this series artists perform each week music from different genres from rap to opera, from heavy rock to schlager and pop and everything in between. One of the most talked about performance last season was Jari Sillanpää's Gangnam style .

Namely the biggest entertaining holabaloo in Finland is over for another year. This week Seinäjoki has been filled with tango when the new hopefuls and old royals like Jari Sillanpää, Amadeus Lundberg and Arja Koriseva have been entertaining the tango people along with names like Katri Helena and Antti Tuisku. The new Tango Queen was crowned this Thursday and she is Heidi Pakarinen. Tonight the new king was chosen by the televote and the jury as well and he is Kyösti Mäkimattila, the 28th in the history. Watch the performances here . As there is now UMK, the tango royals don't have an access to Euroviisut final, like Marko Maunuksela and Amadeus Lundberg had. However Kyösti has a rather poppy sound and looks for it, so maybe he should think about it?

Tonight's the 27th Tangomarkkinat final and Iltalehti's readers have voted for their all time favourite amongst the Tango Kings and Queens selected annually. Jari Sillanpää got over the half of the votes, 53,9% followed by another Euroviisut veteran, Arja Koriseva (14,1%) The televote has chosen the qualifiers until now but tonight the jury will pick up the winner. If people would choose it would be Heikki Koskelo but later tonight we will see what the jury thinks. All the finalists have already been in the contest so none of them is a real newcomer.Antti Ahopelto has been already once 3rd and twice 2nd, and Tino Alhgren's father Sebastian was the King in 1993.... My favourite part of the show is when they perform tango versions of pop and rock songs! You can follow the final live here .

One of my ultimate favourites and finest singers in Finland, fabulously fantastic Marjorie is coming back! I don't know about you but I have surely missed her since she disappeared ten years ago. Her new single is Mun elämää (My life) and it's a nice follow up to Täyttä elämää , a song that showcases her vocal skills. Or what about Warum?   or one of the best Winner takes it all covers there is? She has released three albums in the 1990's and Rakkauden kiertokulku together with Anneli Saaristo and Eija Kantola in 2001. Good to have her back and can't wait for the album! She has participated in Euroviisut 1988 with Tie , 1989 with Kahden juhla , 1990 with Tuuli and 1993 with Legenda and Aika eteenpäin vain kulkee as one of the four invited artists, the others being Katri Helena, Paula Koivuniemi and Arja Koriseva - however these are not amongst her best songs. Maybe it's time to set her Euroviisut record straight in 2012?

Arja Koriseva releases a new album Minä taistelen (I fight) tomorrow. It's her 15th album. This year she is also celebrating her 20th anniversary in business being the Tango Queen 1989, and the most popular of them. She has been doing musicals and TV besides stage shows and recording albums ever since. She has taken part in Euroviisut four times (1991, 1992 , 1993 and 2004 ) and represanted Finland abroad twice: in Golden Kite 1990 in Kuala Lumpur and Golden Stag in Romania in 1992 with her Euroviisut song Huomiseen . Both times she has reached the runner up position.

Not only the Swedish artists like to take the road and spread the Christmas all over the country, so do the Finnish ones. Most everyone from Tapani Kansa to Arja Koriseva are doing it once again but the big production featuring Jari Sillanpää and Katri Helena that has dominated the scene the past couple of years is not happening this year. Instead Jari will be doing a solo tour that kicks off  November 28 in Palacio de la paz in Fuengirola, Spain, passed Kulturhuset in Stockholm, Sweden on December 13 and end in Finlandiatalo in Helsinki on 19th. Laura Voutilainen instead will be doing Ave Maria - Lauran tarinallinen joulu, a Christmas spectacle that tells a story besides singing the songs and will mainly perform in churches all over Finland in December. And many more Christmas show to come as usual...