Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Israel returns to national final Kdam and there are ten acts battling it out including the 1998 Eurovision winner Dana International. Unfortunately Vladi Blayberg withdraw with his Lirkod and was then replaced by Adi Casare. Several artists from the local Idols are taking part but then we have already had three excellent ones in Eurovision: Shiri Maimon , Boaz Mauda and Harel Skaat so one can expect the Israeli Idols are a bit better than most! KNOB - Ohev et ze Dana International - Ding dong Hatikva 6 - Hakol sabata Adi Casare - Suicide for love Chen Aharoni - Or Michael Greylsummer - Tu du du Niki Goldstein - Amri itach Sivan Bahnem - Kach oti Adi Cohen - Al alhava Idit Halevi - It's my time

In 2008 Aremnian Sirusho, Israeli Boaz and Serbian Jelena got togerher after Eurovision and recorded Time to pray . This time Bulgarian Miro and Croatin Feminnem made a duet before Eurovision, Mil amantes . They will be both in the second semifinal on May 27 almost back to back. I personally hope they both will qualify, let's see.

It's been a long wait but here it is finally: Boaz Mauda's self titled debut album. It includes obviously his ESC 2008 track Fire in your eyes , the collaboration with fellow Eurovision stars Jelena and Sirusho Time to pray and Journey of my life from the 2008 Israeli selection (but not the other 3 songs...). Eleven tracks in total and they all sound great if you like his voice. And I do! http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ifln-GuXzNg , http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLxUk-M0tP8

Boaz Mauda from Israel, Jelena Tomasevic from Serbia and Sirusho from Armenia performed last night finally the song Time to pray in the Serbian final. It is just as I expected it to be: beautiful with three matching vocals. There should be more collaborations like this with the Eurovision artists.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-ja-99wyb4

The Serbian final this Saturday will feature as guests all the other artists from former Yogoslavia and as a special treat the song by last year's entrants from Serbia, Israel and Armenia. Jelena Tomasevic, Boaz Mauda and Sirusho will perform Time to pray , a song co-written by Israeli president Shimon Peres.

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...

Punctual as always the rumours about Ha'rel Ska'at and Maya Buskila started circulating in the net. Apparently, again, IBA has shortlisted them as the possible ones to follow Boaz Mauda's succesful footsteps. No doubt I would prefer and welcome Ha'rel Ska'at with open arms! But has his "career now reached a right moment" for him to enter Eurovision? Here they sing some Eurovision songs as duet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPlXcz-Eeno http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuyw_Srr1pA&feature=related , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOqcE7t9yVU

Raffaella Carrá is pulling all the possible strings in her power to make italians talk about Eurovision and Italy's absense from the contest since 1997. Her new weekly primetime show Carramba! Che fortuna already featured Dima Bilan last week, a tribute to ABBA and Raffa's touching introduction with the words "... in my heart I believe that day is not so far away!" meaning of course Italy's return. She also plans to feature artists from this year's contest on weekly basis (names in circulation include Boaz Mauda, Pirates of the sea ft Roberto Meloni, Paolo Meneguzzi, Miodio, Vania Fernandez, Jelena Tomasevic, Kalomira etc). Apparently her visit to Spain to host the national final and this year's final from Belgrade made her such a fan she is doing all she can to make Italy return. Meanwhile, the touched and grateful OGAE Italy is planning to grant her honorable membership to the club! Evviva Raffa!

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.

Israel joined the Eurovision back in 1973 and it is rumored Ilanit sung with a buller proof vest under her dress. However, Israel was one of the most succesful countries until the 2000's. Three victories (1978, 1979 and 1998) and 2nd places in 1982 and 1983 top the 17 Top-10 places in total out of 30 entries. Recently they have struggled and Shiri Maimon's 4th place in 2005 is the only placement worth mentioning. Like this year's Boaz also Shiri comes from Pop Idol and had a ballad... After last year's rather disastrous entry Israel is back on track. And once again they send a singer with Yemenite roots, just like their previous winners Izhar Cohen and Dana International plus late Ofra Haza, who didn't win, unfortunately being the runner up in 1983, but later became world famous. The entry is well underrated in all polls, if you ask me, and I hope they will prove the fans wrong and qualify for the final. One of the best songs this year by far! Boaz Mauda is only 2...