Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Today's hot news is Canadian CBC/Radio Canada might enter Eurovision song contest. This blogger isn't surprised at all and after initial confusion I can't quite see why not? After all Australia is in already for ten years and even if Australians might be more keen viewers of the contest already for decades the Canadian singers in the Eurovision pout number the Australians pre-participation 9-4 with a quick count. Everybody is aware Celine Dion did Eurovision and won for Switzerland in 1988 but not so many don't remember also Lara Fabian did it for Belgium. For the other internationally known names we have Natasha St-Pier and La Zarra doing ti for France but they are not alone. Read more below. As for the Australians I only remember Olivia Newton-John, double winner Johnny Logan, Gina G and Jane Comerford of Texas Lightning. check them also below. CANADIANS (of birth fully or partly or some other way): Sherisse Laurence - L'amour de ma vie - Luxemburg (3rd) Celine D...

It's no news France Eurovision and Eiffel tour have a long lasting love affair but last night it was taken to another level in the 2024 Olympic Games opening ceremony. We all remember poor Tom Leeb who was chosen to represent France in 2020 Eurovision, climbed to Eiffel tower to belt out his song only to see Eurovision being cancelled and even France Television cancelling him for 2021 later on. That has been perhaps the high light of France Eurovision loves Eiffel tower in fandom's collective memory until now. Last night Eurovision 1988 winner Celine Dion returned to the spotlight after four hard years trying to recover and survive her illness and showed she was in top form in her first live performance since 2020. Belting out Edith Piaf's L'Hymne á l'amour like there was no tomorrow she reconquered the world. Well, I must say I do enjoy Tom Leeb's entry quite a lot. After all. 

  Swiss televisions have launched officially the search for the host city for Eurovision 2025 with a logo that made me think of Istanbul 2004 immediately. I have no idea what skyline is supposed to be there but it certainly doesn't make me think of Switzerland! Istanbul hasn't been the only city to feature the skyline or similar in their Eurovision branding as also Helsinki 2007 did so, as you can clearly see even today in this blog, lol. Eurovision song contest is coming back home after this rather chaotic and disastrous 2024 edition as the very first edition took place in Switzerland's Lugano in May 24, 1956 in attempt to unite post-war Europe and bring some entertainment and excitement for the new media called television. Loosley modeled after Italy's Sanremo festival seven countries took part, each with two songs: Switzerland, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Switzerland won but the next contest moved to Frankfurt in Germany. And ever...

  Jean-Jacques Goldman, one of my great musical loves. I came across him thanks to the French Cultural Centre in Helsinki, where I used to go and borrow vinyls... He has written such great music that it was hard to choose the four songs here. My love for him continued all the way to the end of his recording career (as we know it) and his various projects and songs written and produced to other artists, like Céline Dion whose French success is mainly thanks to him in her adult life, Patricia Kaas and Patrick Fiori. Sadly his last studio album is from 2001 but he's still active somewhat writing and producing, and made an appearance in Fiori's Les gens qu'on aime video. Hopefully he will still release his music as a singer, too. Pretty please? He has had a huge impact in the French music industry and in 2012-2013 for example two tribute albums were recorded by the young talents under title Genération Goldman , both hitting #1 in the French charts and selling about one m...

  Jennifer Rush co-wrote and released The power of love , one of the best selling female hits ever and later by covered by both Laura Branigan and Celine Dion among others but she was a lot more than that. After a couple of albums I lost her and realize now she's still been recording and releasing music. Maybe I have to dust the oldies and check the new stuff.... Check out also:

Out with the pink and baby blue , Celine Dion creates with Nununu cloathing brand that liberates children from the traditional boy/girl thinking. (Yet they have dresses, even tulle, what's girlier than that???.... hmmmm)  Here CELINUNUNU unites two forces by one voice: fashion has the power to shape people’s minds. inspire your children to be free and find their own individuality through clothes.

Celine Dion plays the movie soundtrack card once again Did you know the first original recording of this global success snobbed by NRK for Eurovision was by Johnny Logan? Finally released on Secret Garden's new compilation.  Tanel Padar keeps scoring hits from his solo EP Maria Naumova who? - Marie N! - Who?

John Lundvik may have placed only 3rd in Melodifestivalen , but he hit #1 in the charts and considering Austria's success with a similar gospely song and somewhat similar singer ... with Sanna Nielsen's lighting and Celine Dion's jacket, who knows? Did we miss Sweden's 7th win? For sure Cesar Sampson is grateful John wasn't in Lisbon!

Today Céline Dion turns 50. How times flies! This blogger has always preferred her French catalogue and picking up favorites from the last four decades isn't easy but here goes. The ones (of many) that havee had a secial meaning to me in some point of my life. In random order:

Fashion Icon. That's not what comes to mind when thinking of Céline Dion really is it? Icon perhaps but certainly not fashion one. But weird things happen and the somewhat glumsy, glum and ordinary looking housewife with a lot of money but no style kind of Céline has transformed herself this year. Six months after the death of her husband she hired Law Roach has her stylist. Roach says she has no fear and they both don't care what people think. The restyling has also helped Dion in her grieving process and rebooting her career. Like it or dislike it, she won't go unnoticed anymore. Watch out Lady Gaga, there's a new crazy in town! Check out below some of her styles over the past few months that have sent Vogue and the fashion world into frenzy.      Below Céline as we used to know her..... ;-p

Kristian had midnight pasta Ilinca had a drink Levina had candy Freddie's got mugs Conchita met Celine Sergey, Dima and other Sovjet stars met in Baku Ott met Liis in Jurmala Francesca met V aka Vettel (she 's turning into Formula One groupie...) Lucie met a... err... fan?  Demy screams for revenge.... ,,, as Helena is this week's covergirl

Celine Dion didn't know what to wear to Vogue photoshoot and joined the long list of naked Eurovision stars..... This week's birthday boy is Juri and this week's coverboy is Manel Dima enjoyed some sun as did Imri and Alexander. Hovig enjoyed the moon instead and Emma the sunset and Francesco the crowds and Freddie woke up happy Sakis got married Måns built a sauna (waiting for some sauna pics now.,. aren't we?) Isaiah is back to studio for some new music while Douwe enjoys some superstar gig glamour. Not.