Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

  Freddie, who sung Pioneer last year for Hungary at the Eurovision song contest is back at it, this time as a commentator for Hungarian television. He's got a message for you!

I don't usually care about the commentators but this year just like San Marino also Sweden has something remarkable going on. While Wiktoria will be the spokesperson, two gentlemen will be taking care of the commentary. Two gentlemen with a lot of experience. First of all Måns Zelmerlöw , the Eurovision 2015 winner and the 2016 co-host with Petra Mede. And more importantly Edward af Sillén . He has screenwriter and director for Melodifestivalen 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2016. He already did commentary in 2009-2012. And in 2014 and 2015. In 2010 he was screenwriter and director the 2010 Eurovision. And again in 2013. And 2016. In 2015 he co-wrote the Eurovision Greatest Hits in London show. He's been also the Swedish commentator for JESC from 2010 to 2014. And that's only his Eurovision curriculum vitae.  Did you know he was born in Brazil and adopted by a Swedish father and American mother?

The Sammarinese commentators Lia Fiorio and Gigi Restivo are making history this year by becoming the ones who have commentated the Eurovision song contest in Italian the most times beating all the Italian commentators and the legendary Swiss one, Giovanni Bertini, who did it 21 times from 1961 to 1983. Lia and Gigi has done it 24 times after this year's season is over, or rather all three nights the eight year's San Marino has taken part. And as an icing on the cake they will be also this year's spokespersons for the tiny nation!

This week we are celebrating the 10th anniversary of Lordi's win in the Eurovision song contest 2006 and I will be posting some posts related to people who were involved. One who was very much involved - and even more so in 2007 as the hostess! - was Jaana Pelkonen, today a member of parliament.  She has been appointed today, the International Day against LGBT fobias, the Goodwill Ambassador against LBGT fobias by the Finnish Rainbow organisations. She has been tiressly campaigning for equal rights over the years, even saying she won't marry herself until her firends can do so, too. Congratulations Jaana and keep up the good work!

Eurovision gury and expert, author of the official Eurovision history books (various language versions and reprints including one very recent to celebrate the 60th edition) has once again created great preview clips for each and every 40 entries. This year's gimmick is the two tv-screen display where he jumps to the country in question. Great idea and even nicer as many of the videos in the backdrops have been shot my Eurovision fans all over Europe! You can check them out here . And that's not all. He will once again also comment the three shows in English for SMRTV. 

YLE has revealed details about its Eurovision 2015 broadcast. First of all Krista Siegfrids will join Valentina Monetta and others as spokesperson and will give out the Finnish votes. The Finnish jury is made of UMK judge, musician and pedagog Aija Puurtinen, radio morning show speaker Laura Haimila, producer-composr Jukka Immonen, lyricist-musician Jukka Eronen aka Aikuinen from UMK 2015 and producer-musician Mikko Pykäri. The commentators will be two huge Eurovision fans and radio/tv personalities Aino Töllinen and Cristal Snow, who aso took part in the 2008 national final placing third with Can't save me . YLE's Swedish speaking commentators will be Eva Frantz and Johan Lindroos.  YLE will broadcast all three shows as always and on Saturday May 16th will have a four hour long marathon preview show with various commentators, including Cristal Snow.