Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Croatia didn't leave us much to choose from with their selection process this year when Dora was reduced to a talent show. Daria Kinzer and Jacques Houdek each sung three songs in the final and the most plastic of them all won in its most plastic version, or Daria's Celebrate . The original version Lahor was actually pretty nice but somehow they managed to rip it off from all originality before Germany. No doubt Daria fit better for this final version. The runner up was Stotinama godina by Jacques. That would have been a worthy entry as well with its drama and Croatia could have a bit closer to reaching the final. Maybe.

Malta . What to say? Glen does his best and is near to perfection with the vocals. The dancers do their job well. So do the backing ladies. It's supposed to be all up and happy and bubbly and gay, but ... what's wrong? I don't know but something's missing. Maybe that something transmits through TV screens? Otherwise I doubt they will make the final - yet several songs that deserve to be there less will make it. Sigh. He is still wearing jeans, t-shirt and jumper as if he was going out on any ordinary day. Will he change to something more fabulous on Tuesday night? I want to like this just because it is so evident Glen is living his dream come true..... After one Eurovision fan and genuily happy person to be there to another one, Senit from San Marino (or Bologna in Italy actually) is again vocally fantastic, wearing a long grey dress that looks rather casual yet perfect. This doesn't have many admirers amongst the diehard fans but I think it has a small chance to ge...

Yes, the DJ desk is there. Daria and her four backing singers try to create the disco feeling. In vain. It's all a bit shouty. And there is even a wardrobe trick. Actually there are. Several of them! If San Marino offers old fashion Eurovision so does Croatia relive some of its most memorable moments. But is it enough to take them to final? Somehow I doubt it. Here are the videos: AKOE , Escdaily , Official

Croatia - Daria Kinzer - Celebrate **** This one went from Lahor by Jacques Houdek to Daria to Break a leg and finally Celebrate . I think I liked a bit more the original softer Lahor/Break a leg version. I didn't go crazy for this one at first but it has grown to be one of my favourites, a good mood old fashioned Eurovision entry. But as I have said before it's will battle it out with Hungary and may lose. Qualifier: With a lot of luck. Albania - Aurela Gaçe - Feel the passion ** Albania often reworks its songs so much you hardly recognise them anymore after the work out but this time Feel the passion and Kenga ime sound pretty much the same only underlining the fact the English version has lost the feeling of the song. To me it sounds pretty boring now and the stars went down. Aurela though will propably give all on stage and judging the preview video will look stunning. Will it be enough to bring it to the final? Maybe not. Qualifier: Will struggle .  Belarus - Anas...

The videos keep coming in. Here's the Celebrate by Daria Kinzer for Croatia!

Jacques Houdek and Daria Kinzer both performed three songs in the final and one song for each was picked through televote and jury for the superfinal and look, both got Lahor ! Even if in televote Stotiname godima won by both if I understood right??!! Now the second round of televoting for the singer.... and it's Daria! In English! Break a leg! Jacques Houdek: Jos ima nas (jury 16 points) = 1 + 1 from televote = 2 Lahor (jury 29 points) = 3 + 2 from televote = 5 Stotiname godima (jury 27 points) = 2 + 3 from televote = 5 Daria Kinzer: Jos ima nas (jury 17 points) = 1 + 1 from televote = 2 Lahor (jury 29 points) = 3 + 2 from televote = 5 Stotiname godima (jury 23 points) = 2 + 3 from televote = 5

The long Croatian reality-casting show has come to an end tonight. The top two singers Jacques Houdek and Daria Kinzer will both first perform the three chosen songs. One song for each will be selected through televote-jury for the superfinal where only televote counts. The songs are: Lahor   written byBoris Djordjevic Stotinama godina   written by Ante Pecotic   Jos ima nas   written by Lea Dekleva

A surprise twist in the end of the Croatian lenghty selection process. Daria Kinzer got the most televotes and flew to the final together with Jacques Houdek dropping the favourite Ziga out of the race. Next week the two lucky ones will each sing three songs in the Croatian final and the winner goes to Dusseldorf.