Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

  First impressions and comments: Italy is straight from Italian prime time Saturday night entertainment television. Sal looks a bit excited but I'm sure he will nail it when it matters and charms the pants off half of Europe. Accusi! Germany is what it is, the most generic unoriginal song and staging that can be titled Fire. Hard to think this will go anywhere in top-10 and gain points, a possible zero points France seems to bring the French revolution on stage and they indeed don't give us bread but cakes! Looks great, sounds good. Indeed another contender for the win - if the televoters aren't already tired of opera. UK is one of my personal top favourites against all odds and I'm so curious to see how it will do in the end! Staging seems pretty much as expected.  Austria - what to say? I preferred his national final outfit. To start with. The song is what it is. Maybe it won't score a flat zero like last time in Vienna. And indeed it deserves a bit more. 

  First impressions and comments: Australia looks and sounds fantastic. Delta is such a good and seasoned performer and the staging looks stunning. Is it a winner? If not Finland let it be Australia! Ukraine ... what to day? I like the song and then I don't. For me its kinda schizofrenic somehow, like two different songs in one and one I like, the other I don't. Hard to explain. But what's that dress? and that make up?! Ukraine is Q anyways no matter what. And deserved.  Albania sound majestic and the little we have seen so far tells a story. I have a feeling this will do a lot better than expected. Or at least I hope so, That it all comes together in final and people connect with this, not only diaspora.  Alis is fantastic singer.  Malta is one of my favorites and I hope Aidan and his Versace vest will have a lot of success. Norway is a big question mark. This could go very well or ... not. Jonas is another great vocalist. For me this is this semis Estonia, proba...

Already a week has gone by and today the rest of second semi-final acts conclude their 20 minutes rehearsals and next for them are already the dress rehearsals on Monday! How time flies! SAN MARINO GEORGIA BELGIUM ESTONIA ISRAEL NORWAY NETHERLANDS Photos from eurovision.tv as usual

Today completed the individual rehearsals when The Big5 and Ukraine had their second rehearsal (20 minutes). From Monday we will have the full dress rehearsals.  Germany apparently uses each and every light there's in the arena at some point of their 3 minutes sporting their the most extravagant costumes since Lordi. Quite fitting as the band feels very much at home in Finland where they record and produce their very Finnish sounding music. And they just also covered Käärijä's Cha cha cha, have a listen here.    Keeping up with the theme blood & glitter France provides more glitter than anyone else. And La Zarra some risky business on top of a disco stick.  Italy or Marco mengoni continues the trend with a new glittery sparkly top (indeed he promised he would wear a different one for each time). There's the moon to add, and two guys or due vite. Fandom is sleeping on this, this is Top-5 finish material.  A minor costume change for Ukraine and we are also don...

Be kind. Another day, another rehearsals. Today the remaining acts of semi-final two rehearsed for the second time for 20 minutes and this time we get to see the short videos. Enjoy! Wailing Perfection Convincing 33 1/3, part 1 33 1/3, part 2 Bébébé (aka 33 1/3, part 3) Shaky Breathless Thriller Close Tanzen!

Today's a shor rehearsal day and the remaining eight of semi-final two had their second 20 minute rehearsal.  In odds Switzerland keeps falling and is now behind both Iceland and Bulgaria 6th. San marino drops one place and Russia clinbs as they switch places. Also Ireland and Uk switch places and Ireland is on top now (22nd), Germany drops two places when Australia and Denmark pass it. North Macedonia goes up two places at 36 now while Czech republic drops two, Poland climbs two, Slovenia one and Spain drops again two places to 38..... I must confess I don't remember such open Eurovision in my career that spans after all already six decades. I have no idea who will win and I won't even try to guess until I see what happens in the semi-finals! All photos and videos as always lovingly stolen from eurovision.tv   Georgia keeps it simple and against all odds I still cherish the little idea this will be a shock qualifier and I couldn't be any happier for many reasons. Who k...

LATVIA - LAURA RIZZOTTO - FUNNY GIRL What was I thinking? I’m just the funny girl to you Vocals **** Staging *** Song ** Overall *** Non qualifier SWEDEN - BENJAMIN INGROSSO - DANCE YOU OFF Just wanna da da dance you off So, don’t you da da dare wait up Vocals *** Staging **** Song *** Overall *** Qualifier MONTENEGRO - VANJA RADOVANOVIC - INJE Me and life - like dog and cat The heart the most treasured pet Vocals *** Staging ** Song ** Overall ** Non qualifier SLOVENIA - LEA SIRK - HVALA, NE! Hvala, ne, ne! Hvala, ne Hvala, ne, ne Hvala, hvala, ne Vocals **** Staging **** Song *** Overall *** Borderline qualifier UKRAINE - MÉLOVIN - UNDER THE LADDER (Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh, yeah) (Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh, yeah) Vocals **** Staging **** Song **** Overall **** Qualifier

GEORGIA - ETHNO-JAZZ BAND IRIAO - FOR YOU you own only what you share Vocals **** Staging ** Song ** Overall *** Borderline qualifier POLAND - GROMEE feat. LUKAS MEIJER - LIGHT ME UP Light Me Up My baby Light Me Up And tell me where to go Vocals ** Staging ** Song *** Overall *** Borderline qualifier MALTA - CHRISTABELLE - TABOO It’s time to break the taboo Before we all become animals, animals Vocals **** Staging **** Song *** Overall **** Borderline qualifier HUNGARY - AWS - VISZLÁR NYÁR Summer gone, now you’re all too late That you’ll be mine was just a lie You never came. Vocals **** Staging *** Song *** Overall *** Qualifier

A full week of rehearsals saw the conclusion of the second rehearsals of the semi-finalists. RUSSIA - JULIA SAMOYLOVA - I WON'T BREAK My castle in the sand Is now made of stone and rock Vocals * Staging * Song ** Overall * Hopefully non qualifier MOLDOVA - DOREDOS - MY LUCKY DAY I walk into temptation Something tells me we can make some music Vocals *** Staging *** Song *** Overall **** Qualifier THE NETHERLANDS - WAYLON - OUTLAW IN 'EM Its a fine, fine line Between whiskey and water into wine Vocals **** Staging ** Song **** Overall *** Hopefully qualifier AUSTRALIA - JESSICA MAUBOY - WE GOT LOVE At the end of the day We’ve only got ourselves to blame Vocals ** Staging * Song *** Overall ** Likely qualifier (sadly)

  Finland still nicely 8th, Portugal 2nd!