Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Let's continue the series and kill some time having a look at the last decade and see who were the Top-10 best scoring countries in the Eurovision song contest in the past ten years. The ways to calculate are many and here I have used the simple average placement method (and it's not all so serious). Next up is Azerbaijan at n.o 5. Azerbaijan entered with a Top-10 finish and continued the trend with five consegutive Top-5 finishes including a win before all the vote buying scandal and all that exploded. Miracuslously after that they didn't trouble the Top-10 until last year again, and had even one NQ in their table.... Fair enough. Azerbaijan has sent good entries, no doubt about that, but what annoys me personally is the lack of local work in them. In fact, only their debut entry has been written by Azeris (unless its credited by alias). I remember all Azeri entries way too well thanks to their usually very original stagings. 2011 Ell & Nikki - Running sc...

Emmelie has been a bit lost ever since her win, and has released a sting of undisturbing singles and History isn't any exception. Nice but forgettable.... After dusting off I didn't know with Martha Wash Serhat does the same with Helena Paparizou for his oldie Total disguise , then in duet with Eurovision presenter Viktor Lazlo.... The question remains: why? The Azeri victory remains still a mystery (well... really?) and both winners haven't really been heard of ever since. This is one of Eldar's latest, dating 1,5 years ago. I miss you is his latest.  His partner in victory Nigar Jamal hasn't bothered the international charts since then either. Her latest (?) Sus is kinda nice ethnic pop. Worth a listen. 

I'm free is the title of Eurovision 2011 winner Eldar Qasimov's new single following the ballad  Birlikdə nəhayət released after Running scared . A famous DJ Aligee is involved in this production and without him the song might sound like this . It's his attempt to free himself known only as an Eurovision winner and one hit wonder. He's been busy also as TV-host - including co-hosting the Baku 2012 edition - and he is starring also in a movie directed by Julian Gusman to be released later this year.  Considering he's the voice of the duo Ell/Nikki one can only hope him better success than Nigar Jamal has had with her solo career that seems to have crushed already!

The song was presented during Eurovision 2012 in Baku and the preview has been online already but here's finally the full version of Come into my world . Oh well, rather boring, isn't it? Sometimes having two Eurovision winners together just isn't enough.... :-)

Well, if anyone had doubts now it's official. Marco Simeon on behalf of RAI with Lorella Cuccarini in this afternoon's Domenica in gave Nina an award and wished her a good trip for Baku 2012. And La Zilli says she's very, very honoured.  Watch it here . And if you missed last night's annoucement with Ell/Nikki it's here .

Belarus is planning big for their Eurofest final. There are only five names left to represant Belarus in Baku 2012 - Alena Lanskaya, Gunesh, Viktoria Aleshko, Litesound and Uzari - but the guest list is impressive: Eurovision 1956 winner Lys Assia , 2004 winner Ruslana , 2007 winner Marija Serifovic , 2009 winner Alexander Rybak , 2010 winner Lena and 2011 winners Ell/Nikki along with Koldun , Belarus best placed artist so far (6th in Helsinki 2007), fan favourite Sakis Rouvas and Switzerland's this year's represant Sinplus . The Eurofest final will be held next week, February 14, 2012.

The allocation draw has taken place in Buta Palace in Baku. And they are really dragging on "the show". And I sincerely hope these two aren't the hosts for the main events come May! And for sure we did hear Running scared a few times... on the other hand, who has heard it since last May? The Azeris seem to have also major problems with certain flags! Strangely Armenian one is ok though. :-) But the touristic spots of Azerbaijan are beautiful, maybe they are showing it all now as in May the available slots are rather limited these days. And the comments by the youngters on twitter make an old fart like me laugh aloud. How limited the youth of today is? Really??!! I'm ashamed of you.... Total ignorance, zero pantience and respect for other cultures.... And for your information: there's no "audience"; they are the delegations from the 43 countries having a meeting... But now we are having Ruslana on stage (2 hrs to the show). And Aysel. And Alexander Ryb...

The Danish are determined to do well and win Eurovision after a string of top placings. So there are changes in the selection procedure next Saturday January 21, 2012. A jury will be added and it will count 50% of the final result. And part of the jury is made of international Eurovision stars including the winners Ell/Nikki from Azerbaijan and Alexander Rybak from Norway. Azeri Aysel , German Roger Cicero and Russian Alexej Vorobjev is added for further flavour with other music professionals. Will this bring the trophy back to Denmark? Nine songs are in the running after one disqualification, amongst them Finnish Emilia :-)

If your father is an Azeri born Russian billionaire, your friends include Eurovision winners Ell & Nikki and you are married to the daughter of president of Azerbaijan and your mother-in-law is put in charge for Eurovision affairs in the country what are the chances you might sing for Azerbaijan in Eurovision soon? Pretty good I guess. Or would it be just too shamelessly obvious? Let's see if it will happen. Emin Agalarov is trying to make his career in London with songs like Just for one night , Any time you fall , Obvious , Wonder and Still . He has released five albums since 2006 and they have charted both in Azerbaijan and Russia. He has managed to sneak into BBC2 radio as well with his songs.  And he has just signed a deal with EMI Germany for worldwide release. Let's see what spring 2012 brings us...

Azeris have renamed their artists as Ell & Nikki and their song is Runnung scared . Well, what to say? Sounds very Swedish, the way Drip drop did.... Update: It was just a wild guess but now it has been confirmed the same Swedish team is behind this song!