Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

As Solju in Finland also Jon Henrik Fjällgren joiked himself directly to the national final. The other qualifier in Sweden is 16-year-old Isa. Andreas Weise and Kristin Amparo will get another chance in Andra chansen while Ellen Benediktson was left 5th, Kalle Johansson 6th and Andreas Johnson 7th and last..... 

Melodifestivalen semifinal three comes from Östersund. No previous winners in this heat but Ellen and Andreas Johnsson have already tasted some MF glory and success. Also in this heat Jon Henrik Fjällgren, Talent winner and a very interesting mix of Sami culture and Colombian temper. And after hearing the snippets this blogger thinks they saved the best last, in this semi at least. Namely Kristin and Jon Henrik should go to the final. As for the rest I don't really care who gets to the second chance as none moved me in any way whatsoever.... Ellen Benediktson - Insomnia Kalle Johansson - För din skull Andreas Weise - Bring out the fire Andreas Johnson - Living to die Isa - Don't stop Kristin Amparo - I see you Jon Henrik Fjällgren - Jag är fri (Manne leam frijje)

This morning the remaining 14 artists, songs and their writers were made public by Christer Björkman. Andreas follows his fathers footsteps, Isa moves from JESC to ESC selections, Jon Henrik was adopted from Columbia to a Sami family as a baby and then won Talent Sweden this year. All but Ellen and Andreas in the third semifinal debut in Melodifestivalen. Rio De Janeiro born Caroline returns in the fourth semifinal, as does Måns but all the others are debutants, even 66-year-old Hasse. Semifinal 3 - Östersund, February 21, 2015 Andreas Weise - Bring out the fire Anton Malmberg Hård af Segerstad, Henrik Jansson, Thomas G:son Isa - Don't stop Isa Tengblad, Johan Ramström, Gustav Svenungsson, Magnus Wallin, Oscar Merner Kalle Johansson - För din skull Martin Eriksson, Thomas G:son, Thomas Karlsson Kristin Amparo - I see you Kristin Amparo, David Kreuger, Fredrik Kempe Ellen Benediktson - Insomnia Ellen Benediktson, Anderz Wrethov Jon Henrik Fjällgren - J...

Ahead the announcement of the artists tomorrow and Tuesday more names have emerged as possible entrants. First of all we have previous winner Eric Saade . From last year's final surprise we have Ellen Benediktsson making a possible comeback. Daniel Gildenlöw also is rumored to make his solo debut, his band Pain of Salsation presented fantastic Road salt in 2010. From 2005 we have a one hit wonder Carolina Wennergren . She was the big surprise that year with A different kind of love , that is still remembered even if we haven't heard much of her since....  Also listed is Andreas Johnson who's still missing a victory in MF from his CV. Then we have Behrang Miri ,  punkrock band Neverstore , boyband JRT and all the previous names I wrote about here . 

The Swedish Melodifstivalen kicked off last night as well. I didn't watch as the Finnish UMK final was taking place at the same time. Anyways, this blogger thinks musically MF is way overrated. Great show no doubt but in the recent years how many songs have remained? Not many....  Anyways, last night as usual there were eight songs. Two songs were sent straight to the final, two to the second chance and the rest home. YOHIO and Eurovision 2005 winner, Greek-Swede Helena Paparizou wee the pre-contest favorites and many were tipping Linus Svenning as the big surprise to come. But Swedes decided partly otherwise. YOHIO did sail to the final but he took Ellen Benediktsson with him while Linus and Helena were left to wonder what went wrong in Second chance round. I would have prefered a bit different order but indeed these four were the best songs in this semifinal. Otherwise the news were presenter Nour El Refai's unshaved underarms and her rather shaky job as presenter.... Wa...