Life after Helsinki 2007 Eurovision

Nathalie Giannitrapani has released a video for her fantastic In punta di piedi , a possible Italian entry for the Eurovision 2011.... Maybe....

This is the time of the year we get national final news almost daily and today we get Estonia. Here are the semifinalists in Eesti laul 2011: • Rolf Roosalu – All & now • Victoria – Baby had you • Noorkuu – Be my saturday • Jana Kaask – Don’t want anything • Ithaka Maria – Hoppa-Pa-Rei • Outlondz – I wanna meet Bob Dylan • Laika Virgin feat. Fredy Schmidt – Ilusand inimesed • Uku Suviste – Jagatod öö • Elmayonesa – Kes ei tantsi, on politsei • Ans Andur – Lapsed ja lennukid • Kait Tamra – Lubadus • Janne Saar – Meeting the Wolf • Sofia Ruhina – My Melody • Sopruse puiestee & Merili Varik – Rahu, ainult, rahu • Getter Jaaani – ? • MID – Smile • Shirubi Ikazuchi – St. Cabah • Mimicry – The Storm • Jaan Pehk – Valss • Marilyn Jurman & Karl Kanter – Veel on aega One more song will be announced as one of the songs selected has been disqualified, namely Elmayonesa, an Argentinian living in Spain and therefor against the rules that state the artists must be r...

Daniel Motiño Camúñez reports: Sergio Dalma has been rewarded with a gold disc after achieving more than 50.000 sales from his last album Via Dalma . The album is a compilation of 12 italian classic hits, adapted and translated in Spanish. Il piccolo Cutugno as Toto introduced Sergio Dalma in Rome after his performance has been always the perfect physical and vocal profile to perform this kind of hits. The lead single is Umberto Tozzi's Tú . Other songs feature songs by Riccardo Cocciante, Sandro Giacobbe, Claudio Baglioni and even Alice's Por Elisa . Sergio has been recording covers of Italian hits throughout his career and is fairly known also in Italy.  Unfortunately Sergio did not pick up the best place to receive the award; the trash/camp show Salvame from the horrendous TV sender Tele-5, the same show that tried to boicot Eurovision Song Contest 2009 by promoting Karmele entry Soy un Tsunami . Actually they tried again but this time TVE was wiser than before...

Good heavens it's not Eurovision 2012! Yet Germans managed to put 4 times 12 in the game: the ticket sale for the Eurovision 2011 starts next Sunday, December 12 at 12.12 CET. On DTicket .de only. A total of 35.000 tickets for the final from 89 euros to 189 euros are available. The semifinal tickets will be sold in January when we know which countries will be in which semifinal. Good point and finally happening!!

Norwegian Jon Ola Sand takes over the post as Executive Supervisor taking over from Swedish Svante Stockselius who turned Eurovision upside down in a good way during his over 8 years in the job. Let's see what kinf od new ideas Sand has... surely he's not stepping into easy boots. Some 40 people from 10 countries applied for this prestigious and unique job. At the same time Sietse Bakker has been appointed as Event Supervisor for the Eurovision song contest, underlining the fact it's not only a TV Show anymore but an Event! Congratulations both and tack för allt, Svante!

SVT has just released the names in the first two Melodifestivalen semifinals: Luleå - February 5, 2011 Pernilla Andersson – Desperados Danny – In the Club Swingfly – Me and my drum Le Kid – Oh my god Jonas Matsson – On my own Rasmus Viberg – Social butterfly Jenny Silver – Something In Your Eyes Dilba – Try again Gothenburg - February 12, 2011 Anniela – Elektrisk Babsan – Ge mig en spanjor Sanna Nielsen – I’m in love Christian Walz – Like suicide Loreen – My Heart Is Refusing Me The Moniker (Daniel Karlsson) – Oh my god! Brolle – Seven Days And Seven Nights Elisabeth Andreassen – Vaken i en dröm And yes, there seem to be two songs with the same title, Oh my God! And SVT dumped Charlotte Perrelli for Jenny Silve r who gets the chance to belt out Something in your eyes instead of her, despite Jenny's flop last year but maybe that's less harmful as Charlotte's flop? Also totally unknown Anniela gets a chance instead of Linda Bengtzig and Magnus Carlsson ...

All didn't go fine in Russia for Lordi. We know we need to have visas to get to Russia - but how to get OUT? Namely, the band and all its entourage had visas organized for them by their local manager to go and perform but they ended at midnight. At 4am in the train on the way to Tallinn after their gigs in Moscow and St.Petersburg the group was woken up at the border in Ivangorod and kicked out of train because of "expired visas". They were kept at the station in the rain and wind with all their instruments and gear until afternoon before matters were settled and they were let to cross the border. By foot! Luckily a bus was waiting for them at the Estonian side and managed to take them in Tallinn at time for the night's concert. "I'm from Lapland and Russia is the big monster. It's in my genes. Nothing else in that country is sure but unsure ", comments Mr Lordi. "I would understand if they didn't let us in but not letting us out!? The loc...

Laura Voutilainen's new single and first release from her coming greatest hits (out October 6, 2010) is Rakkauden soturi (Soldier of love ) that Laura has penned herself. The video was shot in Malta earlier this year and you can see it here . Shortly she will be busy with Stirctly come dancing....

Milva (71), the great lady of the Italian music, La Rossa, is releasing a new album in September and reunites with Franco Battiato (65) who has produced the album and also written the songs. Meaning they are covers but there might be a new song or two as well. The album Non conosco nessun Patrizio will be presented live in concert in Teatro Romano di Verona with Battiato on stage on September 8, 2010. Milva started singing back in 1959 and has participated in Sanremo a total of 15 times. She has made name besides pop in theatre singing Bertol Brecht and Piaf gaining success especially in Germany with several only German releases over the years. With Battiato she has worked previously in Milva e dintorni (1982) and Svegliando l'amante che dorme (1989) and both albums have been released also in either French, German or Spanish edition. The most known and memorable Milva-Battiato collaborations must be Alexander Platz , Potemkin and Una storia inventata . In Sanremo she debuted w...

Claudia Faniello has released the first single I hate this song from her coming album that is to be released European wide. After a string of rather medicore songs in Malta song for Europe, and participations in various international festivals here and there including Sanremo 2010 she is ready to turn on the rock vibe and finally emerge from being just Fabrizio's lil' sis.

Third time lucky. They have been asked by the Dutch TV in 2009 and 2010 but thanked no. This time they said yes and will go to Germany. Expect some acoustic stuff in Dutch. Most likely. They will perform five songs in the national final sometime early 2011 and 50-50 televote-jury will pick up the song they will take to Berlin. Or Hamburg. Or some other city the Germans fancy hosting the show next year. They are the second act chosen and will meet this year's winner Lena for Germany.....

Kuunkuiskaajat are performing tomorrow in Russia in Sosnogorsk Rock Festival 2010. Apparently the festival has something to do with Finno-Ugric culture and Komi.... I have to investigate that a bit more. Anyways, way to go girls! Meanwhile here they are a couple of weeks ago in Helsinki's Korjaamo .

Bobbysocks (Hanne Krogh and Elisabeth Andreassen) have released a best of album to celebrate their 25th anniversary of winning the Eurovision song contest in 1985. The album includes also a duet with Alexander Rybak, Thank you . That's also their new single, the first in 23 years! Or rather Alexander playing the violin! The winning song is featured in both in Norwegian original version and the English version Let it swing . Waiting for the morning is also included. Originally the due released three albums: Bobbysocks! (1984 and re-released in 1985), Waiting for the morning (1986) and Walkin' on air (1987).

Franco Battiato is organizing Note di merito tonight in Rome with a cast of various ladies, amongst them Alice. More information here and here .

The pre-celebrations for the royal wedding in Stockholm continue. Last night Darin did his most amongst others and tonight's star in Kungsträdgården is Eurovision and Melodifestivalen veteran Nanne Grönwall!

Dima Bilan's efforts to conquer the world continue. This time with a little help by Anastacia in song Safety . Let's see if this will finally become a hit.... Anastacia is no stranger for duets. She already di I belong to you with Eros Ramazzotti. And as the FIFA wolrd cup is on at the moment did you remember she did the official song in 2002, Boom ?

Serbia's Milan Stankovic surely didn't pass unnoticed in the Eurovision 2010 in Oslo. He gets the prestigious Barbara Dex award for the worst dressed performer and therefor join Adók Zoli, Gisela, Verka Serduchka, Nonstop. Martin Vucic, Sanda Ladosi, t.A.T.u, Michalis Rakintzis, Piacek, Natalie Sorce, Lydia, Guildo Horn and Debbie Sherri in the hostory books with this . Hic! Hop hop!

Still reigning Eurovision winner Alexander Rybak will release his second album in 3 weeks. After Fairytales we get No boundaries (wasn't that the title of the first album after winning for Sertab Erener, too?) and it has a tribute to Finland amongst the songs, Suomi . Last summer Rybak was overwhelmed about his popularity and hsyteria she caused in Finland stating it was "biggeer than in Norway right after my winning" so it sure was something! The first single of the album is Oah .

For me this is the worst song this year. Not that is so bad. Just because it is so bland. At least Ukraine and Slovenia create some emotions in me, even dislike if nothing else but this.... Zero impact. The staging is kinda nice I guess - even if I was hoping those long legged ladies in hotpants and those ridiculous t-shirts from the national final would reappear - and UK nails this year's fashion trend for the ladies: shower curtain dresses (so Carola 1992). Possible second nil points for the UK in history. Video .

Marion Rung with Kristian Meurman will compite against Fredi and his daughter Hanna-Riikka Siitonen is popular musical quiz Tartu mikkiin or Grab the mic . All four have Euroviisut and/or Eurovision past. The show is very popular weekly affair and one can easily guess tonight we will hear a lot of Eurovision related songs.... Also pictured (right) the host Sami Hintsanen.